Suzanne Weeks of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command was named the Small Business Innovation Research Program Coordinator of the Year. From left to right: Nancy Small, director of AMC’s Small Business office; Weeks; Lt. Gen. J...

Scott Dennis of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Lifecycle Management Command was named the Project Manager of the Year. From left to right: Nancy Small, director of AMC’s Small Business office; Dennis; Lt. Gen. James H. Pillsbury, deputy commandin...

Robert Schrader of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Lifecycle Management Command was named Small Business Specialist of the Year. From left to right: Nancy Small, director of AMC’s Small Business office; Schrader; Lt. Gen. James H. Pillsbury, deput...

Tracy Mitchell of the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command was named Product Manager of the Year. From left to right: Nancy Small, director of AMC’s Small Business office; Mitchell; Lt. Gen. James H. Pillsbury, deputy commanding general of AM...

Julie Seaba of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command was named the Contracting Officer of the Year. From left to right: Nancy Small, director of AMC’s Small Business office; Seaba; Lt. Gen. James H. Pillsbury, deputy commanding general of AMC. U.S. Army ...

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The National Defense Industrial Association hosted its 14th annual small business conference and honored the U.S. Army Materiel Command's small business office professionals November 17-18 in McLean, Va.

Small business owners took the theme of success through partnership to heart, by leveraging the two-day conference to build partnerships with multiple government agencies and large businesses.

The conference also offered breakout sessions, panel discussions on various topics and legislation impacting the small business community, and an awards ceremony.

Unlike previous years when only the Small Business Specialist of the Year was recognized, the awards were expanded to include four new categories Project Manager of the Year, Product Manager of the Year, Contracting Officer of the Year and Small Business Innovative Research Program Coordinator of the Year.

Lt. Gen. James H. Pillsbury, deputy commanding general of AMC and Nancy Small, director of AMC's Office of Small Business Programs presented the awards to a total of five winners.

Robert Schrader of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Lifecycle Management Command was named Small Business Specialist of the Year

Scott Dennis of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Lifecycle Management Command was named the Project Manager of the Year.

Tracy Mitchell of the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command was named Product Manager of the Year

Julie Seaba of the U.S. Army Sustainment Command was named the Contracting Officer of the Year.

Suzanne Weeks of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command was named the Small Business Innovation Research Program Coordinator of the Year.

The conference was a big success, reflected Tony Hodge, AMC's Small Business Office program manager.

"We highlighted that small business is really big business," said Hodge.

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