Since its start ten years ago, the Lakehurst Small Business Roundtable’s connection to Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst has resulted in more than $1 billion worth of contracts going from the Lakehurst side of the joint base to the local business community.  

At the annual industry day meeting of the two groups on Feb. 21, the importance of that partnership continued as employees from many of the NAWCAD Lakehurst branches told a room full of small business owners and employees what their mission is and how small businesses can help them achieve their goals.  

In addition to opening remarks by NAWCAD Lakehurst Executive Director Kathleen P. Donnelly, representatives from the Procurement, Support Equipment (SE), Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE), Mission Operations and Integration (MO&I), and Prototype, Manufacturing and Test (PMT) Departments all spoke about current projects and potential future needs and opportunities.    

 “Every year, this event gets bigger, and you can feel the energy in the room grow as more small businesses learn who we are and what we do. It’s one of the events I look forward to most every year,” Donnelly said. “Having the support of the small business community is critical for us to reach our goals, but it’s also important for us to support our local community. When we talk about ‘one team, one fight,’ the people in this room are part of that team, helping to support the warfighter in their own unique ways.” 

Sheila Harris-Adams, regional director at the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers and chair of the NAWCAD LKE Small Business Roundtable, said seeing so many people attend the event at Brookdale Community College was “exciting” and showed how far the group has come.  

“I want the NAWC side to know that small businesses, minority businesses, and veteran businesses are here to support them. We haven’t gone anywhere. I want to ensure they know that these individuals can help them achieve the mission in realistic ways through innovation,” Harris-Adams said. “For the small business community, I want them to know that NAWC sits right here in our own backyard here in New Jersey, and they support an amazing mission. More than anything, I want them to know they’re looking for businesses to work with, and oftentimes, they don’t know who’s out there.” 

Harris-Adams also credited Donnelly’s role in developing the partnership.  

“The support we’ve had under her leadership has been game-changing,” Harris-Adams said, pointing specifically to the value of contracts signed over the years. “A big part of that is her commitment to this. Not every agency, not every organization understands the value of this. She’s always made this a priority, and making sure people know small business is a priority for her.”