CDCA Membership

CDCA Mission 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 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  Mark Gadomski, President  Jack Moore, Vice President, Public Relations, Philanthropy  C. David Hamburger,, Secretary, Ways Means and Rules  Josh Hatter, Treasurer, SBIOI  Beth Waugh, Public Relations, Summit  Ron Buske, Events, Political Relations  Jimi Elderman, Education, Membership  Ryan Lemire, Technology, Strategic Think Tank  Brian Lindgren, SBIOI, Technology  Andrea Julius, Summit, Events  Steve Amell, Political Relations, Communicator  Katie Arrington, Communicator, Contracts Industry Council  Elizabeth Stober, Strategic Think Tank, Ways Means and Rules  Nancy Straight, Contracts Industry Council  Charlie Templeton, Membership Annual Elections are held in January. You must have a Company Membership to run for one of these positions or to vote.

Quarterly Small Business and Industry Outreach Initiatives “SBIOI” Network with 350 plus each quarter! Listen to presentations from Industry partners and Government Representatives!

Quarterly CDCA Luncheons CDCA Business, Presenters, Networking & Good Food! We typically have 100+ to attend.

National Level Annual Government & Industry Summits 883 Registered in 2013 Theme for 2014: Technologies Enabling Information Dominance”

“The Communicator” Our Committee works hard to provide interesting and newsworthy articles for our members. Digital Articles on CDCA Website: Printing is now an Annual Edition as Member Directory. Each Platinum member will have ½ page ad space in Member Directory to coincide with the annual C5ISR Summit. Each Corporate member with will have a basic info paragraph for each

Education Committee They work hard to provide involvement in Educational Initiatives to ensure we raise our youth to become the future of tomorrow! Science Fairs! Robotics! GSSM! Military Magnet! Internships! Mobile Apps! PSA!

 $15,000 donation funded a 60-day computer repair class for struggling veterans.  The program trains and prepares Veterans for work in IT  Palmetto Partners  $25K donated in 2011, $15K donated in 2012, $10K donated in 2013  FRC Regional Competition Judging & Volunteer support.  Jack Moore - FIRST Palmetto Regional Robotics Outstanding Volunteer Award.  Rollings Middle School Robo Knights- Donated $3,500 for them to attend National competition, Orlando, FL, May  Lowcountry Science Fairs  CDCA Members served as Judges & Judge Coordinator  CDCA donated $5,000 for the regional winner to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Phoenix, AZ in June  Monetary awards given to teachers of winners in all groups.  CDCA Supported the AFCEA Lowcountry Chapter’s Scholarship Program.  2013 Donation = $6,000 and 2014 Donation = $3,000  Former winners have participated in CDCA’s Summer Internship Program.  CDCA donated $3,000 to support iTeams camps in the local area.  iTeams – Provides rising 8th and 9th graders an environment to explore economics, entrepreneurship and computer innovation.  GSSM will now distribute CDCA Summer Internship opportunities to GSSM alumni  CDCA donated $3,000 to supplement tuition costs for 4 Lowcountry Students from a Low Socio-Economic Backgrounds.  Women In Defense Scholarship Program  Donated $6,000 in 2013  Donation of $3,000 to Palmetto Scholars Academy “Odyssey of the Mind” Education Committee

Summer Internships Give a deserving student an opportunity in your company! Company Members can apply for Summer Internships.

Supporter of the Defense Community V. President, Jack Moore, drops the puck for Sting Rays Military Appreciation Night Contributed to “Beyond Valor 2010” Etc… $150,000 to the Chamber to support their efforts to move AFRICOM to CHS Sponsor of Chambers Salute to Military Sponsor of Anchors Away Participant in DC Fly In Sponsor of EOD Golf Attend JWC Sponsor of Yorktown Division of the Naval Sea Cadets Sponsor of AFCEA Scholarships Sponsor of WID Scholarships

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

CDCA Website Ideas/Suggestions/Volunteers Welcome!!  New website introduced in June 2013  Revamped with input from CDCA members  Now allows members to sign up to receive updates  RSVP functionality now included

Expanding Membership = Networking Opportunities Total Membership: 293 Platinum: 3 Corporate: 188 Affiliate: 102 Let me introduce you… 21 Jul 2014

Platinum Level $5,000  Company Attribution  Company listed in Membership Index along with your URL, logo and a brief description of what your company does  Company name and logo will rotate on our CDCA home page.  Eligible to vote  Authorized to be elected as a Board of Director  Authorized one vote in Board of Director Annual Elections  Sponsorship Opportunities (Annual Summit)  Eligible to submit for an intern in our Summer Internship program  CDCA Communicator  Small Business Symposia –Quarterly  Company Logo displayed on slideshow during breaks  Quarterly Luncheons-Members receive reduced rate  Invited to “Members Only” event  Receive distribution (3 POC’s within the company)  CDCA Membership Coin and Lapel Pin  Ad space in CDCA Communicator (Annual Edition)  Discounted Rate to CDCA Summit

Corporate Level $1,000  Company Attribution  Your company is listed in the Membership Index along with your URL, logo and a brief description of what your company does  Eligible to vote  Authorized to be elected as a Board of Director  Authorized one vote in Board of Director Annual Elections  Sponsorship Opportunities (Annual Summit)  Eligible to submit for an intern in our Summer Internship program  CDCA Communicator  Small Business Symposia-Quarterly  Company Logo displayed on slideshow during breaks  Quarterly Luncheons-Members receive reduced rate  Invited to “Members Only” event  Receive distribution of all CDCA events (3 POC’s within the company)  CDCA Membership Coin and Lapel Pin  Discounted rate to CDCA summit

Affiliate Level $250  Listed in Membership Index alphabetically by Individual’s name  CDCA Newsletter  Small Business Symposia-Quarterly  Quarterly Luncheons-Members receive reduced rate  Receive distribution of all CDCA events  CDCA membership lapel pin  Discounted rate to CDCA Summit

Active 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!