VetBizWeek 2026 Offers Free Government Contracting Training for Veterans

Transition Skills Training, an Austin-based nonprofit serving veterans and military families, will host VetBizWeek 2026 online November 10–12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The no-cost conference is designed for veterans, active-duty service members, military families, and first responders nationwide. Its agenda spans business development, funding, marketing, artificial intelligence, planning, bookkeeping, and government procurement. For GovCon readers, the event is best understood as an educational resource for prospective vendors—not as an agency procurement action or a source of currently available contract work.

The procurement sessions are intended to help small-business owners understand government contracting and prepare to pursue opportunities. The source identifies procurement specialist Kayla S. Bey, principal with Visio Clara Consulting, among the conference’s featured experts. The release describes coverage of “government procurement and contracting opportunities,” but does not provide a solicitation number, agency requirement, award amount, proposal deadline, or specific acquisition. Attendees should therefore treat the content as training and general guidance rather than a lead on a defined procurement.

The broader program may still be useful to companies building their ability to compete. VetBizWeek includes instruction on business planning, customer development, brand building, funding, and financial management—areas that can support the operational readiness needed to pursue public-sector work. It also offers opportunities to connect with instructors, entrepreneurs, and subject-matter experts. As CJ Niehoff, executive director of Transition Skills Training, put it: “People come for training, but they also find encouragement, new perspectives, potential collaborators, and people who can help them solve problems down the road.” For veteran-serving procurement professionals and industry groups, the event may be worth sharing as a free capacity-building resource.

The conference also features sessions on AI for both beginners and advanced users. Marc Boudria, chief innovation officer at Better Engineer, is scheduled to lead a two-hour advanced AI session, while other speakers include military-connected business owners, educators, and specialists. The source names Maria Duron of Grow With Google, Vicky Valdez of LoneStar Foundation and Austin Community College, Joana Linares of Enumerista, and entrepreneur and Air Force veteran Mike Johnson. The event is four days away as of the November 5 announcement. Inquiries and registration assistance are available from Transition Skills Training; the source provides Julie Niehoff as the contact at julie@transitionskillstraining.org or 469-667-5651.

• Dates and format: November 10–12, 2026, virtually, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
• Cost and audience: Sessions and resources are free; the conference welcomes veterans, active-duty service members, military families, and first responders nationwide.
• GovCon relevance: Programming includes government procurement and contracting guidance, with Kayla S. Bey of Visio Clara Consulting identified as a procurement specialist.
• Opportunity status: This is training and expert guidance, not a solicitation, contract award, or procurement notice; no solicitation number or proposal deadline is reported.
• Business-readiness topics: The agenda covers funding, business planning, marketing, customer development, AI, bookkeeping, and financial management.
• AI training: Marc Boudria of Better Engineer will lead a two-hour advanced AI session; the conference also offers beginner-level AI content.
• Networking value: Attendees can connect with instructors, entrepreneurs, subject-matter experts, and potential collaborators.
• Registration help: Contact Julie Niehoff at julie@transitionskillstraining.org or 469-667-5651 for inquiries and registration assistance.
• Sponsor reference: The source lists the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans' Assistance.