SBA Supplier Matchmaking Expo Leads to NRC Award for Michigan Small Business

A connection at SBA’s Supplier Matchmaking Expo in Detroit led to a procurement award for RJ’s Printing, a family-owned small business in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The company will provide new event signage, visual displays, and supply chain materials for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s external engagement efforts.

In 2026, SBA hosted four Supplier Matchmaking Expos in Charlotte, North Carolina; Detroit, Michigan; Phoenix, Arizona; and Washington, D.C., drawing more than 2,600 attendees and facilitating over 1,400 individual matchmaking meetings. The Expos strengthen domestic supply chains, support small manufacturers, and increase U.S. economic resilience. Each event combines an exhibit floor with targeted matchmaking meetings that connect suppliers’ capabilities with buyers’ procurement needs.

Anthony Briggs, Chief Sourcing Officer for Small Business and Supply Chain Optimization at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), first met RJ’s Printing when they approached the agency’s booth in Detroit with pride and passion. The father and son team explained how their design and printing capabilities contribute to domestic reindustrialization efforts in Michigan.

Briggs also learned the story behind the business. The father had worked for the company as an employee before deciding to purchase it and make it his own. They also shared beautifully crafted materials that, as Briggs described them, spoke for themselves.

The company’s quality, competitive pricing, and fast delivery stood out; however, the moment that stayed with him most was their honesty. They had never considered the NRC as a potential customer because they did not know the agency existed.