The RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Danville, VA will include networking opportunities and breakout sessions featuring amazing speakers to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to starting, growing, and scaling.
About this Workshop
Opening Doors to Virginia’s Procurement Landscape – Part 2: Overview of SBSD’s SWaM Certification Program
Description:
Virginia’s SWaM Certification can help small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses compete for procurement opportunities. This session will explain who is eligible, the benefits of certification, and how to complete the application process. Attendees will leave with practical steps for using SWaM Certification to help grow their businesses.
*This session is designed for companies interested in selling goods or services to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Speaker: Kathy Deacon, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity
Kathy Deacon
About the Speaker
Kathy Deacon
Business Services Manager, Southwest Virginia, Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity (SBSD)
Kathy Deacon serves as the Business Services Manager for Southwest Virginia at the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD). In this role, she champions the growth and success of small businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators by facilitating access to education, resources, and opportunities within Virginia’s SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) procurement program and the broader state contracting system.
Kathy brings a wealth of experience in economic development, having held leadership positions across the Commonwealth of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Kathy is a small business owner herself, and understands firsthand the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to empowering others to build and sustain successful ventures across the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond.
Register TODAY for the RISE Summit
The 3rd annual RISE Summit for Entrepreneurs and Innovators will be held Thursday, August 27, 2026 at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research in Danville, VA. Don't miss out the unique opportunity to connect with peers and resources designed to help you start, grow, or scale your business in Southern Virginia.