You got certified and now what? This practical, one-hour session picks up exactly where certification leaves off and answers the question every small business owner asks next: how do I actually find, respond to, and win government contracts?

Led by Gladian Rivera, a New Jersey-certified MWBE business owner who has bid on county government work, this webinar demystifies the bidding process from the inside out and shows you how to put everyday AI tools to work, with a live demonstration in Claude and a look at how the same approach applies in Google Gemini, so you can compete like a much larger firm.

In one focused hour, you’ll walk away knowing where the opportunities are posted, how to present your business so buyers take you seriously, what actually makes a bid win or lose, and how AI can turn a dense, intimidating solicitation into a clear, manageable checklist in minutes.

What You’ll Learn

• Where government work is posted
• How to build a one-page “capability statement”
• Leverage from AI tools with a live demo in Claude, and applicable to tools like Google Gemini to evaluate and manage bids, safely

PLEASE NOTE: Once you have registered, you will be sent access details to join the webinar in a separate email.

Get Free Assistance with Government Contracting

The APEX Accelerator Team will discuss the free services offered to small business owners when exploring government contracting opportunities.

Learn from the experts

Gladian Rivera

Gladian Rivera is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Obsidian Rising LLC, a New Jersey-certified minority- and women-owned (MWBE) strategic operations consultancy based in Rahway. She brings a rare dual perspective to government contracting: a certified diverse small business owner who has personally completed New Jersey registration and certification and has bid on county government work. She is a former public servant who reviewed more than $65 million in proposals submitted to a state government Department.
Previously, at the U.S. Attorney’s Office-EDNY, she received the 2024 DOJ EOUSA Director’s Award for Superior Performance. Gladian is a member of the Anthropic Claude Partner Network Program and Open AI Select Partner, Gladian helps business owners use AI responsibly to streamline operational workflows, evaluate RFPs, organize requirements, and strengthen their proposals. She holds an M.A. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College (with distinction), a B.A. from Rutgers University, and a Harvard Online Certificate in Strategy Execution for Public Leadership (2025). She is bilingual in English and Spanish and an active member of the Rahway and Union Township Chambers of Commerce.

Contact: Gladian Rivera · contact@obsidianrisingllc.com · 908-858-3695 · obsidianrisingllc.com

This APEX Accelerator is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense and partially funded by the County of Union, New Jersey