2026 Disaster & Resilient City Exp Houston

Fr om the Executive Publisher

Tamara Bellamy President, Harrison Kelly Media Inc. Chief Executive Officer & Executive Publisher, Built America Magazine

Built America Magazine was created to give the companies, leaders and innovators shaping America’s built environment a publication that reflects the weight of their work. We connect your brand with over 278,000 elite executives, offering an unmatched platform to elevate your presence among key decision- makers in the construction and development sectors. Whether you’re launching a high-end property, seeking investment for innovative ventures, or aiming to affirm your industry dominance, our dedicated team ensures your message resonates with those who matter most. We provide tailored content solutions—from feature articles to exclusive interviews—designed to showcase your brand’s uniqueness and ambitions. Embrace this opportunity to highlight your latest achievements and upcoming projects in a publication revered by industry leaders. Join us in crafting a narrative that not only reaches, but profoundly impacts, an audience ready to engage with your vision. Elevate your brand with Built America Magazine, where success meets sophistication.

Chief Financial Officer William Breen

Publisher Mara Mather

Director of Operations Scott Carter

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Editor-in-Chief Skyler Grey

Tamara Bellamy Tamara Bellamy office@builtamericamagazine.com

Production Manager Bill Gregson

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REAL STORIES. REAL IMPACT. LASTING LEGACY.

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DEAR READER FROM OUR EDITOR

In every era of American infrastructure, moments of era of American infrastructure, moments of disruption have shaped how we build — and, more importantly, why resilience matters. Both The Disasters & Resilient Cities Expos exists not as a showcase of products alone, but as a convergence of leaders, technologies, and ideas responding to a fundamental truth: communities must be prepared before crisis strikes, and capable of recovery when it does. From power continuity and material performance to policy, planning, and innovation, resilience is no longer optional — it is foundational. This special edition of Built America Magazine, produced in partnership with Fortem International for the Disasters & Resilient Cities Expo, reflects the responsibility of building for preparedness, continuity, and long-term resilience. Inside these pages, we feature a curated group of organizations advancing disaster response and recovery. You’ll hear from the U.S. Small Business Administration , including insights from Lisa Shimkat, Associate Administrator, Office of Field Operations and Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Manufacturing & Trade, and Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience, on the role of small business in building resilient communities. You’ll also explore the work of USFCR , whose expertise helps businesses navigate federal contracting and recovery opportunities, and Bedlock Safety , whose solutions are built to protect people and operations when conditions turn critical. We also highlight innovators such as Jersey Tactical , alongside additional exhibitors curated for their measurable impact on disaster preparedness, response and resilience.

As you navigate the Disasters & Resilient Cities Expo — on the show floor, in education sessions, or through this publication — we encourage you to look beyond individual solutions and consider the broader ecosystem. True resilience is built through collaboration across sectors, disciplines, and communities. Thank you for being part of the work that strengthens communities and ensures continuity in the face of uncertainty.

With Great Appreciation,

The Editorial Team

BUILT AMERICA MAGAZINE SPECIAL EDITION TABLE OF CONTENTS DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITY EXPO HOUSTON OCTOBER 2026

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS Key sessions, roundtables & must sees at this years show.

From Capital to Recovery. A Conversation with SBA Leadership U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Before the Contract Comes the Readiness USFCR Beyond the Machine MILLENNIUM MACHINERY

Engineering the World’s Best Performing Motorized Screens PROGRESSIVE SCREENS

Built by Experience, Made in America JERSEY TACTICAL

When One Life is the Whole Story BEDLOCK SAFETY

Turning Preparedness into Capability VISUM CONTRACTING GROUP

Built to Outlast Us GENERAL SHELTERS OF TEXAS

American-Made Infrastructure Inside the Cold Chain COLDKEEPERS

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ADDITIONAL EXHIBITORS & INDUSTRY PARTNERS Recognizing the organizations helping advance preparedness, recovery and resilience

A STRONGER TOMORROW STARTS HERE

Built America Magazine

06 2026 DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITY EXPO HOUSTON EDITION

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EVENT HIGHLIGHTS & MUST SEES

Welcome to Disasters Expo & Resilient City Expo Houston

The moment is here to convene the leaders, innovators, and decision-makers shaping the future of disaster preparedness, response, and resilient communities.

Disasters Expo & Resilient City Expo Houston brings together public- and private-sector experts, featured exhibitors, and policymakers for a focused exploration of the challenges cities face — and the solutions rising to meet them. From critical infrastructure and emergency response to recovery, policy, and long-term resilience, the program reflects the urgency and complexity of today’s global landscape.

In the pages that follow, you’ll find must-see panels, featured speakers, and highlighted exhibitors selected for their impact and relevance — offering both strategic insight and real-world solutions shaping how communities prepare, respond, and rebuild. Whether you’re navigating the show floor, attending education sessions, or connecting with partners driving meaningful change, this guide is designed to help you focus on the conversations and companies advancing resilience when it matters most.

SPEAKERS TO WATCH PANELS TO SEE

HIGHLIGHTS & MUST SEES

Top Experiences You Wont Want to Miss at This Years Show.

HOUSTON, TX OCTOBER 14 OCTOBER 14 & 15 , 2026 TH TH

WHY THIS MATTERS

THE SHOW BY THE NUMBERS leaders around practical strategies that strengthen preparedness and long-term community resilience. As climate risk, infrastructure strain, and emergency response challenges continue to evolve, collaboration has never been more critical. The Disasters Expo & Resilient Cities Expo connects public and private sector

4000+ ATTENDEES

300+ EXHIBITORS

MULTIPLE SPEAKERS

THOUSANDS of INDUSTRY PROS

2026 DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITY EXPO HOUSTON EDITION

LEADERSHIP, SOLUTIONS & COLLABORATION

ROUND TABLES & CONVERSATIONS TO PRIORITIZE

Keeping a City Running, Roundtable Exploring how city leaders, public works departments, and logistics teams coordinate to maintain critical infrastructure.

Funding Recovery, Roundtable Getting critical capital to communities and businesses before, during and after a disaster.

The Crisis Communications Crisis President, Benjamin Proulx speaks on the evolution of crisis communications over the past two decades.

LIVE DISCUSSIONS & INNOVATION SHOWCASE

Resilient Product & Technology Exhibitors

Emergency Response Solutions Tools and technologies supporting utilities and municipalities.

Press & Networking Areas

Dedicated media briefings and informal networking opportunities.

Innovative systems supporting disaster preparedness, mitigation, and recovery.

WHERE COLLABORATION DRIVES IMPACT

Opening Keynote & Welcome Address

Strategic Roundtables

Food Truck & Networking Zone Resilience is built through coordinated leadership across government, utilities, the private sector, and community partners.

FEATURED PARTICIPANTS

COMPANIES SHAPING MEET THE

Beginning with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the following pages spotlight a curated group of organizations participating in Disasters Expo & Resilient City Expo whose solutions, leadership, and innovation are advancing the future of resilience. These companies were selected not simply for their presence at the event, but for the measurable impact of their work — from strengthening infrastructure and safeguarding critical supply chains to enhancing emergency response, mitigation, and long-term recovery strategies. Together, they represent the forward-thinking vision shaping how communities prepare for, withstand, and rebuild after disaster. WHAT’S NEXT

FEATURED GROUPS IN THIS ISSUE

U.S. Small Business Administration Millennium Machinery USFCR Progressive Screens

Jersey Tactical Bedlock Safety

Visum Contracting Group General Shelters of Texas Coldkeepers U.S. Mobile Solutions LLC PetroHab ChargeSys Solar Vandoit

Keep reading to learn more about how these companies and organizations are driving the industry forward.

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Standing Beside America’s Small Businesses

“That’s the American spirit. And when we rise, we rise together.” —LISA SHIMKAT | ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE OF FIELD OPERATIONS (ACTING ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATOR, OFFICE OF MANUFACTURING & TRADE)| SBA

SBA LEADERSHIP & IMPACT

Written by: Tamara Bellamy-Breen | Executive Publisher | Built America Magazine

When disaster strikes, rebuilding does not begin with lumber or concrete.

It begins with stability. With capital.

With someone standing beside a business owner and saying: you are not alone .

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is widely described as the federal government’s advocate for small business. That description is accurate, but it does not fully capture the agency’s reach or responsibility. In stable times, SBA expands access to capital through loan guarantees, supports domestic manufacturing and trade, convenes industry, and connects entrepreneurs to no-cost advisory resources. In disaster, it becomes one of the nation’s most important long-term recovery engines. Lisa Shimkat serves as Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Field Operations, overseeing all district offices nationwide, and as Acting Associate Administrator for the Office of Manufacturing and Trade. Chris Stallings leads SBA’s disaster operations, bringing 15 years in law enforcement and emergency management experience, including service as Georgia’s Director of Emergency Management. Together, their work reflects a shared understanding: Recovery is not a moment. It is a commitment.

Lisa Shimkat Associate Administrator

Office of Field Operations (Acting Associate Administrator, Office of Manufacturing & Trade)

Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience Chris Stallings Associate Administrator

What the SBA Actually Does “Most people think SBA equals money,” Shimkat explains. “And while we’re known for loan guarantees, we don’t provide direct funding except in disaster. What we do is reduce risk for lenders so small businesses can access capital.” Those guarantees make it possible for entrepreneurs to purchase equipment, expand operations, acquire facilities, or scale production. By sharing risk with lenders, SBA helps unlock growth that might otherwise stall. “We’re boots on the ground,” Shimkat says. “We’re working directly with businesses and lenders to expand opportunities so small businesses can grow and build wealth.” Her office represents SBA’s outward- facing presence — hosting roundtables, walking manufacturing floors, and carrying real-world concerns back to Washington.

“We’re working directly with businesses and lenders to expand opportunities so small businesses can grow and build wealth.” —Lisa Shimkat

MADE IN AMERICA

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CUTTING THROUGH THE RED TAPE

In her manufacturing and trade role, she ensures small business perspectives are represented in national trade discussions. “We review agreements and examine their impact on small business,” she says, “to make sure small business has a voice at the table.”

Small businesses often feel the weight of regulation first.

Through its Office of Advocacy and regulatory review initiatives, the SBA works to ensure small business voices are represented when federal rules are written, reviewed, or revised. If a regulation creates unintended hardship or disproportionately impacts small businesses, the SBA gathers data, conducts research, and brings those concerns directly to policymakers. Resources available include: • Loan guarantees to expand access to capital • Disaster recovery and Economic Injury loans • Export financing and trade support • No-cost advising through SBDCs, SCORE, and Women’s Business Centers

For

builders,

suppliers, attending

and

manufacturers the Disasters & Resilient Cities Expo, that voice matters. What Happens in the First 72 Hours

Your feedback helps shape better policy.

RED TAPE HOTLINE Burdened by an outdated or costly federal rule? Send the regulation , cost , and hours it consumes — SBA uses this data to drive regulatory relief for small businesses. redtape@sba.gov

When disaster hits, SBA’s focus shifts from expansion to recovery. “In the first 72 hours,” Stallings says, “even if it feels like help isn’t coming, help is rallying.”

Local

responders

stabilize

immediate States mobilize resources. Federal teams coordinate support. Behind the scenes, SBA prepares for long- term recovery. threats.

The first decisions are logistical.

“How many recovery centers can we support? Do we need generators? Satellite communications? What is the right number of personnel, so we don’t strain local resources?” Stallings explains. Over-responding can consume hotel space needed for displaced families. Under-responding delays assistance. The balance is critical. Administrator Kelly Loeffler asked Stallings to help bring a field- driven approach to disaster lending. “She asked me to help shift disaster lending from a banker’s perspective to a disaster mindset,” he says. “We focus on the survivor.”

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One of the most misunderstood SBA tools is the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). “Economic injury can only be used to pay bills, keep the lights on, and cover payroll,” Stallings explains. “It cannot be used for physical rebuilding.” That distinction is critical, particularly in rural communities. “If a few businesses leave a small town, it can close the community down,” he says. A single grocery store. A handful of gas stations. When those businesses disappear, daily life changes dramatically. “These loans allow businesses to stay open,” Stallings says. “They keep employees working and maintain stability while recovery takes place.” “In moments like that, it can never feel fast enough, but we move with urgency to get there and begin the recovery process.”

Because for the individual standing in front of a damaged home or storefront, this is not policy. It is the most difficult moment of their life. “It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to them,” Stallings says. “In moments like that, it can never feel fast enough, but we move with urgency to get there and begin the recovery process.”

Economic Injury and Community Stability

—Chris Stallings

For physical rebuilding, SBA provides separate disaster loans — up to $500,000 for homeowners, up to $50,000 unsecured for personal property , refinancing options when insurance is insufficient, and mitigation loans that help rebuild stronger against future events. “These low-interest loans allow us to help people who may not have other options,” Stallings says.

If one leg stalls, recovery slows. People need security and stability.”

She encourages industry leaders to prepare before the next storm.

“Meet with your state recovery officials annually,” she says. “Understand the strategy and how you can shorten the runway for rebuilding.” Because speed is not only about construction timelines. It is about retaining workforce and stabilizing communities. “You don’t want to lose employees,” she says. “Housing needs to stand back up quickly.” Growth in Stable Times Outside of disaster response, SBA’s mission remains equally vital.

“We take pride in getting to yes.”

Builders and the Race Back to Housing For contractors and developers, SBA disaster financing operates much like a traditional construction loan. “Homeowners can draw down funds during construction once permits are in place,” Stallings explains. Shimkat describes recovery as a coordinated system. “It’s a three- legged stool,” she says. “Financing, permitting, and coordination.

“The first thing I tell business owners is know your numbers,” Shimkat says.

Revenue alone does not determine sustainability. “Sales can look strong,” she explains, “but if net income is low, you have to examine costs. What can I control? What can’t I?”

“These low-interest loans allow us to help people who may not have other options, We take pride in getting to yes.”

—Chris Stallings

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Planning, even imperfect planning, builds resilience.

“A business plan may be outdated tomorrow,” she says, “but thinking through scenarios creates calm.” She also urges entrepreneurs to think long- term from day one. “What is your exit plan?” she asks. “Even if you just opened your doors.” SBA’s broader ecosystem — Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, SCORE mentors, and Veterans Business Outreach Centers — exists to provide no-cost guidance. “When you’re a small business owner, you wear every hat,” Shimkat says. “Having someone in your corner matters.”

A National Commitment

Both leaders return to one central belief: small businesses are foundational to the American economy. “Resilience isn’t just on the shoulders of the business owner,” Shimkat says. “It’s on all of us.”

Then she frames it more broadly.

“That’s the American spirit,” she says. “That’s what we know we have within us. And when we rise, we rise together.” When businesses remain open, families stay employed.

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Stallings encourages preparation before crisis.

When asked where SBA fits in rebuilding stronger, not just faster, Stallings answers simply:

“Have the conversation on a blue-sky day,” he says. “Don’t wait until your home is scattered in your neighbor’s field before searching for what resources are available.” The SBA does not replace private markets. It strengthens them . It does not build the homes. It enables them to be built. It does not run the companies. It supports them so they can thrive.

“We are committed to standing beside the disaster survivor and helping them get back whole as quickly as possible.” That commitment — to capital, coordination, advocacy, and long-term partnership — is what keeps America’s small business engine running. Because when small businesses rise, communities rise. And when communities rise, the nation rises with them.

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Don’t wait for crisis to learn what’s available. Explore SBA’s programs at SBA.gov — including loan guarantees for growth, export financing, manufacturing support, and disaster recovery resources. In the event of disaster, visit SBA.gov/disaster to access physical damage loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loans, mitigation funding, and long-term recovery tools. Manufacturers and suppliers are encouraged to register on SBA’s Onshoring Portal to connect with domestic buyers and strengthen America’s supply chain. Business owners can receive no-cost support through their local SBDC, SCORE, Women’s Business Center, or Veterans Business Outreach Center.

Looking to expand your domestic footprint?

SBA Onshoring Portal

Start the conversation on a blue-sky day.

Scan the QR code to register and position your company within a growing national supply chain network.

Preparation today strengthens recovery tomorrow.

Visit SBA.gov For disaster assistance: SBA.gov/disaster SBA.gov/disaster Scan to learn more. Ready to explore SBA programs for growth or recovery?

“A strong company, built on integrity, trust, and a company that solves problems rather than creates them.” Robert Valdez, Millennium Machinery

MACH I NERY

MILLENNIUM MACH I NE RY Beyond the Machine DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITIES SPECIAL EDITION

Written by: Skyler Grey, Editor-in-Chief, Built America Magazine

From machinery and field service to engineering, scanning, CNC manufacturing and AI-driven tools, Millennium Machinery has spent more than two decades building around one question: what does the customer actually need to keep moving?

Millennium Machinery was not built from a perfect first attempt.

“It’s about finding solutions for customers and embedding yourself in a relationship with them that makes you indispensable.”

It came out of loss, hard lessons, family history and the kind of experience that permanently changes the way a person thinks about trust. Robert Valdez grew up around machinery and engineering. His grandfather owned a machine shop in Cuba before Castro came to power and the business was taken from him. He rebuilt his working life in Puerto Rico, eventually buying another machine shop and continuing to sell diesel engine parts throughout the Caribbean. Valdez started as his driver.

Robert Valdez, Millennium Machinery

“I used to go pick up parts and drop them off,” he says.

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Over time, he began meeting customers, learning the vendor side of the business and understanding something that would eventually shape Millennium Machinery: the value was never simply in the part. It was whether that part solved a problem quickly enough to keep someone else’s operation moving.

Years later, Valdez built his own company in Latin America.

Then Venezuela collapsed.

“It cost me everything I’d built up until that point in 2000,” he says. “So I had to declare bankruptcy. I had to close that company down.” The experience was brutal, but clarifying. “I learned what shouldn’t be done. And a little bit more about who to trust and how to do business.” Millennium Machinery was founded in 2001 with those lessons behind it. The Work Behind the Name Asked what those early years demanded, Valdez does not romanticize them.

“Sweat and blood.”

There was travel, handshakes, long days and the constant work of finding answers for customers. Eventually, he realized Millennium could not be built around transactions. “It wasn’t about what widget you sell and what widget you represent,” he says. “It was more about finding solutions for customers and embedding yourself in a relationship with them that makes you indispensable.”

That philosophy pushed Millennium well beyond equipment sales.

Today, the company combines machinery, field service, engineering, scanning, digital technology, CNC manufacturing and increasingly AI-driven tools across mining, aggregates and heavy construction.

“We look for solutions for customers,” Valdez says.

details he may have overlooked. “She’s my yang to my yin,” he jokes.

Sometimes that means working within the capabilities of manufacturers such as Epiroc and Metso . Other times, it means modifying equipment, redesigning a component or finding an entirely different route to the outcome a customer needs. “My goal is to make sure that the customer is profitable first.” The balance between risk and discipline also exists inside the Valdez family. Robert describes himself as the entrepreneur and risk taker. His wife is more conservative, watching the numbers, insurance, liability and the A Business Built Together

When he celebrates a large deal, she is often already thinking about taxes, coverage and exposure. “I’m looking at it from a realistic point of view,” she tells him.

Valdez calls her his “litmus test.”

“If I can convince her that it’s a good deal, I can convince anybody.” They have worked beside one another for decades, her financial discipline allowing him to remain focused on customers, growth and business development. Their son has now joined that story. Originally studying biology with plans to pursue medicine, he eventually approached his father about joining Millennium.

“I want to sit in your chair,” he told him.

2026 DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITY EXPO HOUSTON EDITION

Valdez’s response was immediate.

He recalls a production facility in Argentina losing a controller immediately before a long U.S. holiday. Millennium located one in Utah, flew out to retrieve it, put it on a direct flight to Argentina, moved it through customs and had it installed within 48 hours.

“Oh, no, you don’t. You have no idea what you’re saying.”

So he started him as a mechanic’s helper.

His son later earned an MBA, learned the equipment, worked through engineering challenges and moved into manufacturing. Today, Robert says, he asks him for advice. When Downtime Costs Thousands In Millennium’s world, a stopped machine can mean thousands of dollars lost by the hour. When a customer goes down, the response becomes immediate. “We’ll work 24 hours,” Valdez says. “We’ll subcontract out. We’ll look for anyone that can help solve that problem.”

“Whatever it takes to keep the customers running.”

But urgency does not replace diagnosis.

If a fuse fails, Millennium’s service team wants to understand why.

Replacing it may restart the machine, but a short, loose cable or another underlying issue can simply create the next shutdown. The company also asks customers to make difficult decisions around preventive maintenance, including temporarily giving up production time when doing so protects long-term uptime. 35

“We put our money where our mouth is.”

Lowering the Real Cost

Valdez evaluates machinery through total cost of ownership, not purchase price alone.

“Those kinds of solutions are not in the textbooks,” he says. “They’re part of an overall strategy because we like to put ourselves in our customer’s shoes.” One example began with a consumable drill component that a third-party supplier could not deliver reliably. Millennium bought CNC equipment, hired programmers and brought production in-house. Then Valdez challenged his engineering team to improve the component itself. The original version lasted approximately 4,000 feet. The redesigned version reached roughly 35,000.

The customer now needs considerably fewer of them.

The objective, Valdez explains, is not to maximize how much Millennium sells. It is to improve the economics of the customer’s operation. “What do you need to accomplish for you to be profitable?” Relationships That Go Both Ways Millennium approaches its manufacturer relationships with the same directness. Valdez believes representing a brand means understanding its people, strategy and long- term goals, not simply carrying its logo.

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But the customer remains first.

If a competing product genuinely performs better for a particular application, Millennium will say so. That transparency has created an unusual level of loyalty. Valdez says customers have sometimes resisted efforts by manufacturers to work with them directly.

“They’ll say, ‘No, no, no. You leave us with Millennium. We’re good.’”

Millennium now serves customers throughout the southeastern United States, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Valdez credits much of that growth to one thing:

“Hiring the right people.”

Then comes understanding a customer deeply enough to ask the questions that matter.

“What drives their revenue and their profitability? What stops you from growing?

Where are your problems?” What Comes Next

Scanning, digital twins, automation and AI are already changing how equipment is monitored, dangerous conditions are identified and operational decisions are made. Valdez believes companies that disconnect from those changes—or from the customers experiencing them—will struggle to keep pace. “If you are not completely engaged with the technology that’s being developed,” he says, “and if you’re not engaged with customers and what they see in the market moving forward,” falling behind becomes almost inevitable. 37

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After more than two decades, there may be no more accurate measure of what Millennium Machinery has been building.

Millennium continues to evolve because the problems its customers face continue to evolve with it. Yet when Valdez considers what he ultimately wants the next generation to say about the business, the answer has little to do with machinery or technology.

Keep Your Operation Moving Millennium Machinery helps mining, aggregate and heavy-construction companies reduce downtime, extend equipment life and solve complex operational challenges.

Connect with Millennium Machinery at www.mmpas.com to learn more .

“A strong company, built on integrity, trust, and a company that solves problems rather than creates them.”

U.S. FEDERAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION

Eric Knellinger President, USFCR

Before the Contract Comes the Readiness

Written by: Tamara Bellamy, Executive Publisher, Built America Magazine

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For more than 16 years, USFCR has helped businesses enter one of the largest marketplaces in the world. In disaster response, however, the stakes behind that work become considerably more human.

A hurricane does not wait for a contractor to finish a registration.

“At the time of a disaster is not the time to get

It does not wait for a company to understand a procurement portal, secure the right certification or assemble a subcontracting team. By the time debris blocks roads and communities are waiting for roofs, equipment and essential services, the businesses capable of helping need to be ready.

For Eric Knellinger, President of U.S. Federal Contractor Registration, that distinction is fundamental.

registered. They need things now.”

“At the time of a disaster is not the time to get registered,” he says. “They need things now.”

It is a lesson rooted in the problem that created USFCR.

In 2010, Knellinger was working with small and mid-sized businesses when a friend, a federal procurement officer at MacDill Air Force Base, began telling him how often capable local companies could not sell to the government because they were not properly registered. One example involved a boat. A marina down the road had exactly what the officer needed, but the business was not registered correctly. The boat had to be purchased from Louisiana instead, adding roughly $12,000 in costs. “If the marina down the street would have just been registered properly, he could have bought the boat there,” Knellinger recalls. “Got it much faster and saved our taxpayer money all at the same time.”

Eric Knellinger President, USFCR

That frustration became a company.

USFCR began with three people in what Knellinger describes as “a closet of a room.” Today, it has grown to more than 100 employees and says more than 500,000 business registrations have come through its doors.

But registration, he insists, is only the beginning.

Beyond SAM

“The government buys everything from staples to spaceships.”

“It’s not just a SAM registration anymore,” Knellinger says. “It is a process.”

That process can include market research, certifications, compliance, proposal support, sourcing opportunities, teaming strategies and learning how to position a business in front of agencies that actually buy what it sells.

Eric Knellinger President, USFCR

The opportunity is enormous, but so is the complexity.

Prof i t Pres t i ge Protection

Every company enters from a different position. A woman-owned contractor may have options a veteran-owned company does not. A startup, engineer or established prime contractor may need an entirely different strategy. Knellinger describes the motivations behind government contracting through what he calls the three Ps: profit, prestige and protection.

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A newer business may enter the market to create revenue. A growing company may use federal work to strengthen its credibility commercially. Larger contractors may already have millions in federal contracts and need support protecting that business. “Everybody’s journey is a little different,” he says. “But the end result is all the same: winning a federal contract.” Stephanie Desautels, Business Development Manager, who works closely with USFCR clients, puts the philosophy even more simply.

That preparation takes on a different weight after a disaster.

Agencies may suddenly need trucking companies, roofers, debris-removal contractors, equipment suppliers, logistics providers and dozens of other private-sector capabilities.

“The response has to be quick because lives matter.” Eric Knellinger President, USFCR

“Knowledge is power.” When Preparedness Becomes Personal

He where contractors were positioned before an event and others where the response moved slowly. has seen communities

“Lives are at stake when national disasters happen, and the contractors need to be ready, ready to go at a moment’s notice.”

“I can tell you this: lives are saved when the response is quick.”

For Knellinger, small businesses are not peripheral to disaster recovery. “When the rubber meets the road and we have a disaster, it’s the backbone of small businesses that carry a community, a state through those disasters.”

But readiness is not just paperwork.

Eric Knellinger President, USFCR

“What does your team look like?” he asks. “Because your team is going to equal your success.” That may mean employees, subcontractors, proposal professionals and prime contractors already positioned to move when an opportunity appears. Stephanie says teaming is especially important for companies breaking into government contracting. Working as a subcontractor can build past performance and credibility before a company pursues larger prime opportunities. During disaster recovery, established contractors may suddenly need additional help with “trucking, debris removal, roofing or blue tarping.” For a newer business, that subcontract can become the first real doorway into the federal marketplace.

“Technology is great and it can be a great tool, but it can’t be a crutch. You have to have a human touch.”

Stephanie Desautels Business Development Manager, USFCR

Stephanie Desautels Business Development Manager USFCR

Technology Still Needs a Human Being

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A New $30 Million Commitment Another barrier can stop businesses before they ever submit a bid: capital. Certifications, compliance and preparation all require investment before a contract is won. USFCR previously committed $22 million in funding to help businesses move through that process. Now Knellinger says the company is preparing to go further. In news shared first with Built America Magazine, USFCR is putting together an additional $30 million in funding for small businesses pursuing government-contracting opportunities. For qualifying businesses, Knellinger says the program is intended to provide financing at 0% interest , with access of up to a $200,000 line of credit , helping companies address certifications and other costs associated with preparing for federal, state and local work.

Federal procurement is becoming increasingly data-driven, and USFCR uses technology extensively. But neither Knellinger nor Stephanie believes software can replace judgment. “AI is a great tool,” Knellinger says. “Technology is wonderful. It can help us manage, organize and get better at doing our daily jobs.”

Stephanie draws the line clearly.

“Technology is great and it can be a great tool, but it can’t be a crutch. You have to have a human touch.”

Behind every solicitation is still a procurement professional trying to determine whether a company can actually perform. “Do you think that federal procurement officer wants to see an AI-driven document that someone took 30 seconds to build,” Knellinger asks, “or something that was well thought out, looked at, and has experience behind it and understands the need of that agency?” That is why USFCR continues to invest heavily in coaching, capability statements, bid preparation and helping clients clearly communicate what they can do.

His reasoning is straightforward.

“They have enough strikes against them.”

Of all the numbers attached to USFCR, one of Knellinger’s favorite measures of success came from a client who called him with an unusual message. USFCR also sees a responsibility attached to that kind of trust. “We have a standard that we have to live up to,” Knellinger says. “And we take that standard very seriously. Our word is our bond.” “You Changed My Zip Code” He is equally clear that government contracting is not an overnight success story. “These are three-year events. Anything that anybody says is going to happen overnight is not reality. It takes time.”

“Mr. Knellinger, you changed my zip code.” Knellinger paused.

The man explained: “You changed my family’s trajectory.”

Another client approached him at a conference in Washington after first winning a $36,000 contract, followed by another worth more than $100,000.

Then came the contract that changed everything. “We just won a $5 million contract.”

“He broke out the tears,” Knellinger remembers. “I was literally sitting there with that guy and we were crying together.” That is why USFCR no longer describes itself simply as a registration company. “We actually help businesses grow. We actually help them change their lives, change the structure of their business and really get them to that next level.” Stephanie Desautels Business Development Manager, USFCR

FROM FIRST WIN TO LIFE-CHANGING GROWTH

$36K $100K $5M

One client's progression through the government marketplace, as shared by Eric Knellinger.

2026 DISASTERS & RESILIENT CITY EXPO HOUSTON EDITION

Some clients may pursue multimillion-dollar federal opportunities. Others may simply want a contract mowing a courthouse lawn or mulching an airport.

“No contract is too small or too big,” Stephanie says. “It’s whatever our clients are capable of.”

For Knellinger, the next chapter of USFCR will be about giving more businesses the knowledge, financing and preparation to enter government contracting correctly from the beginning.

“We want to be that answer,” he says.

At the end of his seminars, he asks attendees one question:

“What are you going to do when you leave here?”

It is a fitting question for disaster contractors too.

Because once the storm arrives, preparation is no longer theoretical. Somewhere, a community needs a road cleared, a roof covered, equipment delivered or power restored, and the businesses prepared before the emergency are the ones positioned to answer. USFCR has spent 16 years trying to make sure more of them can. The opportunity may begin with a government contract. What happens after that can change a company, a family— or, when the stakes are highest, how quickly a community gets back on its feet.

USFCR helps businesses navigate registration, compliance, certifications, market research, teaming and bid strategy across federal, state and local contracting. Ready to Enter the Government Marketplace?

USFCR.COM

855-630-6548

Engineering the World’s Best Performing Motorized Screens Written by: Skyler Grey | Editor-in-Chief | Built America Magazine

An American Company

Built to last

Top Quality Materials

Lifetime Limited Warranty

“I truly almost hated my product that I was producing for 17 years. I knew there had to be a better way.” —Arthur James | Founder & Inventor of MagnaTrack

From Frustration to Innovation

Solving the Unsolvable

ARTHUR JAMES | PRESIDENT, PROGRESSIVE SCREENS

THE MAGNATRACK SYSTEM

After years of witnessing the same failures across job sites, Arthur James set out to engineer a better way — ultimately redefining how motorized screens perform.

Designed to eliminate the failures builders accepted for decades — and establish a new performance standard.

There are moments in manufacturing when progress doesn’t come from inspiration. It comes from frustration. And for the companies that last, that frustration doesn’t burn them out. It sharpens them.

For Arthur James, founder of Progressive Screens and inventor of the MagnaTrack system, innovation was born from a simple but powerful truth: he hated the product he was selling. “I truly almost hated my product that I was producing for 17 years,” Arthur says, without hesitation. “It was typical within the industry. Cold weather? The fabric contracts. Then you get service calls, hang-ups, rewraps, pull-outs. All the things that are normal in this space.”

Normal, maybe. Acceptable? Not to him.

That refusal to accept “normal” is the thread that runs through Progressive Screens’ story, a company

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founded in 2002, reborn in 2017, and now defining a standard in motorized screening and storm protection that builders are increasingly demanding. It’s a story about durability, aesthetics, and resilience. It’s also rooted in a belief that if something is going to be built into a home, it should work on demand, in every season, without excuses. From Distribution to Disruption and a Legacy of Making Things Progressive Screens didn’t begin as a trend-chasing startup. It began the way legacy companies often do, with a founder raised inside the daily discipline of building, fixing, improving, and starting again when necessary. ‘We overcome 98% or more of typical service issues.” The result is a system that performs when others don’t, in cold climates, high winds, large spans, and daily use. MagnaTrack allows Progressive Screens to go wider and taller than competitors’, while maintaining reliability

And for Arthur, it meant something much more profound:

finally standing behind a product he believed in. Culture Built on Belief and Values You Can Measure Innovation may be the backbone of Progressive Screens, but culture is its heartbeat. “Culture is a big thing here,” Arthur says simply. “We have a phenomenal team.” That team was intentionally assembled after Progressive Screens was acquired by Hunter Douglas in December 2020, a moment that gave the company the resources to scale without losing the founder-led intensity that built it.

Defining the Future of Outdoor Living

Extending, Enhancing, and Protecting Life Outdoors

THE MAGNATRACK SYSTEM

“My COO, Jack Sharp, has been instrumental in our growth and culture,” Arthur says. “Jim Fix, as Director of Sales & Marketing, has built one of the best sales teams in the industry. Alberto Tanzi, who works with me in R&D, was once a competitor. Now we work together.” Production Manager Steve Swartz credits his team with maintaining uncompromising quality standards while keeping lead times consistently low. Jim Fix, who has worked alongside Arthur for seven years, sees leadership as the catalyst. “Arthur empowers his people,” Jim says. “He’s chosen the right people in the right seat. He’s given us the freedom to develop this program alongside him.” Then Jim shares what feels less like corporate values and more like a standard that protects the legacy. Progressive Screens operates across both residential and commercial markets, serving nearly 1,000 dealers nationwide.

Adjustable Roller System Made to reduce wrinkled edges for a clean aesthetic appearance.

Aluminum Housing Brackets For utmost strength and durability. Coated in glass filled nylon to eliminate corrosion.

Climate Control

Privacy from Neighors

Block Harmful UV Rays

Storm Resistent

Keep Pests Out

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“With little to no effort, a patio can become a three- or four-season room,” Arthur says. “You can heat it, cool it, retract the screens when you don’t need them, and preserve the aesthetics of the home.” And for builders working on luxury homes, aesthetics matter. “We can completely conceal the system inside the construction,” Arthur explains. “The screens are hidden until deployed. That’s the premier application.” Storm Protection Without Fine Print For regions like Florida, storm resilience isn’t optional. It’s essential. Progressive Screens’ Defender Screen is a hurricane-rated system, certified for Cat 5 performance and capable of withstanding 157-plus-mile-per-hour winds. DEFENDER HURRICANE SCREENS Certified Storm Protection. No Fine Print. Hurricane-Rated for CAT 5 Performance Certified across all sizes to withstand extreme storm conditions. Kevlar®-Reinforced Fabric Construction Vertical Kevlar® strands with controlled- stretch polyester absorb impact without failure. Tested Beyond 157+ MPH Winds Engineered and verified to perform under the most severe wind loads. 10,000+ Deployment Cycles Tested Built for reliability before, during, and after the storm.

Their systems are used by pool enclosure companies, window and garage door firms, storm protection specialists, and home automation integrators. They’ve become a preferred choice for many major brands in the commercial sector. But the deeper story is how people actually use the product. “One of my favorite pieces of feedback,” Jim says, “is once people have the product, how much they love it and use it every day. How long it lasts. How durable it is.”

Arthur puts it more bluntly: “People suddenly realize they have a brand-new space.”

Outdoor living is one of the fastest-growing segments in construction, and Progressive Screens sits squarely at that intersection of lifestyle and performance.

THE MAGNATRACK SYSTEM

Effortless Deployment Our low friction Keder Interlock means your screen is secure with absolutely no zippers.

vinyl, paired with horizontal polyester strands engineered for controlled stretch. The result is a system designed to absorb impact and pressure without failure. “There’s no fine print,” Arthur emphasizes. “From our smallest to our largest unit, it’s certified.” Built for Builders, Not Just Buyers When visiting expos, Progressive Screens isn’t just showing products. They’re educating an industry. “The motorized screen segment is still kind of an unknown market,” Arthur says. “It has so many benefits. Storm protection, aesthetics, versatility.”

Strongest Yet Quiet Operation Our magnet track has more than 10x the pulling force of any other system in the market!

“This product has gone through rigorous testing,” Arthur says. “Impact testing. Pressure testing. 10,000 deployment cycles . And in real-world storms, it’s outperformed every competitive product, hands down.”

Jim highlights another benefit builders can’t ignore: energy performance.

The fabric itself tells the story: vertical strands woven with Kevlar and coated in

“Studies have shown you can save up to 55% on your energy costs with exterior screening.” Jim says.

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