ATLANTA — A sold-out event hosted by Georgia Tech (GT) APEX Accelerator introduced more than 200 Georgia business owners to government entities, industry experts, and successful contractors who do business with local, state, and the federal government with the goal of helping small businesses thrive and larger companies find the talent they need to succeed in the government marketplace.
About the GT APEX Accelerator Training Expo
Sessions covered federal acquisition training, certifications, and government contracting strategies to help Georgia businesses scale. They heard presentations from representatives from county governments, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, law firms, and more to introduce Georgia businesses to the opportunities available. Partners from education, government, and economic development were also on hand to network and share the power of collaboration to build a competitive business environment.
“We decided to have this business outreach and training program to bring emerging and small businesses, mid-sized businesses, and large businesses together to learn how to pursue and win government contracts,” said Nancy Cleveland, GT APEX Accelerator’s statewide program manager. “That’s what we do, help Georgia-based businesses navigate the government acquisition processes.”
Major Players Supporting Small Businesses
At the day-long event, Georgia business owners and leaders were able hear from government reps, contractors who work with governments, and firms that offer services related to government contracting that small business owners need.
PMB Machine Works out of Kings Mountain, North Carolina, had heard so much about GT APEX Accelerator’s success at matching business to contracts, that it not only attended, but served as the event’s gold sponsor.
“GT APEX Accelerator has a reputation for being one of the most active APEX Accelerators in the nation,” said Don McGinnis, PMB’s business development director. “It was worth our time to come down, put up the sponsor money to be able to be here and make a good presence. We’ve been very pleasantly surprised by the service the people have offered us.”
Attorney Mike Gorby is a founder of the law firm Gorby Peters & Associates, a Georgia-based firm that practices general commercial law, contracting, and litigation. While a law firm is not necessarily what one might expect to find at an event focused on government contracting, he and his associates have worked with APEX off and on over the years.
“[GT APEX Accelerator] is such a great bargain for entrepreneurs,” he said, during his presentation, which centered on the ins and outs of teaming agreements, which are contracts between the prime contractor and a subcontractor before the government contract is awarded. “There’s nothing I’m aware of that is geared so much toward the startups, potential subcontractors, and being able to hook into these large government contracts.”
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was represented by Tyrone Gorham, the business outreach coordinator with the ATLNext capital improvement program. He participated in the matchmaking sessions, meeting business owners who might be a good fit for doing business with the airport or the city of Atlanta.
“I work in the construction space,” Gorham said, “so I’m seeking contractors who I like to say, ‘play in the dirt.’ Hartsfield-Jackson airport has projects that we’re seeking contractors to help us fulfill.”
Autumn McCombs, a U.S. Department of Defense contractor supporting the Naval Sea Systems Command Small Business Innovative Research and Technology Transfer program, explained how it allocates R&D funding to small businesses.
Shaday Word-Daniels, the supplier inclusion and sustainability professional with Southern Company, talked to business owners about the opportunities to work with the energy giant and its subsidiaries.
“Yes, our bread and butter is … providing energy,” she said. “But there are so many other functions in the company, from project management companies, even janitorial services, catering food services, there are so many different opportunities. It’s good to come out and meet with our small and local businesses to let them know there’s a space for you in our company, too.”
Several representatives from a few Georgia counties also addressed attendees about their needs and how to do business with them. Phyllis Douglas, the DeKalb County small business enterprise program manager, presented and participated in the matchmaking sessions.
DeKalb’s program specifically works with small business owners to educate them and introduce them to the possibilities of doing business with the government and educating them on how to scale their business, she said. The GT APEX Accelerator event is “just part of that pipeline into small business growth and development here in the metro area that we want to continue,” Douglas said.
Attendee Success Stories
The packed house included business owners from around the state who work in everything from air ducts to transportation to executive training.
Cary Aiken is the vice president business development for MediClean Air Pros in Gwinnett County. The company does duct work restoration and HVAC efficiency and has worked with GT APEX Accelerator for years, getting assistance with preparing government bids and RFPs.
“I’ve worked with many of the counselors and attended several of the sessions over the years,” Aiken said. “We do a lot of DOD work, a lot of federal work, also county and educational work. I’ve done a lot of work here on the Georgia Tech campus. They’re very helpful, especially in the very complicated quotes that we sometimes get for doing work on an army base or air force base.”
Renee Butts is fairly new to the work of GT APEX Accelerator. She is the CEO and owner of A Timely Manner, a Milledgeville, Georgia, company that provides non-emergency medical transportation for seniors and people with disabilities.
“I retired after 21 years of service,” she said. “I knew what it is to take the wheels to the road, but I wanted to know what the back office looked like, and how I could benefit from my years of service. I contacted APEX. I had to go through various courses, and that led me to my first contract in August 2025.”
The contract is for transporting juveniles and adults as part of the justice system.
“To anyone who doubts APEX, don’t,” she said. “Accept the help and believe in yourself. You can do this, but it takes time. You believe in yourself, you work on yourself, and you utilize all the resources that they have to offer you. APEX is available for you.”
Learn more about GT APEX Accelerator and upcoming events at gtapexaccelerator.org.