NGA Mentor-Protégé Program Workshop - ARLINGTON, VA

EPATH-INTELLIVERSE-GRS NGA Mentor-Protégé Program Workshop- ARLINGTON, VA

Please join us for our IN-PERSON NGA Mentor-Protégé Program Workshop hosted by ePath USA (ePATH), Intelliverse Solutions Group (Intelliverse) and Global Resource Solutions, Inc. (GRS) on behalf of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Office of Small Business Programs.

JUNE 10 2026 from 7:30am-3:00pm (EST) at the Residence Inn by Marriott Arlington Ballston: 650 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22203

Registration is open to all Small Business, Large Business, Active DoW Mentors, Active DoW Protégés, potential Mentor-Protégé participants, and invited Government and Academia Representatives.

Please complete the registration form as you would like it to appear on your name badge.

There are a limited number of seats, so please REGISTER as early as you can.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis!

The workshop will be Wednesday, JUNE 10th 2026 from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM (EST), with the first speaker going on at 9:00am.

The event will take place at the: Residence Inn by Marriott Arlington Ballston: 650 N Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22203

HOTEL ROOMS AVAILABLE! Book your HOTEL ROOM via our GROUP RATE for the NGA MPP Workshop:

You will find the information for your online reservation link .

Hotel(s) offering your special group rate:

Residence Inn by Marriott Arlington Ballston for 276.00 USD per night - Last Day to Book : Monday, May 11, 2026

Please contact: [email protected] for any questions.

The Agency: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is a combat support agency within the United States Department of War whose primary mission is collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) to support national security. NGA is a unique combination of intelligence agency and combat support agency. It is the world leader in timely, relevant, accurate and actionable geospatial intelligence (GEOINT). NGA enables the U.S. intelligence community and the Department of Defense to fulfill the president’s national security priorities to protect the nation. The agency is headquartered in Springfield, Virginia with two major locations in St. Louis, Missouri and Arnold, Missouri.

The Hosts:

ePathUSA is a leading provider of technology solutions based in Des Moines, Iowa. The company is built on a customer-first philosophy and is committed to delivering high-quality solutions and services at an affordable price. Its team of experts brings the quality, maturity, and operational excellence of a large corporation while maintaining the agility and cost-effectiveness of a small business. With an operational mindset rooted in a startup culture, ePathUSA remains nimble and responsive to client needs. The company’s founders, Anitha Timiri and Hari Nallure, emphasize growth through innovative solutions designed to help clients succeed. With a strong focus on modernization and automation, ePathUSA has been providing an electronic (“e”) path to success for agencies across Iowa, Nevada, Minnesota, and beyond. The organization places a high priority on building strong client relationships grounded in trust and transparency.

Intelliverse Solutions Group is a market-leading, Advanced Management and Innovative Services company, propelled by the imperative to reimagine strategic solutions to our clients’ large-scale complex challenges. As one of the fastest growing companies in Virginia, ISG's professional service engagements are represented in a variety of industry markets including; Management, Advanced Strategic Technology Services, Intelligence and Counter-Intelligence Analysis Service, Cyber Security Innovations and Solutions Services, and Linguist and Translation Services Provider throughout the entire United States. They are a driven company with big capabilities, and they have been essential partners to some of the largest government organizations in the world; Department of Defense (DOD), National Security Agency and Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Global Resource Solutions, Inc. (GRS) is at the forefront of providing operational, strategic, and technical support and solutions throughout the Federal government. GRS maintains deep domain knowledge and strong past performance in the areas of Intelligence Analysis and Operations, Cybersecurity, Security Solutions, Information Technology, and Strategic Consulting. GRS is an Active Multi-award winning Nunn-Perry Mentor in the DoW Mentor-Protégé Program. The GRS MPP provides an avenue for businesses to achieve entrepreneurial success and contribute to the strength, supplier base and vigor of our economy. GRS's technology transfer initiatives help enhance the capability of our protégés to successfully compete for prime and subcontracting opportunities and contribute to the defense of our nation including the reduction of costs for the federal government.

The Program: The Department of War (DoW) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) was established under Public Law 101-510, Section 831, and the National Defense Authorization Act of 1991. It is a statutorily mandated program under 10 USC 4902.

The purpose of the program is to provide incentives for major Department of Defense contractors to furnish small business concerns with assistance designed to-

(1) enhance the capabilities of small business concerns to perform as subcontractors and suppliers under Department of Defense contracts and other contracts and subcontracts; and

(2) increase the participation of such business concerns as subcontractors and suppliers under Department of Defense contracts, other Federal Government contracts, and commercial contracts.

Since 1991, DoD MPP has offered substantial assistance to small businesses. The DoD MPP assists small businesses (protégés) to successfully compete for prime contract and subcontract awards by partnering with typically large companies (mentors) under individual, project-based agreements.

For more information please visit the Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Program Website: https://business.defense.gov/Programs/Mentor-Protege-Program/

Thank you for registering for the workshop. Please keep your tickets handy, either in the Eventbrite app or print them out and bring them with you.

SPEAKERS

Mr. Rodderick Barney - NGA Mentor-Protégé Program

Mr. Shannon Jackson - Executive Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Small Business Programs

Mr. Shannon Jackson was appointed as the Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) in November 2021. Mr. Jackson is responsible for implementing the Department’s small business procurement programs across the HHS portfolio valued at $9.4 billion in procurements, awarding contracts each year to small businesses. Mr. Jackson comes to HHS with a wealth of experience and is joining us from the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) where he served in various roles to include Acting Director of OSBP, Deputy Director of OSBP, and Associate Director for the DoD Mentor Protégé Program and Senior Advisor to the Director of the DoD OSBP. Mr. Jackson has served over 29 years in the federal government and has held various leadership positions throughout his career, to include his military service retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army. Mr. Jackson led a network of 700 full- and part-time small business professionals across the DoD. Noteworthy is that the work of DOD’s small business workforce results in more than $50 billion in prime contract spending on contracts to small businesses and over $40 billion in subcontract spending for small businesses annually. Mr. Jackson began his acquisition career with the U.S. Army successfully. He was certified as a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Program Manager Level III and Level II Contracting. Mr. Jackson has completed several executive level training courses in leadership throughout his career to include certifications from the University of Chicago and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Virginia State University, a master’s degree in business administration from Nichols College and a master’s degree in procurement and acquisition from Webster University.

Mr. Hari Nallure - President, ePath USA

Hari Nallure is a seasoned technology executive and Co-Founder of ePathUSA, a nationally recognized, women-owned 8(a) small business specializing in digital transformation, data-driven solutions, and mission-focused technology services for federal, state, and commercial clients. With over 20 years of experience across healthcare, government, and enterprise sectors, Hari has led large-scale modernization initiatives, helping organizations improve operational efficiency, strengthen program integrity, and adopt emerging technologies such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced data analytics. Under his leadership, ePathUSA has grown into a trusted partner to agencies including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as multiple state governments and Fortune 500 companies. Hari plays a key role in driving strategic growth, partnerships, and innovation initiatives, including leading ePathUSA’s efforts in AI-enabled solutions such as medical record review and data governance platforms. He is passionate about leveraging technology to solve complex public-sector challenges, particularly in areas like fraud prevention, healthcare modernization, and digital service delivery.

Mr. Darryl Toomer - President/CEO, Intelliverse Solutions group

Mr. Toomer is a retired Command Sergeant Major with 30 years of distinguished service in the United States Marine Corps, followed by an extensive executive career in government contracting and intelligence services. Since May 2012, he has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of multiple SBA-certified companies, including 8(a), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), and HUBZone firms, where he oversees day-to-day operations, strategic planning, financial management, and long-term growth initiatives. Prior to launching and leading his own companies, Mr. Toomer held senior executive roles with SAIC, serving as Vice President and Business Area Manager, where he managed large-scale DOJ, DIA, FBI, and Intelligence Community contracts and led more than 200 personnel across CONUS and multiple overseas locations. Throughout his civilian and military career, Mr. Toomer has demonstrated deep expertise in executive leadership, contract and program management, workforce development, and financial oversight. He is a graduate of the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) GROW and INTERNATIONAL programs and holds an active Top Secret/SCI security clearance with CI Polygraph.

Ms. Lisa Woods - Statewide Director, Virginia Apex Accelerator

Ms. Wood holds a MBA from the University of New Haven and a BSBA through the Robert Morris University of Pittsburgh. Lisa is currently pursuing her PhD in Instructional Management and Leadership (School of Education and Social Sciences) with Robert Morris University of Pittsburgh. She previously was the Statewide Director of the APEX Accelerator formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTAC) for the Connecticut PTAC and prior to that was Statewide Director with the Ohio Department of Development after serving as PTAC Director for the Northwest Commission of Pennsylvania. Before joining the PTAC/APEX community, Lisa was a Contracting Officer for Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc. in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. In her prior roles, Wood performed contract administration and negotiation duties. She also recommended bidders, handled issue inquiries, negotiated bids, performed cost and price analysis, and prepared comprehensive letters to justify recommended contract actions.

Mr. Charles Sills - President & CEO, American Defense Alliance

Charles F. Sills is a recognized authority on U.S. Government contracting, and an advocate for Small/Medium-sized Business access to Federal and Military acquisition opportunities, serving as the President & CEO of the American Defense Alliance – which hosts major Defense Requirements conferences across the country, connecting private sector innovators with the Pentagon, Military commands, and Congress to accelerate National Security solutions. As a former Naval Intelligence Officer, he held positions at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Middle East Force, and NATO Supreme Allied Command/Atlantic; and subsequently worked in Lockheed Martin’s International Division managing strategic marketing and export licensing for defense systems as well as renewable energy technologies. His education includes an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and an A.B. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs.

Mr. Shehan Goonewardene - Director, DoD Mentor-Protégé Program, Global Resource Solutions, Inc.

Shehan Goonewardene is a strategic leader with over 15 years of extensive experience with the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protege Program (MPP). He has successfully led and managed multiple mentor-protege programs at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Activity (NGA), Defense Intelligence Activity (DIA) and the United States Air Force (USAF). Under Shehan’s leadership GRS has secured multiple Nunn-Perry Awards from the Department of Defense. Shehan previously held the position of Program Manager for the United States Navy (USN) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). In this role his focus was providing program management support for the client and coordinating between team members and the 11 Major Commands. He was also the Project Coordinator for the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). Shehan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside and a M.B.A. in Management and Leadership from the University of La Verne, College of Business and Public Management. He has also developed strong research and writing skills through coursework in contracts law by successfully completing one year of Juris Doctor studies at the University of La Verne College of Law.

Info: Registration and Networking Breakfast

Info: Overview of the NGA Mentor-Protege Program

Info: Overview of the Reporting Requirements for MPP: Monthly Reports, Program Management Reviews, Semi-Annual Reports and Annual Reports.

Info: How to navigate the federal government contracting environment in FY2026.

Info: Lessons learned from a small business perspective

Info: Networking Break

Info: Learn about all the free small business resources available for your company.

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Host or Publisher Global Resource Solutions, Inc.