Elite SDVOB Network JULY first 2021 IN-PERSON Event

3300 Dundee Road,Northbrook IL 60062

29 July, 2021

Description

Featuring Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee and attorney Michelle Kantor - Presentations on Opportunities for Small and Diverse Businesses Chicago Dept of Aviation (ORD21) / Opportunities for Veteran and Diverse Businesses Elite SDVOB Network's Illinois chapter is thrilled to host our first 2021 IN-PERSON event on Thursday, July 29th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The location is 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook. Snacks will be provided and admission is FREE. We are exited to feature special guest speakers Jamie Rhee and Michelle Kantor. This event will kick off Elite’s new in-person meeting series, and will be hosted in a large venue in Northbrook (3300 Dundee Road, across the street from the Sportsman’s Country Club, and held at Bancroft AE). Information and networking will focus on opportunities for Veteran Owned and other diverse businesses. The meeting will focus on opportunities for Veteran Owned and other diverse businesses, updates on Veteran- and diverse business-focused programs, and legal developments that affect diverse businesses. Representatives from other commercial and government organizations will also be coming as special guests to participate in the meeting, and members will have the opportunity to deliver capabilities presentations. Our first honored guest is Jamie Rhee*, Commissioner at Chicago Dept of Aviation and the initiator of valuable programs for Veteran Owned and other diverse businesses through her earlier work as Chief Procurement Officer for City of Chicago. Jamie will share exciting details about ORD 21, an $8.5 billion project representing Chicago's vision for a modern airport that will be an efficient, accessible, and inspirational gateway. As many of you know, Jamie Rhee has been deeply involved in number of City programs centered around Veteran- and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, as well as robust initiatives for other small and diverse businesses. ORD 21 and these other programs offer an outstanding opportunity for small business growth, and we look forward to hearing more! Our second honored Guest Speaker is Michelle Kantor**, government contracting expert and attorney, and a Partner in McDonald Hopkins LLC, leading the Federal and Local Government Contracting & Procurement practice group for the firm. Michelle will discuss developments in connection with over 50 pages of new SBA regulations and laws that affect small and diverse businesses. She will offer advice on how businesses can best position themselves to capitalize on new developments and opportunities. This presentation is packed with information and questions are encouraged. Member Capabilities Presentations - Highlight your company's capabilities Our honored guests will join other business experts, along with your peers, in providing feedback on capabilities presentations delivered by meeting participants. Those of you who have attended recent meetings know what a worthwhile experience this was for our presenters, and we have four slots open for capabilities presentations at our October meeting. To join the list of companies delivering presentations, and to get a copy of a template and sample presentation you can use to build your own, send an email to Elite's Illinois chapter president, John Scifers, at [email protected]. The meeting will also offer new members the opportunity to learn more about opportunities available through Elite SDVOB network. Members who need to pay their dues can bring a check payable to "Elite SDVOB Network." To obtain a membership application, send an email to John Scifers at [email protected]. Regular membership dues are only $60 per year Parking facilities are located nearby. We have limited space available, so please register here for FREE to obtain a "ticket" and reserve your seat. Following the meeting, we will have an informal networking session. BIOGRAPHIES OF SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS *Biography of Jamie Rhee, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie Rhee manages one of the world’s busiest airport systems, comprised of O’Hare and Midway International Airports, which serves more than 100 million passengers each year and propels Chicago as a global leader for air cargo activity. Chicago’s airports are also among the most connected in the world, serving more than 260 locations via 50 different commercial carriers to 46 countries worldwide. Rhee has a long history of mastering complex issues in aviation as well as municipal government. Rhee began her career with the City of Chicago, and has worked for nearly 24 years in various roles, most recently as the Chief Procurement Officer. In this role, Rhee oversaw purchasing of $2 billion in goods and services for dozens of user departments of the City of Chicago, including the CDA; and the certification of thousands of minority-owned, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises, including the Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program. Under Rhee’s leadership, Chicago’s procurement reform efforts have received national and international recognition, and Rhee has been recognized with a dozen awards from industry organizations for her contributions to public service. Rhee previously served in various roles at the CDA. From 2004-2008, she served as the General Counsel for the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP), where she handled all legal matters for the multi- billion dollar program, including all federal and state litigation as well as legal strategy with the Chicago Corporation Counsel, Department of Justice and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); oversaw the successful completion of the FAA’s Environmental Impact Statement process and managed the legal process and procurement for all contracts, including commissioning the OMP’s first runway project ahead of schedule and under budget. She also played key roles in previous administrations, having served as a Deputy Chief of Staff to the Mayor; and in various roles at the Departments of Law and Planning and Development. Rhee has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul University School of Law. **Biography of Michelle Kantor, government contracting expert and attorney, and a Partner in McDonald Hopkins LLC, leading the Federal and Local Government Contracting & Procurement practice group for the firm. Michelle Kantor is a Partner in McDonald Hopkins LLC and leads the Federal and Local Government Contracting & Procurement practice group for the firm. Michelle has more than 30 years experience practicing in government contracting, diversity certifications, procurement law, corporate law and government contracting disputes. On August 1, 2017 Michelle was named by Crain’s Business Chicago as Top Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago. In August 2018 she was again named by Crain’s Business in Chicago's Notable Women Lawyers 2018. Michelle represents prime contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, professional and other service providers, in matters including, SBA 8(a), WOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone, WBE/MBE/DBE and other certification submissions and appeals, government regulatory compliance, small business programs, size protests, bid protests, Size and NAICS code protests, contract and payment disputes, change order disputes and REAs, regulatory violations, response to government investigations and audits, proposed suspensions and debarment actions, and other related disputes. In addition, Michelle reviews and negotiates government contracts and other commercial contracts. She also acts as general counsel to companies regarding corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, succession and equity infusion planning and other legal needs. She also prepares federal Novation agreements for asset sales and guides her clients in transitioning ownership. Michelle prepares Joint Venture and Teaming Agreements, asset purchase agreements, professional service agreements, construction and design professional agreements and other commercial and government project agreements. Michelle assists clients in small business certifications and appeals, SBA Mentor-Protégé submissions and supplier diversity programs. Michelle also assists clients in FAR interpretation and compliance; and training in FAR and Ethics and Codes of Conduct. Michelle serves as General Counsel to the Federation of Women Contractors and serves on the Chicago Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) Advisory Committee. Michelle is also a member of Women Impacting Public Policy WIPP as well as member of the Court of Federal Claims Bar Association. She is also a Life Time Member of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Michelle has also served as Deputy Director for the City of Chicago, DCAP and Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Buildings and served as Internal Counsel for three years. Michelle has received the Lifetime Advocate Award from the Federation of Women Contractors for her work in promoting, counseling and advocating for women, minority, and veteran owned small business firms. Michelle is a frequent speaker at seminars, conventions, webinars & trade associations nationwide. ------------------------------------ A non-profit 501(c)19 corporation, the Elite SDVOB Network was established over 20 years ago. After serving their country, veterans have historically found themselves struggling as business owners. With a desire for independence and the ability to contribute to a national business community, a group of veterans established an organization to advocate on behalf of service-disabled veterans and veteran-owned small businesses: The Elite Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Network.