Empowering Growth Through Mentorship and Partnership at SBC

At SBC, Black & Veatch champions small-business collaboration and professional development across the federal marketplace.

Judging by its name alone, SAME’s Federal Small Business Conference (SBC) may appear tailored exclusively for small businesses, but A/E/C firms of all sizes have found value in participation. For Black & Veatch, a 110-year-old global engineering firms with over 12,000 employees worldwide, SBC is a priority to attend year after year. Christina Wooldridge, Director of Marketing, Governments & Communities – Federal at Black & Veatch, explains that SBC has long been more than a networking event: it’s an opportunity for partnership, mentorship, and professional growth.

Having attended SBC and other SAME national events since 2008, Christina has watched the conference grow and evolve into an energetic gathering of industry professionals who encourage innovation and building connections. “Participating in SBC has significantly expanded our network within the federal marketplace,” she explained. “It allows us to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and forge valuable connections that lead to new opportunities and collaborations.”

For a global firm like Black & Veatch, SBC offers a chance for the firm to connect with small businesses whose specialized expertise supports critical national-security missions. “SBC helps us find small businesses that really enable national security,” Christina said. “Without them, we couldn’t bring the full range of capabilities and services to our government clients.”

That focus on collaboration is central to the company’s federal strategy. Large firms like Black & Veatch depend on trusted small-business partners who fill in the gaps and can deliver specialized, on-the-ground technical solutions and regional expertise. “Those relationships make our work stronger,” she said. “They bring creativity, innovation, and agility—qualities that drive better outcomes for clients and the mission.”

Professional Growth Through SAME

Attending the conference offers much more than just teaming opportunities to Christina. SBC has become an important venue for members of the Black & Veatch team to develop their professional and personal skills. Her team regularly attends the activities and webinars sponsored by Communities of Interest and have had several participants enrolled in SAME’s Leader Development Program (LDP). Each of these programs are designed to build professional skills, advance personal goals, and open opportunities for mentorship.

“The Leadership Development Program has been one of those flagship experiences,” Christina said. “It develops people’s personal and professional development that becomes a catalyst that drives leadership both internally and externally. They learn new skills and grow new networks that benefit our company and our clients.”

Those professional connections often evolve into long-term partnerships and meaningful collaborations that extend across multiple projects and agencies. “It’s mutually beneficial,” she said. “We’re leveraging each other’s expertise to bring more resources and deliver mission-critical solutions.”

Engagement Beyond the Booth

SBC is full of opportunities for a firm like Black & Veatch to connect directly with small-business partners. “I don’t just go as an exhibitor,” she said. “I go to sessions, I am an exhibitor, I go to matched networking events—all to connect with our joint-venture partners and small businesses.”

Her approach reflects the company’s broader philosophy: that engagement and mentorship strengthen the industry as a whole. “I really enjoy being able to see so many different niches and capabilities out there,” she says. “SBC enables us to make those connections and explore the possibilities—just by meeting someone, that relationship can spark collaboration.”

Building Community—and Having Fun

For all its professional depth, SBC is also known for its spirit of community. Christina laughed recalling some of the more lighthearted moments like scavenger hunts and creative booth activities that are designed to get attendees talking. “Those fun events really help people break out of their routines and meet businesses they might not have connected with otherwise,” she said.

And while the serious work of partnership and collaboration happens across the conference, attendees understand that the community of SAME encourages those moments of fellowship that helps build relationships that last long after SBC ends. “You just don’t get that level of access or engagement anywhere else,” she says. “It’s inspiring to see what’s possible when everyone comes together with the same purpose.”

At the 2025 SBC, in Phoenix, Ariz., November 19-21, 2025, Black & Veatch plans to continue its deep involvement—mentoring, connecting, and leading within the SAME community.

“SBC isn’t just about business,” Christina says. “It’s about partnership, mentorship, and collaboration—the foundation of how we strengthen national security together.”

Read more about the event and register on the SBC site.