NIGP Forum 2024

Riaz Meghji is a human connections expert.  He authored the book “Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships” and his insights have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review and Financial Post.  Riaz is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience.

Riaz is a natural storyteller with a proven ability to conduce engaging, in-depth conversations across various disciplines.

His keynote is an engaging experience that is candid and a far-ranging look at how authentic conversations can help reinvent yourself, and reenergize your teams.

Senior Procurement Officer, City of Charlotte, NC

Director of Procurement, City of Plantation, FL

Charles Spencer is the Director for the City of Plantation, FL, Procurement Department.

Charles Spencer has been working for the Public Procurement/Purchasing profession for the past twenty-three (23+) years. He is a Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM), and a Florida Certified Contract Negotiator (FCCN), Certified Public Procurement Associate (NIGP-PPA), and a Certified Public Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP).

Charles Spencer is an active member in the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP), Southeast Florida Chapter of NIGP, and Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO), and currently holds the following positions:

• Advisory Board member for the NIGP Center for the Advancement of Research and Excellence (CARE)
• ‘FAPPO Champion’ for Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials
• Committee member for the NIGP-CPP Test Development Group
• Bylaws Chair, Outreach Chair, and Member of the Programs Committee for the Southeast Florida Chapter of NIGP
• Former President of the Southeast Co-Operative Group of NIGP

During his tenure, Charles has written the City of Plantation’s first Procurement manual and started an annual education session for staff concerning procurement and purchasing to ensure all rules were followed and maximize competition. He has also successfully streamlined procurement processes and transitioned a Procurement Division to a Procurement Department. His passion for procurement stems from a belief that the processes and outcomes should end as a ‘win/win’ for both parties and he continuously works to obtain this goal within the State, County, and Local laws.

Chief Procurement Officer, Chicago Public Schools

Procurement Innovation Manager, WA State Dept of Enterprise Services Contracts & Procurement

Cheral Manke, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, CPM - Procurement Innovation Manager, WA State Dept. of Enterprise Services Contracts & Procurement; 20 years Public Procurement experience & 20 years private sector; Chair Governor’s SEEP Toxics & Plastics Reduction; Chair OneWA Procurement Advisory Council; Founder & Co-chair NIGP Pathways Concierge program; WA Chapter NIGP Emerging Professionals Co-Chair; Bellevue College Advisory Board member; Former WA State Procurement Manager, NIGP Governing Board Member & NIGP Member Council Chair; NASPO VP Board; UPPCC Board of Examiners; 3x WA NIGP Chapter President; BS Legal Studies/Exec JD - Cal State-Lexington; Certified Purchasing Manager - U of Texas-Arlington Certified Paralegal - Cal State-San Marcos; Certified Scrum Master; Disney Institute Grad. 

Purchasing and Contracts Manager, City of Tamarac, Florida

Keith K. Glatz, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, Procurement & Contracts Mgr. - Keith has served in the field of public procurement for over 40 years; and has been the Procurement & 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. 

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

Carl Bonitto has over 20 years of procurement experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a Certified Supply chain Management Professional (CSCMP) designation through the Supply Chain Management Association of Canada since 2009.  

He an international Speaker/Trainer and currently sits on the Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) Certificate program advisory board as an instructor teaching courses since 2010 and currently sits on the NIGP Governing Board. He’s the Chair of the Supply Chain Management and Global Logistics advisory committee at Loyalist College and NIGP-CPP Certification Commission past Chair. He also held the position of a NIGP Chapter Ambassador for six years visiting numerous international conferences, connecting, and listening to their members’ needs to make changes where possible. 

He gained his procurement experience in a variety of business sectors including Automotive, Technology, Food (Pepsi co.), Sporting Goods (Wilson) and County government for the last 15 years. His current role as the Manager of Purchasing and Risk Management Services for the County of Northumberland allows him to procure a variety of goods, services, and construction for their seven diverse departments. On the risk management side, he manages the insurance portfolio and legal claims received by the County. 

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 Talent Council, a Talent Council liaison to the Leadership Development Committee, the Mentorship Committee, and the Pathways Concierge Program. 

Chris has a passion for giving back to the profession through various means. She has led study groups for the CPPO and CPPB certifications for the past few years and finds tremendous joy in hearing all the success stories. 

Donald G. Buffum, FNIGP, NIGP-CPP, CPPO – has practiced Professional Public Procurement for more than 42 years. Don recently retired from Mississippi State University where he was the Associate Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer at Mississippi State University. He previously served as the Director of the Office of Purchasing and Travel for the State of Mississippi, the central purchasing authority for the State. 

His experience at both the state and University levels, as well as his affiliation with multiple professional public procurement organizations has afforded Don the unique opportunity to work with and assist procurement professionals from all sectors of Government. Don is a Past President of the National Association of State Purchasing Officials and was a charter member of the Mississippi Association of Governmental Purchasing Agents. Don is a Past President of NIGP as well as a Fellow of NIGP. 

Don serves as an instructor for NIGP and has a strong passion for continuing education and certification. He has served as the Chair of both the UPPCC and the NIGP Certification Council. While Chairing the NIGP Certification Council the NIGP-CPP was developed and rolled out to a strong welcome from the profession. 

Chief Procurement Officer, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

Jody’s current role is Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) with Metropolitan Council (Council) in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Council is the regional policy-making body, planning agency, and provider of essential services in the seven-county Twin Cities fostering efficient and economic growth. In the role of CPO, I lead a high functioning team of 36 talented procurement professionals. The Council’s annual procurement spend is approximately $800,000,000 with 39,000 individual procurement events. In 2023, our team earned the distinguished NIGP Quality Public Procurement (QPP) designation. Jody’s core values are community and connection while contributing to personal and professional growth. She has served in various volunteer roles within the profession including the Minnesota Chapter of NIGP, NIGP as a Chapter Ambassador (2015-2018), Member Council (2018-2024) and Member Council Chair (2022-2024). 

She began practicing yoga to create balance for an active lifestyle and demanding career that left her exhausted. In 2021, Jody completed a 200hr RYT in 2021 at Up Yoga in Minneapolis with a focus in Baptiste Methodology. Following certification, she started her own business teaching private sessions, group classes, workshops, and yoga retreats. The love she has for her practice inspires her to help others discover the endless ways that yoga creates balance on and off the mat. 

Director of Purchasing, Pinellas County Schools

Director of Operations and Strategic Planning, City of Baltimore, MD

Tony Reed has over 30 years of experience in Federal, State and Local government.  His significant achievements throughout his career embodies the accomplishments necessary to qualify him as a subject matter expert.   

Tony began his public procurement career as Assistant Secretary/Chief Procurement Officer of the Maryland Department of General Services.   

He also served as Regional Administrator of the National Capital Region, General Services Administration, and Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development  

Tony is currently the Director of Operations and Strategic Planning for the City of Baltimore, MD He serves as the principal trainer for the procurement officers and staff.   

He is responsible for Citywide Printing, Corporate Credit Cards, Citywide Disposal and Surplus Property, Supplier Management and Registration. 

Tony is the President-Elect for the Maryland Public Purchasing Association and is the Chair of the Strategic Planning committee.  

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

Art Moore embarked on his public service journey in 1996 at the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he delved into the science of road materials and assisted subcontractors navigating the bidding process for road construction projects. In 2011, he transitioned to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, where he pioneered a Job Order Contracting system for environmental cleanup projects and implemented a qualifications-based selection process for architectural and engineering contracts. 

Art's dedication was recognized in June 2017 when he was appointed Chief Procurement Officer for the Capital Development Board. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in crafting administrative rules governing projects procured under the Quincy Veterans' Home Rehabilitation and Rebuilding Act. 

A passionate advocate for strategic procurement practices, Art has actively engaged in outreach and training initiatives. He even took center stage as the keynote speaker at a construction conference hosted by the State of Hawaii. His dedication to diversity and inclusion earned him the prestigious NIGP Ella Pierce Award. 

His commitment to excellence is evident in his impressive array of certifications: CPPB (2011), CPPO (2013), NIGP-CPP (2020), and the NIGP-accredited Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement Management from the University of Illinois Springfield. 

Art’s leadership extends beyond individual achievements. He actively participates in procurement organizations, serving as President of the Illinois Chapter of NIGP and previously holding the position of Chair of the NIGP Talent Council. He currently holds a seat on the NIGP Governing Board. 

Director of Procurement Planning and Strategic Sourcing, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management

Yolanda Broome is an attorney with over thirty years of experience in contract management, government procurement, and process improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Alabama and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Cumberland School of Law and is currently the Director of Procurement Planning and Strategic Sourcing for the Department of Watershed Management in the City of Atlanta, Georgia. Yolanda is recognized as an innovative change manager and contract expert. She also serves on the NIGP editorial and publication committee seeking to provide guidance on global best practices in procurement and to creatively lead procurement newcomers on a journey to improvements in our industry. Yolanda is an Associate Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management, a world-wide leadership training organization and has earned many procurement certifications to include the NIGP-CPP. Her dedication to strategic team building is a testament to over two decades of procurement department overhaul and improvement. This presentation will outline Yolanda’s strategic approach to leading people while managing tasks. 

Thaddeus Wilkins is General Counsel of the Independent Chief Procurement Office of the Capital Development Board and Illinois Department of Transportation.  He previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel of the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission where he served as the Agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Officer as well as the Agency’s Business Enterprise Program Liaison.  He acts as a Procurement Protest Officer for procurement disputes, provides legal counsel regarding legal issues based on Illinois laws, including but not limited to the Illinois Constitution, the Illinois Procurement Code, State Officials and Employees Act, Illinois Procedures Act, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Thaddeus also previously served as Senior Administrative Law Judge for the City of Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings where he trained, advised, and supervised the department’s seventy-five Administrative Law Judges for more than a decade. 

Thaddeus was managing member of Graham Wilkins, LLC.  In that capacity he represented business clients in compliance, regulatory matters, and strategic planning.

He was on the faculty at Chicago State University Department of Criminal Justice for thirteen years, where he taught criminal law, criminal procedure and served as the coach for various law school mock trial competitions.  He also served as a faculty facilitator at the National Judicial College for several courses for over a decade.

In July of 2022 he was appointed as a member of the American Bar Associations Standing Committee on Lawyer Referral and Information Services.

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.

Executive Director, Center for JOC Excellence (CJE)

Rhonna Endres, CME, FMP, CJP is the Executive Director for the Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence (CJE).  CJE is the national non-profit industry association assisting both governments and contractors with education, certification, credentialing, and best practices for job order contracting. For over 30 years, Rhonna has been an avid voice and subject matter expert on efficient alternative construction project delivery methods. Her early career was served in architecture followed by many years in program management and construction management. She has authored numerous papers serving as a subject matter expert on both higher education and government facilities in addition to her expertise in job order contracting. She teaches workshops on a regular basis, manages the national certification and CJP credentialing programs, and consults on cost savings in JOC procurement.   Rhonna is certified in change management, facilities management, ethical leadership, government compliance, nonprofit compliance, construction management, pursuit management, and is a Certified JOC Professional (CJP).  In addition to her role on the nation’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Council, she serves on national committees advising government facilities and procurement groups. Her undergraduate degree is in interior architecture and her graduate studies were in political science, construction, and leadership.

Professor, Business School, Rutgers University

Sheema is a professional educator, and researcher of spend analytics, eProcurement, contract management and supply chain logistics systems. She is the chief architect of eProcurement portals, contract management systems, and spend analytics solutions. She has 25+ years of experience in eProcurement, contract management, spend analytics, supply chain logistics and optimization. Sheema is regularly invited speaker at many national conferences and forums such as NIGP, NCMA, ISM, and more on spend analytics, eProcurement, and contract management systems, practices, and research topics. She teaches contract management, eProcurement and spend analytics at a research university. She is a Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE). She is a recipient of Silicon Valley Best Innovation Award. 

Professional researcher and consultant of eProcurement, contract management, financial, budgeting, spend analytics, supplier relationship management, and supply chain logistics systems. He is a certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and data privacy solutions engineer (CDPSE) with 30+ years of experience. He performed extensive research on eProcurement, spend analytics, finance, contract management and informatics at Stanford University.  He is an invited speaker at many national conferences and forums such as NIGP, NCMA, ISM, ISACA, and more on spend analytics, finance, budgeting, supplier relationship management, eProcurement, and contract management systems, practices, and research topics. He holds several graduate degrees including data science and business intelligence from Stanford University.  He is an expert in Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI driven procurement insights, and supplier relationship management. 

Procurement Manager, Orange County Government, FL

Carrie has over 25 years of procurement, currently serving as the Chief Procurement Officer for Orange County Government (Florida). 

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 is the Immediate Past-Chair of the Governing Board for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. She is Past President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, and the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP. 

Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Orange County Government

Zulay Millan is currently Deputy Chief Procurement Official at Orange County Government in Florida.  Zulay began her public sector career in 2001. For the past two decades, her career focus has been in procurement and process engineering/ improvement. Zulay holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has her NIGP-CPP, CPPO and CPPB certifications. Zulay is currently serving on the Governing Board of the National Institute of Government Procurement (NIGP) as a representative of the Member Council. Locally Zulay serves as Strategic Planning Chair for the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials and is a Past President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP. In 2023 Zulay was honored with the George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award from the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials.  Zulay has previously been awarded the Inspiration Award for Procurement Professionals in Central Florida, NIGP’s Young Professional of the Year Award, Procurement Manager of the Year in Central Florida, FAPPOs Above and Beyond Award and FAPPOs Outstanding Educator Award. 

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Houston 

Jedediah was appointed Chief Procurement Officer in July 2022, where he leads and directs all procurement operations for the City of Houston, Texas. Jed has been with the City of Houston for 16 years in various roles. Jed was elected President of the Southeast Texas Association of Public Purchasing chapter of NIGP in January 2022 and 2023 and was also appointed to serve as a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP and Chairperson for Strategic Partnerships for the Texas Public Purchasing Association. Jed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Weber State University, located in northern Utah and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Houston. Jed has also been an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Houston Clear Lake teaching courses in Public Administration and Public Policy. 

Procurement Manager, City of Tucson

Jenn Myers, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, MPA is the Purchasing Director at the City of Scottsdale. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration in 2012 from the University of Phoenix and started her City of Tucson procurement career shortly thereafter. Jenn also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in October of 2022. 

In 2017, she completed the Foundations of Public Sector Leadership Program from the University of Arizona’s Eller Executive Education. Jenn also completed the Ignite Leadership Academy offered through the City of Tucson in 2019. 

In 2020, Jenn was recognized by NIGP as the Young Professional of the Year. The Copper Chapter of NIGP named Jenn as Copper Chapter Manager of the Year in 2021. 

Jenn is an active leader with NIGP at both the Institute and chapter levels. From 2017 through 2018 she served as the Secretary of the Copper Chapter, and then as President from 2020 through 2021. As an Institute volunteer, she has served on the Pipeline and Placement Committee and is currently serving as a member of the Talent Council. 

Account Executive, Beacon Bid

CEO and Co-Founder, Beacon Bid

Since 2017, Gord Sears has been our dedicated eProcurement Consultant for bids&tenders Digital Procurement Platform. With over 30 years of experience, Gord has served on numerous public procurement associations including NIGP Board Director and NIGP Chapter President and has been the recipient of procurement awards including the NIGP’s Distinguished Service Award. Gord has impacted hundreds of municipalities throughout his career, helping them digitally transform their procurement processes. Most notably, Gord led the Town of Newmarket to become one of the first North American municipalities to introduce an eProcurement Platform to their community.

Product Manager, bids&tenders

 Christine Wood brings a passion for technology and automation to the bids&tenders team as a Product Manager. As a former procurement consultant and procurement officer in the public sector, Christine brings knowledge and six years of experience related to procurement processes, systems and technology. Christine uses this expertise to determine the unique needs of procurement buyers and suppliers, while continuously driving more value into our bids&tenders digital platform to help solve our customers problems with the latest digital procurement tools available

Director of Category Development, Sourcewell

Procurement Manager, Sourcewell

Senior Government Account Manager, Uber for Business 

Executive Director, Public Technology Institute (PTI)

Dr. Alan R. Shark's focus has been technology leadership, governance, civic engagement, and emerging technologies in the public sector, emphasizing artificial intelligence and the public sector. He has taught Technology & Public Administration for over 15 years. He is currently an associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, where he also serves as an affiliate faculty member for GMU’s Center for the Advancement of Human Machine Partnership. Before GMU, he taught at Rutgers University.

In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he is the executive director of the Public Technology Institute (PTI) since 2004. He is co-chair of the Standing Panel on Technology Leadership for the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and serves on the executive committee for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Science & Technology Interest Group.

He frequently writes about technology and government and has written or edited over 12 books, the most recent being Artificial Intelligence—A Primer for State and Local Governments and the textbook Technology & Public Management, second edition. He is also the host of the bi-monthly podcast Sharkbytes.Net.

Executive Education Advisor, Amazon Web Services

As an Executive Education Advisor, Mark works with higher education executives and line-of-business leaders to understand how cloud technologies can enable digital transformation efforts, particularly around the effective use of data and analytics. Prior to joining AWS, Mark served for 30 years as an administrator at six different institutions of higher education ranging from a small private liberal arts college to several large research universities with academic medical centers, holding faculty rank at three such institutions. Throughout his career in higher education, Mark has held Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) roles as well as institution-level leadership roles in analytics, and has played key leadership roles in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations, cloud migrations, managed-services provisioning of IT services, and the adoption of analytics-based decision-support and resource-allocation systems.

Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, a Master of Statistics degree, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, all from the University of Utah.

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Senior Partner, Card Integrity

Director of Advocacy & Insight, mdf commerce

Kim Cullen is the Director of Advocacy & Insight for mdf commerce eprocurement including the Periscope, Bidnet and Merx solutions. Bringing nearly 25 years of marketing and customer relations experience to the team, her areas of focus include industry insight, customer engagement and connecting buyers and suppliers within the public sector. Kim is part of the NIGP Business Council and has her Supplier Mastery Designation from NIGP. In addition, she organizes and conducts educational seminars and webinars for NIGP regional chapters, procurement partners and customers, buying organizations and the vendor community throughout the country. 

Account Manager, Cobblestone

Director of Sales – SLED Central, Gordian

Bill Symon, Director of Sales – SLED Central is responsible for managing a sales team covering all of Gordian’s solutions for the Central U.S. He has held a variety of roles in the SLED space for over a decade working with Procurement, Facilities, IT, and senior leadership within the public sector. In addition to Gordian, Bill has worked for Periscope Holdings, Apple and Green Mountain Energy. Bill has a business degree from the University of Texas at Austin and is also based in Austin, TX.

President, eBridge

Senior Account Executive, MDF Commerce

Director of Marketing, Surety 2000

President, Civic Initiatives

Dustin Lanier, a Certified Public Procurement Officer, founded Civic Initiatives in 2010.  Civic Initiatives has supported public procurement offices in in over 35 states, with projects in acquisition operations, strategic transformation, and automation success.

In the decade prior to Civic Initiatives, Dustin held a variety of leadership roles related to strategic planning and contracting in Texas state government, including the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the State CIO and the Executive Director of the state Council on Competitive Government, a specialized public procurement function.  

As a thought leader in the public sector procurement industry, Dustin has conducted educational sessions on numerous topics from strategic procurement to planning for the next generation of the procurement workforce. Mr. Lanier has delivered several keynote addresses for major regional governmental procurement association events around the country.

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.

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. He also provides strategic development for National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP), the professional association for cooperatives.

He has held leadership positions in public safety association management, including Director of Professional Development for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC). His local government career began in the fire service where he served as a fire department chief officer and project manager for city administration.

Sourcewell Client Relations and NCPP Chair of Educational Outreach  

Duff Erholtz is completing his 17^th year in Client 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 Client accounts throughout the country. Duff volunteers as the Educational Working Group Chair for NCPP and helps create educational tools to assist procurement as they consider and utilize Cooperative agreements. Duff has learned everything he knows about Cooperative Purchasing from you – the procurement professionals who have shared your challenges and questions with him over his career.

Business Manager, Cooperative Services, LLC

Victoria Lee is the Business Manager for Cooperative Services, LLC and consults for the National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP).  Her 30-year career in public safety includes serving as a volunteer firefighter/EMT, serving as Managing Director for a public safety technology consulting firm, and working in several public safety stakeholder and fire chief member focused positions with the First Responder Network Authority and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), respectively. Victoria received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Public Administration degree from George Mason University. She is based in Bend, Oregon.

Chief of Procurement Services, County of San Diego, Department of Purchasing and Contracting

Sean Behan has served as a Chief of Procurement Services for the County of San Diego's Department of Purchasing and Contracting since 2018. His department oversees public expenditures exceeding $2.1 billion annually, encompassing both goods and services. He manages the Public Safety Group, the County P-Card Unit, and all enterprise-wide contracts for the County.

Sean's tenure with the County spans 24 years, commencing immediately after law school with the Department of Child Support Services, where he contributed for seven years. He subsequently served as Contracts Manager for the Probation Department for twelve years, overseeing a portfolio of 200 contracts and agreements. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Sean imparts his expertise in Contract Management as an Instructor for San Diego State University's Global Campus. He holds a Juris Doctorate from California Western School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

COO and President, Disaster Recovery Services

As COO of Disaster Recovery Services, Kim has over 20 years of experience helping public entities prepare for and recover from complex disaster events. Kim and her team have recovered billions of dollars for public entities across the nation through FEMA’s Public Assistance program and other federal and state funding programs, including CARES and ARPA. With funding claw backs 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 is Chair of NIGP’s National Business Council and has earned her NIGP Public Procurement Supplier Masters Designation.

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Houston 

Jedediah was appointed Chief Procurement Officer in July 2022, where he leads and directs all procurement operations for the City of Houston, Texas. Jed has been with the City of Houston for 16 years in various roles. Jed was elected President of the Southeast Texas Association of Public Purchasing chapter of NIGP in January 2022 and 2023 and was also appointed to serve as a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP and Chairperson for Strategic Partnerships for the Texas Public Purchasing Association. Jed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Weber State University, located in northern Utah and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Houston. Jed has also been an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Houston Clear Lake teaching courses in Public Administration and Public Policy. 

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Founder, Procurement as a Service firm A Posteriori LLC

Sean Carroll is the founder of the Procurement as a Service firm A Posteriori LLC, a Procurement as a Service Firm serving Governments, businesses and other public procurement stakeholders. He served as the chief procurement officer for the state of New York from 2016-2023, and various counties, cities and school districts across NYS state since 2005. He has served under 4 governors and managed more than 3000 contracts with annual spend exceeding $50 Billion for state agencies, state campuses and local governments. He has expertise in end to end procurement, cyber policy and terms and conditions, legislation, rule making and policy and experience in public work, commodities, services, technology, including DEI, social equity, sustainability, fair labor practices and emergency procurement. He has served as an NIGP Chapter Ambassador, on the NIGP Governing Board and as Chair of the NIGP CPP Certification Commission.

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 12 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. In her spare time Kristy spends time with her husband, Tony, her pup, Timmy and as a Service to the Armed Forces volunteer with the Greater Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. 

John Adler, CPPO is a seasoned procurement professional with more than 40 years of experience, culminating in his role as Arizona’s State Procurement Director. John has been a member and officer of many professional associations, including NIGP, NCMA, and ISM. He is the Past President and a Life-Member of the National Association of State Procurement Officers (NASPO), former chair of the Procurement and Materials Management Committee and director for the American Public Transit Association (APTA), and he is a trainer for NIGP, NASPO and the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University. John recently retired as vice president of procurement for Dallas Area Rapid Transit and authored or co-authored three procurement textbooks, including Contracting for Design and Construction Services in the Public Sector, published in 2024.

Construction Procurement Manager, Austing ISD

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.

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Director of Purchasing, Columbia Association

Stephanie Akerley is the Director of Purchasing at Columbia Association.  She has been working in procurement for 28+ years, with 14 years of that experience focused on technology. Stephanie earned her first CPPB in 1997. After taking a career break to raise her family, she once again earned a CPPB in 2015.  In 2021, Stephanie earned her NIGP-CPP and CPPO certifications. In 2020, she earned her Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) certification from the Certified Technology Professionals Executives Society. Stephanie has contributed content to all of the NIGP Technology courses and enjoys teaching these classes, in addition to the Pathways competency courses.

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.

Director, Business and Digital Transformation Services Team

Carolina is an expert in the behavioral implications of large-scale organizational change. In her more than 24 years in practice, she has helped numerous Global Fortune 100 companies successfully undergo major digital and cultural procurement, finance, operations, IT, and HR transformations by providing leader-led, behavior-based change leadership, team development, and executive coaching services.  Currently, as the leader of Canon Solutions America's Business and Digital Transformation team, Carolina is committed to helping her clients redefine their vision of success for their digital transformations. Her focus is on creating the right culture that is essential for achieving her clients’ targeted financial, productivity, satisfaction, and sustainability goals.  

Carolina holds both Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in Psychology (with an emphasis in Behavior Analysis) from West Virginia University. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Florida International University. 

Senior Change Advisor, Business and Digital Transformation Services Team

Tim is a Senior Change Advisor for Canon Solutions America’s Business and Digital Transformation Services team. In his role, he helps make change easier for organizations through thoughtful and creative approaches that call on his 25-plus years of experience in change leadership, organizational behavior, executive coaching, and operations. Tim leads teams that craft tailored communications for our customers, training, and internal marketing campaigns to support implementation of solutions for our customers. 

Tim has a Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University as well as a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. He is a highly skilled communicator with a track record of leveraging large-scale behavior change to get meaningful, measurable outcomes. 

Procurement Manager, City of Ft. Myers, FL

Denise Finn is the Procurement Manager for the City of Fort Myers; With almost thirty years of procurement experience in public and private sectors in the U.S and Canada she has a few stories to tell. She is passionate about the Procurement Profession, continuing education and certification and is always happy to mentor and share her experience and knowledge. She has achieved her NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M. and A.P.P. certifications. 

Denise is the President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO) and has been active in NIGP for more than twenty-five years. She also served on the Board of three different NIGP Chapters (Arizona, Kentucky, and Florida), the executive Board of NAEP during her time in higher education. 

Denise has presented at national meetings for NAEP, NPI, SparX, FAPPO, TxPPA and Educause and regional NIGP meetings; She is an NIGP instructor and a Senior Consultant for NIGP Consulting. 

Emergency Management Coordinator, City of Ft. Myers

Kristy Mathews graduated from Florida State University in 2016 and spent 5 years with the Florida Department of Health in their Bureau of Preparedness and Response. During her time there she worked at every Hurricane and major health incident including Zika, Hep. A., blue/green algae, red tide, and Covid-19. For most of those responses, she was embedded in either Planning or Logistics. I was deployed for Hurricanes Michael, Irma, Dorian, Florence, and Sally for various response activities including managing Logistic Staging Areas, Logistics Chief for damage assessments, and support for deployed medical response teams. She accepted a position with the Okaloosa County Health Department as their Public Health Preparedness Planner where she spent a year growing her planning and preparedness experience and began working with the community in the Community Emergency Response Teams and Medical Reserve Corps. In June of 2022, she was fortunate enough to be offered the Emergency Management Coordinator position with the City of Fort Myers. Over the last two years she has had an incredible opportunity to manage the City’s Hurricane Ian Response as well as establish and grow the City’s response structure and capabilities. 

Director of Procurement and Central Services, Mohave County Procurement Department

Tara Acton, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, began her procurement career in September 2009 with Mohave County. After a 4-year service with the City of Tucson, she returned to the County as their Director of Procurement and Central Services in June 2020. 

Ms. Acton earned her Bachelor’s of Applied Sciences Degree in Public Agency Service from Northern Arizona University in December 2008. She received the designation of Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) in October 2012 and NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) in May 2023. 

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 ultimately ending her service on that Council in 2022 as the Chair (and ex officio Governing Board Member). Since August 2022 Tara has been serving as a Member of the Talent Council. 

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. 

Director of Advocacy & Insight, mdf commerce

Kim Cullen is the Director of Advocacy & Insight for mdf commerce eprocurement including the Periscope, Bidnet and Merx solutions. Bringing nearly 25 years of marketing and customer relations experience to the team, her areas of focus include industry insight, customer engagement and connecting buyers and suppliers within the public sector. Kim is part of the NIGP Business Council and has her Supplier Mastery Designation from NIGP. In addition, she organizes and conducts educational seminars and webinars for NIGP regional chapters, procurement partners and customers, buying organizations and the vendor community throughout the country. 

Global Account Manager - Cooperative Purchasing, Cintas

Ryan Duncan is the Global Account Manager for Cintas Cooperative Purchasing, working closely with our cooperative purchasing partners, lead public agencies and leading public sector customers. He focuses primarily on ensuring that our wide range of products and services provide the most value for public sector agencies, while helping them save time and money and stay compliant with their procurement requirements.

Ryan has held multiple leadership positions throughout his 25+ years with Cintas, including more
than six years in our Higher Education segment serving the State, Local and Education (SLED) market.  With national experience and exposure to public agencies in both government and education, he specializes in best practices, emerging trends and customized solutions that drive enhanced safety, efficiency, cleanliness and image — making it easier for public agencies to keep their focus on their operations and priorities.

As Global Account Manager, Ryan is passionate about fostering successful cooperative purchasing partnerships — helping our public sector customers consolidate vendors across a broad spectrum of categories and benefit from the best possible pricing achieved through buying power on a national scale.

A graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Ryan lives in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area with his wife Allison and their two children, Brendan and Lauren. 

Regional Manager, Florida, OMNIA Partners

Matt Dugal joined the OMNIA Partners team in March 2022, where he serves as the regional Manager of Florida-West. Prior to joining OMNIA Partners, Matt worked for Trane for nearly 5 years where he worked closely with many public sector agencies in Florida and he now currently works with the largest K-12, Cities, Counties & Special Districts in Florida.

Vice President of Procurement, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority

Matthew Bauer is the Vice President of Procurement at Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. Matt has over 16 years of experience in city, county, and special-district procurement departments. Matt earned both his bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and a master's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University, as well as earned several professional certifications, including the CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, C.M., and CPSM. For his use of innovative procurement practices, he was awarded the Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award for Innovation, ISM’s 30 under 30 Supply Chain Stars, AZNIGP’s Manager of the Year, and has been featured in several published articles, including Governing Magazine, Government Procurement Magazine (GOVPRO), CBS, Arizona Republic, and others.

Senior Director of Procurement, Orange County Public Schools

David is the Senior Director of Procurement Services for Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida which is the eighth-largest school district in the nation serving almost 200,000 students and 25,000 employees. In this role, he has executive leadership responsibilities for all Procurement functions, including all contracting processes to include construction, supplier diversity programs, surplus operations, printing services, and mail and courier services. David holds CPPO, CPPB, and NIGP-CPP certifications in addition to holding both a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration from the University of Central Florida. David is actively involved with the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials (FAPPO), NIGP, the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS), and the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC).

Senior Vice President, OPUS, OMNIA Partners

Mike Grade is the Senior Vice President of OMNIA Partners OPUS, leading the team in expanding the OPUS e-commerce platform, which offers public sector and nonprofit agencies access to numerous cooperative contracts. He oversees supplier integration, member enablement, and platform development, focusing on growth and revenue opportunities. Previously, Mike was Vice President of Sales Enablement and Training at OMNIA Partners.

Energy Resource Conservation Manager, Harford County Public Schools

Bobbie has over 25+ years of experience as a Procurement Officer. She is a “Change Agent” with a proven track record of modernizing procurement departments by implementing procurement strategies that align with the agency objectives. She changed processes to align with procurement best practices, levering technology (ERP), with drafting policies, procedures and training personnel. She leads teams with passion while ensuring to honor her core values of integrity, respect, and compassion. She is great with collaborating amongst internal and external clients to achieve organizational and departmental goals, effectively and efficiently. Additionally, she is a Consultant, Instructor, Life Coach, Trainer, currently volunteering on the Talent Council member, and Mentorship Committee Liaison, Content Developer, Procurement Subject Member Expert (SME), Radio NIGP member and member of NIGP since 2000.  

Bobbie regularly practices yoga and reflection/meditation as part of her self-care regime. 

Chief Procurement Officer, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN

Jody’s current role is Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) with Metropolitan Council (Council) in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Council is the regional policy-making body, planning agency, and provider of essential services in the seven-county Twin Cities fostering efficient and economic growth. In the role of CPO, I lead a high functioning team of 36 talented procurement professionals. The Council’s annual procurement spend is approximately $800,000,000 with 39,000 individual procurement events. In 2023, our team earned the distinguished NIGP Quality Public Procurement (QPP) designation. Jody’s core values are community and connection while contributing to personal and professional growth. She has served in various volunteer roles within the profession including the Minnesota Chapter of NIGP, NIGP as a Chapter Ambassador (2015-2018), Member Council (2018-2024) and Member Council Chair (2022-2024). 

She began practicing yoga to create balance for an active lifestyle and demanding career that left her exhausted. In 2021, Jody completed a 200hr RYT in 2021 at Up Yoga in Minneapolis with a focus in Baptiste Methodology. Following certification, she started her own business teaching private sessions, group classes, workshops, and yoga retreats. The love she has for her practice inspires her to help others discover the endless ways that yoga creates balance on and off the mat. 

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

Lourdes Coss is a transformational leader and former Chief Procurement Officer with 30+ year career in government procurement. For over two decades, she spearheaded successful transformations at some of the largest local government. agencies in the United States, crafting and implementing polices, procurement. codes, and strategies to cultivate high-performing teams, streamline processes, and modernize procurement departments.  

As the author of “Procurement Methods: Effective Techniques,” Lourdes shares her wealth of knowledge and expertise. She is also a certified Maxwell Leadership Executive Program coach, speaker, and trainer levering her insights to benefit and empower others. 

Additionally, she is a Behavioral Consultant; a Licensed Brain Trainer; a certified Neuro-encoding Specialist, and a Cialdini Certified Professional. She is the Principal Owner of M. L. Coss and Associates, LLC. Lourdes has been recognized for her value-centered leadership and as a one of the “Top 50 Global Influencers and Thought Leaders in Procurement.” 

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.

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.

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, Contracts and Procurement, San Mateo County Transit District

Kevin has been in procurement for 20+ years, in both private and public sectors. Currently, he is the Director of Contracts and Procurement for the San Mateo County Transit District in San Carlos, California. He and his team are responsible for developing and administering the District's procurement policies and procedures, and all procurement activities.

Kevin's thoughts on learning... 1) You're never too old to learn. 2) It's forever. No one can ever take that knowledge away from you. 3) Learning should be fun (your brain may experience a bit of pain, but it's temporary). Kevin is an active member at the Northern California Chapter of NIGP, where he is serving as the Chapter Vice President; and at the National level, where he is a Certified NIGP Instructor. Kevin has served on committees and on the Board of the OPPA Chapter of NIGP (Oregon), including serving as the OPPA President during FY2008-2009. Also, he has served as the Vice Chair of the NIGP Member Council.

Kevin graduated from the University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon) in 1993 with BAs in Finance, Marketing, and Psychology. GO DUCKS!

Kevin lives in the Bay Area in California. He is married to Kelly for over 25 years. They have two children, Ethan (20) and Abbie (18).

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.

Executive Director, Public Technology Institute (PTI)

Dr. Alan R. Shark's focus has been technology leadership, governance, civic engagement, and emerging technologies in the public sector, emphasizing artificial intelligence and the public sector. He has taught Technology & Public Administration for over 15 years. He is currently an associate professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, where he also serves as an affiliate faculty member for GMU’s Center for the Advancement of Human Machine Partnership. Before GMU, he taught at Rutgers University.

In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he is the executive director of the Public Technology Institute (PTI) since 2004. He is co-chair of the Standing Panel on Technology Leadership for the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and serves on the executive committee for the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Science & Technology Interest Group.

He frequently writes about technology and government and has written or edited over 12 books, the most recent being Artificial Intelligence—A Primer for State and Local Governments and the textbook Technology & Public Management, second edition. He is also the host of the bi-monthly podcast Sharkbytes.Net.

Division Director for Procurement Policy and Trainingm Miami-Dade County, Strategic Procurement Department

Sophia is the Division Director for Procurement Policy and Training at Miami-Dade County, Strategic Procurement Department. She oversees procurement policy formulation and implementation, employee training and development, procurement analysis and compliance, and marketing and promotion. In this role, Sophia spearheaded the development and implementation of the County’s Procurement and Vendor Academies providing training to procurement professionals and vendors. 

She has over 15 years’ experience in procurement and describes herself as a global strategic sourcing professional with demonstrated ability to innovate and drive transformation, develop and build capacity, and effectively collaborate with stakeholders across the supply chain to drive value. Sophia was instrumental in the Government of Jamaica’s Public Sector Procurement Reform Process and the establishment of a Prescribed License Information Database which is used to monitor and investigate the award, suspension, and revocation of more than 600 prescribed licenses under the purview of 198 public entities. 

Sophia is a volunteer at heart – she voluntarily prepares SPD staff for the UPPCC’s CPPB/CPPO examinations, is a mentor under the NIGP Mentorship Program and Secretary for the NIGP Greater Miami Chapter. 

With over a decade of dedicated experience in procurement, Christopher Grant-Henriques is a seasoned professional adept at streamlining procurement processes, negotiating contracts, and optimizing strategies to drive operational efficiency and cost savings. 

Throughout his career, Christopher has served in senior procurement officer and management positions and has demonstrated the ability to develop and implement innovative procurement strategies tailored to various industries, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and industry best practices. Christopher has also partnered with the Policy and Training Division in Miami-Dade County to help train procurement professionals. He has even served as a UPPCC CPPB Study Group Facilitator twice! 

Christopher has been recognized for his collaborative approach, fostering strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders to forge mutually beneficial partnerships. His commitment to continuous improvement and staying abreast of industry trends allows him to effectively adapt strategies to dynamic market conditions, ensuring sustained competitiveness. 

With a proven track record of achieving cost savings and enhancing operational efficiency, Christopher is a results-oriented professional dedicated to driving excellence in procurement practices while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. 

Erin Stafford has blazed a trail of action-oriented success fueled by trial and error, bold decisions and unwavering self-confidence.  Her figure-it-out mentality has shaped her career journey from being a fledging public relations intern to a high-powered marketing executive at a hyper-growth company.

Erin is an award-winning global keynote speaker, best-selling author,  Cambridge social psychologist, burnout survivor and hyper-growth business leader.  Erin has worked with some of the most motivated, ambitious, famous over achievers in the world, all who thought that burnout was something that happened to weak, lazy people – not high achievers like them.  Yet leaders in all sectors suffer from severe cases of burnout as they struggle with pressure and effects of break-neck progress and hustle culture on the personal and professional lives.

During her keynote, Erin will use lessons gleaned from her international career as well as interviews and surveys with thousands of high achievers from all walks of life, which will inspire mindset shifts for leaders to move from exhaustion and burnout to kicking butt and thriving again.

John Adler, CPPO is a seasoned procurement professional with more than 40 years of experience, culminating in his role as Arizona’s State Procurement Director. John has been a member and officer of many professional associations, including NIGP, NCMA, and ISM. He is the Past President and a Life-Member of the National Association of State Procurement Officers (NASPO), former chair of the Procurement and Materials Management Committee and director for the American Public Transit Association (APTA), and he is a trainer for NIGP, NASPO and the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University. John recently retired as vice president of procurement for Dallas Area Rapid Transit and authored or co-authored three procurement textbooks, including Contracting for Design and Construction Services in the Public Sector, published in 2024.

Construction Procurement Manager, Austing ISD

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.

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Director of Purchasing, Columbia Association

Stephanie Akerley is the Director of Purchasing at Columbia Association.  She has been working in procurement for 28+ years, with 14 years of that experience focused on technology. Stephanie earned her first CPPB in 1997. After taking a career break to raise her family, she once again earned a CPPB in 2015.  In 2021, Stephanie earned her NIGP-CPP and CPPO certifications. In 2020, she earned her Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) certification from the Certified Technology Professionals Executives Society. Stephanie has contributed content to all of the NIGP Technology courses and enjoys teaching these classes, in addition to the Pathways competency courses.

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.

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 33 years, Marcheta has served as an experienced thought-leader, advocate and subject matter expert 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 after 28 years of service, Marcheta serves as the President of NIGP Code & Consulting, leading a team of over 40 professional procurement consultants transforming procurement in the public and private sector. 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 serves on the NIGP CARE Advisory Board and the NIGP Business Council. Marcheta has spoken at hundreds of international, national and regional events and authored numerous published works in the profession.   

Procurement Practice Leader, Disaster Recovery Services

As the Procurement Practice Leader for Disaster Recovery Services (DRS), Shelley focuses on public entity risk management, and procurement and contracting strategies in the facilitation of complex disaster recovery projects. Shelley serves as a public procurement subject matter expert in the area of state and federal grant funding, assisting her clients in the optimization of available funding in support of resilient communities.  

Shelley spent thirteen years as the chief procurement officer and risk manager and is thrilled to continue her support of public entity procurement and risk management professionals in her current role. Shelley works closely with suppliers, cooperative purchasing groups, and client procurement departments to provide guidance, training, and assistance. She helps develop comprehensive disaster recovery procurement strategies to serve her clients by Delivering Results and Solutions for a better tomorrow. Shelley is also the Director of DRS Academy, the education arm of DRS. 

Shelley is in her fifth year of service on the NIGP Business Council and holds the NIGP-CPP designation. 

Procurement Strategist, WA State Dept of Enterprise Services

Procurement Official/Director of Procurement, Colorado Department of Transportation

Molly has over 22 years of public procurement experience in both the private and public sectors. She is the Procurement Official/Director of Procurement for the Colorado Department of Transportation. 

Molly has obtained several professional certifications including NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), and Facility Management Professional (FMP). 

Molly is a Past President of the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP (RMGPA) and past Chair of Colorado Education Purchasing Council (CEPC). She currently serves as an at-large NIGP Governing Board member, will serve as Chair-Elect of NIGP's Governing Board beginning in June 2024, and has previously served on the NIGP Awards Committee. Molly was named a 2022 Exemplary Public Servant by American City and County and received the Manager of the Year Award from RMGPA in 2015.  

Molly holds a Masters in Organizational Management and a Bachelors in Environmental Restoration. 

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. 

Procurement Innovation Manager, WA State Dept of Enterprise Services Contracts & Procurement

Cheral Manke, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, CPM - Procurement Innovation Manager, WA State Dept. of Enterprise Services Contracts & Procurement; 20 years Public Procurement experience & 20 years private sector; Chair Governor’s SEEP Toxics & Plastics Reduction; Chair OneWA Procurement Advisory Council; Founder & Co-chair NIGP Pathways Concierge program; WA Chapter NIGP Emerging Professionals Co-Chair; Bellevue College Advisory Board member; Former WA State Procurement Manager, NIGP Governing Board Member & NIGP Member Council Chair; NASPO VP Board; UPPCC Board of Examiners; 3x WA NIGP Chapter President; BS Legal Studies/Exec JD - Cal State-Lexington; Certified Purchasing Manager - U of Texas-Arlington Certified Paralegal - Cal State-San Marcos; Certified Scrum Master; Disney Institute Grad. 

Lead Contract Specialist,  King County International Airport

Ginny Justiniano, CPPB, Lead Contract Specialist, King County International Airport; 20 years public procurement experience ranging from city, transit and county public entities. 2024 WA State Chapter of NIGP President, Former Area 8 Chapter Ambassador and Member Council liaison, Radio NIGP staff, Standard Setting Panel member for NIGP-CPP and Co-Founder of Procurement Women Leader Facebook group. 

Assistant Purchasing Manage, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia

John Tigert currently serves as the Assistant Purchasing Manager for the City of Virginia Beach, Virginia - the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to his work at the City of Virginia Beach, John also served as the Purchasing Services Manager for Dorchester County, South Carolina, and the Procurement Manager for St. Louis County, Missouri. John has a Master's degree in Public Administration, and holds the NIGP-CPP, CPPO, and CPPB certifications from NIGP and the UPPCC, respectively. His areas of focus during his public procurement career have been on construction procurement, procurement process & policy development, and cooperative procurement. John is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Association of Governmental Procurement. 

Procurement Manager, City of Wheat Ridge, CO

Whitney is the Procurement Manager for the City of Wheat Ridge and current MAPO (Multiple Assemblies of Procurement Officials) Chairperson and is currently serving as an NIGP Area 9 Chapter Ambassador. Recently, Whitney served as an Advisor to the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business for their Customer Experience Program. Beginning in 2010 as a Department of Defense Contractor, Whitney has been working in public procurement in various capacities since 2012 and chose to make the leap to full-time public procurement in 2015. Since gaining her CPPB and NIGP-CPP, Whitney has been joining panels across the country to discuss the many benefits associated with cooperative procurement as well as collaboration in general. Whitney believes strongly in setting a firm foundation in terms of training and team exposure and then building upon that with steady participation and idea sharing. Whitney previously served RMGPA as secretary, and was a member of the NIGP mentoring committee. 

When Whitney isn’t working, you can find her creating art or working on a project for the Denver home she shares with her husband, two cats and two dogs

Consultant, Leadership Development, Coaching and Procurement

Christin Webb is the founder and CEO of The Greater You Leadership Series, with over two decades of experience in both public and private sectors. Her educational foundation includes a BA in Social Work from the University of Memphis and an MBA from Webster University, equipping her with a unique blend of skills for leadership coaching. Christin’s career highlights include serving as Chief Procurement Officer for Shelby County Government, where she managed over $1 billion in procurement processes, and holding leadership roles in TAPP and the NIGP Governing Talent Council. Her certification as a procurement professional and experience as a trained social worker informs her results-oriented, people-first leadership strategy. An international bestselling author and award-winning screenwriter, Christin's dedication to leadership excellence has earned her multiple accolades. She embodies the belief that greatness requires intentional effort, making her a significant influence in leadership development.

Contracts Administrator/Senior Buyer, University of Utah Project, Design & Construction Department, University of Utah

Polly Alles is a Contract Administrator/Senior Buyer for the U-Facilities Project Design & Construction department at the University of Utah.

She is current Utah chapter Vice President and former Utah Chapter 3-year Board of Director, Vice President and Past President. She is a member of the NCMA, National Contract Management Association and a member of the NBMBAA. Polly volunteers for two NIGP national committees such as Publications and content management.

She attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Western Governors University and plans to achieve her Masters in Management and Leadership in 2024. Polly attributes her career success to her work experiences, life experiences, friends, mentors and peers, who are the most valued part of her education! 

She is a published author in the UK IN Procurement Magazine and contributing author in the US Government Procurement Magazine.

She started her career in Supply Chain within the Retail Industry back in 1986, having 36 total years of supply chain, management and coaching experience. The retail company where she started her career, Woolworth-US/Woolco-Canada, and her US Northern Reflections Stores, played an integral part in helping to finalizing the 1994 NAFTA Agreement between U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Polly believes that even when the half-full glass gets empty, we should take a moment to reflect, be grateful for when it was full, and focus on how to re-fill the glass with new possibilities!

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. Kirk also served as Director of Procurement Services and Deputy Director of Administrative Services. Prior to Fort Lauderdale, Kirk was the Purchasing Agent for Osceola County. 

Kirk has a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida State University, an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, and a Masters of Legal Studies, MLS, from the University of Cinncinatti Law School. 

Mr. Buffington served as President of the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers and was elected to the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, (NIGP) Board of Directors in July 2003, and served as President of NIGP from 2008-2009. 

Mr. Buffington co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing” and published various articles concerning Procurement Case Law in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals. 

In 2023 Kirk was awarded the Albert H. Hall Fellow award. 

Chief Procurement Officer and Director of Procurement & Business Services, NC State University

Sharon Loosman is the Chief Procurement Officer and Director of Procurement & Business Services at NC State University, a position she has held since 2011. 

In this role, Sharon is responsible for multiple operations and program areas, including supplier relationship management, strategic sourcing & procurement, contract administration, eProcurement systems, automated payables solutions, corporate card programs, managed print services, surplus property, and campus warehouse operations. 

Sharon has development and management responsibilities for 40 staff members. Her teams are constantly seeking to design and implement innovative business process improvements. 

Sharon participates in various capacities in many professional organizations, including NAEP, NACUBO, SACUBO, HEUG and the Treasury Institute for Higher Education. 

Chief Procurement Officer, Cabarrus County Government

Tom Nunn, an esteemed Chief Procurement Officer, boasts a commendable career spanning 12 years of dedicated service with Cabarrus County Government. Before his invaluable contributions in procurement, he served with distinction in the United States Army, showcasing his unwavering commitment to public service. Tom's multifaceted expertise, coupled with his military background, enables him to navigate complex procurement challenges with precision and integrity, ensuring the efficient allocation of resources to benefit the community at large. 

Executive Government Advisor, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Danielle is currently an Executive Government Advisor for Amazon Web Services (AWS) helping public sector customers on their digital transformation journey. Prior to joining Amazon in 2017, she worked in public procurement for over 20 years, including higher education and local government. As Chief

Procurement Officer for King County, Washington, she led a $3 billion procure-to-pay organization and was responsible for sponsoring multiple Lean Six Sigma transformation projects that reduced cycle time and improved the customer experience. She led procurement technology and policy modernizations at multiple organizations, and served for over a decade in leadership roles with NIGP-Institute for Public Procurement, Rocky Mountain Government Purchasing Association, and Colorado Municipal League.

She is a Certified Public Procurement Official and earned her Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado.

Executive Education Advisor, Amazon Web Services

As an Executive Education Advisor, Mark works with higher education executives and line-of-business leaders to understand how cloud technologies can enable digital transformation efforts, particularly around the effective use of data and analytics. Prior to joining AWS, Mark served for 30 years as an administrator at six different institutions of higher education ranging from a small private liberal arts college to several large research universities with academic medical centers, holding faculty rank at three such institutions. Throughout his career in higher education, Mark has held Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO) roles as well as institution-level leadership roles in analytics, and has played key leadership roles in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations, cloud migrations, managed-services provisioning of IT services, and the adoption of analytics-based decision-support and resource-allocation systems.

Mark earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, a Master of Statistics degree, and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, all from the University of Utah.

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.

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, Contracts and Procurement, San Mateo County Transit District

Kevin has been in procurement for 20+ years, in both private and public sectors. Currently, he is the Director of Contracts and Procurement for the San Mateo County Transit District in San Carlos, California. He and his team are responsible for developing and administering the District's procurement policies and procedures, and all procurement activities.

Kevin's thoughts on learning... 1) You're never too old to learn. 2) It's forever. No one can ever take that knowledge away from you. 3) Learning should be fun (your brain may experience a bit of pain, but it's temporary). Kevin is an active member at the Northern California Chapter of NIGP, where he is serving as the Chapter Vice President; and at the National level, where he is a Certified NIGP Instructor. Kevin has served on committees and on the Board of the OPPA Chapter of NIGP (Oregon), including serving as the OPPA President during FY2008-2009. Also, he has served as the Vice Chair of the NIGP Member Council.

Kevin graduated from the University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon) in 1993 with BAs in Finance, Marketing, and Psychology. GO DUCKS!

Kevin lives in the Bay Area in California. He is married to Kelly for over 25 years. They have two children, Ethan (20) and Abbie (18).

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.

Director of Procurement, South Carolina State University

Stacy Gregg is the Director of Procurement at South Carolina State University. She is an Online Instructor for NIGP and currently serves as Chair Elect with the Institute on the Member Council and Certification Commission. Stacy is an active member of the SC Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO). Stacy has an A.A. Degree in Public Service (Paralegal) from Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC and B.A. Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Concentrating in English & Management) from the University of South Carolina. Stacy holds the credentials of NIGP- Certified Procurement Professional as well as Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) designations. 

Chief Executive Officer, NIGP

Rick Grimm has served as NIGP’s Chief Executive Officer for 23 years.

Rick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Florida International University.  He served county governments and public school districts for 23 years, including over 12 years in the management of the public procurement function, before joining the NIGP team in 1998. 

As NIGP continues to develop, support and promote public procurement, Rick’s recent priorities have been the development of partnerships with universities and associations that represent the direct reports of the procurement function. To leverage these relationships and enhance NIGP’s role as a trusted advisor, Rick reorganized the NIGP team with a focus on content management and sustained membership growth.  The Institute now offers certificate programs for professionals entering the workplace and for seasoned professionals who seek high-level skills on procurement specialties such as technology and construction.

Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Orange County Government

Zulay Millan is currently Deputy Chief Procurement Official at Orange County Government in Florida.  Zulay began her public sector career in 2001. For the past two decades, her career focus has been in procurement and process engineering/ improvement. Zulay holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has her NIGP-CPP, CPPO and CPPB certifications. Zulay is currently serving on the Governing Board of the National Institute of Government Procurement (NIGP) as a representative of the Member Council. Locally Zulay serves as Strategic Planning Chair for the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials and is a Past President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP. In 2023 Zulay was honored with the George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award from the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials.  Zulay has previously been awarded the Inspiration Award for Procurement Professionals in Central Florida, NIGP’s Young Professional of the Year Award, Procurement Manager of the Year in Central Florida, FAPPOs Above and Beyond Award and FAPPOs Outstanding Educator Award. 

Retired, Radio NIGP

Barb Johnson FNIGP NIGP-CPP CPPO CPPB MPA currently serves with Radio NIGP. She has served the NIGP membership by volunteering for the NIGP Board of Directors, the NIGP-CPP Certification Commission and many Institute committees and task forces. Barb is an instructor, consultant, content developer, and textbook Co-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.)

National Account Manager - Home Depot

Pro Business/Government Contracts Manager, The Home Depot

For over 20 years, I have lead and supported organizations in finding solutions to sourcing and process challenges. I thrive in environments where change is embraced and a better future is envisioned. I have two decades of experience in managing teams, creating healthy cultures and driving significant financial results through solid sourcing and procurement practices as well as Lean/Six Sigma initiatives. I have worked in Procurement leadership roles at organizations including PetSmart, Douglas County School District in Colorado, The University of Colorado, Wake Forest University and now Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, North Carolina. My community focus is intent upon supporting marginalized women and young adults in creating new and brighter financial futures for themselves through coaching, education and empowerment. 

Alena Croy, a seasoned professional in public procurement from Oklahoma City, brings over a decade of experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, an MBA, and multiple certifications. Actively engaged with the Oklahoma Association of Public Procurement, Alena has served in various roles including Treasurer, and is a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP. Known for her expertise in leveraging LinkedIn for excellence, Alena is passionate about sharing best practices and innovative strategies to enhance public procurement through effective use of social media platforms, making her a dynamic speaker and thought leader. An accomplished athlete, she is a 3x IRONMAN finisher, a USAT Certified Race Director, and President of the Triathlon Club of Oklahoma City. Alena's commitment extends to family, residing in Oklahoma with her husband Brandon and their four children.

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Ron, originally from South Boston, VA, has over 37 years of purchasing experience in both the private and public sectors, beginning as a buyer with Leggett department store for six years then moving on to the public sector at the University of Virginia in 1987. Ron has performed procurement duties at the University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Department of General Services/Division of Purchases & Supply, and the VA Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. He retired in March of 2018 as Deputy Director, Sourcing & Contracting for the VA Department of General Services/Division of Purchases & Supply in Richmond, VA. He is currently the Content Developer for NIGP—The Institute for Public Procurement. Ron is certified as a CPPO, CPPB, Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO), and Virginia Contracting Master (VCM). He earned a Level 1 certificate in Purchasing from John Tyler Community College in 1996 and obtained Master Instructor status with NIGP in 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Arts degree in English from James Madison University. He taught at VCU as an adjunct professor in the English Department from 1988 - 2016.

Procurement Director, Knoxville's Community Development Corp - The Public Housing & Redevelopment Authority

Terry McKee, MPA, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, C.P.M., CPCP, is a consultant and experienced leader with 33 years in the procurement profession. Terry joined NIGP Consulting Services at its inception in 1995. He has been the Procurement Director at Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation-the public housing and redevelopment authority for the City of Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee since 2005. Prior to that he served as head of procurement for Knox County government and Knox County Schools.

Terry shares his extensive experience and expertise with public and private industry through numerous roles in the industry.    

As a passionate advocate for the procurement profession, Terry possesses a broad and deep range of expertise in numerous areas of public procurement best practices, professional development and leadership, and overall procurement transformation. Terry was named NIGP’s Purchasing Manager of the Year in 2017, the East Tennessee Purchasing Association’s Procurement Manager of the Year in 2017, and in 1993 received the organization’s Purchasing Professional of the Year award. In 2013, Terry received NIGP’s “Spirit of NIGP” award. He co-shared NIGP’s Innovation of the Award in 2007 for business diversity activities.

Terry has served in dozens of task forces and committees in his 33 years of volunteer leadership to the profession, including local, state and national roles.  Terry has provided professional services to cities, counties, special districts and entities throughout North America. 

Consultant, Leadership Development, Coaching and Procurement

Christin Webb is the founder and CEO of The Greater You Leadership Series, with over two decades of experience in both public and private sectors. Her educational foundation includes a BA in Social Work from the University of Memphis and an MBA from Webster University, equipping her with a unique blend of skills for leadership coaching. Christin’s career highlights include serving as Chief Procurement Officer for Shelby County Government, where she managed over $1 billion in procurement processes, and holding leadership roles in TAPP and the NIGP Governing Talent Council. Her certification as a procurement professional and experience as a trained social worker informs her results-oriented, people-first leadership strategy. An international bestselling author and award-winning screenwriter, Christin's dedication to leadership excellence has earned her multiple accolades. She embodies the belief that greatness requires intentional effort, making her a significant influence in leadership development.

Joshua Higgins brings over two decades of experience in the equipment rental industry, with a specific focus on government sales for the past twelve years. As a seasoned professional, Joshua has cultivated an understanding of the unique needs in the government procurement processes across the country. 

He is committed to fostering strong relationships and a solution/value based sales philosophy that make a positive impact for his customers. With a combination of industry expertise and a heart for service, Joshua Higgins remains dedicated to advancing the field of government procurement. 

Brad Laws brings over 25 years’ experience in the Equipment Rental industry with 11 years specially dedicated to serving the government space. Brad leads a team of government account managers across the US and is responsible for all areas of United Rentals State, Local and Education (SLED) program that includes national cooperatives, state and local contracts, new business development and existing customer engagement. 

John Adler, CPPO is a seasoned procurement professional with more than 40 years of experience, culminating in his role as Arizona’s State Procurement Director. John has been a member and officer of many professional associations, including NIGP, NCMA, and ISM. He is the Past President and a Life-Member of the National Association of State Procurement Officers (NASPO), former chair of the Procurement and Materials Management Committee and director for the American Public Transit Association (APTA), and he is a trainer for NIGP, NASPO and the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University. John recently retired as vice president of procurement for Dallas Area Rapid Transit and authored or co-authored three procurement textbooks, including Contracting for Design and Construction Services in the Public Sector, published in 2024.

Construction Procurement Manager, Austing ISD

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.

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Director of Purchasing, Columbia Association

Stephanie Akerley is the Director of Purchasing at Columbia Association.  She has been working in procurement for 28+ years, with 14 years of that experience focused on technology. Stephanie earned her first CPPB in 1997. After taking a career break to raise her family, she once again earned a CPPB in 2015.  In 2021, Stephanie earned her NIGP-CPP and CPPO certifications. In 2020, she earned her Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) certification from the Certified Technology Professionals Executives Society. Stephanie has contributed content to all of the NIGP Technology courses and enjoys teaching these classes, in addition to the Pathways competency courses.

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.

Contracts Administrator/Senior Buyer, University of Utah Project, Design & Construction Department, University of Utah

Polly Alles is a Contract Administrator/Senior Buyer for the U-Facilities Project Design & Construction department at the University of Utah.

She is current Utah chapter Vice President and former Utah Chapter 3-year Board of Director, Vice President and Past President. She is a member of the NCMA, National Contract Management Association and a member of the NBMBAA. Polly volunteers for two NIGP national committees such as Publications and content management.

She attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Western Governors University and plans to achieve her Masters in Management and Leadership in 2024. Polly attributes her career success to her work experiences, life experiences, friends, mentors and peers, who are the most valued part of her education! 

She is a published author in the UK IN Procurement Magazine and contributing author in the US Government Procurement Magazine.

She started her career in Supply Chain within the Retail Industry back in 1986, having 36 total years of supply chain, management and coaching experience. The retail company where she started her career, Woolworth-US/Woolco-Canada, and her US Northern Reflections Stores, played an integral part in helping to finalizing the 1994 NAFTA Agreement between U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Polly believes that even when the half-full glass gets empty, we should take a moment to reflect, be grateful for when it was full, and focus on how to re-fill the glass with new possibilities!

Loudoun County Government, Leesburg, Virginia

Cheryl Middleton has worked in public procurement for over 20 years, with the vast majority of her career spent at Loudoun County Government in Leesburg, Virginia. Cheryl has held various positions in Loudoun County during her tenure and has worked on a variety of complex, high priority projects including health insurance, banking, construction, and Public-Private Partnerships as well as managed multiple protests, claims, and disputes. Cheryl earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Shepherd University in 2002. 

Project Leader, Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab

Colin Erhardt is an Assistant Director at the Government Performance Lab, where he leads the Procurement Excellence Network (PEN). PEN is a virtual community built by and for procurement professionals offering completely-free tools, training events, and other resources designed to help governments take their procurement practice to the next level. Colin recently held a position at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts overseeing a team responsible for leveraging procurement, contracting, and operational changes to overhaul the front door to its Emergency Assistance Program (Family Shelter). Colin has also worked for a corporate governance consulting firm, a criminal justice non-profit, and as an IT consultant. Colin holds a BA in Political Science from Boston College and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. 

Project Leader at the Government Performance Lab

Isabel Garcia is a Project Leader at the Government Performance Lab, where she works to support public sector leaders as they drive reforms to make their procurement practices more efficient, fair, results-driven, and equitable, and to sustain strategic transformations over time. Before joining the GPL, Isabel worked with the Boston Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion, primarily project managing, administering, and overseeing the implementation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support women- and minority-owned small businesses recover from the pandemic. Prior to that, she worked in New York City as the Special Assistant to the President/CEO of FAIR Health, a healthcare nonprofit dedicated to healthcare cost transparency. Isabel earned a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy and International Studies from Northwestern University. 

CEO, Government Leadership Solutions

Dr. Maria Church, CEO of Government Leadership Solutions specializes in organizational culture design, change agility, strategic off-site facilitation, and leadership development based on her 25-year career with local government, Fortune 500, non-profits, and academia. Maria holds a doctorate of management degree in organizational leadership and currently teaches for several universities.

Dr. Church is the author of Love-Based Leadership: Transform Your Life with Meaning and Abundance, the upcoming book A Course in Excellence: 21 Spiritual Lessons on Leadership, Love, and Miracles, and co-author of best-selling book, Answering the Call, has started a movement to revolutionize the workplace with a shift from fear to love.

She has been featured on radio shows, television interviews, and in magazines. Maria writes a weekly newspaper column on leadership and hosts an online leadership series, Dr. Maria TV. Splitting her time between Scottsdale and the canyons of Southern Arizona, Maria continues to work with high-performing organizations and is working on her next book.

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 33 years, Marcheta has served as an experienced thought-leader, advocate and subject matter expert 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 after 28 years of service, Marcheta serves as the President of NIGP Code & Consulting, leading a team of over 40 professional procurement consultants transforming procurement in the public and private sector. 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 serves on the NIGP CARE Advisory Board and the NIGP Business Council. Marcheta has spoken at hundreds of international, national and regional events and authored numerous published works in the profession.   

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. Kirk also served as Director of Procurement Services and Deputy Director of Administrative Services. Prior to Fort Lauderdale, Kirk was the Purchasing Agent for Osceola County. 

Kirk has a B.S. in Business Administration from Florida State University, an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, and a Masters of Legal Studies, MLS, from the University of Cinncinatti Law School. 

Mr. Buffington served as President of the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officers and was elected to the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, (NIGP) Board of Directors in July 2003, and served as President of NIGP from 2008-2009. 

Mr. Buffington co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing” and published various articles concerning Procurement Case Law in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals. 

In 2023 Kirk was awarded the Albert H. Hall Fellow award. 

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.

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, Contracts and Procurement, San Mateo County Transit District

Kevin has been in procurement for 20+ years, in both private and public sectors. Currently, he is the Director of Contracts and Procurement for the San Mateo County Transit District in San Carlos, California. He and his team are responsible for developing and administering the District's procurement policies and procedures, and all procurement activities.

Kevin's thoughts on learning... 1) You're never too old to learn. 2) It's forever. No one can ever take that knowledge away from you. 3) Learning should be fun (your brain may experience a bit of pain, but it's temporary). Kevin is an active member at the Northern California Chapter of NIGP, where he is serving as the Chapter Vice President; and at the National level, where he is a Certified NIGP Instructor. Kevin has served on committees and on the Board of the OPPA Chapter of NIGP (Oregon), including serving as the OPPA President during FY2008-2009. Also, he has served as the Vice Chair of the NIGP Member Council.

Kevin graduated from the University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon) in 1993 with BAs in Finance, Marketing, and Psychology. GO DUCKS!

Kevin lives in the Bay Area in California. He is married to Kelly for over 25 years. They have two children, Ethan (20) and Abbie (18).

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.

Strategic Contract Manager - Omnia Partners Public - Central Region

Jeff is a 34-year veteran with Graybar and based in the Chicago metro area. Starting his career in Graybar’s Chicago warehouse and working his way up through the company's customer service, inside and outside sales teams, Jeff was promoted to Regional Government Manager in 2002 responsible for federal, state, local government and education sales in the Chicago and Pittsburgh districts. In October 2005, Jeff was promoted to Strategic Account Manager, overseeing Graybar’s involvement in the U.S. Communities, now Omnia Partners Public Sector program.

Jeff is uniquely qualified to handle the role based on his experience with Graybar, the public agency customers, knowledge of contracts and associations supporting the agency customer. Jeff has used his experience and relationships over the past twenty years to continue Graybar’s local government initiatives and cooperative program growth.

Jeff has also been a member of the NIGP business council for the past 9 years. NIGP’s Business Council is comprised of two representatives from each of the 12 companies participating in the Institute’s Enterprise Sponsor Program. (Graybar’s two representatives for the Business Council are Rob Rhoads and Jeff Peskuski). Enterprise Sponsors are leaders in their respective industries and have demonstrated a shared commitment to NIGP’s values: Accountability, Ethics, Impartiality, Professionalism, Service, and Transparency. The mission of the Business Council is to Serve the NIGP membership and procurement profession through the sharing of resources and business expertise in support of NIGP’s educational, research and advocacy mission. In essence, the Business Council connects the supplier’s perspective with the public procurement community and is dedicated to improving the buyer/supplier relationship.

Strategic Contract Manager - Omnia Partners, Public Sector - Eastern United States

Rob Rhoads, Graybar Strategic Contract Manager, Eastern U.S. Region. Responsible for Graybar’s OMNIA Partners, Public Sector cooperative contract sales in the Eastern half of U.S. and resource for the state/local government and education business segment.

Rob joined Graybar in 2008 and is based in the Harrisburg, PA area. Prior to joining Graybar, Rob had several years of extensive experience selling to state/local government and education customers. He has actively worked with the U.S. Communities program since 1999 before it was acquired by OMNIA in 2018 and was previously the National Program Manager for another former U.S. Communities supplier. Rob’s 20 plus years of experience with state/local government and education customers provides Graybar with the leadership to effectively market the OMNIA Partners, Public Sector program. Rob’s overall goal is to show customers the benefits from the hard and soft cost savings perspectives to improve their procurement processes.

Rob has also have been a member of the NIGP business council for the past 10 years. NIGP’s Business Council is comprised of two representatives from each of the 11 companies participating in the Institute’s Enterprise Sponsor Program. (Graybar’s two representatives for the Business Council are Jeff Peskuski and Rob Rhoads). Enterprise Sponsors are leaders in their respective industries and have demonstrated a shared commitment to NIGP’s values: Accountability, Ethics, Impartiality, Professionalism, Service, and Transparency. The mission of the Business Council is to serve the NIGP membership and procurement profession through the sharing of resources and business expertise in support of NIGP’s educational, research and advocacy mission. In essence, the Business Council connects the supplier’s perspective with the public procurement community and is dedicated to improving the buyer/supplier relationship.

Strategic Sales Director, Enterprise Mobility

Ryan Benhoff is a Strategic Sales Director at Enterprise Mobility. With 24 years of operations, sales, and sales management experience at Enterprise; Ryan is a consultant that works collaboratively with strategic partners to create and develop customized ground transportation solutions to deliver value and enhance overall travel programs.  Outside of the office you will find Ryan coaching and enjoying both of his daughter’s sporting events, playing golf, and spending time outdoors.   

Assistant Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Enterprise Mobility 

Ericka Dombroski is the Assistant Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, which includes Group Purchasing, Private Equity and Corporate Associations for Enterprise Mobility. In this role, Ericka is responsible for creating the overall business strategy for both Private and Public Sector GPO’s, overall business growth, relationship development and management of the GPO sales team. 

Ericka began her career with Enterprise Mobility in 2006 as an intern and then following graduation, she joined the Management Trainee program. She worked her way up the ranks in Daily Rental operations and had oversight of multiple territories across the country. In 2015, she joined the Business Rental division and in 2018 she was promoted to Strategic Sales Manager for Private Sector GPO’s. In 2020 she received a promotion to Director over the department and in 2023 she received another promotion to her current role of AVP. 

Ericka graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Economics. She currently lives in Knoxville, TN with her daughter. 

FOS of CannonDesign

James has an extensive background in facilities management, construction procurement, JOC project management, and cost estimating – leveraging this knowledge in his role as a National Account Manager for FOS of CannonDesign. He has successfully implemented and managed JOC programs for public agencies nationwide including numerous universities, counties, cities, and others. James is committed to maximizing the solutions available to JOC users. Having worked in JOC as an owner’s consultant and a contractor’s project manager, James helps optimize communication and efficiency in the JOC process.

FOS of CannonDesign

With over 35 years of experience as a project manager including experience from the owner, contractor, and consultant roles in JOC, Paul has extensive knowledge that spans the entirety of the construction lifecycle. Paul works to understand the challenges our clients face allowing him to provide creative solutions led by honesty, transparency, and dedication to a successful JOC program. A successful communicator and proven team leader, Paul operates on the belief that highly relational, professional interactions with peers and clients results in the best project outcomes and improves program performance. Paul is a veteran of the United States Naval Construction Battalions.

FOS of CannonDesign

Michael has spent the past 8 years selling enterprise software solutions including eProcurement, Contract Management, eSourcing, Financial Reporting, and Analytics. He has led teams across the East Coast focused on State Governments, Local Governments, Higher Ed, K-12, and Healthcare. With his bachelor’s in supply chain and information systems from Pennsylvania State University, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the FOS leadership team and their clients.

Asst. Chief Procurement Officer - QA Compliance, Georgia Department of Transportation 

Maria Roux currently serves as the Assistant Chief Procurement Officer -QA Compliance for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Office of Procurement, ensuring GDOT’s compliance with State and Federal rules/laws as pertains to Title 50 procurement and Engineering and Design related procurement utilizing FHWA funds. This role is also responsible for auditing the procurement function as well as developing and providing training for all procurement staff, end user and personnel who touch the procurement function. In her role, she is also responsible for ensuring local governments adhere to state and federal rule and regulations for Engineering & Design related procurements by performing policy review and providing training and assistance with LAP procurement certification. Ms. Roux formally served as the State Purchasing Division Training supervisor responsible for the procurement training function, and has over twenty five years of experience managing, developing and delivering training for large and small entities/corporations. Maria has earned her GCPM from the State of Georgia and national certification from Universal Public Certification Council the CPPB designation. Maria currently serves as the Education Chair for the Georgia chapter of NIGP. 

Comptroller, West Virginia Solid Waste Management Board 

Kelly currently holds the position of Chapter President for the West Virginia Chapter of NIGP. With a decade of dedicated service in public procurement within the State of West Virginia, she serves as the Comptroller, WV Solid Waste Management Board. 

Her academic journey commenced at West Virginia State University, where she graduated with honors, earning a Regents Bachelor of Arts in Business and Finance. Undeterred by the demands of her professional career, Kelly has embarked on further academic pursuits, currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership at Marshall University. 

She has successfully completed the NIGP-CPP certification and attained the Certified Solicitation Professional (CSP) designation from the Center for Procurement Excellence. Additionally, Kelly has demonstrated proficiency in numerous core competencies through NIGP, further enhancing her expertise in the field of public procurement. 

Beyond her individual achievements, Kelly actively contributes to the professional procurement community through her involvement in several esteemed organizations, reflecting her deep-seated commitment to fostering recognition and appreciation for the procurement profession and its diligent practitioners. 

Despite her demanding professional commitments, Kelly finds joy in her personal life as a devoted mother to four sons, two dogs, and two cats. In her leisure time, Kelly indulges in her passions for football, reading, and baking. 

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 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, was honored as the recipient of the B.D. Bland Distinguished Service Award in 2018 and the James H. Barnes Award in 2023 for her contributions to the Procurement Profession and the entity she serves. Stacy currently serves on the NIGP Governing Board and NIGP’s Talent Council as Chair in addition to serving on SCAGPO’s Past President Council. 

Director of Procurement, Sourcewell

Tara Wolff serves as the Director of Procurement at Sourcewell, leveraging her significant background as both an attorney and a leader. With a rich 18-year career spanning contracts, process improvements, supplier management, compliance, and negotiations, Tara's expertise initially flourished in the legal sector, focusing on complex contractual issues. Her transition to procurement has been marked by an adept integration of her legal knowledge with the nuances of public procurement, guided by her commitment to servant leadership.

At the heart of Tara's leadership style is a dedication to collaboration and inclusivity, actively seeking contributions from every team member. She is a staunch advocate for the idea that collective team intelligence, nurtured through collaboration, leads to groundbreaking solutions and long-term achievement. Tara practices servant leadership, prioritizing the needs of her team, encouraging their growth, and helping unlock their highest potential. Her approach is built on empowering her team, establishing trust, and sharing a common vision, with a focus on skill development and promoting a continuous learning environment.

Tara's profound legal expertise, combined with her extensive experience and adherence to the principles of servant leadership, drives Sourcewell's procurement department towards unparalleled excellence. Her leadership is characterized by joint successes, empowered teams, and a deep-seated dedication to enhancing procurement processes within the dynamic environment of Sourcewell.

Human Resources Specialist, Sourcewell

Karen serves on Sourcewell's human resources team as a Human Resources Specialist. With a passion for cultivating growth and empowering individuals, Karen is a seasoned professional with two decades of experience in the dynamic field of learning and development. Armed with a Master's degree in Training and Development, Karen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the realm of instructional design and leader development. As a Trust Edge Certified partner, Karen is committed to fostering trust within organizations, recognizing its pivotal role in driving success. 

Director of Fiscal Affairs and Acquisitions, Eastern Connecticut State University

Kate Rotella has been in procurement and finance for over 20 years. Currently, she works at Eastern Connecticut State University as the Director of Fiscal Affairs for Acquisitions and Auxiliary Services. Throughout her career, she has been responsible for overseeing procurement and finance, developing, and implementing procurement policies, procedures, and strategies, contract management, municipal and state budgets. She speaks at national conferences and workshops, sharing her expertise in purchasing policies, procedures, and strategies. She’s the current chair-elect of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). She has held both state and local elected offices, including Most recently as a Connecticut State Representative. She holds a master’s in public administration and is a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), and NIGP-Certified Public Procurement Officer (NIGP-CPP) 

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

Lourdes Coss is a transformational leader and former Chief Procurement Officer with 30+ year career in government procurement. For over two decades, she spearheaded successful transformations at some of the largest local government. agencies in the United States, crafting and implementing polices, procurement. codes, and strategies to cultivate high-performing teams, streamline processes, and modernize procurement departments.  

As the author of “Procurement Methods: Effective Techniques,” Lourdes shares her wealth of knowledge and expertise. She is also a certified Maxwell Leadership Executive Program coach, speaker, and trainer levering her insights to benefit and empower others. 

Additionally, she is a Behavioral Consultant; a Licensed Brain Trainer; a certified Neuro-encoding Specialist, and a Cialdini Certified Professional. She is the Principal Owner of M. L. Coss and Associates, LLC. Lourdes has been recognized for her value-centered leadership and as a one of the “Top 50 Global Influencers and Thought Leaders in Procurement.” 

Procurement Official/Director of Procurement, Colorado Department of Transportation

Molly has over 22 years of public procurement experience in both the private and public sectors. She is the Procurement Official/Director of Procurement for the Colorado Department of Transportation. 

Molly has obtained several professional certifications including NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), and Facility Management Professional (FMP). 

Molly is a Past President of the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP (RMGPA) and past Chair of Colorado Education Purchasing Council (CEPC). She currently serves as an at-large NIGP Governing Board member, will serve as Chair-Elect of NIGP's Governing Board beginning in June 2024, and has previously served on the NIGP Awards Committee. Molly was named a 2022 Exemplary Public Servant by American City and County and received the Manager of the Year Award from RMGPA in 2015.  

Molly holds a Masters in Organizational Management and a Bachelors in Environmental Restoration. 

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.

COO and President, Disaster Recovery Services

As COO of Disaster Recovery Services, Kim has over 20 years of experience helping public entities prepare for and recover from complex disaster events. Kim and her team have recovered billions of dollars for public entities across the nation through FEMA’s Public Assistance program and other federal and state funding programs, including CARES and ARPA. With funding claw backs 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 is Chair of NIGP’s National Business Council and has earned her NIGP Public Procurement Supplier Masters Designation.

Procurement Practice Leader, Disaster Recovery Services

As the Procurement Practice Leader for Disaster Recovery Services (DRS), Shelley focuses on public entity risk management, and procurement and contracting strategies in the facilitation of complex disaster recovery projects. Shelley serves as a public procurement subject matter expert in the area of state and federal grant funding, assisting her clients in the optimization of available funding in support of resilient communities.  

Shelley spent thirteen years as the chief procurement officer and risk manager and is thrilled to continue her support of public entity procurement and risk management professionals in her current role. Shelley works closely with suppliers, cooperative purchasing groups, and client procurement departments to provide guidance, training, and assistance. She helps develop comprehensive disaster recovery procurement strategies to serve her clients by Delivering Results and Solutions for a better tomorrow. Shelley is also the Director of DRS Academy, the education arm of DRS. 

Shelley is in her fifth year of service on the NIGP Business Council and holds the NIGP-CPP designation. 

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Houston 

Jedediah was appointed Chief Procurement Officer in July 2022, where he leads and directs all procurement operations for the City of Houston, Texas. Jed has been with the City of Houston for 16 years in various roles. Jed was elected President of the Southeast Texas Association of Public Purchasing chapter of NIGP in January 2022 and 2023 and was also appointed to serve as a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP and Chairperson for Strategic Partnerships for the Texas Public Purchasing Association. Jed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Weber State University, located in northern Utah and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Houston. Jed has also been an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Houston Clear Lake teaching courses in Public Administration and Public Policy. 

Chief Operations Officer, South Post Oak Recycling Center, Houston, TX

Brandi is a leading figure in the metal recycling industry, serving as the Chief Operations Officer for South Post Oak Recycling Center (SPORC), a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), located in Houston, Texas. 

In her multifaceted role as COO, Brandi sets vision, and strategy, manages financial aspects, identifies new markets, and drives the people strategy. 

Brandi's impact extends to the metals recycling industry, serving on boards like ISRI Gulf Coast Chapter, Recycling Council of Texas, and Houston Air Pollution Community Advisory Board. She was recently appointed Co-Chair of ISRI’s National Women in Recycling Council. 

Recognized for her impact, Brandi received the 2018 Pinnacle Award from the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, she was named the U.S. Small Business Administration Small Business Person of the Year for Texas, with the City of Houston proclaiming it Brandi Harleaux Day on July 23, 2023. 

Director of Procurement, Maryland Judiciary

Danny Mays 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. During his 15+ years in public procurement, Danny has led large-scale operations, including demonstrable experience with policy writing, streamlining processes and procedures, developing, and delivering training, establishing standard templates, implementing emerging technologies and overall organizational transformation. As a procurement officer, he has broad-based experience leading billions of dollars of acquisitions for information technology, construction and architectural and engineering and other complex professional services. 

Danny is currently credentialed as a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) and Certified Professional Procurement Officer (CPPO) by UPPCC, a Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) by NIGP and a Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) and Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD) by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), and a Certified Maryland Procurement Officer (CMPO) by the Maryland Procurement Academy. He also serves on the Board of Examiners, CPPO team for the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC), a member of the Leadership Development Committee and certified instructor for NIGP, President-elect of the Maryland Public Purchasing Association, and an instructor and content developer for the Maryland Procurement Academy and the University of Baltimore’s Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification program. 

Director of Purchasing, Columbia Association

Stephanie Akerley is the Director of Purchasing at Columbia Association.  She has been working in procurement for 28+ years, with 14 years of that experience focused on technology. Stephanie earned her first CPPB in 1997. After taking a career break to raise her family, she once again earned a CPPB in 2015.  In 2021, Stephanie earned her NIGP-CPP and CPPO certifications. In 2020, she earned her Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) certification from the Certified Technology Professionals Executives Society. Stephanie has contributed content to all of the NIGP Technology courses and enjoys teaching these classes, in addition to the Pathways competency courses.

Director of Procurement, Georgia Institute of Technology

Erin Mitchell is the Director of Procurement at the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has over 13 years of procurement experience and 10 years at Georgia Tech. Erin's focuses include ERP implementation, process improvement, and automation in higher education. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. 

Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Orange County Government

Zulay Millan is currently Deputy Chief Procurement Official at Orange County Government in Florida.  Zulay began her public sector career in 2001. For the past two decades, her career focus has been in procurement and process engineering/ improvement. Zulay holds a Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has her NIGP-CPP, CPPO and CPPB certifications. Zulay is currently serving on the Governing Board of the National Institute of Government Procurement (NIGP) as a representative of the Member Council. Locally Zulay serves as Strategic Planning Chair for the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials and is a Past President of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP. In 2023 Zulay was honored with the George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award from the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials.  Zulay has previously been awarded the Inspiration Award for Procurement Professionals in Central Florida, NIGP’s Young Professional of the Year Award, Procurement Manager of the Year in Central Florida, FAPPOs Above and Beyond Award and FAPPOs Outstanding Educator Award. 

Director of Procurement, South Carolina State University

Stacy Gregg is the Director of Procurement at South Carolina State University. She is an Online Instructor for NIGP and currently serves as Chair Elect with the Institute on the Member Council and Certification Commission. Stacy is an active member of the SC Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO). Stacy has an A.A. Degree in Public Service (Paralegal) from Midlands Technical College in Columbia, SC and B.A. Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Concentrating in English & Management) from the University of South Carolina. Stacy holds the credentials of NIGP- Certified Procurement Professional as well as Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) designations. 

Director of Operations and Strategic Planning, City of Baltimore, MD

Tony Reed has over 30 years of experience in Federal, State and Local government.  His significant achievements throughout his career embodies the accomplishments necessary to qualify him as a subject matter expert.   

Tony began his public procurement career as Assistant Secretary/Chief Procurement Officer of the Maryland Department of General Services.   

He also served as Regional Administrator of the National Capital Region, General Services Administration, and Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development  

Tony is currently the Director of Operations and Strategic Planning for the City of Baltimore, MD He serves as the principal trainer for the procurement officers and staff.   

He is responsible for Citywide Printing, Corporate Credit Cards, Citywide Disposal and Surplus Property, Supplier Management and Registration. 

Tony is the President-Elect for the Maryland Public Purchasing Association and is the Chair of the Strategic Planning committee.  

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.

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, Contracts and Procurement, San Mateo County Transit District

Kevin has been in procurement for 20+ years, in both private and public sectors. Currently, he is the Director of Contracts and Procurement for the San Mateo County Transit District in San Carlos, California. He and his team are responsible for developing and administering the District's procurement policies and procedures, and all procurement activities.

Kevin's thoughts on learning... 1) You're never too old to learn. 2) It's forever. No one can ever take that knowledge away from you. 3) Learning should be fun (your brain may experience a bit of pain, but it's temporary). Kevin is an active member at the Northern California Chapter of NIGP, where he is serving as the Chapter Vice President; and at the National level, where he is a Certified NIGP Instructor. Kevin has served on committees and on the Board of the OPPA Chapter of NIGP (Oregon), including serving as the OPPA President during FY2008-2009. Also, he has served as the Vice Chair of the NIGP Member Council.

Kevin graduated from the University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon) in 1993 with BAs in Finance, Marketing, and Psychology. GO DUCKS!

Kevin lives in the Bay Area in California. He is married to Kelly for over 25 years. They have two children, Ethan (20) and Abbie (18).

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.

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.

Deputy Executive Director, Open Contracting Partnership (OCP)

Kathrin Frauscher is the Deputy Executive Director of the Open Contracting Partnership (OCP), a global mission-driven non-profit organization that is transforming the trillions of dollars spent on public contracts to better serve people and protect our planet. Kathrin co-founded OCP in 2015 and helped grow it into a global team of 30 people working across 30 countries. Before OCP, Kathrin worked at the World Bank Group leading projects around the world that brought governments, business and civil society together to fight corruption and improve service delivery. 

Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow in the City of Newark

Natalia Gulick de Torres is interested in the advancement of social change driven through engaged dialogue, tactful policies, and conscious leadership. She is currently a Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellow in the City of Newark, seeking to improve procurement and contracting practices to increase local and minority-owned business vendor and contractor participation. She was formerly involved with the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University as a graduate student researcher with Data-Smart City Solutions, focusing on case studies of progressive private-public partnerships and innovations in digital municipal infrastructure. Natalia holds a Master in Design Studies from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where she focused her coursework on policy implementation in urban environments, strategies for equitable development, and methods of community interaction. She further holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. 

Director of Procurement Planning and Support Services, City of Boston, MA

Laura Melle is the Director of Procurement Planning and Support Services for the City of Boston, launching a new citywide team to leverage Boston's $1B annual spend to serve both operational needs and policy goals. Laura has explored procurement as a tool to tackle complex challenges as a Fellow with the Mayor's Office for New Urban Mechanics, the IT Procurement Lead for the Department of Innovation and Technology, and the Deputy Director of Real Estate Administration with the Boston Planning & Development Agency. Prior to her time in Boston, Laura's career in city government took her from the Chicago Transit Authority to the Municipal Council of Lichinga, Mozambique as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She has a Master in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, and studied Social Policy as an undergraduate at Northwestern University. 

Director of Procurement Planning and Strategic Sourcing, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management

Yolanda Broome is an attorney with over thirty years of experience in contract management, government procurement, and process improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Alabama and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Cumberland School of Law and is currently the Director of Procurement Planning and Strategic Sourcing for the Department of Watershed Management in the City of Atlanta, Georgia. Yolanda is recognized as an innovative change manager and contract expert. She also serves on the NIGP editorial and publication committee seeking to provide guidance on global best practices in procurement and to creatively lead procurement newcomers on a journey to improvements in our industry. Yolanda is an Associate Member of the Institute of Leadership and Management, a world-wide leadership training organization and has earned many procurement certifications to include the NIGP-CPP. Her dedication to strategic team building is a testament to over two decades of procurement department overhaul and improvement. This presentation will outline Yolanda’s strategic approach to leading people while managing tasks. 

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 33 years, Marcheta has served as an experienced thought-leader, advocate and subject matter expert 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 after 28 years of service, Marcheta serves as the President of NIGP Code & Consulting, leading a team of over 40 professional procurement consultants transforming procurement in the public and private sector. 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 serves on the NIGP CARE Advisory Board and the NIGP Business Council. Marcheta has spoken at hundreds of international, national and regional events and authored numerous published works in the profession.   

Government Contracts Manager, Toro Company

Ryan is the Government Contracts Manager with The Toro Company. He has worked in supplier-side government contracting since 2015 and has completed the NIGP Master's Certification, which he finds instrumental as he works to establish win-win scenarios for his customers, end-users, contract partners, and distribution channel. 

Ryan currently resides in Orrville, OH, hometown of legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight, with his wife and four kids. He grew up in Southern California, where he studied Psychology at UC Santa Barbara and San Diego Christian College. 

In his free time, Ryan enjoys golfing and fishing, as well camping with his family, who is attempting to have each of their kid's camp at every one of Ohio's 75 State Parks before graduating High School. 

Vice President of Field Engagement, Southern Computer Warehouse

Jeremy Steadman is a 20 year veteran of public sector IT sales, working with hundreds of state, local and higher education clients to bring best of breed IT solutions that exceed customer requirements under budget. 

Jeremy believes that there’s still a place for onsite meetings and relationship building with stakeholders and partners to make sure every deployment of hardware and every integrated solution is delivered without a hitch. 

Through his work with SCW and in the IT channel, Jeremy has worked with fortune 500 customers, as well as some of the largest public sector entities in the United States with a focus on end user computing, networking, data center, power and network closet solutions. 

Jeremy holds a BA in Political Science/Economics from Florida State University, and is 12 credits shy of a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. 

When not solving IT challenges, Jeremy can be found mountain climbing, riding motorcycles in the mountains of north Georgia, rooting for his Seminoles or spending time with his French Bulldog Norman in Atlanta, GA. 

Chief Procurement Officer, City of Houston 

Jedediah was appointed Chief Procurement Officer in July 2022, where he leads and directs all procurement operations for the City of Houston, Texas. Jed has been with the City of Houston for 16 years in various roles. Jed was elected President of the Southeast Texas Association of Public Purchasing chapter of NIGP in January 2022 and 2023 and was also appointed to serve as a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP and Chairperson for Strategic Partnerships for the Texas Public Purchasing Association. Jed earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Weber State University, located in northern Utah and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Houston. Jed has also been an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Houston Clear Lake teaching courses in Public Administration and Public Policy. 

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

Claudia has 28 years of procurement experience in the public sector with 3 school districts in Arizona. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and holds NIGP-CPP and CPPB certifications. Claudia strives to provide a transparent and compliant procurement process that supports all stakeholders and best serves the public good. Claudia lives in Chandler, AZ with her husband and two children. 

Procurement Specialist, 1Government Procurement Alliance (1GPA)

Rebecca has over 23 years of purchasing experience in both the private and public sectors. An honors graduate from the University of Phoenix with a BS in Business/Accounting, her background includes manufacturing as well school district procurement. She is passionate about building a community of trust and support through fiscal responsibility, transparency, and procurement education. She joined 1GPA Cooperative in 2019 and has been instrumental in bridging the gap between cooperative contracts and public agencies. She lives in Gilbert, AZ with her husband and two young sons. 

Michael Greene is the Procurement Administrator for the City of Tempe where he has worked for the past 15 years.  Michael has over 30 years of experience working in a variety of public sector organizations including Arizona Department of Transportation, Tempe Union High School District and Paradise Valley Unified School District.   Michael holds two certifications including a C.P.M. and CPPO.  Michael graduated from with ASU with a bachelor in Supply Chain and a Masters in Public Administration.

Purchasing Director, Clarksville-Montgomery County (TN) School System

Lori Bryant has over twenty-five years’ experience in procurement in both public and private sectors. For the past 20 years, she has worked in municipal and K-12 school purchasing departments, covering almost all aspects of procurement. She is currently the Purchasing Director for the Clarksville-Montgomery County (TN) School System, where she procures a variety of goods and services for 45 schools and supporting departments. Lori holds a bachelors’ degree from Lambuth University, a Certified Professional Public Buyer certification from the UPPCC, and a NIGP-CPP certification from NIGP. She is a member of the Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (TAPP) and NIGP. Lori began a second three-year term on NIGP’s Member Council in July 2022. Lori serves as TAPP’s professional development committee chair and she is a TAPP Past-President. In her free time, she enjoys doing genealogy research, and has traced several family lines back to colonial America, including just a few counties over from Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Procurement Director, Knoxville's Community Development Corp - The Public Housing & Redevelopment Authority

Terry McKee, MPA, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, C.P.M., CPCP, is a consultant and experienced leader with 33 years in the procurement profession. Terry joined NIGP Consulting Services at its inception in 1995. He has been the Procurement Director at Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation-the public housing and redevelopment authority for the City of Knoxville and Knox County, Tennessee since 2005. Prior to that he served as head of procurement for Knox County government and Knox County Schools.

Terry shares his extensive experience and expertise with public and private industry through numerous roles in the industry.    

As a passionate advocate for the procurement profession, Terry possesses a broad and deep range of expertise in numerous areas of public procurement best practices, professional development and leadership, and overall procurement transformation. Terry was named NIGP’s Purchasing Manager of the Year in 2017, the East Tennessee Purchasing Association’s Procurement Manager of the Year in 2017, and in 1993 received the organization’s Purchasing Professional of the Year award. In 2013, Terry received NIGP’s “Spirit of NIGP” award. He co-shared NIGP’s Innovation of the Award in 2007 for business diversity activities.

Terry has served in dozens of task forces and committees in his 33 years of volunteer leadership to the profession, including local, state and national roles.  Terry has provided professional services to cities, counties, special districts and entities throughout North America. 

Purchasing Director, City of Clarksburg, TN

Camille Thomas has over 30 years’ experience in procurement, both in the public and private sectors. For the last 27 years, she has worked for the City of Clarksville’s Purchasing Department seated in every position offered. She was appointed the Purchasing Director in 2016 wherein she manages a variety of procurement related activities including disposal of real and surplus personal property, managing the PCard program, contract management oversight and procuring goods and services for 19 city departments and 3 component agencies that receive city funding. As Purchasing Director, Camille has implemented many new processes which help streamline the procurement process. She was instrumental in receiving council approval for funding for the city’s first Contract Manager. Together, the city’s first Contract Administration Policy and process was born. She has served in various roles for the Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (TAPP) to include membership chair, Secretary, Vice President, President and now immediate past President and Communications chair. She also serves as co-chair for the East Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing’s Pro-D Committee. At last year’s Forum, she served as moderator for the small to medium cities session. Camille has one daughter, Ryan and a dog named Ottis. Camille graduated college in August 2021 proving that you are never too old to go back to school. 

Director, eProcurement Bureau (eVA), Commonwealth of Virginia

Shane has been with eVA Program for over twenty years and is currently serving as the Director of the eProcurement Bureau.  His experience with eVA is wide ranging and includes acting as the Deputy Director, Vendor Support Manager, Catalog Manager, and Functional Lead for the eVA Quick Quote Module.

Senior Industry Product Marketing Manager, Ivalua

As Senior Industry Product Marketing Manager for Ivalua, Paul works closely with US Public Sector customers to ensure that Ivalua’s purpose-built Public Sector Source-to-Pay platform continues to meet the needs of the PubSec market, while championing the adoption of innovative technologies such as AI and machine learning. Prior to Ivalua, Paul worked as a PMO consultant side-by-side with state procurement officials to deliver source-to-pay technology transformations and continued operations of state procurement technology programs. Paul believes public sector procurement can be as cutting-edge as the private sector, and that technology has the ability to automate regulatory compliance, simplify transparency, and empower procurement officials to be exceptional stewards of taxpayer dollars.

Director of Consulting, CGI

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.

John Adler, CPPO is a seasoned procurement professional with more than 40 years of experience, culminating in his role as Arizona’s State Procurement Director. John has been a member and officer of many professional associations, including NIGP, NCMA, and ISM. He is the Past President and a Life-Member of the National Association of State Procurement Officers (NASPO), former chair of the Procurement and Materials Management Committee and director for the American Public Transit Association (APTA), and he is a trainer for NIGP, NASPO and the National Transit Institute (NTI) at Rutgers University. John recently retired as vice president of procurement for Dallas Area Rapid Transit and authored or co-authored three procurement textbooks, including Contracting for Design and Construction Services in the Public Sector, published in 2024.

Construction Procurement Manager, Austing ISD

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.

City Recorder, Murray City Corporation

With over a decade of experience in public administration and policy, Brooke Smith oversees Purchasing, Passports, and Records Management functions for Murray City, Utah. She serves on the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Finance Council, volunteers with RadioNIGP, and was the 2022 President of the Utah Chapter of NIGP. Brooke's expertise spans procurement processes and governmental regulations, highlighted by her role in the $35 million New City Hall Construction project and the review of approximately 400 Purchase Orders totaling over $23 million annually. She strategically leverages cooperative contracts to maximize value and efficiency for the city, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost savings. Recently, Brooke has embraced AI technology to update City Policy, prepare new RFPs and bids, and streamline operations. She is dedicated to training other procurement and government employees on the ethical and responsible use of AI. Brooke's mission is to equip government professionals with AI and Cooperative procurement knowledge to reduce tedious tasks, enhance efficiency, and improve public sector effectiveness through innovation and education.

Director of Purchasing, Columbia Association

Stephanie Akerley is the Director of Purchasing at Columbia Association.  She has been working in procurement for 28+ years, with 14 years of that experience focused on technology. Stephanie earned her first CPPB in 1997. After taking a career break to raise her family, she once again earned a CPPB in 2015.  In 2021, Stephanie earned her NIGP-CPP and CPPO certifications. In 2020, she earned her Certified Technology Procurement Executive (CTPE) certification from the Certified Technology Professionals Executives Society. Stephanie has contributed content to all of the NIGP Technology courses and enjoys teaching these classes, in addition to the Pathways competency courses.

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.

Deputy Executive Director, GFOA

Mike Mucha joined GFOA in 2006 and is now 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 GFOA 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). 

John Edmondson has been a public procurement professional for more than 19 years with expertise in stakeholder management and relationship building; requirements gathering and analysis; project scope development and monitoring; vendor management and contract administration; developing strategic policies and procedures; and managing regulatory requirements. Throughout his career, John has specialized in developing common sense solutions to procurement and compliance obstacles. 

John is a Certified Procurement Professional from the National Institute of Government Purchasing (NIGP-CPP) and a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Management and a Master of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management from Western Illinois University and is currently pursuing a Master in the Study of Law at The Ohio State University. 

Jason is a solution focused, collaborative, strategic transit professional with a passion for public procurement. He has an appropriate blend of Project Manager experience and empathy for developing innovative solutions that lead to customer success. 

Jason is a Transit professional with more than 23 years within the industry. He serves currently as the Sr. Manager of Procurement. Previous experience includes Inventory Manager, Quality Assurance Quality Control Manager, Fleet Management. Throughout his career, Jason has specialized in process development, relationship, and team building. 

Jason currently holds ASCM Supply Chain Procurement Certification, National Transit Institute Procurement certificates, and National Association of State Procurement Officials certificates. 

Jason is a member of the Transit Alliance of Public Purchasing, Central Ohio Organization of Public Purchasers, and ASCM local Cincinnati chapter. 

Bespoke Community Cooperatives

Jennifer leads Bespoke Community Cooperatives bringing powerful operational support to groups that want to forge their own path by creating new or enhancing existing cooperative purchasing organizations. As a distinguished public sector executive with over 15 years of experience working as an advocate and resource for public agencies and suppliers alike, she is well known and widely respected in the world of public procurement cooperative contracting.

Always showing passion for innovation, prior to Bespoke, Jennifer co-founded CompareCoOps, where she successfully established the technology startup's presence in SLED.

Early in her career, Jennifer's consultative efforts with ProcureSource and U.S. Communities brought efficiencies to public sector purchasing and better communication between suppliers and buyers. Her expertise in public procurement cooperative contracting led to millions of dollars of savings for public agencies nationwide.

She has been a frequent guest speaker at multiple NIGP, CAPPO, ASBO, NGA, NACo, NLC, NRPA, NACE and GFOA events across the country.

Based in downtown Chicago, during her free time she enjoys supporting social impact documentary film making and the Cubs. Both tend to bring up a lot of emotion.
Unlike Caitlin Clark, Jennifer played 6-on-6 basketball while growing up in Iowa but doesn’t have a shoe deal.

Procurement Contracts Officer, Oregon State University 

John Flynn is a Procurement Contracts Officer for Oregon State University supporting the Regional Class Research Vessel (RCRV) Project. Prior to joining OSU, he was the Purchasing Officer for Liverpool (NY) Central School District..John holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology, and has completed graduate coursework at Lehigh University. John is a Past President of the New York Society of Municipal Purchasing Officials (SAMPO). He is also a Member of The Institute for Public Procurement (NIGP) having served on several committees, and as a Subject Matter Expert for the NIGP-CPP exam preparation guides. He has earned the designations of Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), and NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP). He lives in Vestal, New York with his wife Lori. John and Lori have three sons, Connor, Donovan and Evan. 

President, Civic Initiatives

Dustin Lanier, a Certified Public Procurement Officer, founded Civic Initiatives in 2010.  Civic Initiatives has supported public procurement offices in in over 35 states, with projects in acquisition operations, strategic transformation, and automation success.

In the decade prior to Civic Initiatives, Dustin held a variety of leadership roles related to strategic planning and contracting in Texas state government, including the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the State CIO and the Executive Director of the state Council on Competitive Government, a specialized public procurement function.  

As a thought leader in the public sector procurement industry, Dustin has conducted educational sessions on numerous topics from strategic procurement to planning for the next generation of the procurement workforce. Mr. Lanier has delivered several keynote addresses for major regional governmental procurement association events around the country.

Chief Procurement Officer, State of Oregon

As State Chief Procurement Officer, Stephen leads a team of 70 professionals who focus on procurement.  He has over 15 years of procurement experience, including work in city and county government as well as the private sector and higher education.  He has partnered with and supported groups like the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, the Professional Business Development Group, and various agencies in the space of supplier diversity and procurement equity.  Stephen currently serves on the Lane County Equity Program Advisory Board, is the Vice President of the Oregon Public Purchasing Association (OPPA) and chairs the OPPA Diversity Committee.    

Alena Croy, a seasoned professional in public procurement from Oklahoma City, brings over a decade of experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance, an MBA, and multiple certifications. Actively engaged with the Oklahoma Association of Public Procurement, Alena has served in various roles including Treasurer, and is a Chapter Ambassador for NIGP. Known for her expertise in leveraging LinkedIn for excellence, Alena is passionate about sharing best practices and innovative strategies to enhance public procurement through effective use of social media platforms, making her a dynamic speaker and thought leader. An accomplished athlete, she is a 3x IRONMAN finisher, a USAT Certified Race Director, and President of the Triathlon Club of Oklahoma City. Alena's commitment extends to family, residing in Oklahoma with her husband Brandon and their four children.

County of San Mateo - County Contracts Manager

Yen Pang has 20+ years of County procurement experienced gained from the County of San Mateo and the City and County of San Francisco. She fell into County and procurement work purely by accident and only meant to stay for a few years.

While with the City and County of San Francisco she was located at San Francisco International Airport with the most gorgeous office that she will ever have which over looked the runways and San Francisco Bay. Her favorite plane is the Airbus A380 which looks like a whale in the sky.

She specializes in finding procurement solutions for complicated organizational issues and designing RFPs to get to a successful result. When she’s not at work she is planning her next trip and trying to figure out how to get to Antarctica so that she can set foot on her 7th and final continent.

She is the 'other' Australian in NIGP and also does not know Chris Hemsworth, but she may have met Health Ledger during debate competitions in high school.

Jas Sandhar has 10+ years of government experience at the State and County level. She uses that knowledge in her role as the Procurement Manager of San Mateo County.

She obtained her bachelor’s in finance and MBA in Strategy and Innovation from Cal State East Bay. She leads a small but dedicated procurement team overseeing procurement, training, and special projects for the County. The team has made major changes to procurement policy in the organization, designed procurement trainings, implemented an eProcurement solution and received several AEP trophies.

In her spare time, you will find her at the gym and hanging out with her nieces.

Contract Administration Manager, Procurement Division, City of Tucson, AZ

Lloyd Windle graduated from the University of Arizona in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He has received certification as a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) and Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO).  

He is an experienced procurement professional with more than 22 years of combined private and public sector procurement experience. Seventeen of those years have been with the City of Tucson’s Procurement division where he currently serves as a Contract Administration Manager.  He leads several compliance programs including the Small Business Enterprise/Disadvantage Business Enterprise (SBE/DBE) program, the Davis Bacon & Related Acts (DBRA) program, the Surplus Auction & Materials Management (SAMM) program and the Contract Administration & Management (CAMP) program. 

Procurement Compliance and Training Officer, Valley Schools Management Group, AZ

Bill Munch graduated from Arizona State University in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts in Purchasing and Materials Management. He has received certification as a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) and NIGP Certified CPP (NIGP-CPP).   

He was recently National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Chapter Ambassador for Area 9 which serves public purchasing officials in Arizona, California, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico. He is current VP and Past President of the Arizona State Capitol Chapter and past VP of the Arizona Copper Chapter. Bill has over 35 years of experience in public procurement at the Arizona State Procurement Office and various Arizona school districts.  He currently serves as the Procurement Compliance and Training Officer for Valley Schools Management Group, a public entity insurance group serving public entities throughout Arizona.  

Bill is a certified Arizona Community College Instructor. He regularly teaches classes and workshops in public procurement.  In addition, Bill has also served four years on the Governing Board Tempe Elementary School District and was its President in 2010. Bill is a true advocate for public procurement and the cooperative procurement process. 

Jeremy Poincenot is an extraordinary figure, not just as a renowned keynote speaker but also as a world champion in blind golf.  At 19, Jeremy’s lift took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare genetic disorder that led to the loss of his central vision.  Initially viewing this as a life-limiting setback, Jeremy soon realized that every challenge comes with an opportunity for growth.  With determination and the support of his family and friends, he not only adapted to his new reality but also excelled in it.

Jeremy is not your ordinary motivational speaker. With a powerful personal narrative, a little wit and a strong inspirational message, Jeremy provides perspective to audiences and opens their eyes to see the power of interdependence.

Although he cannot see the audience, he can help them see how to effect change and positivity in their own lives. Jeremy’s mission is to help people suspend judgment and focus on the good. His objective is not to dictate how to succeed in life; he speaks from experience to convince individuals that independence is good, while interdependence is great.