OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – Oklahoma businesses have the opportunity to forge partnerships with state agencies during the upcoming State Suppliers Expo.
The State Suppliers Expo will be held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center from Aug. 5–6.
The event is free and open to all Oklahoma entrepreneurs and business owners interested in doing business with the state, bidding on government contracts and connecting with top state officials, according to the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES).
“The State Suppliers Expo is a unique opportunity for representatives from both the private and public sector to engage in crucial one-on-one discussions about how these products and services can best fulfill the state’s needs,” said OMES Director Rick Rose. “Collaborating closely with private companies allows state agencies to execute projects more effectively and offer enhanced services to the people of Oklahoma.”
This will be the expo’s fifth year, and it has grown substantially as the years have went on.
The 2024 State Suppliers Expo had 700 attendees from more than 500 companies.
Many of those companies made important business connections with state agencies during last year’s expo. One hundred and twenty-one companies registered as suppliers, enabling them to compete for state government contracts affiliated with their industry.
Attendees of last year’s expo conducted around $286 million in business with state agencies, $147.7 million of which was spent with Oklahoma companies, according to OMES officials.
Hundreds of companies have already pre-registered for this year’s expo, OMES officials said.
OMES officials say this year’s State Suppliers Expo will expand on the previous year’s expo’s key features, offering two full days of procurement education and networking opportunities.
The new offerings at this year’s expo are as follows:
- A new Higher Education booth featuring the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University and A&M System on Day 1 of the expo.
- Oklahoma County joining the lineup of breakout sessions with a presentation on navigating the county’s procurement process, hosted by Oklahoma County Clerk Communications Director Cherokee Ballard.
- A breakout session hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs outlining the unique skills veterans bring to the workforce, the benefits of hiring a veteran, and the lasting value they add to business success and community growth.
Mike Carpenter, vice president for government solutions at Arrowhead Consulting in Tulsa, attended last year’s expo and said it’s a great opportunity to make business contacts.
“The expo is a great place to see almost all state agencies in one location,” Carpenter said. “Many of the tables have wish lists of the agency’s top priorities, so it’s easy to spark a conversation about how we can work together on timely projects. It was extremely helpful to walk up to specific agencies and align on answers right then and there.”
Pre-registration for this year’s expo has closed, but those interested in attending can register at the expo beginning at 8 a.m. on both days of the event.
The State Suppliers Expo is essential for anyone looking to do business in Oklahoma, according to Carpenter.
“This expo is by far the best time investment you can make,” he said. “There isn’t another place where you can visit with this many state agencies directly, get contact information, register as a vendor and find the right statewide contracts to join. Just go to the next expo and every expo after that. You’ll be glad you did.”
You can learn more about the expo’s offerings at oklahoma.gov/stateyourbusiness.
