In October, we found ourselves in the midst of exciting experiences. Our dedication to sharing our vision of government transformation and our mission to connect governments with small, local, and diverse businesses remained steadfast. In this blog post, we share our active participation in GovTech, government procurement, and entrepreneurship events during the past October.

📍 First stop: NPI’s 55th Annual Conference and 28th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Awards Gala

During the 55th Annual Conference and 28th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Awards Gala, our Founder and CEO, Paola Santana, had the opportunity to share her valuable insights and experiences in the realm of government procurement.

The National Procurement Institute (NPI), a non-profit organization founded in 1968, is dedicated to promoting excellence in public procurement and serves professionals in this field worldwide. In 1995, the NPI introduced The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award, designed to recognize organizations that demonstrate a steadfast commitment to innovation, professionalism, productivity, e-procurement, and leadership attributes.

Sergio Paneque, the Former Chief Procurement Officer for the State of Michigan, State of New York, City of New York, and New York City Housing Authority, emphasized that the AEP Award serves as an exceptional roadmap for implementing best professional practices. On the other hand, Carrie Mathes, Procurement Manager for Orange County in Orlando, highlighted that the award symbolizes a dedication to sound procurement principles and sets a national benchmark for the ideal operation of procurement processes.

This conference and awards gala, held from October 8th to 11th, celebrated excellence in the field of procurement by bestowing 194 awards upon procurement leaders from various regions of the United States. Among the distinguished recipients were John M. Pellegrino, Director of Purchasing and Contracting at the County of San Diego, Mrs. Shabray Matthews, Director of Procurement at Baltimore City Public Schools, and Mr. Darryl Sweet, General Services Manager at the City of Berkeley. Paola Santana's participation added a unique perspective to this prestigious event, enriching the discourse on public procurement excellence.

📍 Second stop: Forbes Under 30 Summit 2023

From October 8th to 11th, the Forbes Under 30 Summit took place in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Gerardo Mateo, our Head of Research & Development, was chosen as one of Forbes Under 30 honorees and acknowledged as a leading young Latinx entrepreneur in the United States.

He presented our work and vision in front of some of the brightest minds reinventing the worlds of tech, business, art & culture, entertainment and impact, including the one and only Puerto Rican legend Bad Bunny, lead judge & grant sponsor of this year’s Latinx Pitch Competition.

Jaime Castro, Co Founder of Selia, an app that connects individuals with a network of mental healthcare professionals and provides self-guided tools to help users achieve their goals, won the $300,000 grand prize,which included $100,000 cash from Bad Bunny himself.

📍Third stop: 2023 National Minority Supplier Development Council Annual Conference & Exchange

As part of their efforts to accelerate minority business growth and advance economic equity, the NMSDC and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) took this year’s NMSDC Annual Conference & Exchange and MBDA National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week to Baltimore.

This year's edition was focused on identifying the barriers facing our community, recognizing that it will take a coalition of organizations, industry leaders, business owners, and changes in policy to achieve economic equity. Gerardo Mateo took the stage and presented our specially designed session called 'Government Procurement for All: Closing the Access Gap for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) ’

He explained how “small” government purchases represent a significant avenue for business growth, as it provides opportunities for MBEs to secure contracts eventually, expand their operations, and contribute to economic development.

The event was a perfect opportunity to connect with big industry leaders, such as Google, Apple, Accenture & others, expand our knowledge, and generate meaningful connections. 

📍Forth stop: MenteX Genera Summit 2023: Future Scenarios

MenteX, a Latin American EdTech owned by GrowthX SAS, introduced GENERA Summit 2023, a significant platform that united thought leaders and visionaries from across the region.

GENERA Summit 2023 was centered on analyzing future scenarios, providing leaders with a deeper insight into the ongoing technological transformation, its associated risks, and the opportunities it presents, seeking leaders who go beyond the traditional corporate role and actively engage in shaping the economic and social progress of the region. The main goal of this event was to foster meaningful connections among leaders from #LatinAmerica and beyond, igniting the transformation of new technological landscapes. 

Paola Santana, our Founder and CEO, was a featured speaker at the Summit, presenting her session titled "Redefining Public Policies and Citizen Engagement through AI." Paola shared the stage with other visionary entrepreneurs, including Cecilia Tham, Co-Founder and CEO at Futurity Systems, Sean O'Sullivan, Founder at SOSV, Kian Gohar, Founder and CEO at GeoLabs, and Solange Massa, Founder and CEO at EcoAtoms.

Stay connected for upcoming updates, as GLASS persists in its mission to change the GovTech and government procurement landscape!

This blog was written by Gisela Montes, GovTech Community Lead at Glass.