MSBDC forges link with Lockheed Martin

by Lou Wigdor, special to the Chronicle

 new partnership between the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) network and Lockheed Martin is expected to bring Bay State businesses a wealth of new contractual opportunities with the aerospace giant.

     The new partnership will manifest through the MSBDC's Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), which helps the state's business community identify and capture federal and state contractual opportunities. In the interest of increasing contractual participation of Massachusetts small businesses with Lockheed Martin business units across the nation, the parties have agreed to develop action plans, set timetables, and establish a common framework for sharing innovative ideas and solutions.
"This is a great day for small businesses in Massachusetts and around the country," said Georgianna Parkin, director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network. "This agreement will allow our network to join with a great partner in creating a program which will benefit small businesses throughout the nation."

     "We understand that the real work begins today to demonstrate our commitment to working with small businesses," added Michael Robinson, program manager for the PTAC. "Now, Lock-heed Martin and the PTAC will work together to follow up, implement, and coordinate efforts to provide the greatest level of opportunity to the small business community.

     "We're honored to be a part of this project, and we look forward to achieving positive results in the small business community," observed Lockheed Martin's vice president of global supply chain management, John Hatch. "This agreement will enhance Lockheed Martin's strong Supplier Diversity Program by establishing a model to coordinate our efforts with the PTAC organizations. On October 8, we'll host our first Industry Day with the Massachusetts PTAC at Boston College. Our goal is to educate potential suppliers for Lockheed Martin's government and commercial products."

     Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in Marietta, Ga., and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development for the Eastern U.S. currently co-sponsor the United Indian Development Center PTAC. That PTAC will assist the Massachusetts centers under the partnership's arrangement.

     In addition to its PTAC initiative, the federal- and state-funded MSBDC network provides counseling and training to Massachusetts small businesses (more than 7,000 small business clients in 2002) through five regional centers throughout the state. It also operates two additional specialty centers - the International Trade Program/Massachusetts Export Center, and the Minority Business Center.

     Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs 125,000 people worldwide. It focuses on the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2001 sales of $24 billion.

     MSBDC is headquartered in the Isenberg School of Management.