Apex 2025 by Janell Baldwin

Symposium Ends 7:30 AM

Registration Opens Vendor Booth Set Up

Continental Breakfast Available

Opening Remarks | Chuck Spence, APEX Accelerator Director

Featured Speaker | Jefferson Moss, Executive Director, GOEO

Keynote Speaker | Joshua Frank, Managing Partner, RSM Federal

Break | Exhibitor Booths Open

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Choose one of the following sessions)

• How to Write Winning Proposals | Darrin Cobler and Bill Hoff Room 226

• How to Pitch Myself to Government Agencies | Sara Ortiz Room 229

BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Choose one of the following sessions)

• Using AI in Government Procurement | Joshua Wiggins Room 229

• What is U3P (Bonfire/Euna) and How to Use it Effectively | Paula Kramer, Ann Schliep, and Jennifer Knowles Room 226

Lunch

Matchmaking Room 213 and 220

B2B Networking

Chuck Spence has had a long-distinguished career in public service for the State of Utah. His last 23 years in business and economic development – his passion!

Chuck earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Utah.

Chuck was appointed Director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), now known as APEX Accelerator, in April 2016, where he provides leadership for a statewide program and a staff of ten employees.

Chuck joined the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity in February 2005, as the Deputy Director of PTAC and helped build the program from the ground up.

Chuck has served in several leadership positions both locally as president of the Utah Supplier Development Council (USDC) from 2008-2011, and nationally with NAPEX (National Association of APEX Accelerators ) from 2011 - 2021. In March 2015, Chuck was elected President of NAPEX. In his role as President, Chuck testified before a Congressional Sub-Committee regarding the APEX Accelerator program and its impact on small business.

Chuck has also been officially recognized for his exemplary work by receiving five letters of excellence from former Governor/Ambassador Jon Huntsman, former Governor Gary Herbert and current Governor Spencer Cox.

In October 2022, Chuck was the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Leadership by Governor Spencer Cox.

TITLE

Hear from the newly appointed Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, Jefferson Moss. In this session, he will highlight Utah’s recent accolades and share a vision for advancing opportunity and innovation across the state, reinforcing Utah’s reputation as a leader in business and economic growth.

Attendees will also hear an update on Utah’s targeted industries and areas of emerging opportunity. This keynote will provide both inspiration and insight into the state’s economic direction, offering perspective on how Utah continues to build a strong foundation for businesses and entrepreneurs.

Jefferson Moss is the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO). He brings extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, investments, and legislative service, and has played a key role in driving innovation and economic development in Utah.

His diverse background includes founding several businesses and holding private banking roles. He has served as Chair of the UVU Endowment Investment Committee and is the founder of both the UVU Wolverine Fund and the Utah Innovation Fund. Moss has also held leadership positions as Associate Commissioner of Innovation for the Utah System of Higher Education, Board Member of the Utah Board of Education. He has also served as Executive Director of the Innovation District at The Point, and Majority Leader in the Utah House of Representatives.

Throughout his career, Moss has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering growth, creativity, and collaboration across multiple sectors.

KEYNOTE TITLE:

This keynote equips attendees with concrete strategies for navigating uncertainty and positioning in a changing market. In today’s rapidly changing landscape, companies face a critical choice: focus on the chaos and risk failure, or focus on business fundamentals and position for growth. Learn to navigate regulatory uncertainty, shift from reactive to strategic thinking, and position your company in a smaller, more profitable market. This keynote breaks down current policy shifts, their market implications, and delivers proven recommendations on how to pivot and thrive in today's environment.

Mr. Frank is a distinguished growth consultant, professional speaker, and bestselling author with 35 years of specialized expertise in the government contracting market. As Managing Partner at RSM Federal, he serves as a leading authority on federal acquisition, advanced marketing strategies, and predictive market analysis. His company runs the RSM Federal Training Center which has guided over 25,000 small and large businesses to secure billions in government contracts.

His bestselling book, "An Insider's Guide To Winning Government Contracts," serves as required reading for executive leadership programs at various business schools and universities. He specializes in transforming complex acquisition concepts into actionable business strategies. Mr. Frank serves on multiple boards and committees, including Chairman Emeritus for the Veteran Advocacy Foundation (VAF) and strategic advisor to the CEO of the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC).

A former military intelligence officer, he holds degrees in English, Information Systems, and Business Administration. He remains active in community service, including his involvement with the Boy Scouts of America. When not working, he maintains an uncompromising devotion to cabernet sauvignon and enjoys premium cigars, particularly Cuban and Nicaraguan selections.

Darrin Cobler is a Regional Manager with the Utah APEX Accelerator Program, where he works closely with businesses to help them navigate the complexities of government contracting and expand their opportunities in the public sector marketplace. With a strong background in business development and a passion for empowering local companies, Darrin provides guidance on procurement strategies, compliance, and competitive positioning.

A Utah native, Darrin brings many years of experience in both national and international business development, giving him a unique perspective on how local businesses can compete and grow in a global economy. In his role, he partners with small and medium-sized businesses to strengthen their capacity, connect them with resources, and position them for long-term growth.

When he’s not working with clients, Darrin is actively engaged in building relationships across Utah’s business community and supporting initiatives that drive economic development and innovation.

Bill Hoff serves as Senior Vice President of Business Development at LSI, where he leads the firm’s Business Development and Strategy practice. He supports Fortune 100 companies, local enterprises, government agencies, and educational institutions by applying proven methodologies to strengthen customer relationships and create sustainable competitive advantages.

Mr. Hoff brings deep expertise in source selection, organizational logistics integration, and the removal of systemic barriers to ensure timely and effective delivery in highly competitive, resource-constrained environments.

Before joining LSI, Mr. Hoff completed a distinguished 30+ year career with the United States Air Force. He held key leadership roles in Acquisitions, Program Management, and Logistics, including serving as Chief of the Program Management and Logistics Division and the Acquisition Support Branch at the Air Force Test Center/Specialized Management. In these roles, he supported the developmental test and evaluation of air, space, and cyber weapon systems.

Throughout his USAF career, Mr. Hoff worked extensively with industry and academia across a wide spectrum of research and prototyping initiatives, utilizing both Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) procurement strategies. He managed more than $5 billion in life cycle acquisition projects and served as Chair of the Source Selection Evaluation Board for an Enterprise Services Source Selection effort exceeding $4 billion under a classified Air Staff-level Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract.

DARRIN COBLER

BILL HOFF

BREAKOUT SESSION:

Sara Ortiz is the Utah APEX Accelerator Regional Manager for Utah, Wasatch, and Juab counties. She graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s in business administration and joined the UT APEX Accelerator team in 2021. She is passionate about helping small businesses succeed in the government marketplace.

BREAKOUT SESSION:

Joshua Wiggins is the Assistant Director of the Utah APEX Accelerator program and serves as the regional manager for Washington, Wayne, Kane, Millard, Sanpete, Sevier, and Piute counties. He started with the program in 2018 on the administrative side before becoming a consultant in 2021. Joshua has a Bachelors of Science from Southern Utah University and a Master of Arts from Utah State University.

SARA ORTIZ

JOSHUA WIGGINS

BREAKOUT SESSION:

Paula Kramer has a significant background in government contracting after serving a successful career with the Department of Defense (DOD) as a Contracting Officer. She is a graduate from the US Army Logistics Management College in the Program of Contract Management and recognized by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA). She serves as the Regional Manager under the APEX Program for the Salt Lake Metro, Summit, and Tooele counties, in helping Utah businesses successfully navigate the government marketplace.

Ann Schliep serves as a State Procurement Manager for the Utah Division of Purchasing, where she has worked for the past 11.5 years. She focuses on managing four people along with working with 3 of the State’s largest departments, Natural Resources, Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Food. She helped with the implementation of the Bonfire system and is also one of the Salesforce administrators.

Jennifer Knowles serves as a contract analyst for the Utah Division of Purchasing, where she has worked for the past 4.5 years. Her primary focus is on agency contracts for 7 different state agencies, ensuring they meet the requirements of the Utah Procurement Code. With a strong background in procurement and contract management, she is skilled at writing and evaluating proposals, managing agency and vendor relationships, and providing procurement training to various public entities throughout the state.

PAULA KRAMER

ANN SCHLIEP

JENNIFER KNOWLES

Utah APEX Accelerator

LSI

BAE Systems

Dugway Proving Ground

Jacobs Technology

Hill AFB Small Business Office

Hill AFB Contracting Division

Visit Ogden (HIPE)

L3 Harris 47G