2018 Above and Beyond Award winner for Government Agency of the Year was proudly presented to Danetta Jackson and Michael Aguillio, representing the California Department of General Services. Their work in helping to unite, educate and elevate the veteran business community made this a well-deserved honor.
“(Our) function is to help businesses understand how to do business with state government,” says Aguillio. This includes workshops, one-on-one portfolio reviews, classes, and outreach programs – all with the purpose of educating veteran-owned businesses. You’ll learn from past mistakes other businesses have made and how to avoid them, an introduction to state contracting, the benefits of being certified and how to get your business certified with a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Certification for the state of California.
What has made the DGS truly go above the rest is the clarity and ease they have brought to the mystery of state contracts, getting DVBE certification and everything in between. By utilizing the VIB platform, DGS workshops and services for California veteran owned businesses are now easily accessible and have opened the doors for those who cannot make the journey to speak to Aguillio in person. Technology has bridged this communication gap and the DGS has embraced this step forward to welcome numerous new businesses on the road to DVBE certification.
DVBE Certification can open new doors for small veteran owned businesses. California sets aside many contract opportunities for businesses with those with this certification. As mentioned before, DGS is here to help beyond simply becoming certified. Personal portfolio reviews and constructive feedback are also offered to help improve your business’ outlook and competitive readiness for state contracts. “We have a lot of things that we try to do to help these veterans that are small businesses to be successful,” notes Aguillio.
The DGS team is ready to help your veteran-owned business grow and see if DVBE Certification is right for you. To get in touch with this award-winning team and to find more information, visit here: https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/sbdvbe-index.aspx
2018 Above & Beyond Award – Government Agency of the Year
VIB Chairman Woodman, Michael Aguillio, Danetta Jackson & VIB Executive Director Rebecca Aguilera-Gardiner