From staff reports OKLAHOMA CITY – Business owners and managers are invited to connect and explore partnership opportunities with state agencies at the fifth State Suppliers Expo scheduled Aug. 5-6 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center.
The free, come-and-go event is open to entrepreneurs from throughout Oklahoma who want to learn how to do business with the state, get registered as a bidder, and connect with government leaders about current and upcoming projects.
Last year’s expo drew a record number of 700 attendees representing more than 500 companies. By the end of the event, 121 companies had begun the supplier registration process, eventually allowing them to submit competitive bids toward state government contracts affiliated with their industry.
Since visiting the 2024 State Suppliers Expo, attendees have conducted business with state agencies worth roughly $286 million – $147.7 million of that sum, or more than half, being spent with Oklahoma companies.
“The State Suppliers Expo is a unique opportunity for representatives from both the private and public sector to engage in crucial one-on-one discussions about how these products and services can best fulfill the state’s needs,” said OMES Director Rick Rose. “Collaborating closely with private companies allows state agencies to execute projects more effectively and offer enhanced services to the people of Oklahoma.”
For the fifth year, the 2025 State Suppliers Expo is expanding on its key offerings across two full days of procurement education and networking opportunities. Some highlights from this year’s agenda include:
• A new Higher Education booth featuring the University of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State University and A&M System on Day 1 of the expo.
• Oklahoma County is joining the lineup of breakout sessions with a presentation on navigating the county’s procurement process, hosted by Oklahoma County Clerk Communications Director Cherokee Ballard.
• A breakout session hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs outlining the unique skills veterans bring to the workforce, the benefits of hiring a veteran, and the lasting value they add to business success and community growth.
“The expo is a great place to see almost all state agencies in one location,” said 2024 attendee Mike Carpenter, vice president for government solutions at Arrowhead Consulting in Tulsa. “Many of the tables have wish lists of the agency’s top priorities, so it’s easy to spark a conversation about how we can work together on timely projects. It was extremely helpful to walk up to specific agencies and align on answers right then and there.”
As of June 30, 380 companies had signed up to attend the 2025 State Suppliers Expo. The deadline to preregister for this year’s expo has passed, but prospective attendees can register on-site starting at 8 a.m. on both expo days.