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October 1, 2025
When my supervisor first approached me about setting up Toledo Public Schools' purchasing department, I said, “Sure.” I was a business partner with project management experience, so it didn’t surprise me to be tasked with this project.
But when my supervisor also informed me that I was expected to run the department after I had set it up, I was more than a little surprised. Aside from setting up POs, I had no experience or knowledge of procurement. But my leader assured me they had full confidence in my abilities and encouraged me to try it out and see how it went.
Little did I know that this seemingly daunting assignment would lead me to a professional community that would completely change my mind.
Finding My Way in Procurement
I won’t lie – my early days setting up and running a procurement department were challenging. I was essentially building a department from scratch in a large school district with over 20,000 students and 4,500 employees. I needed guidance, but there wasn’t anyone in the district who had a comprehensive, end-to-end understanding of procurement to help me.
I started reaching out to other school districts in the area to see what I could learn from them. My breakthrough came through a conversation with a colleague from Cincinnati who introduced me to NIGP. She assured me they would give me the information I needed to fill in my knowledge gaps. I reached out and connected with Todd Slater, who immediately demonstrated an openness and willingness to help that surprised me.
The next thing I knew, I was applying to the Impact program which is part of the NIGP Leadership Summit. Walking into my first session, I was prepared to sit quietly in a corner, my laptop open, and avoiding interaction. But then I started talking to one person who introduced me to someone else, and before I knew it, my whole plan of staying quiet was busted. That’s when I knew I had found my jam.
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Navigating Change
One of the focal topics at Impact was Change Leadership, a big draw for me. Having previously set up departments, I know that there are always challenges associated with introducing significant change to an organization. People start to wonder how it will affect them and what it means for their job security. The sessions at Impact gave me the language and strategies to communicate effectively and help others throughout the organization understand that the changes are not about replacement, but about improvement.
One of the most powerful lessons was the importance of strategic planning. With guidance, I learned to develop a phased rollout strategy. Instead of trying to change everything at once, I learned to plan organizational change using a phased approach. I also learned to strategically plan to be successful so I can keep my eyes on the prize and not get distracted by all the things needing to be implemented.
Lastly, I was pleasantly surprised by the friendships I made at Impact. What started as hesitant interactions became genuine professional relationships. Now, I can text colleagues, and they'll immediately respond with policy advice or suggestions for contract language. This isn't just professional courtesy - it's a true community of support.
Continuing to Grow with NIGP
I am fortunate to have a very supportive leadership team in my organization that fully backs my professional development. Thanks to my involvement with NIGP, now I also have support from procurement professionals from all over the country, which is invaluable as I continue to build our department.
Today, I'm building an ever-evolving procurement team, with plans to continue learning and growing through NIGP. I'm scheduled to attend future events, and we're even bringing in NIGP to provide training for our entire team.
My experience at Impact will benefit my organization and everyone we serve. If you’re considering attending Impact, don’t be afraid to connect with others. Even if it feels overwhelming, join a table and reach out. Doing things in partnership with others is better than doing it alone, and NIGP has given us a place to start forming a supportive community and network.
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Other posts in Profiles in Leadership
Becoming A More Confident Leader with Impact
Sherri Barnhardt, NIGP-CPP, CLGPO, CPPB
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