Frequently Asked Questions

ALL events and sessions during VSBC will be in Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Firs, you will need to register for the event, as all other SAME National events. 

All content - sessions, the virtual exhibit hall, 1:1 appointments, and chat and discussion groups must be accessed via your personal login to the live event platform (login credentials are the same as your Attendee Service Center (ASC) login).  We'll post entrance links on the website and also send them to you via email.

For a "sneak peek" into the new platform CLICK HERE!

Access to the live event platform will begin on November 3 so you can get the "lay of the land" before the action really starts on November 4.

Pricing can be found on the Registration Information Page.

Please view our Schedule at a Glance for our Virtual SBC.  This is an overview of what is taking place on each day.

Please visit the Sessions Page of the VSBC website.  You can see the details of the education sessions, including the title, description, and Speaker(s) participating in each.  You can view these All or select a specific day.  You can also search by title, speaker, or track by clicking on "Search/Filter" at the top of the page.   

For our 2020 VSBC, we will have 3 distinguished keynote speakers!

Cynt Marshall, CEO, Dallas Mavericks
Brooks Thomas, Social Business Senior Advisor, Southwest Airlines
Dr. Francis Stampinato, Assoiate Administrator, U.S Small Business Administration

For more information about each, please visit the Keynote page of the VSBC website. 
 

Yes, all sessions offered during VSBC will be recorded.  Your full conference registration includes access to the recordings.

Recordings will be available about a week after VSBC and can only be accessed through the Attendee Service Center (ASC). You will receive PDH credit for viewing recordings!

Our Matched Networking is one-on-one appointments between small businesses and Government Agencies & Large Business Hosts.  Parties will be matched based on criteria selected by the Hosts.

Appointments will be held:
Wednesday, November 4, 2020: 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST
Thursday, November 5, 2020: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm EST
Friday, November 6, 20202: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm EST

Appointment requests will open according to the following schedule:
Small Business individual registrants: October 23
Medium and Large Business registrants: October 30

For additional details, please visit the Matched Networking page of the VSBC website. 
 

Once you are in the virtual platform, you will see a "Networking Portal."  Not only is this where you will find your personalized Agenda, but it's where you can join in on Chats and Discussion Groups.   

You can view a "sneak peek" into this portal CLICK HERE! 

Yes, we will have a very interactive Virtual Exhibit Hall ("Expo Hall") during VSBC.  The Expo Hall can be accessed from the Lobby of the new virtual platform.  Once inside, you can click on the logo for any of the Exhibitors on that page.   You can also click on Expo Hall in the top toolbar and search for specific Exhibitors by Company Name, by a Keyword, or by Product Category.   

For a current Exhibitor List, which is also searchable, visit the Exhibits page on the VSBC website.

No, you do not need to be a member of SAME to attend the Small Business Conference. However, SAME members do receive a discounted registration fee.

The option to become an SAME Individual Member is available through the Registration process.  If you have questions about SAME member types, you can visit our website CLICK HERE.

Please visit the Registration Information page of the SBC website for pricing information.

If you do not see your member record in the registration system, please send an email to member@same.org.

If your company has an SAME Sustaining Membership this does not mean that all employees have an SAME membership. Each organization with a Sustaining Membership must select its employees to be a Sustaining Membership Representative.

If you would like to find out if you are a Sustaining Member Representative or how to become one, please contact our Membership Department at or 703-549-3800 ext 131.

We expect about 4000 Attendees, 30% Govt. with the majority of those being USACE employees.

Online registration will stay open until the end of the conference. You can also register after the conference to access on-demand sessions.

The Virtual SBC will not have any Guest/Spouse registrations or offerings.

All exhibitors attending Virtual SBC must be registered using the Booth Staff Registration Form.

No one is automatically registered to attend the conference. ALL STAFF ATTENDING VSBC MUST BE REGISTERED ONLINE.

Each virtual booth comes with (2) Complimentary Exhibitor Full Conference registrations. Those receiving the complimentary registrations must be registered online through the Booth Staff Registration form.

Once the two free registrations have been used, any additional registrations come with a fee. Please check the Registration section for pricing.

If your booth is not paid in full and approved by SAME, you will not see your company in the drop-down list. Keep in mind that this process is not instantaneous. Our staff makes every effort to check payments daily and approve paid companies as quickly as possible.

Please email exhibit@same.org if you have any questions regarding your booth payment status.

We accept credit card (Visa, American Express, Mastercard) and check payment.

If paying by check, please make payable to the Society of American Military Engineers. Please mail your check with a copy of your invoice.

Mail to:
SAME
Attn: Accounting - 2020 SBC
1429 King Street, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22314

Tax ID#: 53-0196491 [this number may also be called the TIN or EIN]

DUNS #: 09-636-6455

CAGE/NCAGE: 1E104

Yes. You can pay for your registration with multiple credit cards.

When you get to the "Review" page on the registration form you will see a credit card icon. Click on the icon then assign each registration item to the payment method number using the radio buttons. Click continue to go to the "Payment" page. This is where you will enter your credit card information.

Please make checks payable to the Society of American Military Engineers.

Mail your check with a copy of your invoice to:

SAME
Attn: Accounting - 2020 VSBC
1420 King Street, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22314

Cancelations will be accepted through October 30, 2020 and must be received in writing, to registration@same.org. Registration fees will be refunded in full minus a handling and processing charge of $75.00 for individual registration. If your registration fee is $0.00, you will not be charged a cancelation fee if you cancel.SAME regrets that refunds cannot be issued after October 30, 2020, or for no-shows, except for deployed forces with orders. You may also transfer your registration to a colleague if circumstances prevent you from attending the conference. Please see the Registration page for details about transferring a registration.

The cancelation fee and deadline do not apply to government registrations. Government registrations will receive full refunds at any time. Please send cancelation requests to registration@same.org. 

To retrieve your registration invoice/receipt, please login to the Attendee Service Center. Your login information is located in your confirmation email.

Please send an email to registration@same.org notifying us that you need to transfer your registration. Please include the following information for the new registrant:

1. Full Name (Prefix, First Name, Last Name, Suffix)
2. Badge Name/Nickname (if applicable)
3. Organization
4. Work Address
5. Position Title
6. Email address
7. Work Phone Number
8. Cell Phone Number
9. Emergency Contact Name and Phone Number
10. Attendee Type (Private Industry, Academia/Non-Profit, etc)
11. Small Business Designations, if SB and if applicable (
12. Main Job Responsibility
13. Seniority Level (entry, mid, senior, executive)
14. States your Company does business (All 50 States is an option)
15. Primary NAICS Code, if aplicable
16. DUNS #, if applicable 

Please Note: If the substitute's membership category is different from original registrant's, the registration fee difference will be charged. Please contact our membership department at member@same.org if you need to verify membership status.

Once the transfer has been completed, a confirmation email will be sent to the new registrant.

Yes. If you would like to register now but pay later please select, "Send Invoice" as your payment method. When you are able to pay for your registration, please login to the Attendee Service Center. Your login information is located in your confirmation letter.

All payment is due 10 days after registering. You will not be able to access the virtual sessions in the Attendee Service Center until payment in full is made.

An attendee list will be posted in the Attendee Service Center two weeks prior to the conference and a final list is posted within one week after the conference. Your login to the Attendee Service Center can be found in your registration confirmation letter.