Search Our Instructor Directory

Mr. Darin L. Matthews, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPSM, FNIGP, C.P.M. Darin currently serves as a Executive Director and Chief Procurement Officer for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is also an instructor and former faculty chair at the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has thirty years of procurement management experience in state and local government, higher education, and private industry. Darin speaks throughout the world on a variety of procurement topics, and his writings have been featured in Inside Supply Management, Government Procurement, The Public Manager, and The Journal of Public Procurement. His books include Warehousing and Inventory Control, Logistics and Transportation, and Effective Supply Management Performance. Darin is a columnist for Government Procurement Magazine and the Educational Procurement Journal. Darin has served on the faculty at numerous universities including Florida Atlantic University, University of Illinois, Portland State University, and Cal-Berkeley. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Political Science and Master degrees in Acquisition Management and Education/Technology. Darin is a certified instructor for NIGP and served as their President in 2007. He has also served as a board member of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council and the Public Procurement Research Center at Florida Atlantic University. In 2020 and 2021 Darin served as host of the podcast, The Evolution of Procurement, where he discussed procurement issues with peers from around the world. On the Faculty of: Alternative Dispute Resolution Contracting for Construction Services Logistics and Transportation Planning, Scheduling and Requirements Analysis Protests: Managing Options for Positive Results Warehousing and Inventory Control

Danny Mays, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, CPSM, CPSD is a seasoned public procurement professional dedicated to ensuring an efficient, transparent, and accessible process for all stakeholders, while maintaining a focus on integrity, honesty, and optimal customer service. In this role with NIGP, he looks forward to the opportunity to leverage his experience to help others reach their full potential. In his current role as Director of Procurement for the Maryland Judiciary, Danny is responsible for managing all procurements across the entire judicial branch, including establishing and maintaining a portfolio of master contracts for use across the judicial branch and beyond. He also administers all grants and memoranda of understanding. In this role, Danny has demonstrable experience with policy writing, streamlining processes and procedures, developing and delivering training, establishing standard templates, implementing emerging technologies and overall organizational transformation.

Terry has over 35 years’ experience in public procurement including Knox County, Knox County Schools and at Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation-the Public Housing Authority and Redevelopment Authority for the City of Knoxville. He has also served on NIGP’s consulting team since its inception in 1995 and has provided consulting services around the nation and in Canada. Terry holds a bachelors’ degree from Alderson Broaddus University (Education and Political Science) and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee. In 2020 Terry was named a “Fellow” of UT’s MPPA program for his contributions to public administration and to the MPPA program. Terry has numerous professional certifications including CPPB, CPPO, CPM, CPCP and NIGP-CPP. Terry is a member of two chapters: ETPA and TAPP and has served ETPA as president and on various committees. Terry has served TAPP on various committees including as Chair of the Legislative Committee. Terry has served on numerous NIGP committees including Accreditation, Research, Knowledge, Mentoring as well as service on various Global Best Practices and other ad hoc committees. Currently Terry serves on NIGP's Finance Council. Terry served as a subject matter expert on two NIGP’s courses: Using Federal Grant Funds and the Introduction to Procurement. In 2024, Terry joined NIGP Instructor Team. Terry is also a co-chair of TAHRA’s (Tennessee Association of Public Housing & Redevelopment Authorities) Procurement committee. Terry has authored and/or been quoted in numerous procurement related magazine articles through the years. Additionally, Terry has spoken at dozens of events (Chapter meetings, NIGP Headliner Events, Forum sessions and a plethora of other procurement related events). Terry has earned several recognitions including ETPA’s Purchasing Professional of the Year in 1993 and Purchasing Manager of the Year in 2016. He received NIGP’s “Spirit of NIGP” award in 2013. He was awarded NIGP’s “Purchasing Manager of the Year” honor in 2017. In 2022, Terry earned NIGP’s second highest honor-the Distinguished Services award. Terry resides in Rockford Tennessee with his wife, of 39 years, Nancy.

David Nash retired as a Chief Warrant Officer Three from the United States Army in 1988 after 20 years of service in inventory management. In 2007, he retired from the City of Fort Lauderdale after 18 years of service in warehousing and procurement. David holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Business Administration. He was the last President of the Governmental Purchasing Association of Southeast Florida, having successfully led a merger with the SE Florida Chapter of NIGP in 2001. He was also the President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials in 2006-2007. David was presented with FAPPO’s George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award in 2010. In 2014, he was presented with FAPPO’s Educator of the Year Award. In 2019, he was presented with his second George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to FAPPO during 25 years of membership. David is a certified instructor for NIGP and from 2010 to 2013 he served on the Evaluation Committee for the National Procurement Institute’s Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award. Since creating the online “Question of the Day” in 2007, he has helped thousands of procurement professionals prepare for their CPPB, CPPO and NIGP-CPP exams. For this contribution, he was presented with the "Spirit of NIGP Award" at the NIGP Forum in 2013. For his overall contributions to the procurement profession, he was presented with NIGP’s Distinguished Service Award at the 2018 Forum in Nashville, TN. David previously served as a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP in Area 5 for 4-1/2 years and currently serves on the Mentorship Committee and Radio-NIGP.

Russ Pankey is a retired procurement practitioner with 40 years of experience: 15 years of experience in the private sector and 25 years of experience in the public sector. Russ holds Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Education degrees. His public sector experience has been with four different cities in three states. Russ is a member of the Missouri Association of Public Purchasing, MO KAN Council of Purchasing, and Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing. He’s been a member of NIGP since 1999, serving on multiple committees, six years on the NIGP Talent Council, and is currently a Chapter Ambassador at Large. Russ feels he owes it to the profession to give back to others for the experience and knowledge he has gained over the years. Russ was married 45 years to his late wife, and he has a daughter, a son who is married and gave him two wonderful grandsons. He enjoys many activities including music, playing piano, and cooking in his kitchen/lab.

Ted has more than thirty-three years of extensive experience in local government procurement within Florida. His expertise spans diverse areas such as procuring general goods, services, technology, vertical and horizontal construction, debris management, and monitoring, among others. Notably, Ted actively contributes to Emergency Management and possesses an amateur radio license. As a Procurement Supervisor, Ted has been deeply engaged in federal compliance, predating the implementation of 2 C.F.R. Part 200. His proficiency extends across various facets of federal grant compliance, encompassing FEMA Stafford Act and Mitigation, HUD (including CDBG, CDBD-MIT, and CDBG-DR), US Department of Commerce (including EDA), FHWA, USDA funding projects, including NRCS. He holds a degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Computer Science and Financial Management from Florida Southern College. Ted's credentials include CPPB, CPPO, and NIGP-CPP certifications, alongside being a Florida Certified Public Manager.

Andrea has over 30 years public sector experience and has been the Director of Procurement and Risk Management for Loudoun County Public Schools, Virginia since February 2013. During her 22 years with the school system, Andrea has also served as a Bid Specialist, Procurement System Specialist, Oracle Project Manager, and Financial Services Coordinator. Andrea obtained a Business Administration Degree from Strayer University in 2005, the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) designation in 2002, Project Management Professional (PMP) designation in 2018, and the Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) designation in 2019. Andrea enjoys the opportunities offered by the procurement profession and instructing individuals new to the profession. Andrea grew up on a farm in Iowa and loves spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Mallela Ralliford has 19 years of public procurement experience, purchasing commodities, equipment, information technology, services, architectural & engineering services, maintenance, construction and consulting services by utilizing the various methods of procurement: requests for proposals, invitations for bids, sole source and small procurement. Mallela has worked at various levels within the procurement profession. She started as a Procurement Officer Trainee and moved up the ranks to an Associate Director to her current role as the Director of the Division of Procurement at Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA). In her current role, Mallela directs the development, implementation, and oversight of the Division’s programs, including all procurements and other related contractual agreements; the administration of the socioeconomic programs: the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Veteran Small Business Enterprise (VSBE), Small Business Reserve (SBR); and the Corporate Purchasing Card Program. Her professional procurement experience is complimented by relevant educational pursuits which includes a Master’s degree in Procurement and Contract Management, a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in International Studies. She is a certified CPPO & CPPB. Mallela focuses on streamlining the procurement processes in order to gain efficiencies and provides mentorship to junior procurement officers as we navigate through our complex legislative and regulatory public procurement environment. In her spare time, Mallela enjoys hiking in the great outdoor and especially likes visiting the National Parks & Monuments.

John Robinson, CPSM, CPPO, C.P.M. CPPB is the Director of Purchasing for the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where he leads a Purchasing Team focused on best value procurement, process improvement, supply relationship management and customer engagement. Prior to his arrival at UNCW, John served as Director of Procurement for the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority where he led a procurement transformation project taking the organization from a decentralized procurement operation to a centralized procurement and strategic sourcing operation. Additionally, prior to his arrival at RDU, John served as Director of Materials Management at the North Carolina State Ports Authority and Senior Procurement Agent with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. John served the first twelve years of his procurement career in the textile industry with J.P. Stevens & Company. John is also the President of 1 Positive Leadership, LLC, a Certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker with the John Maxwell Team, an instructor in Supply Chain and Procurement with the National Institute of Governmental Procurement and an ISM certified instructor for Certified Professional in Supply Management Prep. John specializes in leadership development, coaching and teaching; public/private sector supply chain, procurement and contracting; employee engagement, emotional intelligence; and development and building organizational success from the inside out accomplished through building collaboration and efficiency in business processes and developing individual knowledge and skills. With more than 28 years in supply chain operations of manufacturing and public sector, John brings working knowledge and academic knowledge to your operation. Holding a Master of Science Degree in Leadership, Bachelor of Science in Business, Certified Professional in Supply Management and Certified Purchasing Manager credentials from the Institute for Supply Management, and Certified Public Procurement Officer and Certified Professional Public Buyer credentials from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council; John has invested in a career of personal and professional development focused on helping others succeed and achieve their goals.