REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. -- The Director of the Department of the Army Office of Small Business Programs met with Team Redstone small business professionals for the first time Aug. 11, since undertaking his new leadership role.
Tommy Marks, a senior executive servant with contracting ties to Army Materiel Command, was appointed to the position on April 19, 2015. He serves as the Army's lead for small business policy, goals and procedures.
Marks represents the Secretary of the Army at congressional Committees and Subcommittee hearings on small business, Historically Black Colleges and Universities Minority Institutions and other small business matters. He serves as the focal point in responding to industrial, Congressional and individual inquiries on small business, HBCU/MIs, economic utilization and other business matters. Marks also represents the Army in inter-agency communication with the Small Business Administration, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, the Minority Business Development Agency (Department of Commerce) and other agencies and Presidential commissions.
Marks' work with AMC began at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, where he was responsible for buying spare parts for radars. He also supported the Logistics Civil Augmentation Program in Kuwait and Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois at the U.S. Army Sustainment Command.
Marks' attributes his success not to being the smartest person in the room but being able to understanding people.
"I understand people. I understand management," said Marks. "If you are willing to listen and work together. We can fight the battles. I am your best advocate, but we have to come to the table ready to perform."
AMC Small Business Programs Director Nancy Small said it's important for those who work in the small business field to interact with small business leaders at the highest level.
"This gives us the opportunity to realize that leaders are working for us daily to support us all in reaching our goals," Small said.
The forum also discussed the National Defense Authorization Act, policies and local contracting vehicles with small business participates.
In July, Marks presented AMC Small Business Director Nancy Small with an award at the 2015 DOD Small Business Innovation Training in Phoenix. In addition, Marks presented the FY14 Woman-Owned and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Award for Exception Program Support. Marks also awarded the Department of Army's Best Part-Time Small Business Specialist award to Kelly Rhodes of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal and the Small Business Programs' Recognition for Outstanding Performance award to Jennie Dihn-Nguyen of the Communications and Electronics Command. He also recognized the Mission and Installation Contracting Command's small business team for its accomplishments in FY14.
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