NIGP Forum 2023

Opening Plenary - Sunday

Shola Richards is the CEO and Founder of Go Together Global (TM).  He is a best selling author and his work has been featured on the Today Show, CBS This Morning, Forbes, Black Enterprise and other numerous outlets around the world who recognize him as an authority on workplace happiness and engagement.

Shola helps organizations build compassion, competence and accountability in the workplace and as a result, sustainable and joyful peak productivity, engagement and satisfaction become the new norm.

Kicking off Forum 2023, Shola Richards will introduce the transformative concept of Ubuntu which translates to “I am, because we are.”  This philosophy, along with three powerful questions, will provide us with actionable strategies to transform our work culture, amplify team civility and inspire us to consistently bring our best to work.

Purchasing Supervisor, City of Austin

Ricardo Zavala, MPA, CTCM, is the Purchasing and Contract Management Supervisor at the City of Austin. Focusing predominantly in professional, social services, and construction, Ricardo has thirteen years of public procurement and contract management experience. He earned a Master's in Public Administration from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from Texas State University‐San Marcos.

Procurement Manager, Orange County Government, FL

Carrie has over 25 years of procurement experience in both the private and public sectors. She currently serves as the Manager for the Orange County Procurement Division. Carrie has obtained several professional certifications including Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM), NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), and Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.). Carrie holds a Master in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Carrie currently serves as Chair of the NIGP Governing Board. She is Past President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, and the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP and has previously served on the Board of Examiners for the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council.

Director of Procurement, South Carolina State University

Stacy Gregg began working in public procurement in June of 1996. Currently, she is the Director of Procurement at SC State University (Go Bulldogs!). Stacy is an Instructor for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. She volunteers with The Institute on the Member Council and Certification Commission. Stacy is an active member of the SC Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO) and hold honorary memberships in the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO) and National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).

Becca Moran, Vice President, Product & Engagement, Procurated 

Becca leads the product, design, engineering, marketing, and community functions for Procurated. Before joining Procurated, Becca led product management at Xometry, a custom manufacturing marketplace. Earlier in her career, she served in technical project management and business development roles at Politico, a leading digital news outlet. 

Senior Vice President, OpenGov Procurement

Thao Jones-Hill is the SVP for OpenGov Procurement where he leads their public procurement software roadmap. He is a Government Technology executive with 24 years of experience leading cloud-based software companies and projects at the Federal, State, Regional, and Local levels. Mr. Jones-Hill was a member of the founding executive team for Granicus, one of the world’s leading local government cloud-based software companies, for 10 years. During his tenure there, he led their highest profile project implementations, including The US House of Representatives, The US Senate, and the City of Los Angeles. He has led engineering teams, customer support teams, hosting infrastructure teams and sales and marketing teams, for several govtech companies including Granicus, Govdelivery, and Public Systems Associates. He has also worked as a reliability engineering consultant for Facebook, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Amazon, Pinterest, and CBS Interactive. He received his electrical engineering degree from Tennessee Technological University.

City of Pittsburgh, PA, Chief Procurement Officer

Jennifer joined the Office of Management and Budget as the Assistant Director-Procurement Manager in September 2015 and was appointed as the City’s first-ever Chief Procurement Officer in April 2022. She is responsible for managing and coordinating the City’s procurement process, as well as overseeing the preparation and evaluation of bid proposals, selection of contractors and negotiation of contracts. She also manages the City’s Fleet Services staff.

NJSTART, General Manager for NJSTART 

Nick began his 20-year career in local government in the City of Philadelphia as a Budget Coordinator and later served as the Deputy Procurement Commissioner and the Deputy CIO for IT Projects. Now as General Manager for NJSTART, he leads the effort to support the State of New Jersey as it rolls out the use of this eProcurement system to local governments. After earning his undergraduate degree with Honors from La Salle University Nick received a Fulbright Fellowship in Austrian Literature. He went on to be a Drexel University Leading for Change Fellow and finished his Master of Science in Business Administration at Boston University.

Purchasing Manager for Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Ocean County Board of Health and the City of Millville

Rick has over twenty years of public purchasing experience throughout the state of New Jersey covering municipal, county, utility, and state entities.  Currently he is serving as Purchasing Manager for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Purchasing Agent for the Ocean County Board of Health and Purchasing Agent for the City of Millville.  He is a Qualified Purchasing Agent (“QPA”) through the New Jersey Department of Local Government Services, a Registered Public Purchasing Official (“RPPO”) through Rutgers University, and a Certified Public Manager (“CPM”) through the New Jersey Department of Labor.  Rick is an instructor for various Public Purchasing classes through Rutgers University’s Center for Government Services and as President of the Southern New Jersey Chapter of NIGP is involved with planning of the annual Rutgers/ NIGP Public Purchasing Forum in New Jersey.  Rick has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from William Paterson College where he was a four-year letter winner in soccer (and still occasionally tries to relive past glories by playing in various men’s leagues) and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Energy Resource Conservation Manager, Harford County Public Schools

Bobbie has over 20 years of leadership experience in public procurement. In her various roles she has acquired the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience to implement strategies for developing a remote workforce, successfully implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, expanding Minority Owned Business opportunities through outreach programs and energy resource conservation program development.  She acts as the MBE Liaison by helping with the administration of State of Maryland mandated Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) requirements involved in the procurement of facility projects, including goal setting, reporting, and outreach. . She is passionate about learning, teaching, and mentoring other professionals. She has experience with the management of procurement operations for K-12, water utilities, local, municipal government agencies. She is an NIGP Instructor, on the Talent Council, a liaison for the Mentorship Committee and a staff member of Radio NIGP.

Retired, Radio NIGP

Barb Johnson currently serves with Radio NIGP. She has served on the NIGP Board of Directors, the NIGP Certification Commission, and many Institute committees and task forces. Barb is an Instructor, Consultant, Content Developer, and Textbook Author. She was honored to receive the 2021 NIGP Albert H. Hall Memorial Award. During her 37+ year career, Barb provided procurement leadership at the State (Ohio), City (Columbus), and Airport Authority (Columbus Region.)

Contracting Officer, County of Loudoun, Virginia/Division of Procurement

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.

Purchasing Agent, City of Knoxville 

Penny Owens has over 30 years’ experience in public procurement, both local and federal government, which covers nearly all aspects of procurement. She spent 16 years at the Oak Ridge National Lab in procurement and the past 15 years at the City of Knoxville in Tennessee. She currently serves as the City’s Purchasing Agent, leading the Purchasing Division, which includes the City’s surplus property sales and the Small Business and Diversity Business Outreach Office. Penny holds a bachelors’ degree in Business, an NIGP-Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) certification, and a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) certification. Penny is an active member of the East Tennessee Purchasing Association (ETPA), the Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (TAPP), and NIGP, The Institute for Public Procurement. Penny is a past President of both ETPA and TAPP and serves as one of ETPA’s webmasters and chairs the social media and photography committee. She is an NIGP Chapter Ambassador for Area 3, serves as a non-voting advisor on the NIGP Member Council, is a member NIGP’s Test Development Committee and NIGP’s Consulting team, and is a member of the Radio NIGP staff. ETPA awarded Penny the 2016 Buyer of the Year and Volunteer of Year award as well as the 2021 Manager of the Year award.

Senior Buyer, Spokane County

Victor Leamer has over 33 years of public procurement experience at the county, state department, and state-wide levels. Victor teaches Sourcing in the Public Sector and the Core Certificate: Foundations in Strategy and Policy for NIGP (virtual), the 10-part Learning Lab RFP series, and has presented NIGP webinars on protests, evaluating responsiveness in bids, virtual leadership, and contract price adjustments. Victor was appointed to the NIGP Talent Council in 2021, serves on NIGP's Content Management Committee (formerly Knowledge Management Committee) since 2015, produces the monthly Radio NIGP show, and is a founding member/former Vice President of the Alaska/Hawaii Governmental Procurement Association NIGP Chapter.

Owner & Principal: Owlservations, LLC, Servant Leader: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Nationally recognized for her expertise in the ever-changing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) arena, Cie builds upon more than 30 years’ experience in association management and as an innovative DEI leader. In August 2021, she joined the American College of Surgeons as an Executive Leader for its new strategic focus on anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Cie also is the founder and principal of her career service firm, Owlservations, LLC, that offers customized coaching and consulting services that equip and empower professionals of color to excel in their careers.  Previously, Cie served as the first Diversity & Inclusion Director for the American College of Healthcare Executives for over 5 years, and as Diversity Center Director at the American Bar Association. During her 24-year tenure with the ABA, Cie held several other positions including Senior Staff Advisor to the ABA President and Director of Litigation Section Periodicals. Cie is a frequent presenter, writer, and consultant on DEI and association management topics, specializing in evidence-based practices and creating collaborative initiatives to achieve DEI and organizational objectives. She serves as 2022-23 Chair of the American Society of Association Executive’s Research Committee, as the DEI Thought Leader for the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing’s Talent Council. Cie earned an undergraduate Journalism degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s in Public Administration from Roosevelt University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration, specializing in Industrial Organizational Psychology, from Northcentral University.

Project Leader, Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab 

Hope Patterson is a Project Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab. In that role, she has helped design, develop, and now lead the Procurement Excellence Network, a free online hub and collaboration space for those transforming the procurement function within their governments. She now assists in running PEN and providing strategic support to its members. Before joining the GPL, Hope served as the Deputy Director of Stakeholder Engagement and later as the Governance Operations Officer at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), where she led a project management team overseeing an organization-wide effort to improve system safety. Hope holds an AB in English and Classics from Harvard College. 

Assistant Director, Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab

Elena Hoffnagle is an Assistant Director at the Government Performance Lab, where she leads projects to help local governments elevate the role of procurement and leverage their spending to deliver better and more equitable results for residents. Prior to the GPL, Elena worked at the National League of Cities, providing technical assistance to city governments across the U.S. In that role, she managed Let's Move! Cities, Towns and Counties, a key part of former First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to build healthier communities. Elena holds a BA in Political Science with Distinction from Yale University and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Procurement Innovation Manager, WA State Dept of Enterprise Services (DES)

20 years Public Procurement experience & 20 years private sector; Chair Governor’s SEEP Toxics & Plastics Reduction Committee; Chair OneWA Procurement Advisory Council; Former WA Enterprise Procurement Manager, NIGP Governing Board Member & NIGP Member Council Chair; NIGP Pathways Concierge program; 3x WA NIGP Chapter President; & WA Chapter NIGP Emerging Professionals Co-Chair; Bellevue College Advisory Board member; BS Legal Studies-Contracts & Executive JD - Cal State University-Lexington University; Certified Purchasing Management - University of Texas, Arlington; Certified Paralegal - California State University, San Marcos; Disney Institute Graduate.

Procurement Director, City of Groveland, FL

Chris Coghill, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a seasoned procurement professional with a servant heart. She has been blessed to have experienced a variety of procurement offices which has led to a better understanding of how to manage a procurement department. Chris graduated Leaders Edge in 2020 and is the Vice President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as well as a member of NIGP’s Leadership Development Committee, the Mentorship Committee, and the Pathways Concierge Program.

Contracting Officer, County of Loudoun, Virginia/Division of Procurement

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.

Vice President, National Programs (Gordian) 

Louis Patin is the Vice President of National Programs, overseeing Gordian’s procurement development and implementation team. His group works to get contracts off the ground and run them with precision and expertise, ensuring that clients renew their Job Order Contracting (JOC) contracts. Louis has spent more than 30 years in the construction industry, including owning his own successful business. Before joining Gordian, he managed a successful JOC program for Comet Electric in Los Angeles. Louis served in the United States Air Force and graduated from the University of Phoenix. 

Retired

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.

Joe has served as a NIGP instructor for over 20 years and currently serves as a NIGP Area 4 Chapter Ambassador.

Executive Director, National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP)

Tammy Rimes is the Executive Director of the National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP), the premier Association for educational content, legislative advocacy and support for cooperative procurement.  She also formally served as Purchasing Agent for the City of San Diego, the 9th largest city in the nation and Emergency Logistics Chief during the 2007 Witch Creek Fires that raged for 17 days and destroyed over 2000 homes. Under her leadership, the City consolidated its warehouse operations, centralized all purchasing and contracting operations, and moved to a more customer focused approach. With past sales and marking experience in the airline, retail, electrical utilities, and wine industry, she has the unique perspective of working in three different worlds – corporate, government and entrepreneurial. 

COO and President, Disaster Recovery Services

Kim and her team have recovered billions of dollars for public entities nationwide through FEMA's Public Assistance program and other federal and state funding programs, including CARES and ARPA. With funding clawbacks often tied to procurement, Kim has a keen interest in educating and supporting public procurement professionals in the area of disaster recovery as it relates to federal grant programs. Kim has also achieved the NIGP Public Procurement Supplier Masters designation and serves as Vice-Chair of the NIGP Business Council for 2022-23.

Group Vice President, West – Public Sector, OMNIA Partners 

As Group Vice President, West, Rob is responsible for the sales and operations within the West Region which is comprised of eighteen states west of the Mississippi River and is broken up into six regions. Rob has the pleasure of supporting a world-class Regional Management team made up of six professionals who support the needs of participating public agencies within the municipal, k-12 and nonprofit markets. In addition, they work with contracted supplier partners daily via joint calls and trainings to ensure participating agencies maximize their contract’s value. Prior to joining OMNIA Partners, Rob was a Senior Program Manager at U.S Communities where he was responsible for multiple states in the West. He is a frequent presenter to procurement officials nationwide including the National Recs and Parks Association conference, National Association of Counties and Association of School Business Officials. 

Amy has over 30 years’ experience with both large and small contract furniture manufacturers. Her strategic approach to the sales process, and a no-nonsense problem-solving style have helped her carve out a niche among public sector clients. A self-professed contract nerd, she has developed and managed successful public sector programs for the manufacturers she represents. She has established and maintained relationships with industry influencers and key strategic partners and is an evangelist for cooperative procurement. Amy brings an exciting blend of technical knowledge and abundant personality to everything she pursues. Her high energy, fun presentation style reveals her creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication to her clients. 

Vice-President of Corporate Marketing, E&I Cooperative Services 

Sabra Schell has been with E&I Cooperative Services (E&I) for over 19 years. Currently, she serves as Vice President, Corporate Marketing, which includes responsibility for branding, advertising, association relationships, marketing operations and category marketing. Previously, she worked in financial services marketing with Charles Schwab and Chase. Sabra has served on the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP) editorial board since joining E&I, as well as on the NAEP program committee for multiple years. Sabra holds a BA in English and American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Corporate Procurement Program Manager, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Stephanie is a Corporate Procurement Program Manager for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She partners with CEOs, executives, and end users to assist them in gaining the right product or service at the right price at the right time. After spending nearly three decades working in procurement, Stephanie knows what truly drives the procurement process —and it’s not just about knowing all “the rules.” It’s how well you connect with the people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. This is true not only for internal clients, but external clients.

Stephanie has saved her agency millions of dollars through her procurement and negotiation skills, purchasing a vast array of products and services, including negotiating software and utilities contracts.

Senior Procurement Analyst, County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division

Tabatha Freedman, MBA, NIPG-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a Senior Procurement Analyst with the County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division. With over 15 years’ experience in public procurement, Tabatha has actively facilitated complex technology, telecommunications, and communications turnkey solutions.  

 Tabatha is passionately engaged in the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as the current President. She has previously served as Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and has chaired various committees and mentored others. Tabatha is currently appointed to the NIGP Publications & Editorial Committee and served on the NIGP Diversity and Equity Committee, NIGP Board Policy Committee, and the NIGP Code Committee. She has presented at AGP, NIGP FORUM, and FAPPO.  

 Tabatha graduated with an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and with a BBA from the University of Miami (Go Canes!) Tabatha spends time with her family and Chihuahua pups. She also enjoys saltwater fishing, both inshore and offshore. 

Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"

As a public procurement professional, with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving, innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure, he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent 10 years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies; concentrating on the procurement and implementation of interesting and complex solutions.  

Mike earned his MBA with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. Additionally he is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. He also writes the monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. When he isn’t procuring, studying, or writing; Mike enjoys woodworking and skiing. His spare time is spent with his wife and their 3-year old son. 

Jess isn’t a chef by any stretch of the imagination, but similar in that a true chef has a secret ingredient that they often leave out of a recipe on purpose and add a dash when no one is looking that pulls from past experiences and is exactly what is needed to really elevate a dish. By pulling from a variety of consulting clients, direct crisis management experiences, multitudes of different jobs along the way, and experience on stage as a stand-up comic, trainer, and now keynote speaker, Jess can elevate conversations.

It is through Jessica’s work in Student Affairs, as a college administrator, in South Carolina, Oregon, New York, and Arizona that she realized her love for the conversations across difference. As a Social Justice Training Institute Alumna, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, and a Certified Speaking Professional, Jessica has taken the typical diversity talks to the next level of social justice conversations examining privilege, oppression, entitlement, and our collective responsibility to make change while connecting difficult topics with employee retention, crisis management, and increasing innovation and profits.

Jessica blends politics, humor, identity, and local flair with big city passion and energy through direct, individualized, and interactive conversations. Her workshops, seminars, and keynotes don’t just leave participants invigorated but inspired and motivated to follow through with action to create change. Having traveled and lived in a variety of communities and environments all over the world, while also engaging with education as student, teacher, administrator, and active community member, Jessica uses her take on life to lead participants through a safe but confrontational process of examination, self-reflection, and open dialog that is as challenging as it is rewarding.

Responses to Jessica’s programs are overwhelmingly positive and include comments ranging from, “This was awful – I never had to think so hard while laughing!” to “I can’t believe my boss brought her – thanks for actually treating us like adults,” to “She answered all of my questions knowledgeably and without making me feel dumb for asking.”

With her attention now turning to larger associations and corporate leadership, Jessica is pulling from the past 15 years of direct experience to lead teams to try instead of avoiding a stretch. It is in this trying that clients uncover a deeper sense of belonging, resourceful collaboration opportunities, and reignite their creativity and innovative ideation. Learning, feeling, and being Good Enough Now allows for teams to do the best they can with what they have and persist long into the future no matter the crisis, topic, or challenge.

Graduating from the University of South Carolina with an M.Ed., in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Crisis Management, Jessica pulls together lessons from teaching History and English in the classroom as well as those from the stand-up comedy stages of New York City to bring real and actionable results to meeting rooms and board tables. She is well published, including multiple online training courses, curriculum guides, and a book that makes the abstract actionable.

Administrator of Purchasing, Shelby County Government

Christin Webb is a leadership enthusiast and procurement and community leader who thrives on helping others reach their most significant potential. Christin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Memphis and an MBA from Webster University. She is a Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP). She is also an alumnus of the Dale Carnegie leadership program and Leadership Memphis. With over 15 years of combined management and procurement experience in both public and private industry, Christin currently serves as the Administrator of Purchasing for Shelby County Government, where she is responsible for the procurement of all County goods and services. Passionate about giving back to the procurement field, Christin serves as the Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (TAPP) and NIGP Talent Council member. To propel her passion for leadership, Christin founded The Greater You Leadership Series, a leadership training and development and consulting agency. Her company has trained individuals, teams, and organizations locally, nationally, and globally with clientele from schools, colleges, non-profits, and corporations to assist in developing effective leadership through a variety of courses, workshops, podcasts, speaking engagements, and special events. Christin is also a community advocate. She currently serves as a Commissioner with the City of Memphis' Youth Guidance Commission. In her spare time, Christin enjoys tapping into her creative side, where she is a published author and award-winning screenwriter. Christin was recently recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Urban Elite Professional, Stone Awards Ida B Wells Commemoration, Dale Carnegie's Highest Achievement, and Ordinary People Magazine's award recipient.

Former Director, Finance and Procurement, Retired

Kirk Buffington retired in June 2019, from the City of Fort Lauderdale, where he spent the last five years as Director of Finance.  Prior to serving in that capacity he served the City as Deputy Director of Finance, Director of Procurement Services, and Deputy Director of Administrative Services.  Before coming to the City of Fort Lauderdale, Kirk was the Purchasing Agent for Osceola County. In addition, Mr. Buffington has purchasing experience with the Orange County School Board, and as a Grocery Buyer with the Wal-Mart Corporation, and as a Receiving Supervisor with the Walt Disney World Co.  He has a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida State University, and an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, St. Louis, MO.  Mr. Buffington served as President of the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers and was elected to the NIGP Board of Directors in July 2003, and served as President of NIGP in 2008-2009.  In addition to his activities with NIGP, Mr. Buffington has also served the National Purchasing Institute, NPI, on their Selection and Evaluation Committee for the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award.  Mr. Buffington co-authored the NIGP text “The Legal Aspects of Public Purchasing” now in its third edition and has published  various articles concerning Procurement Case Law both in local news blogs, and in nationally peer reviewed academic journals.  In January, 2022, Mr. Buffington was admitted to the Masters of Legal Studies Program at the University of Cincinnati School of Law.

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Norfolk, VA

Michael Bevis is an internationally recognized thought leader in the public procurement profession. He is currently Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, where he is charged with integrating business, technology, operations and budgeting goals to further the City’s commitment to grow Norfolk’s economy and adopt programs that build a solid foundation for partnering with the business community. He currently serves the Chair of the Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence and in the immediate past Chair of the Governing Board of NIGP the Institute for Public Procurement; he also represents the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management on the Global Standards Board. Michael’s professionalism has been recognized by NIGP (Albert H Hall Award, Distinguished Service Award, Pareto Award of Excellence, Manager of the Year, Outstanding Agency Accreditation and Innovation awards), IFPSM (the Lewis Spangler Award), National Purchasing Institute (Achievement of Excellence in Procurement – awarded to his jurisdictions 18 times). Michael’s teaching experiences include 23 years as an Instructor for NIGP, independent curriculum and training development for various agencies. Mr. Bevis’s teaching experiences include 23 years as an Instructor for NIGP, independent curriculum and training development for various agencies. Mr. Bevis is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School (JD), Lincoln Memorial University (BA magna cum laude) and has completed post graduate studies at North Central College (Leadership Studies) and Northern Illinois University (Public Administration).  He holds the NIGP-CPP, a CPPO from the UPPCC and the CPSM and lifetime CPM from the Institute for Supply Management.

Director of Procurement and Central Services, Mohave County Procurement Department

Tara Acton, CPPB, began her procurement career in September 2009 as an entry-level Procurement Officer with Mohave County.  In October 2016, she left her role as the Senior Procurement Officer for Mohave County to pursue new opportunities with the City of Tucson.  Tara ended her City of Tucson employment serving as a Principal Contract Officer, leading a team of professionals in a satellite office. In June of 2020, Tara returned to Mohave County accepting a position as the Director of Procurement and Central Services.

Tara is an active leader in NIGP.  She served as the President of NIGP’s Grand Canyon Chapter from July 2015 through June 2017.  She also served on several committees with NIGP’s Copper Chapter between October 2016 and May 2020.  At the Institute level, Tara has served on multiple committees and task forces since 2015.  She was elected to the Member Council in 2017.  In February 2020 she was elected as the Chair Elect for the Council.  Shortly after becoming Chair-Elect, the Council’s Chair was appointment to the Governing Board, so Tara quickly ascended to Chair and has been serving in that role since February 2020.

2019 was a year of professional recognition for Tara.  She was recognized as the Copper Chapter’s 2019 Buyer of the Year, NIGP’s Young Professional for 2019, and she received the City of Tucson’s Business Services Department “Keys to Success” Award for her contributions to the City of Tucson as well as the work she has done on behalf of the profession.

Chief Financial Officer, Upper Moreland School District 

Matthew M. Lentz is the Chief Financial Officer/Board Secretary for the Upper Moreland School District. He is an alumnus of the Warton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) Degree from the University of Pittsburgh.  He is a Certified Administrator of School Finance and Operations (SFO®) and a Pennsylvania Certified School Business Administrator (PCSBA). Mr. Lentz is a past member of the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Administrators (PASBO) and is a former Chair of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) as well as a member of the Executive Board for the Government Finance Officers Association from 2019-2022. From 2012-2014 Mr. Lentz was the President of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Schools Trust, a $165 million Section 115 tax-exempt benefits trust which he was a founding member, leading the design and development of the trust to provide cost-effective health, wellness, and benefits programs. He currently continues in the role of trustee. Mr. Lentz currently serves as the President of the Board of the School Districts Insurance Consortium and is a member of the Montgomery County Tax Collection Commission. He is the Treasurer of Freedom Credit Union, which holds over $1.1 billion in assets.

Mr. Lentz has received significant awards and commendations for Upper Moreland School District include: 2017-2022 Award of Financial Reporting Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association, 2017-2022 Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials, International 2020 Forecast 5 Project of the Year Award recognizing the use of financial modeling for planning and analysis to drive decision-making of over $134 million in assets and a nearly $100 million dollar annual budget, 2018 Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and the 2018 Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials Facilities Excellence Award.

Author, Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Behavioral Consultant & Owner - M. L. Coss and Associates, LLC

Maria de Lourdes Coss, MPA, CPPO - is the author of "Procurement Methods: Effective Techniques," a certified John Maxwell Team member, and Independent JMT Executive Director. She is a Professional Speaker, Executive Coach, and Trainer. Lourdes is a DISC Personality and Emotional Intelligence EQ i-2.0/EQ 360 Consultant. She is a Licensed Brain Trainer and a Certified Neuro-encoding Specialist. Lourdes is also an instructor for NIGP and the American Management Association and a senior consultant for NIGP Consulting. As a transformational leader and former Chief Procurement Officer, Lourdes invested two decades of her 27-year career successfully leading procurement transformations at some of the U.S.'s largest agencies, such as the City of Houston, Cook County, the University of Illinois, the Public Building Commission of Chicago, and the City of Chicago. She now leverages her experience and expertise to help individuals and organizations transform their performance to new heights. She shares her expertise by providing training, consulting, and coaching. Lourdes continues to add value to the profession through her educational procurement transformation blog and podcast. Lourdes graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico and received her MPA from Florida State University. She has served on several boards, including the NIGP Board. She is the recipient of the 2016 Spirit of NIGP Award and the 2018 NIGP Integrity Award. Thinkers360 recognized Lourdes as one of the top 100 Women Thought Leaders to Follow and one of the Top 50 Global Influencers and Thought Leaders in Procurement. Lourdes is the Chair of the NIGP Talent Council Leadership Committee and a member of the John Maxwell Team President's Advisory Council.

Senior Buyer, Spokane County

Victor Leamer has over 33 years of public procurement experience at the county, state department, and state-wide levels. Victor teaches Sourcing in the Public Sector and the Core Certificate: Foundations in Strategy and Policy for NIGP (virtual), the 10-part Learning Lab RFP series, and has presented NIGP webinars on protests, evaluating responsiveness in bids, virtual leadership, and contract price adjustments. Victor was appointed to the NIGP Talent Council in 2021, serves on NIGP's Content Management Committee (formerly Knowledge Management Committee) since 2015, produces the monthly Radio NIGP show, and is a founding member/former Vice President of the Alaska/Hawaii Governmental Procurement Association NIGP Chapter.

Director of Statewide Sourcing, State of South Carolina, Division of Procurement Services

Stacy Adams, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, is the Director of Statewide Sourcing for the State of South Carolina, Division of Procurement Services managing the State Term Contracting Teams. With almost 20 years of experience her skills represent governmental purchasing at the county, state agency and state-wide levels. 

Stacy is a leader who has been actively involved in content builds for The Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP) Pathways program. She also instructs courses nationally as a NIGP Certified Instructor.   

Stacy’s desire to “give back” to the profession she so dearly loves continues in her service to NIGP and its local Chapter, the South Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO). As an active member of both, she has served in many capacities including SCAGPO President. She was awarded SCAGPO’s Buyer of the Year for 2014 and was honored as the recipient of the B.D. Bland Distinguished Service Award in 2018 for her contributions to the Procurement Profession and the entity she serves.  Stacy currently serves on SCAGPO’s Past President Council and NIGP’s Talent Council as Chair Elect. 

President of NIGP Code & Consulting, Periscope/NIGP Code & Consulting

Marcheta Gillespie, FNIGP, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, C.P.M., CPM, is a dynamic international speaker, professional consultant, and trainer. For over 32 years, Marcheta has served as an experienced thought-leader, advocate, and volunteer leader in the procurement profession. As the former Chief Procurement Officer at the City of Tucson, Marcheta led one of country’s most highly acclaimed procurement organizations. Retired from government service, Marcheta now serves as President of NIGP Code & Consulting, working with public and private industry to transform their procurement operations. Marcheta is the 2019 Albert H. Hall recipient and 2017 Distinguished Service Award recipient, the highest honors bestowed upon individuals by NIGP. Marcheta is a former Chair of the UPPCC Governing Board, Former President of NIGP and served on the NIGP Board of Directors for 10 years. She now serves on the NIGP Business Council and Chairs the NIGP Mentorship Committee. Marcheta has spoken at hundreds of international, national and regional events and authored numerous published works in the profession.

Strategic Accounts Government & Education, Canon Solutions America

Dave leads U.S. government and education sales for Canon Solutions America, Canon's U.S. 
based division. He brings experience and expertise from working with public sector procurement officials over a 25-year career, with leadership roles at Canon, Office Depot, and Costco Wholesale. 
 
Dave has held an active position on NIGP's National Business Council since 2010 and coauthored several of NIGP's White Papers - focused on the intricacies of buying and selling in the public arena. Dave's roles have included Vice-Chair of NIGP's Business Council and a history of working with national and local leadership at NAEP, ASBO, NIGP, NASPO and NPI. 
 
While advocating for advancement in public procurement, Dave has developed a deep 
engagement with cooperative contracting and best value procurement, an extensive knowledge of environmental sustainability, and a progressive vision of supplier evaluation and management. 
 
Dave holds an MBA in Management Sciences from the University of Portland and Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, East Bay. 

COO and President, Disaster Recovery Services

Kim and her team have recovered billions of dollars for public entities nationwide through FEMA's Public Assistance program and other federal and state funding programs, including CARES and ARPA. With funding clawbacks often tied to procurement, Kim has a keen interest in educating and supporting public procurement professionals in the area of disaster recovery as it relates to federal grant programs. Kim has also achieved the NIGP Public Procurement Supplier Masters designation and serves as Vice-Chair of the NIGP Business Council for 2022-23.

Contracting Officer, County of Loudoun, Virginia/Division of Procurement

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.

Senior Manager, Non-Capital Program, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority

Amy Flack serves as the Senior Manager for the Non-Capital Program at Tampa International Airport and has over 17 years of public procurement experience. She has successfully facilitated the procurement process for various projects, including Janitorial Services, Remote Baggage Check Services, Spa Services, Long-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Services, and Glass Cleaning Services. Amy and her team are responsible for providing procurement support for 20+ departments. Amy is Procurement’s Training Administrator, responsible for Authority-wide staff and supplier procurement training. She is also the Procurement department lead on ERP system upgrades, patches, and issue resolution.

She currently serves on the Member Council for NIGP and as the Public Relations Director for the Airport Purchasing Group. Amy was named 2015 Buyer of the Year and 2017 Manager of the Year by her Chapter and the 2017 Inaugural Young Professional by NIGP National. She has served on NIGP’s Forum Committee, Dictionary Update and NIGP-CPP Item Writing Task Forces. Amy has held various leadership roles within her local Chapter such as Treasurer, Vice President, President, Membership Director and currently serves as the Programs Director.

Manager, Supplier Relationship and Procurement Operations, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority

Kathleen Fisher serves as the Manager of Supplier Relationship and Procurement Operations at Tampa International Airport. She joined the Authority’s Procurement team in 2013 and discovered her love for Public Procurement and cannot imagine working in any other profession. Kathleen has successfully facilitated complex solicitations for parking control systems, online systems, and professional services. She is also the newly appointed manager of the Supplier Relationship Management Pilot Program as well as managing the Authority’s PCard Program and supplier onboarding efforts for ePayments. 

Kathleen currently serves as the Chair of the NIGP Accreditation Committee, Secretary of the Tampa Bay Area Chapter of NIGP, and is a Special District Representative to the K-12/Local Government Advisory Team of the National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals. Kathleen was part of NIGP’s Global Best Practice Task Force for Achieving an Optimal Procurement Card (PCard) Program, has been a presenter at national and regional conferences as well as for virtual symposiums and webinars on procurement related topics. In 2021, Kathleen was voted Buyer of the Year by the Tampa Bay Area Chapter of NIGP. 

Business Diversity and Marketing Manager, DES 

Shana Greenberg Barehand, originally from Los Angeles, is Mono Indian from the Cold Springs Rancheria in California. Shana has a law degree from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s in psychology from Cal State Long Beach.  Her previous jobs include working at the Southern California Indian Center, Indian education program counselor, waitressing, and bar tending. As an attorney she has worked at the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as an environmental enforcement attorney, the Federal Communications Commission as the senior tribal advisor to the Commissioner, and the Tribal Liaison for the Washington State Department of Revenue. Her expertise in establishing and leading innovative new programs led her to the DES where she established the Procurement, Inclusion and Equity Program, which helps lead the state’s effort to procure more goods and services from small, diverse, and veteran owned businesses. In a volunteer capacity, she coaches soccer, serves on the Tumwater School Districts Equity Committee and is the co-founder of the Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute, the State’s only outdoor camp that teaches outdoor adventure, STEM, and intertwines indigenous culture and knowledge. In the past she has served as the Treasurer of the National Native American Bar Association, Chair of the advisory board for the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS), Washington DC, and is a founding board member and past Treasurer for the Society of American Indian Government Employees. Shana is married to actor/filmmaker Jeffrey Barehand and has five children. As a family they participate in a diverse array of experiences such as volunteering for important causes, dancing at Pow Wows, and snowboarding. 

Procurement Risk Assessment Administrator, Policy Team, Contracts and Procurement Division, Department of Enterprise Services 

Drew Zavatsky works as the Procurement Risk Assessment (PRA) Administrator for the Department of Enterprise Services. In that position, he administers the PRA for all state executive agencies, boards, and commissions. In this innovative program, each agency’s procurement authority is determined through a risk assessment of how well the agency manages its procurement-related risks. Washington was the first state to apply a risk management analysis to its delegation of procurement authority. As one of the original authors of the PRA, he has conducted risk assessments of more than 500 agencies since the program was created in 2014. Before his current position, Drew worked in the Washington State Office of Enterprise Risk Management. He has had leadership in several statewide enterprise risk management initiatives, including implementing the State ERM Initiative (2007 - 2014), creating a risk identification and mitigation plan for the state Attorney General's Office for the federal HIPAA/HITECH regulatory framework (2010-11), and the coordination of the state's risk management program regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. He has trained over 2000 risk management professionals in the theory and practice of Enterprise Risk Management, as well as in Root Cause Analysis. He has also spoken on these subjects to dozens of professional groups, including the Risk and Insurance Management Society (2011), the Public Risk Management Association (2008, 2011), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2010), and the North Carolina State University Enterprise Risk Management Roundtable (2008). Drew has been an attorney for over thirty years, including a decade as a King County Deputy Prosecutor in Seattle, Washington. He lives in Seattle with his wife and rambunctious Poodle-Australian Shepard puppy, Momo. 

Business Diversity Program Manager, Procurement Inclusion and Equity Program, Contracts and Procurement Division, WA Dept of Enterprise Services 

Kim Sauer is the Business Diversity Program Manager at the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). She leads the effort to create a sustainable pipeline of small and diverse businesses to meet state contracting needs by building community partnerships and business coalitions with diverse business organizations and stakeholders. She focuses on providing outreach, marketing, and procurement training where there are upcoming state contracting opportunities. Kim leads and facilitates community feedback is incorporated into the state procurement practices by working with Business Diversity Advisory Group and the Diverse Business Support team. Kim has been a Small Business Liaison for over twenty-five years working with various communities especially for those that were underserved in the state government and has been a longtime community volunteer. She is a SCORE business expert, a member of the executive board for the Seattle Washington State Korean Association, teaches Korean to primary school children, and serve the Equity Commission for the City of Lacey until Jan 2024. 

Energy Resource Conservation Manager, Harford County Public Schools

Bobbie has over 20 years of leadership experience in public procurement. In her various roles she has acquired the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience to implement strategies for developing a remote workforce, successfully implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, expanding Minority Owned Business opportunities through outreach programs and energy resource conservation program development.  She acts as the MBE Liaison by helping with the administration of State of Maryland mandated Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) requirements involved in the procurement of facility projects, including goal setting, reporting, and outreach. . She is passionate about learning, teaching, and mentoring other professionals. She has experience with the management of procurement operations for K-12, water utilities, local, municipal government agencies. She is an NIGP Instructor, on the Talent Council, a liaison for the Mentorship Committee and a staff member of Radio NIGP.

Member Council Chair, Procurement Director, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

I began practicing yoga to create balance for an active lifestyle, burdened mind, and stressed body. As I developed a consistent practice, I noticed mental and emotional balance on and off the mat.

I started teaching in 2020. I opened my own studio in 2021. I have taught over 200 classes. In 2021, I completed an hour registered yoga teacher training at Up Yoga as it focuses on the yoga poses, meditation, and inquiry. It is adaptable for all fitness levels, ages and body types. It invites students to disrupt their default way of thinking and create space.

The love and commitment I have for my practice inspires me to and grow and connect with others.

Owner & Principal: Owlservations, LLC, Servant Leader: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Nationally recognized for her expertise in the ever-changing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) arena, Cie builds upon more than 30 years’ experience in association management and as an innovative DEI leader. In August 2021, she joined the American College of Surgeons as an Executive Leader for its new strategic focus on anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Cie also is the founder and principal of her career service firm, Owlservations, LLC, that offers customized coaching and consulting services that equip and empower professionals of color to excel in their careers.  Previously, Cie served as the first Diversity & Inclusion Director for the American College of Healthcare Executives for over 5 years, and as Diversity Center Director at the American Bar Association. During her 24-year tenure with the ABA, Cie held several other positions including Senior Staff Advisor to the ABA President and Director of Litigation Section Periodicals. Cie is a frequent presenter, writer, and consultant on DEI and association management topics, specializing in evidence-based practices and creating collaborative initiatives to achieve DEI and organizational objectives. She serves as 2022-23 Chair of the American Society of Association Executive’s Research Committee, as the DEI Thought Leader for the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing’s Talent Council. Cie earned an undergraduate Journalism degree from Northwestern University, a Master’s in Public Administration from Roosevelt University, and a Doctorate in Business Administration, specializing in Industrial Organizational Psychology, from Northcentral University.

Procurement Director, City of Groveland, FL

Chris Coghill, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a seasoned procurement professional with a servant heart. She has been blessed to have experienced a variety of procurement offices which has led to a better understanding of how to manage a procurement department. Chris graduated Leaders Edge in 2020 and is the Vice President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as well as a member of NIGP’s Leadership Development Committee, the Mentorship Committee, and the Pathways Concierge Program.

Contracting Officer, County of Loudoun, Virginia/Division of Procurement

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.

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Norfolk, VA

Michael Bevis is an internationally recognized thought leader in the public procurement profession. He is currently Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Norfolk, Virginia, where he is charged with integrating business, technology, operations and budgeting goals to further the City’s commitment to grow Norfolk’s economy and adopt programs that build a solid foundation for partnering with the business community. He currently serves the Chair of the Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence and in the immediate past Chair of the Governing Board of NIGP the Institute for Public Procurement; he also represents the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management on the Global Standards Board. Michael’s professionalism has been recognized by NIGP (Albert H Hall Award, Distinguished Service Award, Pareto Award of Excellence, Manager of the Year, Outstanding Agency Accreditation and Innovation awards), IFPSM (the Lewis Spangler Award), National Purchasing Institute (Achievement of Excellence in Procurement – awarded to his jurisdictions 18 times). Michael’s teaching experiences include 23 years as an Instructor for NIGP, independent curriculum and training development for various agencies. Mr. Bevis’s teaching experiences include 23 years as an Instructor for NIGP, independent curriculum and training development for various agencies. Mr. Bevis is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School (JD), Lincoln Memorial University (BA magna cum laude) and has completed post graduate studies at North Central College (Leadership Studies) and Northern Illinois University (Public Administration).  He holds the NIGP-CPP, a CPPO from the UPPCC and the CPSM and lifetime CPM from the Institute for Supply Management.

Retired

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.

Joe has served as a NIGP instructor for over 20 years and currently serves as a NIGP Area 4 Chapter Ambassador.

National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP) Strategic Development  

Crosby is the President of Cooperative Services, LLC and is on the Board of Directors for the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association (FEMSA). He currently works with Sourcewell to lead their public safety cooperative procurement initiative and provides strategic development for National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP), the professional association for cooperatives. Formerly, he served as the President of a NPPGov and served on the Board of Directors for NCPP. 

He has held several leadership positions in association management including Director of Professional Development for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and Regional Director for the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). His local government career began in the fire service where he ultimately served as the Chief of Training and Technical Rescue in Roanoke, VA and a project manager for city administration. 

Executive Director | NPPGov – Public Safety GPO

Bill DeMars lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he has a dual role as the Executive Director of NPPGov and is also part of the Senior Leadership team at NPP (National Purchasing Partners) as Executive Vice President. His responsibilities include all the Government division along with the sales, marketing, and Business Development departments on the NPP side of the business.   

He has been actively involved in the public safety market for over 35 years as a clinician, along with various escalating responsibilities resulting in Vice President level roles within prominent medical device manufacturing and distribution companies. He started his career in Central New York in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) market as a paramedic, which progressed into him becoming a Respiratory Therapist. Prior to NPP, he successfully led an international consultancy company for 11 years, Ashmak, LLC., which supported manufacturers and distributors of medical products in the Public Safety space. He is also an avid helicopter pilot, husband, and father of 3 wonderful children.   

Director of Procurement, 1Goverment Procurement Alliance (1GPA)

Claudia has over 27 years of procurement experience in the public sector with three school districts in Arizona. Claudia recently joined 1GPA/1Government Procurement Alliance and serves as the Director of Procurement overseeing the procurement functions for 1GPA. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and has held a CPPB certification from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council since 2001. Claudia is committed to conducting business and building relationships based on the principles of honesty, fairness, professionalism and compliance. 

Director of Strategic Partnerships, Office Depot 

Valya has spent more than 35 years in the office supplies and related categories industry.  In her 35 years she spent time in procurement, sales administration, eCommerce & sales leadership.  She has worked with public sector agencies throughout her entire career.  Valya has a team of people who are the public sector SMEs for their organization and manages the cooperative contracts that are used nationally by ODP Business Solutions to help agencies meet their objectives and stay compliant.  

Program Manager, TRANE 

Performance driven program manager, with 18 years’ experience helping to drive sustainable business growth for Trane.   Responsible for growing revenue across all products and services represented by Trane’s cooperative contracts (including equipment, contracting, service, parts, turnkey, comprehensive solutions, ESCO, etc.). Works directly with superintendents, purchasing professionals, education board members, elected officials, county officers and financial consultants. Part of a team that represents over $550M in public spend. Supports all field sales staff in the Eastern part of the US & Canada.  MBA from Indiana University Kelly School of Business 

Procurement Administrator, City of Tucson, Arizona

Nathan Daou, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P., is the Procurement Administrator for the City of Tucson, Arizona.  Throughout his 22 years in the Procurement profession, Nathan has been a strong believer in the value of professional certification and is an advocate for the elevation of the Procurement profession.  In 2015, Nathan co-created “Procurement Professionals’ Day” with Victoria Cortinas to bring recognition to the people on the front lines of our profession.  In 2019, Nathan was the recipient of NIGP’s Manager of the Year Award.  Nathan currently serves as a Director of the National Procurement Institute. 

Chief of Procurement Services, San Diego County 

Sean has twenty-one years of government experience and is currently operating as a Chief of Procurement Services with the County of San Diego Department of Purchasing & Contracting. Sean has responsibility for all enterprise wide contracts, Public Safety Group departments, and the county P-Card program. During the pandemic Sean has been the primary logistical support including all purchases of PPE to support staff and the regional medical care system. Sean graduated with a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law and a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of California at Santa Barbara. 

Corporate Procurement Program Manager, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Stephanie is a Corporate Procurement Program Manager for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She partners with CEOs, executives, and end users to assist them in gaining the right product or service at the right price at the right time. After spending nearly three decades working in procurement, Stephanie knows what truly drives the procurement process —and it’s not just about knowing all “the rules.” It’s how well you connect with the people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. This is true not only for internal clients, but external clients.

Stephanie has saved her agency millions of dollars through her procurement and negotiation skills, purchasing a vast array of products and services, including negotiating software and utilities contracts.

Senior Procurement Analyst, County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division

Tabatha Freedman, MBA, NIPG-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a Senior Procurement Analyst with the County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division. With over 15 years’ experience in public procurement, Tabatha has actively facilitated complex technology, telecommunications, and communications turnkey solutions.  

 Tabatha is passionately engaged in the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as the current President. She has previously served as Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and has chaired various committees and mentored others. Tabatha is currently appointed to the NIGP Publications & Editorial Committee and served on the NIGP Diversity and Equity Committee, NIGP Board Policy Committee, and the NIGP Code Committee. She has presented at AGP, NIGP FORUM, and FAPPO.  

 Tabatha graduated with an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and with a BBA from the University of Miami (Go Canes!) Tabatha spends time with her family and Chihuahua pups. She also enjoys saltwater fishing, both inshore and offshore. 

Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"

As a public procurement professional, with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving, innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure, he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent 10 years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies; concentrating on the procurement and implementation of interesting and complex solutions.  

Mike earned his MBA with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. Additionally he is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. He also writes the monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. When he isn’t procuring, studying, or writing; Mike enjoys woodworking and skiing. His spare time is spent with his wife and their 3-year old son. 

Director of Procurement, South Carolina State University

Stacy Gregg began working in public procurement in June of 1996. Currently, she is the Director of Procurement at SC State University (Go Bulldogs!). Stacy is an Instructor for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. She volunteers with The Institute on the Member Council and Certification Commission. Stacy is an active member of the SC Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO) and hold honorary memberships in the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO) and National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).

Purchasing and Contracts Manager, City of Tamarac, Florida

Keith has served in the field of public procurement for over 40 years; and has been the Purchasing & Contracts Manager for the City of Tamarac, Florida since 2003. Prior to that date, he held various public procurement positions in municipal and state government in Illinois. Keith has served in various volunteer capacities with NIGP and its various affiliated chapters including Chair of the NIGP Governing Board in 2015-2016 as part of his 10 years of service on the NIGP Board. Keith was also past President of both the Southeast Florida Chapter and the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO) chapters of NIGP. Most recently, Keith has served on the NIGP Mentorship Committee, and was its Chair from 2018 to 2021; and has been the host of the monthly “Way to Grow” segment on Radio NIGP. Keith was the recipient of both the NIGP Anne Deatherage Award for Meritorious Service and the NIGP Professional Manager of the Year Award, as well as the FAPPO George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award and the FAPPO Above and Beyond Award.

Author, Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Behavioral Consultant & Owner - M. L. Coss and Associates, LLC

Maria de Lourdes Coss, MPA, CPPO - is the author of "Procurement Methods: Effective Techniques," a certified John Maxwell Team member, and Independent JMT Executive Director. She is a Professional Speaker, Executive Coach, and Trainer. Lourdes is a DISC Personality and Emotional Intelligence EQ i-2.0/EQ 360 Consultant. She is a Licensed Brain Trainer and a Certified Neuro-encoding Specialist. Lourdes is also an instructor for NIGP and the American Management Association and a senior consultant for NIGP Consulting. As a transformational leader and former Chief Procurement Officer, Lourdes invested two decades of her 27-year career successfully leading procurement transformations at some of the U.S.'s largest agencies, such as the City of Houston, Cook County, the University of Illinois, the Public Building Commission of Chicago, and the City of Chicago. She now leverages her experience and expertise to help individuals and organizations transform their performance to new heights. She shares her expertise by providing training, consulting, and coaching. Lourdes continues to add value to the profession through her educational procurement transformation blog and podcast. Lourdes graduated magna cum laude from the University of Puerto Rico and received her MPA from Florida State University. She has served on several boards, including the NIGP Board. She is the recipient of the 2016 Spirit of NIGP Award and the 2018 NIGP Integrity Award. Thinkers360 recognized Lourdes as one of the top 100 Women Thought Leaders to Follow and one of the Top 50 Global Influencers and Thought Leaders in Procurement. Lourdes is the Chair of the NIGP Talent Council Leadership Committee and a member of the John Maxwell Team President's Advisory Council.

Director of Statewide Sourcing, State of South Carolina, Division of Procurement Services

Stacy Adams, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, is the Director of Statewide Sourcing for the State of South Carolina, Division of Procurement Services managing the State Term Contracting Teams. With almost 20 years of experience her skills represent governmental purchasing at the county, state agency and state-wide levels. 

Stacy is a leader who has been actively involved in content builds for The Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP) Pathways program. She also instructs courses nationally as a NIGP Certified Instructor.   

Stacy’s desire to “give back” to the profession she so dearly loves continues in her service to NIGP and its local Chapter, the South Carolina Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO). As an active member of both, she has served in many capacities including SCAGPO President. She was awarded SCAGPO’s Buyer of the Year for 2014 and was honored as the recipient of the B.D. Bland Distinguished Service Award in 2018 for her contributions to the Procurement Profession and the entity she serves.  Stacy currently serves on SCAGPO’s Past President Council and NIGP’s Talent Council as Chair Elect. 

Professor and Public Policy Department Head, University of Connecticut

Mohamad G. Alkadry serves as a Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Alkadry has over 50 peer-reviewed articles, peer-reviewed book chapters, journal symposia. He is also co-editor and co-author of three books: Women and Public Service: Barriers, Challenges and Opportunities (2013, 2014), These Things Happen: Stories from the Public Sector (2002), and Scaling Up Microenterprise Services (1998). His work appears in Review of Public Personnel Administration, International Journal of Organizational Theory and Behavior, Public Administration Review, Administration and Society, Public Integrity, Journal of Education Finance, Social Work in Health Care, Public Productivity and Management Review, Public Administration and Management, Administrative Theory and Praxis, among other journals. Dr. Alkadry’s practitioner experience includes service as a senior research associate at the Center for Urban Redevelopment and Empowerment (Florida Atlantic University) and as a Value-for-Money (performance) Auditor with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (Ottawa). Dr. Alkadry has authored in excess of fifty community and professional studies in areas of governance and public management. He is an elected member of the Congressionally-chartered National Academy of Public Administration. 

Chief Content Officer, NIGP

Todd Slater, PhD. is the Chief Content Officer for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. He has over twenty years of experience transforming global learning programs using technology and innovative instructional methods. Todd holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in instructional design from the University of Central Florida, and a doctorate in adult education from Capella University. He also sits on several industry boards and speaks in both domestic and international settings. 

Deputy Executive Director, GFOA

Mike Mucha is GFOA's Deputy Executive Director and the Director of the Research and Consulting Center. In this role, Mike oversees GFOA's member facing programs and services including award programs, education, consulting projects, research activities, the Government Finance Review, the Certified Public Finance Officer program, the GFOA website, and other strategic initiatives for GFOA. Mike also leads GFOA’s consulting practice and focuses on providing guidance to local governments on how to use technology more effectively, improve business processes and administrative practices, reduce risk of ERP implementation projects, and implement best practices in financial management. Mike has managed projects for both large and small governments, regularly speaks at training events, and has written numerous articles on public sector enterprise technology applications, process improvement, performance management, project management, and budgeting. Mike also serves on the governing board for the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP).

Finance Director, City of Aurora, CO

Terri Velasquez is the finance director for the City of Aurora, CO and is president-elect for GFOA.  Terri is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Colorado GFOA, Society of CPAs, and ICMA.  Terri also has served on several boards and commissions including the Colorado Public Plan Coalition Committee (January 2018 to present), ICMA-RC Public Employee Memorial Scholarship Fund (June 2016 to present).

Contracting Officer, County of Loudoun, Virginia/Division of Procurement

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.

Energy Resource Conservation Manager, Harford County Public Schools

Bobbie has over 20 years of leadership experience in public procurement. In her various roles she has acquired the requisite knowledge, skills, and experience to implement strategies for developing a remote workforce, successfully implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, expanding Minority Owned Business opportunities through outreach programs and energy resource conservation program development.  She acts as the MBE Liaison by helping with the administration of State of Maryland mandated Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) requirements involved in the procurement of facility projects, including goal setting, reporting, and outreach. . She is passionate about learning, teaching, and mentoring other professionals. She has experience with the management of procurement operations for K-12, water utilities, local, municipal government agencies. She is an NIGP Instructor, on the Talent Council, a liaison for the Mentorship Committee and a staff member of Radio NIGP.

Procurement Manager II, South Carolina Fiscal Accountability Authority

Nathan Dawson serves as the Procurement Manger of the Sourcing Team for the Division of Procurement Services in South Carolina. His job is to assist State Agencies purchase goods and services whose value exceeds those Agencies’ certification levels. In other words, he buys stuff. The majority of that “stuff” is now IT-related – Mr. Dawson has purchased hardware and software solutions, ranging from electronic poll books for the presidential elections to grants management systems, as well as software maintenance and application development services. He is an active member of his local NIGP Chapter, as well as one of NIGP's instructors, teaching primarily the two Technology Procurement classes. He has presented at past NIGP and chapter Forums around the country. Originally from Australia, Mr. Dawson worked for both Federal and State Governments in Australia and England before moving to South Carolina 15 years ago and discovering his true calling as a procurement professional.  And no, he does not know Chris Hemsworth.

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.

Manager of Purchasing and Risk Management Services,  Northumberland County, Ontario Province, Canad

Carl Bonitto is the current Manager of Purchasing and Risk Management Services, Northumberland County, Ontario Province, Canada. He has served the NIGP membership as a Chapter Ambassador. As of July 1, 2021 Mr. Bonitto is the Chair of the NIGP Certification Commission.

Project Lead (Retired), Ministry of Finance

Lynda Allair, NIGP-CPP, CPPO has over forty years of experience as a public procurement leader within the provincial, municipal and health care sectors. She has extensive expertise in procurement legislation, both nationally and internationally, policy development, cross-functional planning, project implementation, procurement performance, sustainability program development and implementation, and business analysis. She has served the Institute in numerous capacities, is a Chapter Past-President and is a frequent Forum speaker and moderator. Lynda instructs public procurement classes for NIGP, the University of Guelph and others upon request. Lynda has been a part of the NIGP Consulting Program since 2010 and is NIGP’s 2021 Anne Deatherage Meritorious Service Award and the 2012 Distinguished Service Award recipient in the public procurement profession.

Purchasing & Contracts Manager, City of Longmont, Colorado

Ms. Scott is currently the Purchasing & Contracts Manager for the City of Longmont.  She has over 8 years in public procurement.  She has She has been on the board of directors for the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association ("RMGPA") for 5 years. She is a past programs committee chair (2015), past president (2017), and current treasurer.

Procurement Director, City of Groveland, FL

Chris Coghill, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a seasoned procurement professional with a servant heart. She has been blessed to have experienced a variety of procurement offices which has led to a better understanding of how to manage a procurement department. Chris graduated Leaders Edge in 2020 and is the Vice President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as well as a member of NIGP’s Leadership Development Committee, the Mentorship Committee, and the Pathways Concierge Program.

Director of Procurement, Cleveland Metroparks

Director of Purchasing and Contracts, Utah State Board of Education

Zachary Christensen is currently the Director of Purchasing and Contracts with the Utah State Board of Education, supervising the distribution and expenditure of education funds at the state level. He is passionate about furthering public procurement as a profession and providing professional development to help ensure that those practitioners can move forward in this exciting profession. Zac also teaches procurement courses for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, and has served on local and national professional organizations. Prior to working at USBE, Zac served as a contract analyst for state purchasing, was a practicing lawyer, and worked for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in legal and subcontract management.  

Procurement Director, City of Groveland, FL

Chris Coghill, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a seasoned procurement professional with a servant heart. She has been blessed to have experienced a variety of procurement offices which has led to a better understanding of how to manage a procurement department. Chris graduated Leaders Edge in 2020 and is the Vice President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as well as a member of NIGP’s Leadership Development Committee, the Mentorship Committee, and the Pathways Concierge Program.

Contracting Officer, County of Loudoun, Virginia/Division of Procurement

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.

Chief Procurement Officer - Capital Development Board, IL Chief Procurement Office

Art Moore started his government career with the Illinois Department of Transportation in 1996 testing various road materials and working with subcontractors seeking to bid on road construction projects. In 2011, he began working for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency where he developed a Job Order Contracting process for Environmental Remediation Projects and established a Qualifications Based Selection Process for the Agency’s Architectural and Engineering Contracts. In June 2017, Art was appointed the Chief Procurement Officer for the Capital Development Board. During his term, Art helped develop administrative rules that guide projects procured in accordance with Quincy Veterans' Home Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Act. Art has conducted multiple outreach and training events promoting strategic procurement practices including serving as the key-note speaker for a construction conference sponsored by the State of Hawaii. Art obtained his CPPB certification in 2011, CPPO certification in 2013, NIGP-CPP in 2020, and the NIGP accredited Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement from the University of Illinois Springfield. Art is heavily involved in various procurement organizations and serves as President for the Illinois Chapter of NIGP and is the past Chair of the NIGP Talent Council and is a current member the NIGP Governing Board.

Retired

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.

Joe has served as a NIGP instructor for over 20 years and currently serves as a NIGP Area 4 Chapter Ambassador.

Sourcewell Client Relations and NCPP Chair of Educational Outreach  

Duff Erholtz is completing his 15th year in Membership Services for Sourcewell – formerly the National Joint Powers Alliance / NJPA. His primary responsibility is communicating with and supporting the procurement needs of the over 100,000 Sourcewell Members throughout the country. Duff volunteers as the Educational Working Group Chair for the National Cooperative Procurement Partners Association and helps create educational tools to assist procurement on understanding and utilizing Cooperative agreements.  

Director of Purchasing and First Acting County Executive for the County of Rockland, NY

Paul Brennan currently serves as Director of Purchasing and First Acting County Executive for the County of Rockland, NY. Over his 27-year public procurement career Paul has earned a reputation as an innovative, results-producing procurement professional with experience in Strategic Sourcing, Contract Negotiations, Financial Analysis, Project Management, Process Improvement and Measurement and ERP Implementations. Paul has established a record of continuous improvement through the implementation of cost saving technologies.

Paul is also President of ProcurePath, a training and consulting firm that specializes in providing public procurement training seminars. Paul has presented seminars for NIGP, SAMPO, GFOA, NYSOGS and the Institute for Supply Management.

Paul served as President of the Institute for Public Procurement – NIGP from 2009-2010, and NIGP’s Treasurer from 2013-2015. Paul has also served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) and as President and Executive Board member of the New York State Association of Municipal Procurement Officials.

President of NIGP Code & Consulting, Periscope/NIGP Code & Consulting

Marcheta Gillespie, FNIGP, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, C.P.M., CPM, is a dynamic international speaker, professional consultant, and trainer. For over 32 years, Marcheta has served as an experienced thought-leader, advocate, and volunteer leader in the procurement profession. As the former Chief Procurement Officer at the City of Tucson, Marcheta led one of country’s most highly acclaimed procurement organizations. Retired from government service, Marcheta now serves as President of NIGP Code & Consulting, working with public and private industry to transform their procurement operations. Marcheta is the 2019 Albert H. Hall recipient and 2017 Distinguished Service Award recipient, the highest honors bestowed upon individuals by NIGP. Marcheta is a former Chair of the UPPCC Governing Board, Former President of NIGP and served on the NIGP Board of Directors for 10 years. She now serves on the NIGP Business Council and Chairs the NIGP Mentorship Committee. Marcheta has spoken at hundreds of international, national and regional events and authored numerous published works in the profession.

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Houston 

As the CPO for the City of Houston, Jedediah Greenfield directs the central procurement operations for the City of Houston. Responsibilities include leading day-to-day activities across all City departments for direct and indirect sourcing and procurement activities. Key activities include - acceleration and implementation of best in class procurement capabilities and organizational development efforts - transforming procurement to a strategic organization focused on optimizing the entire procure-to-pay process to meet City strategic and operation objectives.  Prior to the City, Jedediah was the Assistant Director as Houston Public Works where he led the operations of the Procurement, Fleet and Warehouse Services Division of Houston Public Works. This includes procurement and contract development, management and compliance, which represents nearly $1 billion in goods and services annually; purchasing, management and salvage of a diverse fleet of nearly 4,000 light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles; and operations (purchasing, receiving and issuing of stocked commodities) of the five department warehouses. 

Government Contracts Manager for The Toro Company, and Member of the NIGP Business Council 

Jon joined The Toro Company in 2015 and serves as the Government Contracts Manager for North America. In his role, he helps educate and support Toro’s internal and distribution network on the use of Government Contracts and how to work with government agencies. In addition, Jon helps develop and implement strategies targeted at growing and supporting the Sports Fields & Grounds market segments, which represents professional and collegiate sports, educational institutions, and government - including federal, state and local entities. Jon is a member of the NIGP Business Council and has earned his (PPSM) Public Procurement Supplier Masters designation through the NIGP Pathways training program. He has also earned core certificates in Foundations of Mission & Public Benefit, and Foundations of Strategy & Policy.  

Corporate Procurement Program Manager, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Stephanie is a Corporate Procurement Program Manager for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She partners with CEOs, executives, and end users to assist them in gaining the right product or service at the right price at the right time. After spending nearly three decades working in procurement, Stephanie knows what truly drives the procurement process —and it’s not just about knowing all “the rules.” It’s how well you connect with the people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. This is true not only for internal clients, but external clients.

Stephanie has saved her agency millions of dollars through her procurement and negotiation skills, purchasing a vast array of products and services, including negotiating software and utilities contracts.

Senior Procurement Analyst, County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division

Tabatha Freedman, MBA, NIPG-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a Senior Procurement Analyst with the County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division. With over 15 years’ experience in public procurement, Tabatha has actively facilitated complex technology, telecommunications, and communications turnkey solutions.  

 Tabatha is passionately engaged in the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as the current President. She has previously served as Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and has chaired various committees and mentored others. Tabatha is currently appointed to the NIGP Publications & Editorial Committee and served on the NIGP Diversity and Equity Committee, NIGP Board Policy Committee, and the NIGP Code Committee. She has presented at AGP, NIGP FORUM, and FAPPO.  

 Tabatha graduated with an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and with a BBA from the University of Miami (Go Canes!) Tabatha spends time with her family and Chihuahua pups. She also enjoys saltwater fishing, both inshore and offshore. 

Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"

As a public procurement professional, with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving, innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure, he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent 10 years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies; concentrating on the procurement and implementation of interesting and complex solutions.  

Mike earned his MBA with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. Additionally he is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. He also writes the monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. When he isn’t procuring, studying, or writing; Mike enjoys woodworking and skiing. His spare time is spent with his wife and their 3-year old son. 

Purchasing Director, City of Fayetteville, AR

Les McGaugh is the Purchasing Director for the City of Fayetteville, AR. He completed 3 tours overseas from 2002-2007 while serving as an infantryman in the United Sates Marine Corps. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2013. He has 5 years of procurement experience in the Construction industry, 5 years of procurement/supply chain experience in the manufacturing industry, and 7 years in public procurement. He loves to travel with his wife and three children to America's National Parks and also he also serves as Senior Pastor at his church. 

Chief Procurement Officer, New York State Office of General Services

Sean has served in State and Local Procurement for more than 15 years, managing up to 29 billion in spend across 1500 contracts. He has expertise in diversity and sustainability, construction, design build and agile methodologies among others. He has served in the public sector under 4 NYS governors and at various other levels of government.

Executive Director, National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP)

Tammy Rimes is the Executive Director of the National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP), the premier Association for educational content, legislative advocacy and support for cooperative procurement.  She also formally served as Purchasing Agent for the City of San Diego, the 9th largest city in the nation and Emergency Logistics Chief during the 2007 Witch Creek Fires that raged for 17 days and destroyed over 2000 homes. Under her leadership, the City consolidated its warehouse operations, centralized all purchasing and contracting operations, and moved to a more customer focused approach. With past sales and marking experience in the airline, retail, electrical utilities, and wine industry, she has the unique perspective of working in three different worlds – corporate, government and entrepreneurial. 

Sourcewell Client Relations and NCPP Chair of Educational Outreach  

Duff Erholtz is completing his 15th year in Membership Services for Sourcewell – formerly the National Joint Powers Alliance / NJPA. His primary responsibility is communicating with and supporting the procurement needs of the over 100,000 Sourcewell Members throughout the country. Duff volunteers as the Educational Working Group Chair for the National Cooperative Procurement Partners Association and helps create educational tools to assist procurement on understanding and utilizing Cooperative agreements.  

Procurement Analyst, Lee County Board of County Commissioners

Brooke is an up and coming procurement professional with a true passion for the industry. She has over ten years of experience in the private business sector which brings a different perspective to her role in public procurement.  

Her previous roles within procurement include Purchasing Agent for Lee County Port Authority and Administrative Assistant at a private water management company. 

Brooke has been actively involved in local and national public procurement associations where she has served as the Scholarship Committee Chair for Gulf Coast Association of Procurement Official’s (GCAGPO), Secretary of Gulf Coast Association of Governmental Purchasing Official’s (GCAGPO); and is currently serving as President of Gulf Coast Association of Governmental Purchasing Official’s (GCAGPO); she has also served as the Trade Show Committee Chair for Florida Association of Public Procurement Officer’s (FAPPO) and Education Chair for Florida Association of Public Procurement Officer’s (FAPPO) . She currently serves on the Awards Committee for the Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP). She received Florida Association of Public Procurement Officer’s (FAPPO)’s 2020 Rising Star Award.  

Brooke is a strong and passionate procurement professional who has been mentored by individuals who have decades of knowledge within the procurement profession. Brooke’s background and experience in both the private and public sector brings a fresh, energized perspective to procurement. Her goal is to foster the enrichment of the procurement profession and mentor incoming procurement professionals. 

An effective, well-versed leader in the field of procurement, LaVonia Horne-Williams has more than 20 years of experience in managing teams, operations, and personnel at the local, state government, non-profit and school district levels. An expert at deciphering issues and creating sustainable value through competitive sourcing and change management, LaVonia is committed to the development of lean, strategic processes to help facilitate professional procurements. Her leadership strategy is to plan for change, drive performance, and cultivate a people-first culture of engagement and accountability. 

Joining Austin ISD in 2021 as the Construction Procurement Manager, she leads a team of professionals who manage the district’s 2017 Bonds Program solicitations, contracts, amendments and change orders. Solicitations range from Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Design-Build (DB), Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP), to Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and Request for Proposals (RFP). LaVonia has worked to implement procurement best practices and processes to bring structure, compliance and agility to procurement at Austin ISD. 

Design-Build Construction Consultant, Design Build Strategic Solutions, LLC

Richard (Rich) Formella, PMP, DBIA  Director, Owner Support & Resources  Design-Build Institute of America Waxahachie, TX. Mr. Fomella is the President of Design-Build Strategic Solutions, LLC, a design & construction procurement process and contract administration consulting firm, and Director, Owner Support & Resources for the Design-Build Institute of America. He retired from federal service as Chief of the Bio-Containment Procurement Branch for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after serving as Chief of Procurement for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (DHS) since 2006. Prior to joining DHS, Rich served the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for over 20 years and concluded his service at BOP as the Chief of Construction Contracting where he led and administered the $2.5 billion-dollar new federal prison construction contracting program. At the DHS he led the team providing design and construction contracting support for the DHS Science and Technology Directorate for major laboratory renovations and new construction an overall $1.5 billion program, including the $1.3 billion National Bio & Agro Defense Facility. He has over 35 years of federal acquisition/contracting experience, beginning as a warranted contracting officer in 1986. Mr. Fomella holds a BS in Forest Management from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point; and a MS in Management – Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy University. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and a designated Design-Build Professional (DBIA). He is a former DBIA National Board member; DBIA Federal Committee member, and is a seasoned DBIA and NIGP instructor.

Chief Sales Officer (Gordian)  

Alyssa Chapman serves as Gordian’s Chief Sales Officer, focused on business development and new business sales. With over two decades of experience, Alyssa leads the teams seeking to solve the significant challenges communities and organizations face while planning, building and managing their facilities and infrastructure. Prior to joining Gordian, Alyssa served in various roles at IBM, Lexis-Nexis and Cisco Systems. She also won the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her work as an AmeriCorps Vista with Habitat for Humanity, where she led a local Women Build program. Alyssa graduated from Montclair State University. 

Corporate Procurement Program Manager, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Stephanie is a Corporate Procurement Program Manager for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. She partners with CEOs, executives, and end users to assist them in gaining the right product or service at the right price at the right time. After spending nearly three decades working in procurement, Stephanie knows what truly drives the procurement process —and it’s not just about knowing all “the rules.” It’s how well you connect with the people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. This is true not only for internal clients, but external clients.

Stephanie has saved her agency millions of dollars through her procurement and negotiation skills, purchasing a vast array of products and services, including negotiating software and utilities contracts.

Senior Procurement Analyst, County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division

Tabatha Freedman, MBA, NIPG-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is a Senior Procurement Analyst with the County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division. With over 15 years’ experience in public procurement, Tabatha has actively facilitated complex technology, telecommunications, and communications turnkey solutions.  

 Tabatha is passionately engaged in the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as the current President. She has previously served as Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and has chaired various committees and mentored others. Tabatha is currently appointed to the NIGP Publications & Editorial Committee and served on the NIGP Diversity and Equity Committee, NIGP Board Policy Committee, and the NIGP Code Committee. She has presented at AGP, NIGP FORUM, and FAPPO.  

 Tabatha graduated with an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and with a BBA from the University of Miami (Go Canes!) Tabatha spends time with her family and Chihuahua pups. She also enjoys saltwater fishing, both inshore and offshore. 

Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"

As a public procurement professional, with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving, innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure, he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent 10 years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies; concentrating on the procurement and implementation of interesting and complex solutions.  

Mike earned his MBA with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. Additionally he is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. He also writes the monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. When he isn’t procuring, studying, or writing; Mike enjoys woodworking and skiing. His spare time is spent with his wife and their 3-year old son. 

Chief Procurement Officer and Purchasing Agent, City of Virginia Beach

Rebecca has over 17 years’ experience in the public procurement field and has worked extensively to develop, create, and support educational programs and opportunities for the profession.

Rebecca has served as Professional Development Chair and President for her local NIGP Chapters and is proud to be a Charter member of NIGP’s newest Chapter the Chesapeake Bay Procurement Association.  Rebecca has also served on the NIGP Awards Committee, as Chair for the Content Management Committee and as a Chapter Ambassador for Region 2.  Rebecca currently serves on the NIGP Talent Council.  Rebecca has served as adjunct faculty teaching procurement classes at Arkansas State University as well as an instructor for NIGP. 

Director of Procurement, Georgia Technology Authority (GTA)

Lisa Mehalko is the Director of Procurement for the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) overseeing statewide technology initiatives, with over $500M in spend annually. She has over 20 years of government procurement and currently holds a MBA. She holds a NIGP-CPP, CPPO and CPSM from the ISM. Lisa is a proud member of the national Finance Committee, serves as the Treasurer and Educational Chair of the Georgia Chapter of NIGP (GANIGP), and is also a board member of the Atlanta Chapter of ISM.

Public Procurement Executive

Stéphanie Dion was most recently the Director, Procurement Centre of Excellence with the Government of Manitoba. She has 16 years of public procurement experience with various types of public entities in Canada. Stephanie graduated university with a teaching degree and has been involved with professional development in various capacities. She has been an active volunteer and advisor with professional associations since 2012 and now serves as the Chair of the Content Management Committee for the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP). Stephanie recently contributed a few articles to procurement magazines and is the recipient of NIGP’s 2021 Buyer of the Year Award.

Strategic Advisor, Civic Initiatives

Mike Thornton is a strategic procurement advisor with Civic Initiatives. Mike was previously with the City of Leesburg for over 15 years and has over 20 years experience in public procurement. The City of Leesburg is a smaller municipality that operates 5 utilities. This allows Mike to facilitate all types of solicitations to acquire the commodities required by his entity. Mike is a regular contributor to Nsite discussion and presents at NIGP forum annually. Mike takes a specific interest in promoting and encouraging innovation in public procurement through the use of technology. Mike is active in the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP and is the past vice-president. Mike has volunteered for several opportunities at NIGP including co-author for Global Best Practices.

Senior Buyer, Spokane County

Victor Leamer has over 33 years of public procurement experience at the county, state department, and state-wide levels. Victor teaches Sourcing in the Public Sector and the Core Certificate: Foundations in Strategy and Policy for NIGP (virtual), the 10-part Learning Lab RFP series, and has presented NIGP webinars on protests, evaluating responsiveness in bids, virtual leadership, and contract price adjustments. Victor was appointed to the NIGP Talent Council in 2021, serves on NIGP's Content Management Committee (formerly Knowledge Management Committee) since 2015, produces the monthly Radio NIGP show, and is a founding member/former Vice President of the Alaska/Hawaii Governmental Procurement Association NIGP Chapter.

Director of Operations – Chief Operating and Procurement Officer, Sourcewell 

Jeremy Schwartz, CPPO, CSSBB is the Chief Procurement Officer for Sourcewell. Jeremy has been a public procurement practitioner since January 2012, and has been serving as the Sourcewell CPO since 2018. Jeremy has a B.S. from Bemidji State University, is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt through the American Society for Quality (ASQ), and is a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) through the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC). Jeremy also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP). 

Client Development Administrator, Sourcewell

Ginger Line, MPA, NIGP-CPP, CPPB is a Client Development Administrator at Sourcewell, where she helps government agencies walk through the cooperative purchase process through contracts. She previously worked for 8.5 years in Procurement.  Ms. Line has a B.A. in Political Science; in 2019, and her Master’s in Public Administration from Villanova University.  She is the past President of the Minnesota chapter, is an area 6 Chapter Ambassador, and is serving on the BOE for the CPPB exam.

Closing Session - Wednesday

Jimmy Yeary is the rarest of speakers.  For well over a decade, he has influenced millions of people--how they think and what they think about--on a daily basis. Jimmy Yeary is not only a highly sought-after speaker, but he is also a hugely successful songwriter, and his music is all around us.

Jimmy Yeary was writing songs long before becoming the lead singer of the Grammy Award winning supergroup SHENANDOAH. These were years that saw Jimmy performing #1 hits like Mama Knows, Somewhere In the Vicinity of the Heart, and Sunday in the South.

Jimmy has written more than two-thousand songs, many of which have been featured on albums selling millions of copies--Grammy winners, gold, and platinum awards among them. Nine of Jimmy's songs have been certified "Number 1" hits as singles by Billboard Magazine.

Recently, both the CMA and ACM awarded Jimmy Yeary with "Song of the Year" for I Drive Your Truck--the inspiring song he wrote about the father of a fallen soldier and how he continues to remember his son. Jimmy's most recent Number 1 was Everything's Gonna Be Alright, a song he wrote for Kenny Chesney and David Lee Murphy.

Jimmy Yeary isn't just a songwriter, a singer, or a speaker, he's an advocate for human emotion, connectedness, and outreach to all with whom he comes into contact. As a speaker, Jimmy weaves his ability to tell stories that speak to the heart and emotional memories of all mankind. Teaching these principles, we are better able to understand how they can lead and grow in our own organizations in a way that makes an impact and unites all under a common goal set and front.