1. PERFECTING THE PITCH George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas December 8, 2003

2. Research Try and find out as much about the company or federal agency that you are going to talk to.

3. Appearance & Demeanor Take a bath or shower Hair should be freshly shampooed & neatly combed/brushed Do not use excessive perfume/cologne Do not wear a lot of jewelry Pay attention to your hands Clothes should be clean and unwrinkled Shoes should be clean

4. In The Beginning… To shake or not to shake SMILE !! Do not place items on table

5. Types of Matchmaking Interviews Be Prepared –The buyer will ask you to talk about your company OR –The buyer will ask specific questions

6. During Your 15 Minutes Make eye contact Speak clearly & loudly enough to be heard Keep hands still Watch your body language Highlight the major points of your business & do not get bogged down in details

7. Winding Down the Matchmaking Be ready to leave when your time is up Leave a business card with the correct information on it Thank the buyer

8. Don’t forget to network with other small business owners. You never know who you may be talking to that could be a possible teaming partner or subcontractor.

9. I am with the government and I am here to help ! Valerie J. Coleman, PCR/CMR U.S. Small Business Administration 2101 NASA Road 1, Mail Code: BD35 Houston, TX 77058 281/483-1549, FAX: 281/483-4326 valerie.j.coleman1@jsc.nasa.gov