2023 - 2024 President's Welcome PDF

Welcome all SCC Members to the 2023-2024 Program Year! I am humbled and excited to be the SCC president this year and do what I can to help all of you succeed and meet whatever needs you have!

My Background

I am relatively new to the Chapter, so a little about me. I served as an acquisition attorney for over 35 years, serving with the U.S. Army as a civilian, and then with BAE Systems as their Deputy Chief Counsel seeing the world from the other side of the fence (oh! …and I like lawyer jokes, so bring ‘em on). I recently opened a consulting firm operating out of Cape Canaveral, but I see that what we can collectively do for the Space Coast and its SCC members as a much more important mission!

Your New Board

The new Board members met on August 26th and began working out our SCC efforts this year. Keep in mind that although they are our leadership, the Chapter is about you! Nothing decided is in stone, and we need your input so that we can do our best to
meet your needs. Your new board members are:

President – David DeFrieze, DeFriezeConsulting@outlook.com
Senior Vice President / President-Elect – Beverly Neurock (Interim), bneurock@asrcfederal.com
Vice President, Programs & Education – Ursula Nkwantabisa, Nkwantabisa@ibm.com
Vice President, Membership & Website / Communications – Sai Srinivas Telekepalli, stelekepalli@knights.ucf.edu
Treasurer – Jay Shafir
Secretary – Summer Wyllie-Vitt, swyllie-vitt@mlbair.com

Thanks to Last Year’s Board Members for their service!

Website and LinkedIn Group

Don’t forget, you can see much of the above on our Chapter Website at ncmaspacecoast.org. Spend some time there and let us know how it can be improved. We also have a LinkedIn Group page (check out (10) NCMA Space Coast Chapter | Groups | LinkedIn).

Last Year Summary

It was a good year last year! Last year the Space Coast Chapter was able to give the membership opportunities to gain knowledge in the Contracting field and participate in valuable training. The chapter successfully held five (5) monthly trainings conducted by
instructors who are successful in the Contracting field. Each monthly training provided the attendee one (1) CPE per training. The chapter also conducted a Spring Education Event, which provided 7.5 CPEs to each attendee. We also were able to give back to the community, by
raising funds for two (2) local charities, Toys for Tots, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Plans for This Year

The Board will continue to look for top-notch speakers to bring training, meaningful discussions, and value to our members. As the search starts for sourcing great speakers, we look to you to understand what is important to you and your career development. Please let us know what interest you have so we can ensure the right topics and speakers are scheduled for this program year. If you know of someone whether local or not who may be
interested in speaking, please let Ursula Nkwantabisa know.

Goals for this year (so far)

Not completed so welcome your input! We do see that we are in a transition year.

  • First and foremost, we want to meet your needs. Let us know what they are!
  • As we come out of COVID and all remote inter-action, we want to start meeting face to face and increase our networking!
  • Space seems to be increasing in importance (both from an exploration and defense poster). As we are the Space Coast contracting people, we need to set the example for
    everyone, yet meet everyone’s needs!
  • Agencies are looking to use faster more efficient means of contracting for their needs. I think we will see more “Other transactions” and innovative contracting techniques.
  • AI, blockchain, smart contracts, quantum computing, 3D printing, and other innovations will weave their way into the mainstream. We need to stay on top of it.
  • Younger folks communicate differently, so if you’re younger than me (which I think is everyone), help us develop useful, meaningful communications.
  • Also, we want to be more social, have more fun! You play a big role in that.

Meeting Schedule

While details still in the works, the following “hold the date” schedule is set. More training or events may be added, but this will be a start. Our intent is to try to combine Chapter meetings with the training sessions, and have in person training at a location
where it can be followed by lunch or dinner (allowing networking). We will also make the training available virtually for those that require it.

Quarterly Trainings

  • October 11, 2023: Training (Topic TBD)
  • December 13, 2023: Training (Topic TBD)
  • March 2, 2024: Training (Topic TBD)
  • June 2, 2024: Training (Topic TBD)

Board Meetings

  • 6:00 PM every 2nd Thursday of month; beginning September 14, 2023

Member Socials

  • January 27, 2024 Outdoor Social (BBQ, Park, Beach?)
  • June 8, 2024 Indoor or Dining Based Social

How can you help or get involved?

Contact any one of us via email, phone, text, carrier pigeon, whatever works.

We are looking for skilled people to be Chapter Committee Chairpersons. If you have any expertise in the following areas, or want to gain such knowledge or experience, please step forward and let us know. It won’t take much of your time, or … do it with friends if you like.
Get involved…!

  • Attendance
  • Audit
  • Awards
  • By-Laws
  • Certification
  • Employment
  • Fellows
  • Golf Outing
  • Hospitality & Outreach
  • NES/WEC
  • Newsletter
  • Nominations & Elections
  • Scholarship

This year the Board is looking to increase the Chapter’s membership, as well as volunteer participation and attendance rates. One way we will achieve this is through awareness and outreach to organizations and universities in our area. Please help the Chapter spread the word
by inviting peers to check out the Chapter. Your ideas are always welcomed so please keep them coming!

I hope you are as excited as we are for this program year. Here is to our Chapter and a great 2023-2024 Program year!

/signed/
David C. DeFrieze
President, NCMA Space Coast Chapter