DVIDS – News – Hundreds participate

Montebello, caliph. – More than 450 in attendance gathered on March 6, 2025, in the Quiet Cannon Banking Hall for networking, discussions and strengthening business relationships during the Open House of Business Opportunities 2025.

The open house of business opportunities, or BOOH, is an annual event that the Corps of the US Angeles County US Army engineers expects to facilitate direct dialogue with older executives, project managers and those looking to do business with USA and federal government.

Also present were representatives from the USAIC districts of Albuquerque and Sacramento, as well as the LA District District District Department, the LA Department of Public Works, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Small Business Administration.

In his main speech, Colonel Andrew Baker, LA commander, described many missions that make up the La District work.

“I like to say that the LA circle has a program with great consequences,” Baker told the audience. “What we do has great impacts on the nation, national security and public security, and we cannot do what we do without you.”

The circle usually expects its BOOH in a different place every year, with events organizers that fit messages and field materials for projects that take place in each area. Last year’s Booh was in Phoenix, where sellers were more interested in project developments on the bases of Davis-Monthan or Luke Air Force, for example, while this year’s BOOH attracted more attention to work on the Los Angeles River, Prado Dam and Vandenburg space forces.

Rebecca Wetzstein, the President of Allie Bridge Energy Solutions, said she participated in the event, mainly seeking opportunities to modernize energy and sustainability with local installations through the USA.

“We are hoping to be useful as a contractor who offers engineering and professional services and trying to figure out where the best adaptation is and where to bring the greatest value to the bodies,” Wetzstein said.

This is especially true, she added, given the current changes within the federal government.

“We find every four or five years, big shifts happen,” Wetzstein said.

“Covid was one. We all have big shifts now with organizations and funds. What remains stable is energy resistance, regardless of technologies. Energy is important for all administrations. In our world, the technology group is very similar; The goals of how to use that technology are what vary. “

This year, the company of US military engineers La Post also received its industry day in cooperation with Booh, planning it the day before.

“The combination of BOOH and the Society of the American Military Engineers Industry was good, after enabling the district to support their efforts to help the local industry keep track of what is happening with government agencies at all levels,” said Roger Minami, procurement analysts at the La La District Business. “The attempt also served to encourage firms that normally do business with just state and local governance to consider working for the LA district. I think both groups have to work together to promote larger government projects where there is a local, state and federal link. “

Another major difference between Booh of this year and those of the past is the addition of USAE representatives by Task Force Phoenix, which is overseeing the removal of waste from the January Southern California fires.

Minami said this year’s event was an important opportunity to provide Task Force Phoenix representatives with knowledge of local vendors and their abilities, as they relate to the continued efforts to recover catastrophes in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, California.

“Task Force knows which contracts they need, but they are not familiar with the base of the seller,” Minami said. “So we are trying to know the strength of work with the skills here, as we want to use local contractors.”

Minami said the contracting process for the fire response mission is very quickly in motion, and that it was a learning experience for many sellers.

“Knowing about the fires and listening to the updating what worries are and how difficult everyone is working on that mission – and just knowing what great effort is – it’s interesting, even as a member of the public, to hear it and what is doing the bodies,” said Stuart Strum, with Greenpoint Engineering. “I have learned here about the things we can do to be ready to serve the corpses and be responsible when there is a request.”

Strum said he followed Booh to nettle, learn more about the work left by the district has recently done, as well as the prospect of future projects.

“The firm I am with a master’s and feasibility studies,” said Strum, who joined Greenpoint about six months ago. “We also do a lot of engineering work, mainly for localities, cities and circles. We have many of the technical knowledge we want to use and use to work with bodies.”

Strum, who worked as a planner and project manager for the LA District between 2010 and 2021, said the USAE mission has always been matched with its skill group and professional interests.

“What is what I learned to do,” Strum said. “I have been a water resource professional for more than 20 years now. Corps is just a driver for this. His mission is where the action is. ”