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Register early—members get 20% off when enrolling 60+ days before courses start.
Boost efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in proposal management to improve contract outcomes.
Charting Your Course to Success
From foundational knowledge to advanced leadership skills, NIGP offers a wealth of tools and resources to help you navigate your professional journey and achieve your leadership goals.
Your step-by-step guide to a successful career in public procurement.
Get 20% off by registering 60 days prior to the course start date.
All the tools to help you successfully prepare for certification.
Closes June 30.
NIGP and Sourcewell are dedicated to lifelong learning and professional development for every member.
Start your job search in the field of Public Procurement.
A Network of 18,000+ Professionals working in the field of Public Procurement.
As volunteers serve the Institute, the Institute serves the profession, and the profession serves society.
Each year, NIGP recognizes members who have achieved hallmark status in the eyes of their peers.
Fostering stronger relationships between suppliers and our members.
Register early—members get 20% off when enrolling 60+ days before courses start.
Boost efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in proposal management to improve contract outcomes.
Charting Your Course to Success
From foundational knowledge to advanced leadership skills, NIGP offers a wealth of tools and resources to help you navigate your professional journey and achieve your leadership goals.
Your step-by-step guide to a successful career in public procurement.
Get 20% off by registering 60 days prior to the course start date.
All the tools to help you successfully prepare for certification.
NIGP and Sourcewell are dedicated to lifelong learning and professional development for every member.
Start your job search in the field of Public Procurement.
A Network of 18,000+ Professionals working in the field of Public Procurement.
As volunteers serve the Institute, the Institute serves the profession, and the profession serves society.
Each year, NIGP recognizes members who have achieved hallmark status in the eyes of their peers.
Fostering stronger relationships between suppliers and our members.
Sean Hynes
When I first moved to Florida 14 years ago, I didn't plan on ending up in procurement. I just sort of fell into this profession, and I am so happy I did. I genuinely love the work that I do as the Director of Procurement and Distribution Services for the School Board of Brevard County.
But I couldn’t have known where I would end up when I first started working as a temp in a school cafeteria. It was the height of the recession in 2010, and I was struggling to find work in accounting. I took whatever position I could find and was happy to find work at a public school.
As I worked part-time in the cafeteria, I started making connections within the school system. Within a year, I was able to transition into a full-time bookkeeper position, first at an elementary school and then at a high school, each for two years. Before long, an opportunity in procurement became open and it caught my attention. Perseverance is everything – I applied three times before finally getting hired as a buyer.
Over the years, I've been able to grow and develop in this field, even taking on an Assistant Supervisor role in our distribution center during the COVID-19 pandemic. I then spent two years working for Orange County government, which gave me valuable experience in the construction space, before returning to School Board of Brevard County in my current director role.
One of the things that has been instrumental in my professional development has been my involvement with NIGP at the local level, and then on the national level. I first got connected with our local NIGP chapter, The Central Florida Chapter, back in 2016 when a coworker invited me to help with the catering committee. From there, I just kept getting more and more involved, taking on roles like strategic planning committee, website liaison, and treasurer.
The NIGP Leadership Summit that I attended was a real game-changer for me. I was able to network with other chapter leaders and learn best practices for engaging our chapter members, which was a top priority at the time. We came back and implemented some new initiatives, such as hosting an annual family day and an evening dinner/show event for more personal member connections. We also revamped the way we help fund scholarships to ensure the fund fully benefits our members. It has been a slow build, but we're starting to see more participation and a stronger sense of community among our members.
There is no shortage of potential for leadership development in procurement. Here are a few pieces of advice I have for anyone looking to build their career and develop into a leadership role.
I'm excited to continue my journey, both in my role at School Board of Brevard County and with NIGP, and I know there is so much more to come. I plan on pursuing a mentorship role myself in the future to help others find their own paths in public procurement. My journey has shown me that leadership is not just about the destination—it’s about the impact you make along the way.
My journey has shown me that leadership is not just about the destination—it’s about the impact you make along the way.
Jenn Myers
My journey has shown me that leadership is not just about the destination—it’s about the impact you make along the way.
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