Veteran entrepreneurs to gather in San Ramon for November contracting forum

Service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs, corporate procurement officers, 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.

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. at the San Ramon Valley Conference Center, 3301 Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon.

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 San Ramon conference is designed to move beyond traditional lecture-style panels by pairing veteran business owners directly with procurement decision-makers and resource specialists.

Instead of a single keynote stage, the San Ramon forum is structured around 10 interactive resource tables covering every stage of business growth and public-sector contracting. Organizers said participants will be able to rotate through stations focused on federal, state, and municipal contracting opportunities, corporate supplier diversity programs, and small-business financing.

Dedicated stations at the San Ramon event will also guide veteran founders through Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) certifications, workforce development programs, and practical artificial intelligence and technology tools for small businesses, including live demonstrations by emerging technology firms.

Attendance at the San Ramon conference is free, with breakfast and lunch provided by event sponsors, and the first 50 qualifying attendees will receive a $25 gift card. Space at the San Ramon Valley Conference Center is capped at 80 participants.

Because the forum is held inside a secured facility at 3301 Crow Canyon Road in San Ramon, advance registration is mandatory and walk-ins cannot be accommodated without prior security clearance. Prospective attendees, sponsors, and community partners in San Ramon and across Northern California can register or request additional information at ncdeliteveterans.org, by calling 408-505-3032, or by emailing support@ncdeliteveterans.org.