NVBDC plans Target supplier webinar for veteran-owned businesses

The National Veteran Business Development Council will host a JumpStart webinar on Aug. 6 with Target supplier engagement leader Tonda Collier. The session is designed to help veteran-owned businesses build corporate procurement relationships and prepare for future sourcing opportunities, ahead of NVBDC’s national conference in Detroit this fall.

Why it matters: - Veteran-owned businesses often need direct access to corporate procurement teams to turn certification into contracts. - NVBDC is using the webinar to give certified veteran-owned firms practical guidance on supplier engagement, relationship-building and procurement readiness. - The session also tees up NVBDC’s 2026 National Conference, where attendees can continue those conversations in person.

What happened: - NVBDC announced a JumpStart webinar, “Building Strong Supplier Relationships with Target,” for Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET. - The webinar will feature Tonda Collier, Target’s senior manager of supplier engagement. - NVBDC said the event is aimed at veteran-owned businesses looking to strengthen corporate supplier relationships and position themselves for future sourcing opportunities.

The details: - Collier leads supplier engagement initiatives inside Target’s procurement organization. - Collier also oversees Gainfront, Target’s supplier relationship management and discovery platform. - The webinar is expected to cover how veteran-owned businesses can build relationships with Target’s Supplier Engagement team. - Attendees will hear how to communicate value to corporate buyers and navigate the supplier journey. - NVBDC said the session will also address common supplier engagement mistakes and broader supplier readiness strategy. - The webinar is part of NVBDC’s expanding educational services for certified veteran-owned businesses. - NVBDC says those services are designed to improve procurement readiness, competitive positioning and understanding of corporate buyer expectations. - Registration is available at Learn more and register.

Between the lines: - NVBDC is positioning education as a bridge between certification and actual corporate spend. - The focus on Target suggests the organization is leaning into direct access to buyer-side decision-makers, not just broad training. - The mix of webinar instruction and conference matchmaking reflects a strategy to move businesses from preparation to live business development.

What's next: - NVBDC’s 2026 National Conference is scheduled for Oct. 4-6, 2026, at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit. - Conference programming will include one-on-one matchmaking with corporate buyers, educational breakout sessions, expert panels, networking events, the Veteran Marketplace and direct engagement with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and supplier diversity leaders. - NVBDC is encouraging early registration for the webinar, saying attendance is expected to be strong. - Taylor said webinar attendees should consider using the Detroit conference to put the strategies into practice.

The bottom line: - NVBDC is trying to turn supplier diversity education into real business opportunities for veteran-owned firms, starting with Target and extending to its October conference.