UW’s Wyoming APEX Accelerator to Host Business Protection Webinar Dec. 3

Small-business owners can learn how to better protect their businesses Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Heather McCormick, Dean Manes and Jodi Crawford will lead a Wyoming APEX Accelerator webinar titled "Protect Your Small Business: SBA's Office of Inspector General" from 11 a.m.-noon. To register, go here. Registration is free.

Wyoming APEX Accelerator, part of the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network housed at the University of Wyoming, is the state's expert in government contracting assistance.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) provides auditing, investigative and other services to support and assist the SBA in achieving its statutory mission. The OIG provides independent, objective oversight to improve the integrity, accountability and performance of the SBA and its programs for the benefit of the American people.

OIG seeks to improve SBA programs by identifying key issues facing the agency; recommending corrective actions; weeding out fraud; and promoting a high level of integrity. Each year, these investigations help prevent, detect, deter and address waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse; form the basis of thousands of criminal and administrative actions; and result in billions of dollars of monetary recoveries.

Webinar attendees will learn the SBA OIG mission and investigative priorities; understand the development of the SBA OIG and today's small-business landscape; gain insights and knowledge on the relevant statutory offenses and penalties, including the False Claims Act and the False Statements Accountability Act; sources of SBA OIG investigations, including mandatory disclosures, hotline complaints and qui tams; SBA programs involving government contracts; bribery and corruption investigations; pitfalls to avoid and consequences of violations; and case studies.

The webinar is for contractors and subcontractors with government contracts; those new to compliance within the finance and accounting functions; program managers; general managers; directors of contracts; and legal professionals where compliance documentation and procedures are needed.

McCormick, Manes and Crawford are criminal investigators for the SBA OIG.

For more information, call Drew James, veterans business development specialist for the SBA Wyoming District Office, at (307) 757-5819 or email [email protected].