26th Annual State Agency Recognition Awards

Introductions presented by Imran Chaudhary, Statewide Advocacy Support Program Manager for the Department of General Services

Land Acknowledgement presented by TBD

Presentation of Colors by TBD

The National Anthem by TBD

Departments that achieved 30 percent or more small business participation and 5 percent or more disabled veteran business participation were recognized with a Notable Achievement Award.

The winners are:

• TBD

Presented by Certification Managers Marta Carrera and Tonii Alejandrez, Office of Small Business and DVBE Services, Department of General Services.

The departments that made the largest increase in their small business or disabled veteran business enterprise participation percent from 2023-24 to 2024-25, while also participation, were recognized with a “Most Improved” award. The award was given to five departments based on the sizes of the departments and broken down by small business participation and DVBE participation.

Departments that achieved the greatest increase in SB or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation rates from 2023-24 to 2024-25, while maintaining overall program engagement, were honored with the ‘Most Improved’ award. In addition, departments were recognized based on their size and exceptional involvement in state contracting programs. Selection criteria for Small Business and DVBE participation reflect a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion in procurement practices, demonstrated by meeting or exceeding participation goals of at least 25 percent for Small Business and 3 percent for DVBE.

Most Improved Small Business Participation Winners

Extra Small Agency: under $250,000
TBD
Participation rose from

Small Agency: $250,000 - $2 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Medium Agency: $2 – $20 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Large Agency: $20 – $50 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Extra Large Agency: over $50 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Presented by Megan Wisniewski, Compliance Manager, Office of Small Business and DVBE Services, Department of General Services.

Most Improved DVBE Participation winners

Extra Small Agency: under $250,000
TBD
Participation rose from

Small Agency: $250,000 - $2 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Medium Agency: $2 – $20 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Large Agency: $20 – $50 million
TBD
Participation rose from

Extra Large Agency: over $50 million 
              TBD
              Participation rose from

Presented by Loki Del Buono, Training & Development Manager, Office of Small Business and DVBE Services, Department of General Services.

Presented by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, these two awards are presented to an individual and a business. The individual award goes to a disabled veteran who is a champion of the disabled veteran business enterprise program. The business award goes to a disabled veteran-owned business that works with the state and supports veteran entrepreneurs.

The winners are:

Individual Excellence

TBD

(Agency)

Business Excellence

TBD

Presented by Roberto Herrera, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet).

The Green Awards are given to agencies who have met their Small Business and DVBE goals while proving their commitment to Environmentally Preferable Purchasing. The Green Awards consider Environmentally Preferable Purchasing data, participation in the Performance and Environmental Standards workgroup, and the number of purchasing officials that have taken EPP training.

The winners are:

Gold Award

TBD

Sliver Award

TBD

Bronze Award

TBD

Presented by Tony Wang, Senior Procurement Engineer, for the Department of General Services.

The Advocacy Support Unit is excited to share its inaugural Advocacy Impact Recognition Award, celebrating outstanding SB/DVBE Advocates and their departments for their commitment to increasing SB and DVBE participation.

This award recognizes teams who:

• Partner with the Advocacy Support Program for guidance.

• Attend Advocacy Support events and training opportunities.

• Use the tools and resources provided by the Advocacy Support Program to achieve impactful results.

The winner is:

TBD

Presented by Sandra “Julee” Starkey, Advocacy Support Analyst with the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services at the Department of General Services.

This award recognizes three SB/DVBE advocates throughout the state of California for exemplary work and success through outreach efforts, performance measurements, and notable improvements with a bronze, silver, and gold award.

The winners are:

Gold Award

TBD

(Agency)

Silver Award

TBD

(Agency)

Bronze Award

TBD

(Agency)

Presented by Marcus Delfin, Small Business and DVBE Advocate, California Military Department.

The Agency of the Year Award honors a state agency or department for their best practices, creativity, and outstanding achievements to advance the state’s small business and DVBE programs. This year's winner demonstrated their commitment and success across the areas of outreach efforts, performance measurements, and notable improvements.

The winner is:

TBD

Presented by Anda Draghici, Branch Chief with the Office of Small Business and DVBE Services at the Department of General Services.

The Supplier Diversity Award is given to a California state department, agency, board, commission, office, or university that met their small business and disabled veteran business enterprise goals while demonstrating their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in state procurement and contracting. This includes DEI policy implementation, supplier diversity, and other activities.

The winner is:

TBD

Presented by Angela Shell, Chief Procurement Officer for the State of California and Deputy Director of the Procurement Division at the Department of General Services.

This award celebrates organizations that recognize and honor the state’s small business and DVBE programs. These organizations, mostly counties, cities, transportation agencies, utilities, and other local municipalities are reciprocity partners of the state of California. Their efforts, although outside of state government, also benefit the small business and DVBE communities.

The winner is:

TBD

Presented by Demeshia Swanson, Business Outreach Program Manager, Office of Small Business and DVBE Services, Department of General Services.

This award is in memory of Angel Carrera Jr., Chief of the Certification and Outreach Branch at DGS who passed away in 2019. The award recognizes and celebrates a leader in state procurement who, like Angel, supports small businesses and DVBEs in state procurement and is a tremendous leader.

The winner is:

TBD

(Agency)

Presented by Angela Shell, Chief Procurement Officer for the state of California and Deputy Director of the Procurement Division, DGS.

This award is given to the state department, agency or individual whose best practices, innovation, and advocacy efforts have allowed them to go above and beyond in exceeding the state’s Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise contracting goals.

The winner is:

TBD

(Agency)

Presented by Justyn Howard, Deputy Secretary for Fiscal Policy and Administration, Government Operations Agency.

Presented for the 17^th year, this award honors the state agency or department that best demonstrates excellence and innovation in providing contracting opportunities to small businesses and disabled veterans business enterprises. It is a prestigious honor given to the department or agency that models a superior standard to which other state departments can aspire.

The winner is:

TBD

Presented by Elmy Bermejo, Office of the Small Business Advocate, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

Presented by Angela Shell, Chief Procurement Officer for the State of California and Deputy Director of the Procurement Division at the Department of General Services.