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NGAUS industry partners are out in force at the 142nd General Conference, even as the event has turned to an online-only affair.
Eighty-eight companies and organizations have set up virtual booths on the conference’s online portal. Attendees can peruse through the list of vendors and check out photos, videos and white papers about specific products, services and companies.
“A virtual exhibit hall is brand new territory for us here at NGAUS,” said Luke Guthrie, NGAUS’s director of industry relations and development. “In fact, I’m sure its brand-new territory for our corporate partners as well. We’re thrilled nearly 90 of our corporate partners and others are participating in the very first and hopefully only, NGAUS virtual exhibit hall.”
Many of the exhibitors are also hosting scheduled briefings, offering attendees a chance to watch presentations from subject matter experts.
The exhibitors run the gamut from big names in the defense industry such as Northrup Grumman and Lockheed Martin to specialty firms like LiteFighter Systems, LLC and Phantom Products Inc.
Government entities such as the Defense Logistics Agency and the General Services Administration are also hosting booths, as are the Military Officers Association of America and the Association of the U.S. Army.
Exhibit attendees can also network with representatives from the exhibitors by sending private messages to company reps and scheduling meetings through the virtual interface.
“We sought to provide an affordable and valuable business development and networking opportunity for exhibitors,” Guthrie said.
Although the 142nd General Conference was driven to the virtual space by the coronavirus, NGAUS was adamant about hosting the exhibition. After months of quarantine, Guthrie said there was real appetite for a space to bring exhibitors and Guard leaders together for networking and business development.
“This virtual space provided the exhibitors an easy opportunity to showcase their products and services and touch the National Guard market,” said Guthrie.
The exhibition opened Friday at 9 a.m. and will be staffed by representatives until the close of the conference on Saturday. However, attendees can access the virtual space throughout the next year.
