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Serves as consultant for NIGP in the facilitation of public purchasing classes for more than 20 years. Training classes includes Ethics, Integrity and Transparency, Mission and Public Benefit, Legislation and Legal Environment, and Sourcing in the Public Sector. Serves as subject matter expert in several areas including the development of core training material for training classes such as Transformation and Vision Creation and Contract Closeout.More than 40 years of public procurement experience including employment as procurement officer, purchasing manager, and procurement director. Work experience includes more than 30 years of employment at large state government agencies and institutions of higher education.

Chris Smith, MBA, PMP Proven Procurement Executive & Contract Specialist City of Alexandria, Virginia Chris Smith is a seasoned procurement executive with a comprehensive background in managing complex contracts and leading procurement initiatives within the public and private sectors. Currently serving as a Contract Specialist II for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, Chris consistently demonstrates exceptional proficiency, often exceeding the expectations of his role. His extensive experience includes foundational contributions as a management consultant, human capital and finance leader, and IT strategist. Chris's significant achievements include managing over a thousand vendors in property and city contract management through his ventures, First Team Consulting and Dreams to Address Realty. His leadership has led to substantial improvements in operational efficiency and service quality across various high-profile programs, showcasing his ability to effectively manage teams, streamline processes, and implement cost-saving measures. As a Public Procurement Professional, Chris is well-versed in federal, state, and local government contracting requirements. His role as Global Program Manager saw him securing a pivotal GSA IT-70 Schedule Contract Award for Vodafone, marking a milestone as the first foreign-owned telecom provider to support the U.S. Federal Government, Military, and State Department. His tenure at renowned organizations like Serco and Booz Allen Hamilton further emphasizes his adeptness in financial management, operations, procurement and strategic planning. Chris is not only a leader in practice but also in thought. He has authored and published over 30 recent public procurement articles, focusing on global best practices and the pursuit of public procurement excellence. These publications have positioned him as a thought leader in the field, further enriching his profile and contributions to the procurement community. With over 25 years of experience, Chris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from James Madison University and an Executive MBA from Virginia Tech. He has garnered numerous professional certifications, including SPHR from George Mason University and PMP from the Project Management Institute. Chris is also deeply committed to his professional development in public procurement, having completed extensive coursework from NIGP and VAGP, and is on track to obtain VCARM, VCA, NIGP-CPP, and CPPB certifications. An active participant in community and professional forums, Chris has served as a volunteer leader at VAGP, where he has been instrumental in advancing public procurement standards. His dedication extends to his personal life where he actively coaches competitive sports and trains for triathlons, embodying a dynamic balance of professional rigor and personal engagement.

Ms. Bobbie Tolston, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, retired after a distinguished 25-year career in public procurement management. Her expertise has shaped the operations of various public agencies, including school districts, water utilities and municipal governments. Renowned for her leadership and innovative approach, Bobbie has significantly influenced public procurement through technology adoption and best practices. Post-retirement, Bobbie has embraced a holistic journey of self-care, focusing on her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. This new chapter has allowed her to share her experiences and contribute to others' healing. In 2024, Bobbie was honored with the NIGP Integrity Award for her exceptional servant leadership. She has actively volunteered with the NIGP Talent Council and served as a Liaison to the Mentorship Committee. As a Pathways Instructor for NIGP, she has been instrumental in developing and teaching courses, including the Request for Proposal – Advanced Certificate course. Bobbie is also a founding member of the Radio NIGP show, which began in March 2021. She hosts a popular segment, "Deeper Dive—'make a splash'," where she delves into important topics with insight and depth.

William J. (Joe) Tommie, CPPO, retired in 2020 after serving as Purchasing Director for Cobb County Government, GA for 8 years. Prior to moving to Georgia and county government, he served in Procurement Management positions for three South Carolina public-school districts for over 30 years. Joe has a BS Degree in Biology from Lander University and a Masters Degree in Personnel Services from Clemson University. A charter member of the South Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials, Joe served as both Vice President and President. He received the South Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials Purchasing Manager of the Year Award in 2003, 2007, and 2016. In 2016, Joe was awarded Cobb County Government’s Silver Eagle Award for outstanding leadership.

Originally from Oklahoma and a proud Oklahoma State University Alum, Kristy spent 10 years as a military spouse before relocating to Virginia from Germany. Kristy completed her Masters in Biotechnology Studies in 2008 and her MBA in 2009 while working in a variety of industries. She has been in public procurement for over 11 years and now works as a Capital Contracting Officer for Loudoun County Government. Her passion to help others grow in their procurement profession began with presenting webinars on Sole Sources and Software Procurement. She has been a part of the NIPG taskforce to write the Best Practices series on technology procurement and helped to develop both the Foundations of Technology Procurement and Job Order Contracting Courses for Pathways. She currently teaches a variety of topics for NIGP, is a staff member of Radio NIGP, and an NIGP mentor.

Magan Waltari, CPPB, CPSM, NIGP-CPP is an experienced procurement professional with 16 years of experience in the procurement field, with 10 years specific to public transit procurement. She is currently the Procurement and Contracts Manager for Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) in Bellingham, WA. Prior to that, she served as a Project Coordinator for Alpha Technology Services providing back office coordination, project management, and customer support for a variety of national telecommunication construction projects. Magan was presented the 2020 Buyer of the Year by the Washington Chapter of NIGP. She often serves as a procurement subject matter expert for the Washington Transit Association’s Finance Officer Leadership Committee. Throughout her career at WTA, she has assisted peer agencies with DBE goal calculations, policy drafting, staff training, and succession planning. Magan currently serves on her NIGP Chapter Education Committee, Awards Committee, and Lunch and Learn Committees and chair’s the Chapter’s Marketing and Public Relations Committee. She also works with the NIGP Consulting team assisting other agencies with their procurement needs.

A good chunk of Jon Walton’s higher education was devoted to environmental and natural resources policy and science, and he helped start a Pacific Northwest conservation group bringing together disparate stakeholders on win-win conservation projects. Jon spent his first five years after college as a wilderness skills instructor working with juvenile delinquent youth. Later odd jobs included FEMA-funded mental health work for victims of natural disasters, and providing leadership training to executives of major corporations. A member of his state bar since 1992, he always intended to put his legal training toward service in the public sector, and started by working as legislative staff, and then as a state agency lobbyist, at his state legislature. Someone obviously having difficulty figuring out exactly what to do when he grows up, Jon came to government procurement in 1997, working in state agencies, and has felt fortunate to handle a large variety of procurements and contracting situations. Jon strives to be a champion for procurement training and certification, has a graduate Certificate in Public Management, is the author of the Public Procurement Guide for Elected Government Official, was Chair of the NIGP Legislative & Position Committee, was the 2015-16 Buyer of the Year, and continues to be heavily involved in NIGP initiatives, task forces and global best practices. Jon recently completed several terms on the NIGP Governing Board, and is an NIGP Instructor and part of the Radio NIGP team.