Category: Events

Optimal’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mark Turner, has been invited to participate as a featured speaker at the 2026 MPact Conference, hosted by the University of Maryland. The conference, titled “Understanding Regional Opportunities and Partnerships to Drive American Competitiveness,” will take place March 25–27, 2026, at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center in College Park, Maryland.

Dr. Turner will serve as moderator for the conference session:

“Building Regional Collaborations to Accelerate Innovation and Economic Development” | Wednesday, March 25, 2026

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM | Location: Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, 7801 Alumni Drive, College Park, MD 20742

A labor economist with more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Turner leads Optimal Solutions Group’s work at the intersection of data analytics, policy research, program evaluation, and technology implementation. Under his leadership, Optimal has designed and implemented large-scale data collection and evaluation systems for federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, with projects spanning 25 countries.

In addition to leading Optimal Solutions Group, Dr. Turner is the Co-Founder of Revelo Software, a spin-off company delivering modular SaaS solutions for the public sector. At Revelo, he leads development of eReviewer, a next-generation peer review management platform that integrates agentic AI and human oversight to modernize grant review processes, as well as the Economic Impact Analysis SaaS, which provides real-time, credible insights into the economic and social value of public investments.

Dr. Turner’s work aligns closely with the MPact Conference’s focus on building regional partnerships, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and improving how public investments and research initiatives are designed, evaluated, and scaled.

Dr. Turner previously served on the AI Upskilling Working Group of the Maryland Governor’s Workforce Development Board, contributing to statewide strategies for workforce development and AI readiness. He currently serves on the Education & Workforce Committee of the National Data Science Alliance, supporting national efforts to advance data science education and responsible AI adoption.

The MPact conference will bring together representatives from academia, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to examine how regional partnerships and cross-sector collaboration can strengthen innovation capacity and economic development. Conference themes include:

• Optimizing and assessing the impact of community-engaged research on policy, practice, and economic development
• Developing trustworthy and human-centered artificial intelligence applications
• Addressing grand challenges through partnerships
• Exploring the future of funding for public impact research
• Building best practices and ecosystems to support social innovation

Conference registration is available at:
https://mpact2026.umd.edu/register/

About Optimal Solutions Group

Optimal Solutions Group is a research and technology firm specializing in program evaluation, data analytics, data science, and software solution implementation for public-sector and mission-driven organizations. Based in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District, Optimal works with federal, state, and local agencies to design and evaluate programs, develop data-driven decision tools, and implement scalable software solutions that improve performance, compliance, and outcomes.

Revelo Software has recently become a commercial member of the Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA).  We are delighted to participate in their upcoming 2nd ADA & Inclusion Summit on Thursday, February 26th, in Annapolis, Maryland.

For more information about the MRPA ADA & Inclusion Summit, visit:
https://members.mdrpa.org/trainings-events/Details/ada-inclusion-summit-1549772?sourceTypeId=Website .

Our participation will focus on Track 3: Accessible Digital Communication – ADA Title II rule requiring state and local governments to make their websites, documents, and mobile apps accessible. Revelo Software and Optimal Solutions Group will showcase their iAccessible, e-508, and Accessibility Assistant solutions, along with comprehensive accessibility testing and remediation services designed specifically for state and local government agencies.

About Revelo

Revelo Software develops practical technology solutions that help public sector organizations improve digital accessibility and meet federal and state compliance requirements. Revelo’s accessibility tools, including iAccessible, e-508, and Accessibility Assistant, support agencies in creating, testing, and remediating accessible digital content such as Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, and web-based materials. With a focus on usability, workflow efficiency, and compliance readiness, Revelo helps government teams deliver inclusive digital communication that works for everyone.

About Optimal Solutions Group

Optimal Solutions Group is a mission-driven consulting and technology firm supporting federal, state, and local government clients with digital modernization, accessibility, and compliance services. Optimal provides accessibility testing, document remediation, and ADA Title II digital compliance support, helping agencies make websites, mobile experiences, and public-facing digital content accessible to all users. Through expert-led remediation, quality assurance, training, and implementation support, Optimal helps park and recreation agencies build sustainable accessibility practices and meet evolving regulatory requirements, including the ADA Title II rule and April 2026 compliance deadline.

Optimal’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mark Turner, will participate as a panelist at the NIB/NAEPB 2026 Conference & Expo, taking place February 24–28, 2026, at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.

Dr. Turner will join industry and government leaders for the panel discussion “Subcontracting: Opening New Gateways for Growth” on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. The session will explore how prime contractors and Nonprofit Agencies (NPAs) can collaborate to expand opportunities beyond the Procurement List, strengthen commercial partnerships, and position agencies for sustainable, market-ready growth.

Optimal Solutions Group has been collaborating with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and selected NPAs on procurement opportunities focused on ADA Title II audits and remediation, particularly for state, county, and municipal governments, as well as institutions of higher education. These efforts support public entities as they prepare for and implement Title II compliance in practical, scalable ways.

Drawing on more than 25 years of leading Optimal Solutions Group, decades of research on government procurement, and his work at Revelo Software, a technology company spun off from Optimal, Dr. Turner will share insights on how data, accessibility, and emerging technologies can strengthen subcontracting strategies. At Revelo, he leads the development of AcquisitionAI, a Generative AI–enabled platform designed to assess vendor readiness and deliver targeted training and technical assistance to expand participation and performance in procurement markets.

“Subcontracting can serve as a powerful pathway to innovation, inclusion, and growth when organizations invest in readiness and partnerships,” said Dr. Turner. “This discussion is an opportunity to share lessons learned from evaluating procurement systems, collaborating with NPAs, and applying AI to help agencies and vendors succeed beyond traditional models.”

Panel Details
Session: Subcontracting: Opening New Gateways for Growth
Date: Friday, February 27, 2026
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: Marriott Marquis, Washington, DC

Panelists:

• Sasha Dudis, Deloitte , https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashadudis/
• Lisa Jackson, GDIT , https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisajacksonjacksonconsultingservices/
• Molly Gimmel, D2D , https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollygimmel/
• Dr. Mark Turner, Optimal Solutions Group , https://www.linkedin.com/in/markturneratoptimal/

Moderator:

• Dean Simmonds , https://www.linkedin.com/in/deansimmonds/

About Optimal Solutions Group
Optimal Solutions Group is a data analytics, program evaluation, and digital solutions firm specializing in accessibility, compliance, procurement analytics, and evidence-based decision support for public and private sector clients. Based in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District, Optimal partners with governments and organizations nationwide to improve outcomes, transparency, and equity.

About National Industries for the Blind (NIB)
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is a leading nonprofit organization that creates and sustains employment opportunities for people who are blind through meaningful, competitive jobs. NIB works with affiliated agencies and industry partners to expand inclusive procurement opportunities, strengthen workforce development, and promote economic independence. Learn more at https://nib.org/.

Tracye Turner, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Optimal, participated as a featured panelist at the Second Annual EmpowerHER Global Business Summit held on March 14, 2025, at the MGM National Harbor in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The EmpowerHER Summit, hosted by the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation, brought together over 300 women business owners, leaders, and professionals to discuss challenges and growth strategies for women-owned businesses. This year’s theme, Momentum in Motion, focused on equipping attendees with tools and insights to accelerate business expansion and leadership development.

Mrs. Turner spoke on the “Business Scaling” panel, alongside other leaders from diverse industries. Her contributions reflected her extensive experience managing operational growth, navigating government contracting, and scaling technology-enabled service offerings across Optimal’s core practice areas.

Optimal support for economic development, and is proud of its leadership’s ongoing engagement with initiatives that empower underrepresented entrepreneurs and strengthen regional innovation ecosystems.

Optimal and Revelo Software (featuring iAccessible and e-508) plan to participate in this year’s Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) virtual conference. This year’s theme is Accessible by Design: Enhancing Efficiency in Federal ICT. Optimal developed and launched Revelo and iAccessible in 2018 and has DHS Trusted Testers. Using years of program evaluation, data system and analytics experience, Optimal developed an end-to-end solution to test, analyze and report on accessibility, usability, readability, SEO and GenerativeAI Optimization for websites. Most recently, Optimal participated in GSA’s market research for a new accessibility SIN on GSA MAS.  There will be a 4:00 p.m. session for Digital Accessibility Solutions on May 20 that covers the results of this research.

Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) Event Agenda – 2025 | Section508.gov

Optimal is excited to join the Naval Air Systems Command for their “Way Too Early Session on Section 508” Podcast. The podcast will discuss the latest federal updates on digital accessibility and provide insights on how to comply with these new mandates. Don’t miss out on this informative session! Tune in today at 11. Click here to join: https://hubs.li/Q02tkVQW0

Join us on Thursday, April 18, in hearing and discussing how your agency can accelerate its citizen experience modernization while generating cost savings.

We will demonstrate how iAccessible, Revelo, and our partner, e-GovMarket’s, e-products, such as e-508, can help your agency meet its goals sooner:

• Get an inventory of all of your public-facing web pages
• Reduce duplicates and redundancies
• Develop a governance structure
• Test and analyze for accessibility, plain language and usability
• Get analytics and reporting
• Get your site ready for Algorithm Optimization
• Info on the new streamlined TMF fund application

A Q&A discussion with our panel will follow, including recent regulatory updates.

Register for the webinar.