Pros
There was continual access to interesting companies that were developing technology for government, and possibly commercial use. Discussing the commercialization or transition of this technology past the funded grant status provided exposure to the pressures on small companies, an understanding of how much influence mid-level personnel have on program outcomes, and an appreciation for the incredible level of innovation potential in the U.S.. There was a great collection of people in the company to interact with that had interesting backgrounds.
Cons
The communication between departments was completely absent, or was only between managers, and led to very inefficient processes and business practices. Even when requested repeatedly by multiple employees, there was little interest by management to improve communication or processes.