The new Rocky Mountain NDIA website puts a powerful networking tool in the hands of military, government, industry, and academic defense professionals.
Responding to member surveys and industry input, Rocky Mountain NDIA leaders authorized a complete relaunch of NDIARMC.org in late 2023. Since then, Communications Committee members have enrolled Board members, committee chairs, and other stakeholders to create a dynamic, relevant, and timely website.
Networking events were the number one thing members asked for in the survey. Chapter Secretary Karri Palmetier, of Palmetier Law, noted, “After the isolation of COVID, the defense community is looking for opportunities to engage government officials, military leaders, other industry professionals, as well as each other.”
“Our members crave networking opportunities,” said Board President Tom Walker, who heads up Lockheed Martin’s Government Affairs office in Colorado Springs. “We have a lot of members who spend their day in front of a screen, but that doesn’t mean they are happy to just hole up at home”.
To respond to members, announcements of social events like NDIA’s Happy Hours and Brown Bag Lunches, can be found in the Events section, which headlines the new home page. Annual industry programs, like the prestigious Rocky Mountain Ball and NDIA’s IMAGE Golf fundraiser for STEM education, are also prominently featured.
To further facilitate event attendance and planning, NDIARMC.org invested in producing a new tool for local professionals: The Rocky Mountain Joint Defense Industry Calendar. This new online planning tool features not just NDIA event listings, but also those from other area organizations. Now, members and non-members can find events from NDIA, AFCEA, AFA, MAC, SFA, AIAA, the Chamber/EDC, and others in one place.
“Not only can you access links for details and registration for these events, but planners can also consult the calendar to avoid conflicts when scheduling their events”, said Roger Vincent, Executive VP of Rocky Mountain NDIA and Corporate Lead Executive with Northrop Grumman.
Rocky Mountain Chapter member Scott Stover, also of Lockheed Martin, will administer the new calendar, a function he’s already been executing in spreadsheet form. He’s enthused about the ability for the entire community to access, and engage with, every local industry event. He urged other defense industry groups to submit their events for inclusion via the new, easy-to-use online form: “This is something the local industry has been talking about for some time, but no one could commit the resources to make it happen before now”.
Local industry news was also ranked highly by members, with a caveat. Members specifically asked NDIA-RMC to avoid duplicating the existing news feeds that choke our inboxes and concentrate on items of local interest.
As a result, the News section will not only feature announcements and recaps of local events; industry professionals are encouraged to contribute content. “On the Front Range, we are surrounded by subject matter experts. We want to take advantage of that expertise and disseminate it throughout our community,” said David Hollenbach, Managing Director of DSoft Technology and Chair of the NDIA-RMC Small Business Committee. He sees the new website as an effective tool for smaller businesses to “be more competitive and gain entry into larger playing fields, sharing ideas, technology, and contacts.”
The News section also includes features about the prestigious Hartinger Award for exceptional contributions in space and the Patriot Awards. STEM educational programs like NDIA’s Edge of Space, where elementary school students launch their egg-sized experiments into the stratosphere, are also highlighted.
Bookmark the new NDIARMC.org and watch for added functionalities in the coming weeks. Take a moment to give us your feedback on the new site; after all, tools work best when they’re sharpened.
