Claude

Here is your MUST-attend list for 2025. I am going to bold every event I plan to attend. Also, bookmark this post because we will update it as a living document as more information becomes available per event! We will even add events and update where Team G2Xchange will be.

*Last Updated April 23, 2025

Mapping your must-attend event list back into your pipeline is pretty much the holy grail in this business. We’ve given you a head start below. Just a glance at this calendar reminds me to get my 2025 plans set for the year so I can be more strategic. Here is what I do to prepare for every event:

Pre-event:

See if you can get your hands on the attendee list in advance so you can arrange meetings in advance. Most of the time the big events will have an app where at least the first, last name, and title will be available. You can use this to back-track into LinkedIn to arrange meetings before the event starts.
Always stay in the hotel where the conference is if you can. Typically keynote speakers and other important attendees will stay at the easiest place possible, and that is usually where the conference is being held. One time I partied with govies all night long when I did figure this out the first time! Being back at my booth by 6 am was super painful at that event!!
Keep an eye on the happy hours and private dinners being set up around the event. Trust me, there are both kinds of events happening—if you don’t know about them, you were not invited. Get in the know, get invited. OR, host your own happy hour or private dinner. This is a great way to get a controlled meeting on the books. For VETS24 G2Xchange booked a private room in the hotel and had an old-fashioned 90s college party—super fun and nostalgic—oh and SUPER well attended!
Get your mission statement ready: what’s your goal for this event? Keep it simple, keep it audacious, keep it fun—then execute! Have your elevator pitch ready, make it compelling, and don’t be cringe (you’ve heard this before).
Lean into the event: Get excited, post on LinkedIn that you are going, and use the Social Media kit to hype the event in style! Don’t criticize the organizers or the venue. If you must, do so in private. Most events have a survey they send out after. Remember you are the lucky, chosen one to represent the company, and honestly complaining about it is the true definition of first-world problems (I’ll remind myself this when next my company wants me to go to Vegas! Ha).

During event:

When taking photos, especially with folks you don't know well, ask for permission to post on LinkedIn and let the other person quickly review it. I’ve caught quite a few closed eyes and had to do a quick retake!
Wear comfortable shoes!! Ladies, this recommendation is for you. These are the best conference shoes I’ve found and they are made out of recycled plastic water bottles and you can throw them into the washer—literally, the BEST brand ever. https://rothys.com/products/womens-double-bit-driver-dark-evergreen
Talk to folks in the elevator: When I attend events, I assume everyone I don’t know yet is a friend waiting to be made! We are all there for the same purpose, so I try to talk to everyone I can. I can’t tell you how many new friends I’ve made in the check-in line, at the pool, or in the elevator. Over the years, I’ve noticed many people don’t feel comfortable in crowds or with folks they don’t know. Your job Mr. or Ms. Extrovert is to help others feel as comfortable as possible.
Alcohol rules of the road: If you partake, drink a glass of water between each alcoholic drink. Also, remember this is a work event, likely your company footed the bill—make sure you’re not the topic of gossip the next day. Know when to leave…pull an Irish goodbye if needed.
Find an event buddy: You’ll almost always see me with another person at an event. It’s just more fun that way. A lot of times, that event is the first time I’ve met this person. I can tell you for sure, this is a GREAT way to get to know someone. Also, pro-tip: get really good at giving impromptu introductions!!
Instead of paper cards get the https://dotcards.net/products/dot-band or have your LinkedIn QR code pulled up and ready to present when meeting someone new. I don’t think I’ve used a paper business card since before COVID.

Post Event:

Keep track of your new connections on LinkedIn and send follow-up notes to each reminiscing on the meeting and providing a call to action for the next steps.
Review your event mission: how did you execute it?? Lessons learned? What things do you want to remember for next time? Write these down somewhere. I like to use the Note function on my iPhone.
Post an event follow-up post on LinkedIn thanking the organizers. Grab the most compelling photos (often these are selfies) and tag every person in every photo (YES, it takes a LOT of time). As with all content that builds your personal brand, be authentic and keep it short, funny, and for the love of God don’t copy and paste from AI!

2025 MUST attend event list:

January

5-7th - EDGE25 @ CES, NV (sold out, waitlist available)
23-24th - 2025 Air Force Contracting Summit, FL
27-28th - 2025 Defense Outlook Summit
28-29th - Health IT Summit, DC
28-30th - AFCEA WEST 2025, CA

February

9-12th - NCMA NEXUS 2025, CA
12-13th - 12th Annual Homeland Security Symposium and Expo, VA
11-13th - 2025 National Small Business Conference, LA
19th - ACT-IAC Digital Transformation Summit 2025
25th - Special Air Warfare Symposium Matchmaking 2025
25-27th - AFCEA TechNet Pacific Northwest, WA
26th - Govini 2025 Defense Software & Data Summit, DC
27th - GovCIO Media & Research 2025 Defense IT Summit, VA
26th-27th - AFCEA Atlanta Homeland Security Summit
27-28th - USDA’s 101st Agricultural Outlook Forum, VA

March

3rd - 6th - HIMSS 25, The Venetian Convention & Expo, NV
4-5th - TechNet Emergence, VA
7th - FORUM IMPACT & INSPIRE Women's Luncheon, VA (Save the Date)
18th - FORUM Disruptive Tech Awards, VA
19th - ACT-IAC Emerging Technology Demo Day 2025, VA
21st - FORUM IMPACT & INSPIRE Women's Luncheon, VA (Save the Date)
20th-21st - AFCEA DOD CIO Cyber Workforce Summit, DC
25-26th - IDGA Homeland Security Week Summit, VA
30th - April 1st - ATARC GITEC 2025, VA

April

3rd - GovCIO Media & Research CyberSpace Summit 2025, MD
10th - AFCEA NOVA Innovation IT Day, VA
10th - Black Gov Tech
11th - FORUM IMPACT & INSPIRE Women's Luncheon, VA (Save the Date)
13-15th - 2025 Air Force Contracting Summit
16th - Federal Government Procurement Conference (GPC), DC
17th - AFCEA Data Centric Summit 2025
24th - ACT-IAC GSA ITVMO Annual Summit McLean, VA (Save the Date)
27-29th - PSC Annual Conference 2025, WV
28th - May 2nd - 2025 Military Health System (MHS) Conference, OH

September

10th - Govmates Fiscal Year End Fiesta Networking
11th - RockIT GovJam 2025, VA
15th - FORUM/G2X SevaSpace Sunrise Strategies: Government Contracting Insights, VA (Save the Date)
16th - FORUM/ G2X MP JV Fall Event, BD Squared (Save the Date)
17th - ACT-IAC Data/Analytic Forum 2025 (Save the Date)
19th - FORUM IMPACT & INSPIRE Women's Luncheon, International Country Club, VA (Save the Date)
22nd-24th - 2025 Air, Space & Cyber Conference
23-25th - National Cyber Summit, AL

October

8th - G2X User Conference Part 1 (Save the Date)
9th - ACT-IAC Cybersecurity Summit 2025 (Save the Date)
10th - FORUM IMPACT Awards, VA (Save the Date)
13th-15th - AUSA 2025 Annual Meeting
16-17th - APMP-NCA Mid Atlantic Conference, VA
26 -29th - ACT-IAC Imagine Nation ELC 2025, PA

November

7th - FORUM IMPACT & INSPIRE Women's Luncheon, VA (Save the Date)

December

2-5th - 2025 AFCEA Alamo ACE (Save the Date)
3rd - Govmates Holiday Bash Networking Event
18th - FORUM IT100, VA (Save the Date)

*Last Updated April 23, 2025

2025 #GovCom Event Guide (Updated 4-23-2025)

Pre-event:

During event:

Post Event:

2025 MUST attend event list:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Use G2X for free

Get The Daily Take

Free access

Get The Daily Take