Veteran entrepreneurs to gather in San Ramon for November contracting forum

Service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs, corporate procurement specialists, and public-sector buyers will gather in San Ramon next month for an interactive contracting and business development forum hosted by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E).

Presented by the Elite Service-Disabled Veteran Business Network — Northern California, Boots to Business 2026 will take place Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT at the San Ramon Valley Conference Center, 3301 Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon.

The San Ramon Valley Conference Center is a PG&E-owned conference and meeting facility on Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon. Official venue information notes that the facility is restricted to PG&E-organized programs, consistent with the organizers’ announcement that PG&E is hosting the November forum. According to the Elite Service-Disabled Veteran Business Network — Northern California, a 501(c)(19) veterans organization led by chapter president and author Lavelle Jones, the half-day conference is structured around direct engagement with prime contractors, government contracting specialists, corporate buyers, elected officials, and community organizations rather than traditional lecture-style panels.

Ten interactive resource stations

Instead of a single keynote stage, organizers said participants will rotate through 10 mission-focused resource stations:

• Federal government contracting and SDVOSB opportunities: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business procurement pathways.
• California state contracting and DVBE certification: Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise certification and state agency contracting.
• Utility supplier opportunities and procurement readiness: Supplier onboarding and contracting pipelines with utility providers.
• Construction, infrastructure, and subcontracting: Prime contractor teaming and public-works subcontracting.
• Business financing and financial readiness: Capital access and small-business lending resources.
• Artificial intelligence for business development: Practical AI tools for operations, bidding, and business growth.
• Veteran benefits and family resources: Support programs for veterans and military families.
• Joint ventures, teaming, and strategic partnerships: Structuring multi-firm bids and prime-subcontractor relationships.
• Certifications, compliance, and business readiness: Regulatory compliance and vendor qualification requirements.
• Healthcare, wellness, and veteran support services: Community health and transition resources.

In addition to the 10 resource tables, event organizers stated that the program schedule includes interactive technology demonstrations, collaborative business activities, networking sessions, music, storytelling, a veteran tribute, and an introduction to the Bay Area Food Pantry Coalition. Jones, author of I Know Something You Don’t Know! 501-C19: The Big Secret, will also lead discussions on translating military leadership into commercial and government contracts; organizers noted that proceeds from book sales support the 501(c)(19) veterans network.

Registration and facility access requirements

According to the event announcement, early registration is free for eligible participants—an admission organizers value at $495—and capacity is limited to 80 registered attendees. Organizers stated that the first 50 individuals who register and attend will receive a $25 gift card distributed at the conclusion of the program, subject to qualifying conditions.

Because the forum takes place inside a secured PG&E facility at 3301 Crow Canyon Road, advance registration is required so attendee names can be submitted to facility security ahead of time; walk-ins are not permitted.

Prospective attendees, corporate buyers, and community partners can find registration information online at ncdeliteveterans.org. For registration assistance or event questions, organizers can be reached through Lavelle Jones at 408-505-3032 or support@ncdeliteveterans.org. Official venue information for the San Ramon Valley Conference Center is available at sanramonvalleyconferencecenter.com or (925) 866-7612.