CDCA Membership

CDCA History In order to address issues facing the Charleston, South Carolina military industrial complex, the Charleston Defense Contractors Association, or CDCA, was formed and incorporated as a South Carolina Corporation on 4 December CDCA’s beginning was based on a grassroots formation called the “Technology Leadership Forum”, an offshoot committee of the Lowcountry Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications Electronic Associations (AFCEA) that first met on 6 September The Technology Leadership Forum consisted of 40 business and government officials who were interested in raising local awareness of the industry cluster and also in establishing the defense contracting companies as a viable entity within the Charleston business community. On November 7, 2002, CDCA held its first General Meeting and an interim Board of Directors and Officers were elected. On December 4, 2002, CDCA received a Certificate of Incorporation as a Nonprofit Corporation in the State of South Carolina. CDCA received its 501(C)(6), business league organization, tax exempt status on 11 April 2003.

CDCA Mission/Purpose The general purpose of the CDCA is to address issues and opportunities facing the Charleston, South Carolina defense community. Specifically, the CDCA will: (1) perform as an advocacy group for the defense industry in the Charleston metro area and other surrounding regions, (2) provide liaison with local, state, and federal governmental agencies, elected officials, legislatures, and special groups and committees, (3) take actions to develop or improve the local defense community’s ability to develop, attract, retain, and more effectively execute business opportunities, and (4) to foster the increased and improved interaction between defense contractors for accomplishment of better services to defense customers.

Why you should join…  The CDCA supports the defense community in the Charleston area. CDCA advocates defense issues with the community at large as well as represents the defense community with SPAWAR and other government agencies in the area. We seek to provide liaison through effective communication avenues and represent the defense contractor community in forums with these government agencies.  Membership in the CDCA enables each defense contractor in the area to support the defense community. CDCA also provides input on issues and initiatives to the broader community in such areas as education, small business mentoring, and Congressional liaison. The CDCA is a trusted associate of the Charleston Metro Area Chamber of Commerce. CDCA fills an important need to speak with one, trusted, voice for the Defense-related C4ISR segment of the regional business community. CDCA can only be an effective organization if it has the funds necessary to operate. We achieve our operating capital each year by Corporate and Affiliate memberships.  CDCA is a means for members of the defense business community in Charleston and the surrounding area to show their support and to provide them a greater voice in the issues and initiatives that are important for their continuing success.

CDCA Board of Directors  David Hamburger, President  Josh Hatter, Vice President, Public Relations Chair, Philanthropy and Contracts Industry Council  Brian Lindgren, Secretary, Ways Means and Rules Chair, Events Chair  Jimi Elderman, Treasurer, Finance Committee Chair  Steve Amell, Political Relations Chair, Strategic Think Tank Co-Chair  Katie Arrington, Summit Committee Co-Chair  Dena Elrod, Education Committee Chair, Membership Committee Co-Chair  Jim Harmon, Membership Chair, Summit Co-Chair  Red Hoover, Strategic Think Tank Chair  Ryan Lemire, Technology Chair, Public Relations Co-Chair  Andrea Julius, Summit Chair  April Nadeau, Small Business Co-Chair, Finance Co-Chair  Charlie Templeton, Ways Means and Rules Co-Chair  Heather Walker, Small Business Chair Annual Elections are held Oct./Nov.

The CIC provides a forum for the exchange of ideas to enhance processes to do things smarter, better, and more efficiently and help the SPAWAR/Industry team co-evolve our technologies to maintain our competitive advantage. Representatives consist of two each from: Small Business (as defined by NAICS ), Medium Business (> SB size standards but not in top 20) Large Business (In the top 20 of the top 100 Federal Contractor List) AFCEA Appointments (3) CDCA Appointments (3) Derrick Nixon(Mid) Jun 2019 Josh Hatter (Large) Jun 2017 Gary Jaffe(Small) Jun 2018 Address issues of interest to all, not company specific concerns. Contracts Industry Council (CIC) Contracts Industry Council: The Contracts Industry Council (CIC) Committee will function as an advocate for the Association’s membership at the periodic CIC meetings. The committee will collect input from the Association’s membership for incorporation onto the monthly agenda and will disseminate information of meeting results to the association’s membership by posting approved CIC meeting minutes to CDCA website.

Education Committee The Education Committee will enhance the technical capabilities of the Association in support of local DoD organizations. It is responsible for generating student interest, funding various educational initiatives and creating outreach to regional academia. The committee will promote and administer the Association’s Summer Internship Program and also maintain awareness and complement/support other educational initiatives that are being undertaken by other organizations. The committee will be responsible for the execution of educational initiatives on behalf of the Association. Science Fairs! Robot ics! GSSM! Military Magnet! Lowcountry Tech Academy Internships! Mobile Apps! Palmetto Scholars Academy! AFCEA Scholarships Sponsor

Summer Internships Give a deserving student an opportunity in your company! Company Members can apply for Summer Internships. (Photos of Welcome Intern Event)

Quarterly CDCA Luncheons CDCA Business, Presenters, Networking & Good Food! We typically have 100+ to attend. Managed by “Events” committee

Small Business and Industry Outreach Initiative (SBIOI) Symposia “SBIOI” Join us for CDCA business updates, insightful presenters, networking, and good food! Typically more than 100 attend. The Small Business Committee will foster increasing potential business base of small businesses for prime and subcontracting opportunities. The committee will develop a synergetic network of professional competent small businesses that have proven infrastructure, processes, program management and technical skills to successfully integrate their products and services as potential SB primes or subcontractors for peacetime and mission critical operations in support of the warfighter.

Annual C5ISR Summit Committee 1,154 Registered in ,238 Registered in 2015 SAVE THE DATE: “6-9 Dec 2016” The Summit Committee plans, organizes and executes all facets of the annual C5ISR Summit. It host the annual Summit in support of the goals of the Association, primary customers, and the vision for the greater Charleston region. Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance

Must be a CDCA Member to Sponsor

Overall goals:  Continue developing a strategic roadmap for the future of CDCA  Investigate diversification based on membership:  Identify local Federal agencies and invite to brief membership at SBIOIs  Expand our focus regionally  Expand our focus beyond DoD  Prioritize BRAC  Take a strategic approach and reach out to: SPAWAR Atlantic Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce SC Department of Commerce Work with Public and Political Relations Committee’s  Develop recommendations on how to proceed Ex: Economic Impact Studies  Address other issues outside the scope of the other committees Strategic Think Tank

Other Committees Events: The Events Committee will sponsor and encourage community events, projects, activities, services, programs, and public improvements which are of mutual interest and benefit to the Association, the defense industry, and the war-fighter. It will seek ways to host events and activities which promote/complement Association’s objectives and promote the local defense industry. Finance: The Finance Committee will provide the ongoing financial stability of the Association. This includes managing the routine A/P and A/R activities, planning & preparing short-term (current fiscal year) and long-term (three-year forward forecast) budgets, and reviewing, approving and monitoring ongoing funding of all committees. The Treasurer will hold the office of Finance Committee Chair and is charged with overseeing the budget, financial controls, investments and grants. Membership: The Membership Committee will maintain the dues and membership structure. It also provides guidance to the Board with strategies to improve the membership of the Association. The committee will be responsible for reviewing eligibility criteria for membership and for making recommendations with regard to changes to membership categories and dues. The committee recommends to the Board strategies for growing membership and retaining current members.

Other Committees Philanthropy: The Philanthropy Committee will provide opportunities for philanthropic activities and services to the community by reviewing current and future charitable organizations that the Association can support with donations aimed at helping the community and the war-fighter. It will continually provide philanthropic support to charitable organizations that benefit the community, our region and our war-fighters. Political Relations: The Political Relations Committee will perform as an advocacy group for the defense industry in the Charleston metro area and other surrounding regions. It develops connections to local interest groups and individuals including local, state, and federally elected officials, chamber of commerce, technical development groups, professional military organizations and committees, as well as defense agency leadership. It takes action to provide information, solicit desired outcomes, and to promote issues in the best interest of the local defense community. It actively works in the best interest of SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic and the Charleston Joint Base on Military Value, Transformation and in support of the Joint Warfighter. It researches and coordinates efforts to initiate special legislation that will help the various commands of the Charleston region to perform expanded or new missions. It also reports all of its activities and funding actions to its members in the Board’s Annual Report along with any results or outcomes of said actions.

Other Committees Public Relations: Public Relations Committee will present the mission, vision and values of the Association to the public. It will provide all official media contacts, speaking engagements, press releases, public affairs issues and other related contacts with the media on behalf of, or in representation of, the Association. It will develop all forward facing materials for the Association. The Vice President will hold the office of Public Relations Committee Chair. Technology: The Technology Committee will support the strategic initiatives of the Association through effective and seamless integration of information technology into all appropriate functions of the Association. It will respond to the strategic technology needs of the Board, its committees, and our membership. Ways, Means, and Rules: The Ways, Means, and Rules Committee will enhance operational effectiveness and maintain order within the Association. It is commissioned to ensure that all By-Laws and traditions of the Association are respected and maintained. The committee will also to make certain that parliamentary procedures are followed. The committee will examine and maintain all policies, processes, guides, rules, and regulations – whether documented or undocumented. It will oversee all matters relating to the process of raising revenue for the Association. The Secretary will hold the office of Ways, Means, and Rules Committee Chair.

CDCA Website Ideas/Suggestions/Volunteers Welcome!!  User Friendly Website!  Allows members to sign up to receive updates  RSVP functionality included

CDCA Social Media  Facebook:  /CharlestonDCA – Public  Twitter: – Public  LinkedIn:  CDCA – Members Only Ideas/Suggestions/Volunteers Welcome!!

Expanding Membership = Networking Opportunities Total Membership: 243 Platinum: 3 Corporate: 152 Small Business: 23 Affiliate: 65 Let me introduce you… 6/21/2016

To our Members We thank you for your support, and all of the time you give to ensure the CDCA has a strong voice within our Defense Community!