Captain Scott A. Bernotas
Civil Engineers Corps.
United States Navy

Captain Scott A. Bernotas is the Commanding Officer of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Midwest, headquarted at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois.

Captain Bernotas was born in Kentucky but raised in Hawaii and San Diego. He graduated in 1986 from Califronia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

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Steven Blinderman
President
Blinderman Construction

Steve Blinderman is President of Blinderman Construction Company. He has been with the company since 1983, in his current position since 1996. Steve is responsible for day-to-day operations of the company as well as providing leadership, strategy and direction.

Prior to becoming the company’s President, Steve served in various management capacities directing both work acquisition and construction operations.

Steve is active outside the company for professional and charitable organizations. He has assumed leadership roles in the Lake Michigan Post of SAME and also serves on the Board of YouthBuild Lake County, a not-for-profit that promotes development of low-income youth.

David A. Rose, Esq.
Senior Member
Rose Consulting Law Firm

David A. Rose, Esq., is the senior member of a law firm practicing throughout the United States and internationally based in Duluth (Atlanta) Georgia. In addition to Federal Contracts and Procurement law, he assists companies and Corporations with business formation issues (LLCs, Domestic Corporations, Joint Ventures, Teaming Arrangements, 8a and Small Disadvantaged Applications to SBA, Mentor-Protégé, Affiliation and Ostensible Subcontractor Issues, etc.) and with the establishment of subsidiary entities in foreign locations from the Caribbean to the Mid and Far East.

He is active in the State Bar of Georgia, US Court of Federal Claims, US Tax Court, Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, Fulton County Bar Association, the Society of American Military Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Judge Advocates Association.

He currently holds the active rank of Lt Col in the United States Air Force Reserves and the position of Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (Cat A) to the Headquarters, United States Air Force Reserves where he is one of the primary legal advisors to the Commanding Officer of the Air Force Reserves, Lt General Stenner.

Ann Kalayil
Regional Administrator
General Services Administration

Ann Kalayil was named Regional Administrator of the General Services Administration’s Great Lakes Region in January 2011. As the agency’s regional chief executive, Kalayil heads operations that provide Federal agencies and the U.S. Courts in six states with support in vital areas such as real estate services, procurements, information technology, supplies, equipment, and vehicles. Headquartered in Chicago, the Region has a workforce of 956 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $450 million.

Michelle F. Kantor
ESQ
McDonald Hopkins LLC

Michelle Kantor heads up the Construction Law practice group in the Chicago office of McDonald Hopkins LLC. Michelle has more than 24 years’ experience practicing in government contracting, construction, mechanics’ lien law and litigation. She represents prime and subcontractors, design professionals, manufacturers, fabricators, suppliers, consultants and owners in all procurement and construction related matters including, Federal regulatory compliance, mechanic’s liens, bid protests, warranty and design liability claims, bond claims, change order disputes, delay claims, payment disputes, building code violations, and other business related disputes. She also acts as general counsel to companies regarding other legal needs.

Emma Kowalenko
President
Kowalenko Consulting Grpup, Inc.

Environmental and Management Consultant, Strategic Planner, Environmental Historian, Technical Writer, Editor, and Communication Specialist, Emma Kowalenko has more than 25 years of professional experience and a Master’s Degree in history. Under her ownership and management the firm of Kowalenko Consulting Group, Inc. provides environmental engineering, transportation planning, Geographical Information Services (GIS), research, and technical support services to public and private sector clients. Ms. Kowalenko directs the efforts related to KCG’s environmental site assessments, National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) studies, and management consulting projects. She is responsible for project design, client relations, and project quality control.

Priscilla Abeyta-Perez
Deputy for Small Business
United States Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo Districts

Priscilla Abeyta-Perez is the Deputy for Small Business for the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Chicago, Buffalo, and Detroit Districts and has been the Deputy for ten years. As the Deputy for Small Business for the USACE she counsels/assists contractors in what they need to know so they can do business with the Corps. By educating them as to what they need to be aware of how we look for contractors, on the internet for our business opportunities for all three districts locations. Prior, she was a Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer of Defense Logistics Agency and the Department of the Navy. She has 24 years of government service with 22 years in the Contracting area from working cradle to grave, with experience procuring services, supplies, construction and professional services. Priscilla holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Calumet College of St. Joseph, with a few accounting classes. She holds a Level II Certification in Contracting and working toward Level III Certification and a resident of Lake County, Indiana. She is also on the emergency management team for USACE.

Anthony J. Bilotti, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Director, Environmental and Transportation Services
Kowalenko Consulting Grpup, Inc.

Anthony Bilotti is a career environmental professional who has advised industry and government agencies at all levels. He has directed teams of engineers, geologists, urban planners, public health scientists, industrial hygienists, information systems analysts and technicians in the process of assessing the risks and benefits of planning and redevelopment initiatives. Throughout his 30-year career, he has built and nurtured working relationships with municipal, county, and state officials and agency staff, non-profit organizations and professional societies. He has teamed with community organizations to promote new partnerships aimed at improving environmental quality and protecting human health.

Adrianne M. Callahan
Small Business Specialist and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE) Program Manager
Environmental Protection Agency

Adrianne M. Callahan is currently the Small Business Specialist and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (MBE) Program Manager for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5, Chicago, IL. As the SBS and DBE Program Manager, Mrs. Callahan is responsible for the socio-economic programs carried out through the Region’s acquisition and financial assistance programs. The programs include, but are not limited to, the Small Business Set-Aside program, the Small Disadvantaged Business program, the Historically Underutilized Business (HUBZone) program, the Women-Owned Business program, the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program, the Service Disabled Veterans program, and the Fair Share program under EPA financial assistance agreements.

Judy Fassbender, PG, PH
Federal Services Manager
Bloom Companies

Judy Fassbender, PG, PH is the Federal Services Manager at Bloom Companies, an 8(a) design/build firm. Judy brings a wide range of experiences from her 25 year career managing complex projects for Federal, State and Local government entities. Judy’s worked for a large Federal contractor and two small disadvantaged businesses, and she has owned her own 8(a) engineering firm. Her responsibilities have included marketing, design and construction project management, project implementation, and subcontractor coordination. Judy was the program manager for a NAVFAC Midwest EMAC contractor, overseeing work conducted at naval stations throughout the Midwest. She was also the project manager for several design/build construction contracts for the Army Corps of Engineers, including one that received an outstanding rating on 27 of the 30 categories rated. Judy has developed and executed joint ventures and teaming agreements to successfully complete Federal contracts. She has built partnerships leading toward mentor-protégé objectives and developed solid working relationships with key Federal customers. Judy looks forward to sharing her strategies for success with others.

Jason C. Hinze
Procurement Analyst/Small Business Liaison
US Department of Veterans Affairs
Network Contracting Office 12, Great Lakes Acquisition Center

Mr. Hinze is a FAC-C Level III Contracting Officer with the US Department of Veteran Affairs’ Networking Contract Office 12. Mr. Hinze has a broad range of contractual experience, serving as a Contracting Officer and/or Team Lead on the Construction, Health Care, and Supply/Service teams. In his current position, Mr. Hinze is responsible for providing analysis and recommendations on complex contracts greater than two million dollars. Mr. Hinze also serves as the Network Contracting Officer 12’s Small Business Liaison Representative covering an area of responsibility spanning from Chicago to Iron Mountain, MI. Mr. Hinze works with local management to develop strategic sourcing opportunities for small businesses.

Janis E. Kaiser
Deputy for Small Business
Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Midwest, (NAVFAC Midwest) Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois

NAVFAC Midwest manages the planning, design, construction and support of facilities for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and other clients in sixteen Midwest states. In her position at NAVFAC Midwest, Ms. Kaiser assists and supports the interests of small businesses providing outreach and liaison support concerning acquisition related issues. Ms. Kaiser has worked in the contracting field since 1994 and has been involved with the small business program since 1999. In 2004 she received the U.S. Small Business Administration/Chicago Federal Executive Board Procurement Official of the Year Award. Ms. Kaiser serves as an officer of the DoD’s North Central

Lieutenant Commander Jason H. Lockhart
Civil Engineers Corps.
United States Navy

Lieutenant Commander Lockhart was born and grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota. He enlisted in the Navy in March 1999 through the Bachelor Degree Completion Program (BDCP) while enrolled at South Dakota State University (SDSU). He graduated in December 2000, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering

Wim Massie
Acquisition Director
NACFAC Midwest

Wim Massie has held various acquisition positions before becoming Director of Acquisitions for NAVFAC Midwest. Pre-Navy experiences include contracting positions at the U.S. EPA and the U.S, Air Force. He is DAWIA Level III Acquisition Professional and graduated from the Navy War College (National Security and Strategic Policy). Mr. Massie's hobbies include reading, sports of all kinds, and watching his kids play sports.

Jean Marie-Thiel
President
Belonger Corporation

Jean Marie Thiel is the Founder and President of Belonger Corporation. She started her mechanical contracting business in her basement with one employee and four customers. Eleven years later, Belonger Corporation is Wisconsin’s only woman-owned and American Indian-owned mechanical contracting company employing over 50 employees. Ms. Thiel serves on the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute as well as the winner of the MMAC Future 50 Award, Wisconsin’s Minority Business of the Year Award, US SBA’s Regional Minority Business of the Year, Women of Influence Award and Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s Outstanding Minority Business of the Year. Belonger Corporation participated in the States first federal Mentor Protégé partnership and is a recent successful graduate of the 8(a) program. In March of 2009, Ms. Thiele was invited to Washington, DC to participate in President Obama’s small business roundtable in March of 2009.