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NEWS | April 6, 2017

NSWC Crane Builds Business Relationships at 2017 Buy Indiana Expo

By NSWC Crane Public Affairs

April 6, 2017


FRENCH LICK, Ind. -- The Bedford Chamber of Commerce hosted Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division’s (NSWC Crane) 20th annual Buy Indiana Expo Tuesday at French Lick Resort and Casino. The event offered companies opportunities to expand their business with government centers, and more than 300 Crane employees were in attendance. 

 

This was the first Buy Indiana Expo for Matt Burkett as NSWC Crane's Deputy for Small Business. Burkett, who had worked in NSWC Crane's Contracting Department since 2006, assumed the role earlier this year when Reggie Joslin retired after 20 years in the position. Joslin originally came up with the idea for Buy Indiana, and he was in attendance on Tuesday to support his successor. 

 

"Buy Indiana is a chance for businesses to relay to the hundreds in attendance what sets them apart from the rest," Burkett said. "It's also a great way for businesses to explain to Crane what they can do in helping us support our No. 1 mission, which is to support the warfighter. 

 

"This is a relationship business. The Buy Indiana Expo is a great way for me to get to know a lot of the businesses in one fell swoop. Otherwise, it's trying to meet with them one at a time on particular days, and that takes a lot of time. This can accelerate the learning process of me getting to know who they are, and they can get to know the buyers from Crane, too. They get a chance to meet them in a comfortable setting and let them know who they are and what they do." 

 

The “Buy Indiana” initiative began in 1997 with a goal of increasing NSWC Crane’s spending in the state. In the mid-1990s, approximately 11 to 12 percent of NSWC Crane's total expenditures benefitted Hoosier businesses. Those numbers have more than doubled in the time since then.  

 

NSWC Crane procured $777 million in products and services last fiscal year, with $271.5 million going to Hoosier businesses and $122.1 million paid to Indiana small businesses. 

 

"That's not chump change," NSWC Crane Commanding Officer CAPT JT Elder told the crowd. "That's a lot of dollars coming from NSWC Crane and going out to companies that do the work here in Indiana." 

 

Nearly 200 companies from 14 states participated in this year’s expo, where NSWC Crane representatives held breakout sessions/workshops to educate vendors on conducting business with the federal government and connected interested parties with key NSWC Crane contacts. 

 

"The workshops we have are great," Burkett said. "They benefit some of our longstanding industry partners, but they're also very good for some of the folks that are small and medium-sized businesses and are fairly new." 

 

The Buy Indiana Expo not only teaches companies about expanding their businesses into government contracting, but also allows NSWC Crane to find new and innovative products and services to support the United States military.  

 

"It's tremendous to be able to support America itself as well as the American military from here in Southern Indiana," CAPT Elder said. "The relationships built here have allowed us to do the business asked of us by the big Navy. It's no small effort, so I want to thank each and every one of you for that." 

 

Burkett was pleased with the turnout for Tuesday's event, but he urged the businesses in attendance to stay in touch going forward. 

 

"We greatly appreciate you coming, but stay on us," Burkett said. "Just coming to Buy Indiana, that's not a guaranteed contract. You have to find those opportunities. Get ahold of me, and stay engaged, let us know that you're around and you're interested in what we're doing." 

 

For more information on the “Buy Indiana” initiative, contact NSWC Crane’s Small Business Office at 812-854-1542 or smallbusiness@navy.mil. 

 

NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today’s warfighter.