NNSA administrator and deputy labs director deliver remarks

The Department of Energy hosted its Summer ’19 New Mexico Small Business Expo in Albuquerque Aug. 6-7, featuring Sandia and other DOE contractors.

“Sandia is committed to our relationships with small businesses,” Deputy Labs Director Dori Ellis said during her remarks opening the event. “The small businesses in this state have been at the heart of generating jobs, making sure that the economy is healthy and providing a workforce that we couldn’t get any other way.”

The event was DOE’s second such event this year, the first in the summer and one of the largest, with 500 people registered, representing hundreds of small businesses. During her opening remarks, Dori took the opportunity to thank those small businesses and urge them to continue to seek ways to work with Sandia.

“We believe it will support our project goals, positively affect the local and regional communities and provide a foundation for growth,” she said. “Sandia is dedicated to strengthening national and regional economies by providing contracting opportunities for small businesses.”

NNSA Administrator and DOE Undersecretary for Nuclear Security Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty delivered the first day’s keynote address, emphasizing that small businesses play a vital role in national security efforts.

“We recognize that small business contractors and subcontractors deliver great value to our taxpayers — and we’re all taxpayers — and we look to small businesses as important innovators,” Gordon-Hagerty said.

With emerging threats and the most complex global security environment since the Cold War, DOE national labs are critical to keeping America safe, she said.

“I can say with certainty that small businesses play a vital role in this national security mission,” Gordon-Hagerty said. “Small businesses play a crucial role in that effort and continue to play a vital role in our national security enterprise so that we can keep defending the American people.”

During the expo, small-business experts from Sandia, Los Alamos National Laboratory, DOE offices and other programs held breakout sessions to discuss opportunities for small businesses. Other speakers during the expo included Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller on the first day and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on day two.