Upcoming Webinars
Access the latest trends and insights shaping the profession—free for members.
* All sessions, except entity networking and current conversations will be live streamed, recorded and available on demand for 60 days post Forum.
Schedule times are in Mountain Standard Time
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Based in Venice, California, Seb Terry is a cheeky Australian whose passion for life is not only evident through his famed bucket list journey, but is powerfully unleashed onto stages with every keynote that he performs.
Recognized for his unique approach in combining brilliant humor, piercing insight and real-time action, Seb’s compelling storytelling and interactive teaching style has inspired millions of individuals around the world to take action on their biggest personal and professional goals, linking passion and purpose with limitless imagination. Seb has shared his keynotes with Fortune 500 clients like Google, Berkshire Hathaway, Bank of America and McKesson, equipping audiences with the tools to not just adapt to change, but to create it, too. The impact of time and experience has helped shape Seb’s journey from the pursuit of fun and exciting life goals to a framework and methodology that helps individuals and teams unlock limitless possibility in their professional and personal lives.
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).
Vice President, Partners for Public Good (PPG)
Elena Hoffnagle, MPP is Vice President at Partners for Public Good (PPG), where she oversees teams working to set new standards for procurement excellence and scale innovative government operations practices nationwide. Previously, Elena was a Director at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL), where she spent seven years helping to build the GPL’s procurement portfolio. This work included designing new executive education programs helping over 100 city leaders grow their potential to solve thorny problems facing their governments and leading the launch of the Procurement Excellence Network. Elena has also worked at the National League of Cities, where she managed Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties, a key part of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative to reduce childhood obesity. Elena holds a B.A. in Political Science with Distinction from Yale University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Assistant Director, Partners for Public Good (PPG)
Charley Kargman is an Assistant Director at Partners for Public Good (PPG), supporting the organization’s skills-building portfolio, where he identifies new ways to define procurement excellence, in addition to overseeing PPG’s coaching and interactive workshops on government operations. Prior to joining PPG, Charley was a Project Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL), where he led procurement transformation projects to help cities and state agencies fully realize outcomes from social service programs through more data-driven contract management. Before the GPL, he also worked at American Jewish World Service, a human rights nonprofit, where he supported their grassroots grantmaking and international education portfolios. Based out of Queens, NY, Charley holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.
Director of Government Transformation, Partners for Public Good
Rebecca Graffy is the Director of Government Transformation at Partners for Public Good, where she heads projects working directly with governments to take on their thorny operational challenges. With 15 years of experience, she has worked with governments across the world to transform procurement systems, modernize operations, and better serve their residents.
Previously, as a Director at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, Rebecca led initiatives that reoriented procurement systems to deliver $1.42 billion in contracted goods and services more efficiently, openly, and effectively. Earlier in her career, Rebecca managed programs that expanded access to high-quality healthcare products worldwide, while saving $250 million for government buyers. She also led work to advance South Africa’s malaria elimination campaign.
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 and Procurement Services. Kirk also served as Deputy Director of Finance 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, and an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. In August 2023, Kirk received his Master’s in Legal Studies, (MLS), from the University of Cincinnati Law School.
Kirk has received certifications in Cybersecurity Leadership and Data Security and Privacy from Cornell University.
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 was the 2023 recipient of NIGP’s Albert H. Hall Award, the highest honor awarded by the Institute.
Kirk co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing,” 3rd edition, and has published various articles concerning Procurement Case Law in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals.
Director of Purchasing, Solid Waste Authority, Palm Beach County, FL
Jodi Hart is the Director of Purchasing for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County. Jodi began her purchasing career in 1994 and has been involved in Procurement and Inventory Management in both the public and private sectors. Having worked in commodities speculative buying, medical purchasing, City/ Special District Government, K12 and higher education, Jodi has a diverse background to offer. Jodi holds the CPPB, CPPO and NIGP-CPP certifications. Jodi has earned a Master’s in Business Administration and Juris Masters Law Degree from Florida State University. Jodi prides herself in taking the theory and laws of Procurement and applying them to real world needs of a company or agency.
Jon Walton is a lawyer member of his state bar with experience in government structure and legal issues. He has been in government contracting and procurement since 1997, with specialties in contracting for construction design and engineering, information technology, and contracting for numerous economic development loan and grantmaking programs. He has managed administrative regulations, agency policies, and facilities. He has been a leader in state government procurement improvement initiatives for decades, including extensive development of enterprise contracting templates, new risk management and insurance tools, delivering training throughout state government, being a LEAN champion for process improvement and advanced procurement certification programs. Jon has been a textbook editor, curriculum developer, and long-time instructor for NIGP. He is an author and contributor for many NIGP policy position papers and Global Best Practices, and authored the “Public Procurement Guide for Senior and Elected Officials.” He was the NIGP 2015 Procurement Specialist of the year, Chair of its Legislative & Position Committee and served two terms on its Board of Directors. Jon is now devoted to his consulting work with NIGP Consulting.
Small Business Development Coordinator, City of Little Rock, AR
Kiana Ward is a dedicated Procurement Data Analyst with the City of Little Rock, where she has been making meaningful contributions for nearly two years. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Kiana plays a crucial role in supporting her team and external vendors by developing and executing effective procurement strategies. Her work includes collaborating with various City departments and vendors to address their needs while guiding them through procurement processes. As a member of the 2025 NIGP Leadership Edge program, Kiana is committed to continual personal and professional growth in public procurement. Beyond her analysis duties, she develops and delivers training to ensure both team members and vendors navigate procurement systems effectively. Kiana is also passionate about mentorship and education. She leads a collaborative program between the City of Little Rock and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, guiding university students each fall. Through hands-on experience with procurement data, she equips them with essential skills in data analysis and procurement practices. In addition to her professional achievements, Kiana hosted a successful vendor expo for the City of Little Rock, highlighting minority vendors alongside other local government agencies. She is the lead contact for data on the city's first disparity study and actively participates in the City’s Data Governance Team, led by the City’s Chief Data Officer. Kiana’s work on data reports is crucial in identifying and creating procurement opportunities. Outside of work, Kiana is a proud mother of three boys. She enjoys spending time in nature, reading, traveling, and seeking out new experiences with her family. She believes in finding a balance between her career and personal life, allowing her to stay energized and focused in both areas.
Procurement Manager, City of Little Rock, AR
Vitesh is passionate about supplier equity, vendor outreach, energy drinks, and butter chicken. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in business along with a master's degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. Vitesh has worked in various roles in supply chain management and procurement over the last ten years. Vitesh currently holds the title, Procurement Manager at the City of Little Rock, where he currently oversees Procurement, Small Business Development, and Printing and Mailing Services. Outside of work, Vitesh can be found being a jungle gym for his two daughters, Amelia and Avah, and working at his family business. He loves to travel and ride roller coasters.
Senior Procurement Analyst, City of Little Rock, AR
Lisa King is a previous experienced Administrative Assistant and a current Senior Procurement Analyst with a proven track record of providing exceptional support and strategic procurement services in fast-paced environments. With ten years of experience, Lisa excels in streamlining administrative processes, managing schedules, coordinating communications, and supporting senior management.
As a previous Administrative Assistant, Lisa is highly skilled in managing office operations, handling complex calendars, and ensuring seamless daily functions. In addition, Lisa brings expertise in procurement management, having negotiated contracts, maintained vendor relationships, and contributed to cost-saving initiatives. Lisa’s ability to analyze procurement trends, develop strategies, and ensure compliance with policies has resulted in successful outcomes for both short-term and long-term projects.
With a strong attention to detail and a passion for efficiency, Lisa consistently delivers high-quality results and plays a vital role in supporting business growth and operational success.
Kimberley Linser recently retired from the Santa Clara Valley where she began her career in 1996 as a Legal Secretary/Paralegal in the General Counsel’s Office. Prior to retirement, Kimberley served as a Senior Management Analyst with an emphasis on Information Technology procurements. In that capacity Kimberley was responsible for assisting project managers with the development of their needs assessment, requirements, and the overall development of their proposal packets. Prior to joining Valley Water, Kimberley worked for the Federal Public Defender’s Office in San Jose, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and in a private employment law practice. Kimberley holds a Paralegal Certificate from UC Santa Cruz Extension, and a State of California Full Time Designated Subject Career Technical Education Teaching Credential in Finance and Business.
Deputy Chief Procurement Officer / Assistant Secretary, Department of General Services / Office of State Procurement, MD
Linda D. Dangerfield, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, CMPO, CMPA, CM is the Deputy Chief Procurement Officer for the Department of General Services' Office of State Procurement overseeing all procurement activities for the state of Maryland. She works closely with various agencies to develop fair policies, streamline processes, and ensure the best value for Maryland citizens. Before joining the Office of State Procurement, Linda served as the Chief Procurement Officer and Director of the Office of Procurement and Materials Management for the Maryland Aviation Administration. In this role, she represented the administration at the Board of Public Works and directed complex contracts for capital construction, architectural/engineering, maintenance, and information technology. With over twenty-eight years of experience in the public sector, Linda has successfully procured key projects critical to providing services for transportation and general services. She guarantees confidence and integrity in procurement practices, ensuring high technical standards and introducing innovative approaches to meet growing demands. Linda is an active member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and its local chapter, the Maryland Public Purchasing Association (MPPA). She has held various leadership positions, including President and Vice President of MPPA, and has served on the Board of Directors. Throughout her career, Linda has maintained a reputation for uncompromising ethics and delivery, understanding the importance of integrity in action and the vital role procurement plays in providing services to our customers.
Owner, Inspired Growth. LLC
T. Suzette Moore, MS, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP is a highly experienced and successful leader with over thirty years in public sector procurement management and leadership. Suzette is the founder of Inspired Growth LLC, a consulting, mentoring, coaching and training company aimed at strengthening middle management in the public and private sector. She is the former Senior Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), where she led a 2.2 billion dollar annual spend for eight years. Prior to her appointment as Senior Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer for WMATA, Suzette was appointed Assistant Secretary for Procurement & Logistics for the State of Maryland Department of General Services. She reported to a cabinet level Secretary and advised all levels of state government concerning procurement laws, regulations, and policy. Preceding her appointment as Assistant Secretary, she served as the Chief Procurement Officer for the Maryland Aviation Administration where she directed and supervised the Office of Procurement, responsible for large, complex and multi-year contracts for BWI Airport. Suzette is a transformational leader and in each of these positions, she has demonstrated enthusiastic leadership, a positive attitude, and exceptional customer focus. Her can-do spirit, growth mindset and focus on continuous improvement have made positive impacts in every organization she has served. Suzette holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Norwich University.
Deputy Chief Procurement Officer & Director of Statewide Sourcing, State of South Carolina, Division of Procurement Services
Stacy Adams, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, is the Deputy Chief Procurement Officer and Director of Statewide Sourcing for the State of South Carolina, Division of Procurement Services managing the State Term Contracting Teams. With more than twenty 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 completed her term of service this year on the NIGP Governing Board and NIGP’s Talent Council as Chair. She currently serves as the Southern Region Chair for NASPO and as the Chair of SCAGPO’s Awards & Scholarship Committee and on the Past President’s Council.
Director of Operations – Chief Operating and Procurement Officer, Sourcewell
Jeremy Schwartz, CPPO, CSSBB is a distinguished leader serving as the Chief Operating and Procurement Officer (COO/CPO) at Sourcewell. One of his key accomplishments is the enhancement of procurement processes. Under his guidance, Sourcewell has implemented innovative strategies that have significantly improved operational efficiency and fostered a culture of continuous improvement. Jeremy's expertise in procurement has not only streamlined operations but also positioned Sourcewell as a leader in the industry. In addition to his contributions to procurement, Jeremy has been actively involved in the NIGP Forum. His participation in this forum has been marked by insightful presentations on various aspects of procurement. These presentations have not only showcased Jeremy's deep understanding of the field but have also provided valuable insights to peers and industry professionals. His leadership has led to the implementation of new strategies and processes that have enhanced overall performance at Sourcewell. Jeremy's ability to identify areas for improvement and drive change has been a key factor in the organization's continued success. Jeremy is also known for his commitment to team development. He has been a key figure in mentoring and developing his team, ensuring that they are well-equipped to meet the organization's goals and objectives. His leadership style is characterized by a focus on collaboration and empowerment, which has fostered a high-performance culture within his team. Innovation and technology are at the forefront of Jeremy's approach to leadership.
Chief Executive Officer, Sourcewell
Chad Coauette is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Sourcewell, a regional service cooperative based in Staples, Minnesota and recognized nationally as a leader in cooperative purchasing. With over eleven years of leadership experience at Sourcewell, Chad has been instrumental in driving organizational growth and expanding services across the country. In addition to his role at Sourcewell, Chad is actively involved in various community and professional activities. He has participated in numerous NIGP events, including Forum and Leadership Summit. Chad Coauette's impact on Sourcewell and the communities it serves is profound. His colleagues recognize Chad as an influential leader because of his strategic vision, dedication to community development, and commitment to enhancing the well-being of rural America.
Theresa Bauccio‑Teschlog, MBA, NIGP‑CPP, CPPB, began her career in private sector supply chain management in 1997. In 2001, she shifted to public procurement. Since 2001, she has worked for both cities and transits and has extensive knowledge of federal grants. Theresa currently serves as the Procurement Manager for the City of Everett, Washington, and as both a Subject Matter Expert and an NIGP instructor.
Ronald King, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, VCM, VCO, has more than 40 years of purchasing experience in both the private and public sectors. He retired in 2018 as Deputy Director, Sourcing & Contracting for the VA Department of General Services/Division of Purchases & Supply in Richmond, VA and again in 2023 from the position of Content Developer for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. He currently is a Consultant with NIGP Code and Consulting and serves as a Subject Matter Expert and an Instructor for NIGP.
Retired
William J. (Joe) Tommie Jr., MEd, CPPO, has over 40 years of experience in public procurement. In 2020, he retired as the Director of Purchasing for the Cobb County Government in Georgia. Prior to joining Cobb County, he served as the Director of Construction Procurement for the School District of Pickens County, as the Coordinator of Purchasing for the School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties, and as the Manager of Purchasing and Inventory Control, Greenwood School District 50, all in South Carolina. He continues to serve in a consulting role with an Atlanta metro city government and currently serves as an NIGP instructor.
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).
Chief Learning Officer, National Contract Management Association
Ms. Michelle Currier serves as the Chief Learning Officer for the National Contract Management Association leading education, training, and innovative practices for the Association. Prior to joining NCMA, she served as Professor of Contract Management at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). Ms. Currier brings a wealth of real-world experience from her forty-six-year career, having served with distinction as a Contracting Officer, Division Chief, Deputy Director Small Business and Director of Contracts at the Naval Research Laboratory, Military Sealift Command, Small Business Administration, Naval Sea Systems Command, and the Army Contracting Command. Ms. Currier has received numerous DAU awards and recognitions, including inductee DAU Hall of Fall, Frank J. Anderson, Jr. Leadership Award, Faculty of the Year, and Distinguished Teacher Designation. Ms. Currier was awarded the Army Superior Civilian Service Medal and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. Ms. Currier was recognized by Inside Business as one of the Top 25 Women in Business in Hampton Roads. Ms. Currier is a recognized speaker coach for TEDxDAU events.
Ms. Currier is a Past National President of the NCMA (2001-2002) and an NCMA Fellow. NCMA has recognized Michelle with the Alvis D. Keen Honorary Life Member Award, the Charles A. Dana Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Fellow Award, the NCMA Education Award, National Achievement Award and NCMA Volunteer of the Year 2017. Ms. Currier is a frequent presenter at industry and government events and currently serves on the NCMA Board of Advisors as a Past National President. She is a Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP) mentor and faculty member.
Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"
As a public procurement professional with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving and innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent twelve years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies, concentrating on the procurement and implementation of complex solutions.
In 2004, Mike obtained his CPP certification, and his CPPB certification in 2023, Additionally, Mike graduated with his Masters of Business Administration with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. He is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. When not working, he writes his monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. His spare time is spent with his wife and their five-year old son.
Chief Procurement Officer, City of Palm Bay, FL
George Barber, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, MPA, CPPB serves as the Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Palm Bay, bringing over a decade of dedicated experience in public procurement. With a career that has encompassed multiple roles across the procurement field, George has strived to develop a reputation for fostering innovative solutions, enhancing organizational efficiencies, and championing leadership development within the governmental sector. Before embarking on his career in procurement, George demonstrated his commitment to excellence on the baseball field. Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 2010 MLB Draft, he pursued a professional baseball career until an injury redirected his focus. Leveraging the resilience and teamwork honed on the field, George transitioned into public service, applying the same principles of discipline, strategy, and leadership to the procurement profession. George's academic achievements underscore his commitment to personal and professional growth. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Florida International University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Currently, he is in the final stages of completing his Ph.D. in Public Administration at Liberty University, focusing his dissertation on the efficacy of leadership development training in governmental organizations.
Director of Procurement, South Carolina State University
Stacy Gregg, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB began working in public procurement in June of 1996. Currently, she is the Director o Procurement at SC State University (Go Bulldogs!). Stacy is an Online Instructor for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. She volunteers with The Institute on the Governing Board, Member Council and Certification Commission. Stacy is an active member of the SC Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO), National Association of Educational Procurement and honorary member of the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO) and National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).
Director of Purchasing, University of South Carolina
Clarissa Clark, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB is the Purchasing Director for the University of South Carolina (USC). She is an active member of SCAGPO, and has led in almost every position of the organization. Clarissa has received numerous awards for her work in public procurement. She is well known as a subject matter expert for construction procurement, having handled projects for USC, The Citadel, Richland One, and SCDHEC. She is highly regarded for her work with SWMBEs, and as such received NIGP’s Ella Pierce Diversity & Inclusion Award in 2023. In addition to SCAGPO, Clarissa is a member of NIGP and the National Association for Educational Procurement. Currently, Clarissa is a member of NIGP’s Finance Council and previously served the organization on the Scholarship Committee. She holds the NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, and State of South Carolina levels I, II, and III Certifications. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Clemson University and master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.
Director, Contracts and Procurement, San Mateo County Transit District
Kevin Yin, NIGP-CPP, CPPB has been in procurement for more than twenty years, in both private and public sectors. Currently, he is the Director of Contracts and Procurement with the San Mateo County Transit District. Kevin is an active member at the national level and local chapters. He has served on the NIGP Member Council and Member Services Committee for more than ten years, and has been an NIGP Certified Instructor since 2010. At the local level, he has served on multiple committees and on the Board of the Oregon Public Purchasing Association Chapter, including serving as the OPPA President. Currently, he is serving as the Vice President of the Northern California Chapter of NIGP. Kevin is an NIGP Instructor and holds the NIGP-CPP and CPPB certifications.
Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Orange County Government
Zulay Millan began her career at Orange County Government in 2001. For the majority of her career, her focus has been in Procurement. Zulay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and has her NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB & FCCM certifications. Locally, she has served the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP and President, Vice President, and Secretary. In addition, Zulay has served on the Board of Directors and various committees for the National Procurement Institute since 2012 and as Chairman of various FAPPO committees since 2012. Currently, Zulay serves NIGP on the Governing Board and as Chair of the Member Council. She was appointed as Commissioner on the initial NIGP-CPP Certification Commission and serves the Institute in other capacities as needed.
Chief Procurement Officer - Capital Development Board, IL Chief Procurement Office
Art Moore, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB 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.
Assistant Superintendent for Business/CFO, Harris County Department of Education
Dr. Jesus J. Amezcua is the assistant superintendent for business services at HCDE. Amezcua holds a bachelor's degree in business and accounting from Tarkio College, a master's degree in business administration, accountancy and logistics from Texas A&M International University and a doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M University. Before joining HCDE in 2009, he worked as chief financial officer at Laredo Independent School District. Amezcua's achievements include earning multiple certificates of achievement for financial reporting and excellent budget document awards.
Director of Procurement, Harris County Department of Education
Dr. Edna E. Johnson, Ed. D., CTCM is the director of procurement services at HCDE. Johnson holds a doctoral degree in education from the University of New England, a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas Southern University. Before joining HCDE, she served as a revenue accountant and procurement manager in Spring Branch ISD. Her achievements include multiple state and national procurement awards.
Interim Chief Procurement Officer, City of Fort Worth, TX
Brandy Hazel, NIGP-CPP, CPPB is the Interim Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Fort Worth, the twelfth largest city in the United States. She has nineteen years of experience in the public sector, with thirteen of those years in procurement. Brandy has purchased high-speed police boats, helicopters, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, and everything in between. She has been the Chairperson for the NIGP Mentorship Committee for two years and has served on the committee for three years. Brandy holds the NIGP-CPP and CPPB certifications, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. Brandy is a strong believer of the servant leadership principles and credits her success to her NIGP mentors and friends.
City of Tamarac, Florida (Retired)
Keith Glatz, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, FNIGP, the 2007 NIGP Professional Manager of the Year and the 2024 Albert H. Hall Memorial Award Recipient, has more than forty-five years of purchasing experience. He has worked for the City of Tamarac, FL (Procurement & Contracts Manager), the State of Illinois (Buyer and Supervisor of Standards and Specifications), Lake County, IL (Asst. Director) and the Village of Skokie, IL (Purchasing Agent). Previously serving on the NIGP Governing Board, including as the Chair of the Governing Board during the 2015-2016 term, he currently serves on the NIGP Mentorship Committee.
Vice President, Partners for Public Good (PPG)
Elena Hoffnagle, MPP is Vice President at Partners for Public Good (PPG), where she oversees teams working to set new standards for procurement excellence and scale innovative government operations practices nationwide. Previously, Elena was a Director at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL), where she spent seven years helping to build the GPL’s procurement portfolio. This work included designing new executive education programs helping over 100 city leaders grow their potential to solve thorny problems facing their governments and leading the launch of the Procurement Excellence Network. Elena has also worked at the National League of Cities, where she managed Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties, a key part of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative to reduce childhood obesity. Elena holds a B.A. in Political Science with Distinction from Yale University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Assistant Director, Partners for Public Good (PPG)
Charley Kargman is an Assistant Director at Partners for Public Good (PPG), supporting the organization’s skills-building portfolio, where he identifies new ways to define procurement excellence, in addition to overseeing PPG’s coaching and interactive workshops on government operations. Prior to joining PPG, Charley was a Project Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL), where he led procurement transformation projects to help cities and state agencies fully realize outcomes from social service programs through more data-driven contract management. Before the GPL, he also worked at American Jewish World Service, a human rights nonprofit, where he supported their grassroots grantmaking and international education portfolios. Based out of Queens, NY, Charley holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.
Director of Government Transformation, Partners for Public Good
Rebecca Graffy is the Director of Government Transformation at Partners for Public Good, where she heads projects working directly with governments to take on their thorny operational challenges. With 15 years of experience, she has worked with governments across the world to transform procurement systems, modernize operations, and better serve their residents.
Previously, as a Director at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, Rebecca led initiatives that reoriented procurement systems to deliver $1.42 billion in contracted goods and services more efficiently, openly, and effectively. Earlier in her career, Rebecca managed programs that expanded access to high-quality healthcare products worldwide, while saving $250 million for government buyers. She also led work to advance South Africa’s malaria elimination campaign.
Heather R. Younger, J.D. is a trusted contributor to leading news outlets, like Forbes, Fast Company, Bloomberg, NBC and ABC and one of the world’s leading experts on Caring Leadership® and active listening at work. She is the visionary Founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a preeminent employee engagement and workplace culture consulting firm to Fortune 100 companies.
With over 25 years of experience in successfully managing teams, she has worked in customer experience, sales, and large account management for multi-million dollar accounts within multiple industries such as tech, staffing, healthcare, professional services, the public sector, and the financial sector. Her renowned keynote draws insights from current data and putting into practice what she teaches in her Caring Leadership Transformation Model™.
Heather’s strategies yield tangible business results, including heightened employee engagement, unwavering loyalty, seamless collaboration, and robust connectivity.
Heather's personal journey, rooted in her challenging experiences growing up as the only child of an interfaith and interracial marriage and being excluded because of her race, fueled her unwavering determination to ensure that workplaces around the world make both employees and customers alike feel heard, valued and seen.
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.
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 and Procurement Services. Kirk also served as Deputy Director of Finance 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, and an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. In August 2023, Kirk received his Master’s in Legal Studies, (MLS), from the University of Cincinnati Law School.
Kirk has received certifications in Cybersecurity Leadership and Data Security and Privacy from Cornell University.
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 was the 2023 recipient of NIGP’s Albert H. Hall Award, the highest honor awarded by the Institute.
Kirk co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing,” 3rd edition, and has published various articles concerning Procurement Case Law in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals.
Director of Purchasing, Solid Waste Authority, Palm Beach County, FL
Jodi Hart is the Director of Purchasing for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County. Jodi began her purchasing career in 1994 and has been involved in Procurement and Inventory Management in both the public and private sectors. Having worked in commodities speculative buying, medical purchasing, City/ Special District Government, K12 and higher education, Jodi has a diverse background to offer. Jodi holds the CPPB, CPPO and NIGP-CPP certifications. Jodi has earned a Master’s in Business Administration and Juris Masters Law Degree from Florida State University. Jodi prides herself in taking the theory and laws of Procurement and applying them to real world needs of a company or agency.
Jon Walton is a lawyer member of his state bar with experience in government structure and legal issues. He has been in government contracting and procurement since 1997, with specialties in contracting for construction design and engineering, information technology, and contracting for numerous economic development loan and grantmaking programs. He has managed administrative regulations, agency policies, and facilities. He has been a leader in state government procurement improvement initiatives for decades, including extensive development of enterprise contracting templates, new risk management and insurance tools, delivering training throughout state government, being a LEAN champion for process improvement and advanced procurement certification programs. Jon has been a textbook editor, curriculum developer, and long-time instructor for NIGP. He is an author and contributor for many NIGP policy position papers and Global Best Practices, and authored the “Public Procurement Guide for Senior and Elected Officials.” He was the NIGP 2015 Procurement Specialist of the year, Chair of its Legislative & Position Committee and served two terms on its Board of Directors. Jon is now devoted to his consulting work with NIGP Consulting.
Procurement Manager, Orange County Government, FL
Carrie has over twenty-five 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.), Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.), and Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM). Carrie holds a Master in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Carrie currently serves as the AEP Officer for the National Procurement Institute, and has served as Chair of the Governing Board for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, Past President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, and the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP.
Procurement Supervisor, Montana Department of Transportation
Molly has over 25 years of public procurement experience in both the private and public sectors. She is the Procurement Supervisor for the Montana 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 holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Management and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Restoration.
Molly is the current Chair-Elect of the Governing Board for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. She is Past President of the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association Chapter of NIGP (RMGPA) and past Chair of Colorado Education Purchasing Council (CEPC).
Director of Procurement, 1Goverment Procurement Alliance (1GPA)
Claudia has thirty years of procurement experience in the public sector with three school districts in Arizona. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and holds NIGP-CPP and CPPB certifications. Claudia joined 1GPA as the Director of Procurement in the fall of 2021. 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.
Senior Procurement & Contract Officer, 1Government Procurement Alliance (1GPA)
Rebecca has over twenty-five 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 as school district procurement. She joined Tempe Elementary School District’s purchasing department in 2006. 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.
Senior Procurement Officer, City of Tempe, AZ
With over twenty-eight years of purchasing experience, Lisa Goodman is a highly respected professional in the field. She holds esteemed certifications, including NIGP-CPP, CPPO, and CPPB. As the Senior Procurement Officer for the City of Tempe, Lisa passionately advocates for excellence in public procurement. Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree in supply chain management from Arizona State University. Lisa is also an active member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the National Procurement Institute and is currently serving as Secretary on the Executive Board with the Arizona Capitol Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. Lisa lives in Phoenix with her husband and two children.
Purchasing Manager, Genesee Health System
Cindy Stahmer, NIGP-CPP, CPPO's interest in purchasing started with a BA from Michigan State University in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management. Her career in procurement began in the late 80’s buying t-shirts and other printable garments for a screen printer, and from there she moved on to the distributor and buying directly from the mills, to buying green coffee for a larger retailer that roasted and sold specialty coffee and coffee drinks was my next purchasing adventure. Then it was onto project planning and facilities management at a local phone company installing fiber optics to ring the county and connect all the school districts to the ISD. Her entry into public procurement was in May of 2006 when she was hired at Genesee County Michigan where because, fortunately, she had a procedure-oriented director of high integrity, she quickly learned the RFP process and why government entities use the competitive bid process. Her other public procurement experience includes a township, Jefferson county Colorado, higher education at the University of Michigan, and now Genesee Health System.
Procurement and Materials Management Director, University of Central Missouri
Robert Walla, CPPB has been involved in public procurement for twenty-five years. Eight years in Federal and State procurement in an Agency on Aging, fifteen years in City/County procurement with the City of Lincoln/Lancaster County NE, and three years at the University of Central Missouri. Learning as much as he can to improve his skills and those of his staff and others has always been a priority for Robert. Robert holds a CPPB certification, a Materials Management Certificate from Southeast Community College, and a BS in Business Leadership. He has been a member of NIGP for over eighteen years and a member of the Missouri Association of Public Procurement for two and a half years, where her currently serves on the Board as the Scholarship Chair. He and his wife live on Lake of the Ozarks and visit Nebraska on a regular basis to see their daughters and other family.
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.)
Senior Buyer, Spokane County
Victor Leamer, CPPB has over thirty-five 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 seven-part RFP Learning Lab 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 and currently serves as Chair, produces the monthly Radio NIGP show, and is a founding member/former Vice President of the Alaska/Hawaii Governmental Procurement Association NIGP Chapter. Victor is the recipient of the Procurement Professional of the Year (2021) and the Distinguished Service Award (2023) from the Washington State NIGP Chapter.
Graybar Strategic Contract Manager – Omnia Partners Public Sector – Central U.S. Region
Responsible for Graybar’s Omnia Partners Public Sector program and internal resource for the state, local government, and education business segment. 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.
Strategic Contract Manager - Omnia Partners, Public Sector - Eastern United States
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. He holds a Public Procurement Supplier Masters Designation from NIGP. 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 25-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.
Senior Executive Business Development - Strategic Accounts, Canon USA
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.
Director of National Accounts of Government, PRO Business Division
Cameron Mickey is the Director of National Accounts of Government for our PRO Business Division for Home Depot Inc. He has been with the Home Depot for thirty-seven years and for the past twelve years, his responsibilities surrounded the Training and developing Home Depot associates to be able to support local government for the Home Depot US stores. He is dedicated to making sure that all Government agencies have a procurement solution from all sectors of the Business to Business and that they comply with the procurement standards. Cameron has been a member of the NIGP Business Council for the past six Years. He also is responsible for working with the Home Depot contracts team to support National CO-OP partnership with OMNIA Partners to ensure that all levels of the states, local government, universities, K-12, and non-profits are able to utilize the Home Depot contracts to save the time and money with The Home Depot local stores and Home Depot.com. The Home Depot has more than 2400 locations across the country to help support the procurement needs of state and local government.
Chief Product Officer, SOVRA
Mike joined mdf commerce in 2024 as Chief Product Officer, where he oversees the development of the product roadmap, strategy, and innovation to drive growth and deliver value to customers. With a focus on public sector technology, he leads initiatives to advance GovTech solutions and streamline government operations for greater efficiency and impact. With extensive experience in SaaS software and over fifteen years specializing in public sector procurement and GovTech, Mike has established himself as a recognized leader in the field. Prior to joining mdf, he founded and successfully led MPC Consulting, a strategy and advisory firm specializing in Source-to-Pay, Procurement Operations, and Supply Chain digital transformation. In this role, he partnered with organizations to deliver measurable improvements and transformative GovTech solutions.
Director of Strategic Partnerships, Enterprise Mobility
Ryan Benhoff is Director of Strategic Partnerships for Enterprise Mobility. In this role, he is responsible for coordinating the business development strategy for the Public Sector.
With twenty-four years of operations, sales, and sales management experience at Enterprise; Ryan works collaboratively with our strategic partners to create and develop customized solutions that deliver value and enhance travel programs.
Ryan, graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Economics & Finance. He lives in St. Louis, MO with his wife Kim and daughters Natalie and Stella. 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.
Ben Whiting works with organizations that want to tap into the Limitless Potential of their greatest resource: their people.
Drawing on his background as an international leadership development consultant, Ben teaches simple skills and actionable strategies that immediately create cultures of engagement, self-motivation, and true fulfillment in day-to-day work.
Combining his experience in leadership development with his background in corporate entertainment (magic & mind reading) and professional theater, Ben’s unique formula creates keynote experiences that are fun, memorable, and – most of all – meaningful, ensuring you will remember what you learn long after he leaves the stage.
Director of Government Relations, Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW)
Kim Cullen is the Director of Government Relations at Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW). Bringing over twenty-five years of marketing and customer relations experience to the team, her areas of focus include industry insight, customer engagement and education within the public sector, specifically surrounding IT hardware and software. Kim an active member of the NIGP Business Council, NIGP Marketing Taskforce Leader, 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.
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.
Procurement Practice Leader, DRS Academy Director
As the Procurement Practice Leader and DRS Academy Director for Delivering Results and Solutions (DRS), Shelley focuses on public entity risk management assessment and procurement and contracting strategies in the facilitation of complex disaster recovery projects. She serves as a subject matter expert in federal and state grant procurement and contracting for DRS. She is also passionate about educating public entities in the areas of federal and state grants management and leadership of teams that promote community resiliency. Shelley is the founding director of DRS Academy, which educates thousands of public entities, higher-education, and private and non-private teams each year in building workforce capacity to build expertise in managing federal grant funding to build for a better tomorrow. Prior to her tenure with DRS, Shelley served for thirteen years as the Chief Procurement Officer and Risk Manager for a large public entity, where she managed millions of dollars in federal disaster recovery, ensuring procurement and contracting processes were aligned with federal requirements. Shelley is in her sixth year of service on the NIGP Business Council.
Managing Consultant, Procurement
Sarah Stanley, CPA, MBA serves as a Managing Consultant for the DRS team in the Procurement Practice, where she leads public entities and private healthcare clients in managing federal grant procurement funding and compliance. Having spent her early career in the field of auditing, Sarah brings a wealth of knowledge related to cost/price analysis, proper documentation, and contract review and compliance. A notable achievement in Sarah’s work is the protection of multi-million dollars of federal grant COVID-19 funding for one of the largest private non-profit healthcare organizations in the United States. Sarah has achieved the NIGP Public Procurement Supplier Essentials designation, establishing her as a distinguished team member ready to support the unique needs of public entities and private non-profit organizations.
COO and President, Disaster Recovery Services
Dr. Kim Abrego, PT, DPT and her team at Delivering Results and Solutions (DRS) have recovered billions of dollars for public entities, private healthcare, higher education, and private non-profit organizations across the country through FEMA’s Public Assistance program and state funding programs. With funding clawbacks often tied to procurement and contracting missteps, Kim has a keen interest in educating and supporting public procurement professionals in the areas of disaster preparedness, disaster recovery, and grants management to optimize financial and physical recovery to build resilient communities. Kim works with cooperative purchasing groups and suppliers in the disaster recovery space to implement strategies that ensure readiness to support entities in their time of need. Kim has achieved the NIGP Public Procurement Supplier Masters designation and is serving as the Chair of the NIGP Business Council through 2025.
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 more than twenty-five 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.
Public Sector- Major Account Manager, Cintas
Eric B. McCalpine is the Public Sector Major Account Manager for Cintas, fostering successful relationships with lead public agencies and district customers. He is a dedicated professional at the center of your program, coordinating all sales activity and working to ensure that our products and services provide the most value for your agency, while helping you save time and money and stay focused on your operations. He represents Cintas in the Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi regions.
Beginning his career with Cintas in 2005 as a Service Sales Representative, Eric has held multiple sales positions throughout his more than seventeen years with Cintas — including spending more than five years in our Public Sector segment serving cities, counties and special districts. Eric’s national experience gives him a proven track record with leading agencies and districts, and he leverages that experience to bring you best practices and tailored solutions specific to your agency needs.
A graduate of Stillman College with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Eric also holds a master’s degree in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College. He is a Deacon at Beulah Baptist Church and lives in the Tuscaloosa, Alabama area with his wife, Shea and daughter, Erin.
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.
Chief Learning Officer, National Contract Management Association
Ms. Michelle Currier serves as the Chief Learning Officer for the National Contract Management Association leading education, training, and innovative practices for the Association. Prior to joining NCMA, she served as Professor of Contract Management at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). Ms. Currier brings a wealth of real-world experience from her forty-six-year career, having served with distinction as a Contracting Officer, Division Chief, Deputy Director Small Business and Director of Contracts at the Naval Research Laboratory, Military Sealift Command, Small Business Administration, Naval Sea Systems Command, and the Army Contracting Command. Ms. Currier has received numerous DAU awards and recognitions, including inductee DAU Hall of Fall, Frank J. Anderson, Jr. Leadership Award, Faculty of the Year, and Distinguished Teacher Designation. Ms. Currier was awarded the Army Superior Civilian Service Medal and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. Ms. Currier was recognized by Inside Business as one of the Top 25 Women in Business in Hampton Roads. Ms. Currier is a recognized speaker coach for TEDxDAU events.
Ms. Currier is a Past National President of the NCMA (2001-2002) and an NCMA Fellow. NCMA has recognized Michelle with the Alvis D. Keen Honorary Life Member Award, the Charles A. Dana Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Fellow Award, the NCMA Education Award, National Achievement Award and NCMA Volunteer of the Year 2017. Ms. Currier is a frequent presenter at industry and government events and currently serves on the NCMA Board of Advisors as a Past National President. She is a Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP) mentor and faculty member.
Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"
As a public procurement professional with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving and innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent twelve years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies, concentrating on the procurement and implementation of complex solutions.
In 2004, Mike obtained his CPP certification, and his CPPB certification in 2023, Additionally, Mike graduated with his Masters of Business Administration with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. He is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. When not working, he writes his monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. His spare time is spent with his wife and their five-year old son.
VP of Programs and Development, Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council
Kris leads the programs strategy, development and deployment efforts for the SPLC, ensuring an effective and impact-focused approach in support of advancing and scaling sustainable procurement efforts across all types of purchasing organizations. Prior to SPLC, Kris was a Supply Chain Sustainability Manager at Cisco Systems focused on supply chain greenhouse gas emissions, environmental compliance, learning and development, and new product program management. Kris is a certified ISSP Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) and holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sustainable Purchasing Coordinator, Multnomah County
Shawn Postera, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, CPP leads with curiosity and compassion, and connects the seemingly chaotic to achieve big picture results.
Shawn is committed to creating tools that are practical guides that initiate systemic change in the purchase of goods and services that have measurable outcomes in the form of positive impacts by infusing sustainability values into how we procure goods and services. She assists stakeholders through intentional and thoughtful processes that assess organizational readiness, describes current directions and strategies, identifies inequities and injustices, all the while allowing space to reflect upon and understand strengths, challenges, and ways to eliminate injustices, celebrate successes and lessons learned for continual improvement.
Integrating equity into our work at all levels of an organization takes time, commitment, resources, an innovative supportive culture, and the ability to maintain a sense of urgency while simultaneously practicing humility and patience.
Small Business Development Coordinator, City of Little Rock, AR
Kiana Ward is a dedicated Procurement Data Analyst with the City of Little Rock, where she has been making meaningful contributions for nearly two years. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Kiana plays a crucial role in supporting her team and external vendors by developing and executing effective procurement strategies. Her work includes collaborating with various City departments and vendors to address their needs while guiding them through procurement processes. As a member of the 2025 NIGP Leadership Edge program, Kiana is committed to continual personal and professional growth in public procurement. Beyond her analysis duties, she develops and delivers training to ensure both team members and vendors navigate procurement systems effectively. Kiana is also passionate about mentorship and education. She leads a collaborative program between the City of Little Rock and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, guiding university students each fall. Through hands-on experience with procurement data, she equips them with essential skills in data analysis and procurement practices. In addition to her professional achievements, Kiana hosted a successful vendor expo for the City of Little Rock, highlighting minority vendors alongside other local government agencies. She is the lead contact for data on the city's first disparity study and actively participates in the City’s Data Governance Team, led by the City’s Chief Data Officer. Kiana’s work on data reports is crucial in identifying and creating procurement opportunities. Outside of work, Kiana is a proud mother of three boys. She enjoys spending time in nature, reading, traveling, and seeking out new experiences with her family. She believes in finding a balance between her career and personal life, allowing her to stay energized and focused in both areas.
Procurement Manager, City of Little Rock, AR
Vitesh is passionate about supplier equity, vendor outreach, energy drinks, and butter chicken. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in business along with a master's degree in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas. Vitesh has worked in various roles in supply chain management and procurement over the last ten years. Vitesh currently holds the title, Procurement Manager at the City of Little Rock, where he currently oversees Procurement, Small Business Development, and Printing and Mailing Services. Outside of work, Vitesh can be found being a jungle gym for his two daughters, Amelia and Avah, and working at his family business. He loves to travel and ride roller coasters.
Senior Procurement Analyst, City of Little Rock, AR
Lisa King is a previous experienced Administrative Assistant and a current Senior Procurement Analyst with a proven track record of providing exceptional support and strategic procurement services in fast-paced environments. With ten years of experience, Lisa excels in streamlining administrative processes, managing schedules, coordinating communications, and supporting senior management.
As a previous Administrative Assistant, Lisa is highly skilled in managing office operations, handling complex calendars, and ensuring seamless daily functions. In addition, Lisa brings expertise in procurement management, having negotiated contracts, maintained vendor relationships, and contributed to cost-saving initiatives. Lisa’s ability to analyze procurement trends, develop strategies, and ensure compliance with policies has resulted in successful outcomes for both short-term and long-term projects.
With a strong attention to detail and a passion for efficiency, Lisa consistently delivers high-quality results and plays a vital role in supporting business growth and operational success.
Assistant Director, Partners for Public Good (PPG)
Charley Kargman is an Assistant Director at Partners for Public Good (PPG), supporting the organization’s skills-building portfolio, where he identifies new ways to define procurement excellence, in addition to overseeing PPG’s coaching and interactive workshops on government operations. Prior to joining PPG, Charley was a Project Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL), where he led procurement transformation projects to help cities and state agencies fully realize outcomes from social service programs through more data-driven contract management. Before the GPL, he also worked at American Jewish World Service, a human rights nonprofit, where he supported their grassroots grantmaking and international education portfolios. Based out of Queens, NY, Charley holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago.
Victoria (Vickey) Cortinas, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M. Vickey is a seasoned procurement professional with extensive experience in municipal government, specializing in a wide range of procurement disciplines. Over the years, she has successfully led and managed areas including design and construction, goods and services procurement, accounts payable, contract administration, Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs, pCard, and Davis-Bacon and Related Acts compliance. Currently serving as the Interim Procurement Manager for the City of Stockton, California, Vickey has been in this role since November 2023 through NIGP Consulting. She brings a wealth of expertise gained from her years of leadership and hands-on experience in procurement. Vickey holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona and has been a dedicated member of the Copper Chapter of NIGP and NIGP, the Institute, since 1997. A passionate advocate for public procurement, she co-created Professional Buyer’s Day in 2015 with Nathan Daou and is the recipient of several prestigious awards, including NIGP Manager of the Year (2018) and Copper Chapter Manager of the Year (2014). Vickey has served in various leadership roles within NIGP, including as President of the Copper Chapter, Vice President, and member of the NIGP Member Council. She is currently serves on the NIGP Awards Task Force and a mentor in the NIGP Mentor Program, where she met her co-presenter, Jessica Conners. On a personal note, she enjoys spending time with her husband of thirty-three years, their three children, four AMAZING grandchildren, and three beloved dogs who "picked her."
Purchasing Specialist, City of Longview Texas
Jessica Connor, NIGP-CPP, CPPB has over fourteen years of public sector experience with the City of Longview, Texas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from East Texas Baptist University and is dually certified with the CPPB and NIGP-CPP certifications. An active member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP), Jessica recently joined the Pipeline and Placement Committee, further expanding her commitment to the field of procurement. With a unique blend of finance and procurement expertise, Jessica served in critical roles within Finance for nearly ten years, specializing in Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, before transitioning to her current role as a senior Procurement Specialist. Her extensive experience in both fields has shaped her belief that when Finance and Procurement collaborate as partners, an organization can achieve a competitive advantage and drive success in meeting its overall mission and goals. In addition to her volunteer work with NIGP, Jessica is the current Vice President for the Southwestern Region Chapter of the Institute of Financial Management (IOFM), where she focuses on the procure-to-pay process. Passionate about promoting the value of procurement, Jessica is dedicated to advancing best practices in the field. She leverages innovative strategies to improve processes and ensure quality control, while actively bridging the gap between financial and procurement operations.
Procurement Operations Manager, Multnomah County, OR
Emilie Schulhoff, NIGP-CPP, CPPB has over sixteen years of experience working with Multnomah County in the procurement field. She has extensive knowledge and experience in human services contracting, contracting policy and procedure, business process development and implementation, and leadership. Emilie's background includes managing social work programs as a program director in the non-profit sector, working as a contract specialist, senior procurement analyst, contracting supervisor, and currently as a procurement operations manager. She has supported and coordinated large human services solicitations, complex contracting solutions and currently leads the organizations contracting system and process. Emilie has a bachelor of science, and is certified by NIGP as a NIGP-CPP, and by the UPPCC as a CPPB and currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
Senior Contract Specialist, Multnomah County - Purchasing - DCHS
Lailah Hamblin has been with Multnomah County for eighteen years. She started as a Research and Evaluation Analyst for the Department of Community Justice, then moved over to Procurement and Contracting as a Contract Specialist, eventually being promoted to Contract Specialist Senior. Lailah has been a Contract Specialist Senior for the County's Joint Office of Homeless Services and is currently in the same position at the Department of County Human Services, Youth and Family Services. Lailah was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, where she still resides and holds a BA in Sociology from Whitman College and a MS in Sociology from Portland State University.
Senior IT Manager - Emerging Technology
Principal Procurement Analyst, The State Bar of California
With over two decades of experience in the public sector, Kimberly Barnard, NIGP-CPP, CPPB is currently the Principal Procurement Analyst for The State Bar of California. Her career has taken her from intelligence analysis at the Department of Defense to leading capital improvements and procurement efforts at the Marin Housing Authority. Most recently, Kim spent three years creating technology contracts at the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway & Transportation District—an experience ignited her love of the complexities of public sector tech procurement. Kim is happiest when collaborating with technologists to create innovative procurement strategies and deliver technology solutions. She's passionate about building and sharing high-quality contracts with other public agencies, and enjoys helping vendors better understand how cooperative contracts work in the public sector. In 2024 alone, she issued eight cooperative on-call IT professional services contracts. Kim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Near Eastern Languages & Cultures from Indiana University – Bloomington. She also attended the Graduate Program for Urban Planning and Policy at American University in Beirut and earned a Certificate in Construction Management from UC Davis. When she's not helping shape procurement strategies, Kim co-chairs the GovAi Coalition’s Cooperative Purchasing Committee, serves on the Board of Directors for the National Procurement Institute, and is a proud member of the Bay Area Procurement Alliance.
Harford County Public Schools (Retired)
Ms. Bobbie Tolston, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, retired after a distinguished twenty-five-year career in public procurement management. Her expertise has shaped the operations of various public agencies, including school district, water utilities and municipal governments. Renowned for her leadership and innovative approach, Bobbie has significantly influenced public procurement through technology adoption and best practices. In 2024, Bobbie was honored with the NIGP Integrity Award for her exceptional servant leadership. She has actively volunteered with the NIGP Talent Council and served as a Liaison to the Mentorship Committee. As a Pathways Instructor for NIGP, she has been instrumental in developing and teaching courses, with the most recent course being the Request for Proposal (RFP)– Advanced Certificate course. She hosts a popular segment on NIGP Radio, "Deeper Dive—'make a splash'," where she delves into important topics with insight and depth. Post-retirement, Bobbie has embraced a holistic journey of self-care, focusing on her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. This new chapter has allowed her to share her experiences and contribute to others' healing.
Author, Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Behavioral Consultant & Owner - M. L. Coss and Associates, LLC
Lourdes Coss, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, MPA is a transformational leader and former Chief Procurement Officer with a more than thirty-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”.
Chief Procurement Officer, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN
Jody Jacoby, NIGP-CPP, CPPO’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, she leads a high functioning team of thirty-six 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).
Regional Vice President, South Central, OMNIA Partners
Scott Wilson, Regional Vice President for OMNIA Partners, has been heavily involved in the world of cooperative purchasing for almost twenty years. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the team including expertise in sales and supplier relations. He is focused on growing the organization's relationships as well as the business itself.
Chief Procurement Officer, City and County of Denver, CO
Lance Jay is a seasoned procurement expert with over three decades of experience in both the hospitality and government sectors. As the Chief Procurement Officer for the City and County of Denver, he leads a team responsible for managing over $700 million in goods and services, surplus property activities, and asset inventory management. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the most renowned global brands, including The Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line, Gaylord Hotels, Marriott International, and Millennium Hotels. His expertise in navigating complex procurement landscapes has made him a leader in delivering value-driven solutions with agility and efficiency.
A strong advocate for small, women, and minority-owned businesses (SWMBE), Lance prioritizes outreach, training, and certification opportunities to help diverse vendors access business with the city. Under his leadership, Denver has successfully awarded over $242.7 million in contracts to MWSBE entities in the past two years. Guided by his personal mantra— "Seek first to understand, then to be understood"—he believes in thinking big, acting with precision, and embracing adaptability to drive impact in procurement and beyond.
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 and Procurement Services. Kirk also served as Deputy Director of Finance 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, and an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. In August 2023, Kirk received his Master’s in Legal Studies, (MLS), from the University of Cincinnati Law School.
Kirk has received certifications in Cybersecurity Leadership and Data Security and Privacy from Cornell University.
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 was the 2023 recipient of NIGP’s Albert H. Hall Award, the highest honor awarded by the Institute.
Kirk co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing,” 3rd edition, and has published various articles concerning Procurement Case Law in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals.
Director of Purchasing, Solid Waste Authority, Palm Beach County, FL
Jodi Hart is the Director of Purchasing for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County. Jodi began her purchasing career in 1994 and has been involved in Procurement and Inventory Management in both the public and private sectors. Having worked in commodities speculative buying, medical purchasing, City/ Special District Government, K12 and higher education, Jodi has a diverse background to offer. Jodi holds the CPPB, CPPO and NIGP-CPP certifications. Jodi has earned a Master’s in Business Administration and Juris Masters Law Degree from Florida State University. Jodi prides herself in taking the theory and laws of Procurement and applying them to real world needs of a company or agency.
Jon Walton is a lawyer member of his state bar with experience in government structure and legal issues. He has been in government contracting and procurement since 1997, with specialties in contracting for construction design and engineering, information technology, and contracting for numerous economic development loan and grantmaking programs. He has managed administrative regulations, agency policies, and facilities. He has been a leader in state government procurement improvement initiatives for decades, including extensive development of enterprise contracting templates, new risk management and insurance tools, delivering training throughout state government, being a LEAN champion for process improvement and advanced procurement certification programs. Jon has been a textbook editor, curriculum developer, and long-time instructor for NIGP. He is an author and contributor for many NIGP policy position papers and Global Best Practices, and authored the “Public Procurement Guide for Senior and Elected Officials.” He was the NIGP 2015 Procurement Specialist of the year, Chair of its Legislative & Position Committee and served two terms on its Board of Directors. Jon is now devoted to his consulting work with NIGP Consulting.
VP of Programs and Development, Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council
Kris leads the programs strategy, development and deployment efforts for the SPLC, ensuring an effective and impact-focused approach in support of advancing and scaling sustainable procurement efforts across all types of purchasing organizations. Prior to SPLC, Kris was a Supply Chain Sustainability Manager at Cisco Systems focused on supply chain greenhouse gas emissions, environmental compliance, learning and development, and new product program management. Kris is a certified ISSP Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) and holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sustainable Purchasing Coordinator, Multnomah County
Shawn Postera, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, CPP leads with curiosity and compassion, and connects the seemingly chaotic to achieve big picture results.
Shawn is committed to creating tools that are practical guides that initiate systemic change in the purchase of goods and services that have measurable outcomes in the form of positive impacts by infusing sustainability values into how we procure goods and services. She assists stakeholders through intentional and thoughtful processes that assess organizational readiness, describes current directions and strategies, identifies inequities and injustices, all the while allowing space to reflect upon and understand strengths, challenges, and ways to eliminate injustices, celebrate successes and lessons learned for continual improvement.
Integrating equity into our work at all levels of an organization takes time, commitment, resources, an innovative supportive culture, and the ability to maintain a sense of urgency while simultaneously practicing humility and patience.
Procurement Manager, Rural Authorities of Alberta
Stéphanie Dion, NIGP-CPP, CPPB is a senior public procurement leader with twenty years of experience with various types of public entities in Canada. She is the Procurement Manager for Canoe Procurement of Canada. She holds NIGP-CPP certification. Stéphanie was previously the Director, Procurement Centre of Excellence with the Government of Manitoba. She graduated university with a teaching degree and has been involved with professional development in various capacities including as an NIGP instructor and the RFPDreamTeam. She has been an active volunteer and advisor with professional associations since 2012 and was appointed as a member of the NIGP Certification Commission and Talent Council. She contributed a few articles to Supply Pro Magazine and is the recipient of NIGP’s 2021 Buyer of the Year Award.
Senior Buyer, Spokane County
Victor Leamer, CPPB has over thirty-five 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 seven-part RFP Learning Lab 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 and currently serves as Chair, produces the monthly Radio NIGP show, and is a founding member/former Vice President of the Alaska/Hawaii Governmental Procurement Association NIGP Chapter. Victor is the recipient of the Procurement Professional of the Year (2021) and the Distinguished Service Award (2023) from the Washington State NIGP Chapter.
Deputy Secretary for Procurement, State of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services
Brian Esposito is the Deputy Secretary for Procurement for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Department of General Services. Prior to his appointment, Brian served as the Chief Procurement Officer in the Department of General Services' Bureau of Procurement.
In his current position, Esposito oversees the Bureau of Procurement (BOP), Bureau of Vehicle Management (BVM), Bureau of Supply & Surplus Operations (BSSO) and the Office of Enterprise Wireless Management (OEWM).
Brian has more than thirteen years of public sector procurement experience, having filled a post where he took on increasing responsibility with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York. Deputy Secretary Esposito has held staff and management positions including Customer Service Specialist, Special Duty Supervisor, Senior Process Specialist, Associate Staff Analyst, Purchasing Supervisor, Manager-Capital Construction/Program Management, and Assistant Director of Material Management, gaining exposure to and experience to all aspects of supply chain & procurement. Prior to joining the MTA, Brian enjoyed a short stint with American Lawyer Media and multi-year experience working on the vendor side of the supply chain as an account executive for Ricoh Business Solutions, providing a different perspective for purchasing, negotiation, contract structure and management.
Brian holds a bachelor's degree in Corporate Communications from the College of Staten Island (part of the City University of New York system).
Program Manager, GovMVMT
David Kidd serves as Director of Program Management for GovMVMT, the premier purchasing cooperative offering both public agencies and supplier partners innovative procurement solutions in the marketplace.
Since his first experience in the public sector, working with the University of Florida at their North Florida Research and Education Center, it was evident that all the future sales and entrepreneurial opportunities were preparing this Florida native for opportunities around his passion with public sector Government.
After graduating from the University of Florida and building a successful industrial supply company with his friend; David found his way back to the public sector with an opportunity to manage a southeast territory for U.S. Communities in 2009. Quickly growing his responsibility to managing ten states, he embarked on almost a decade with the team and was able to become National Director of sales, managing a team responsible for a $1.4B territory.
After U.S. Communities, David accepted a National Director of sales role with Safeware Inc., managing the sales team in the southeastern United States. While at Safeware, David helped his team and his company experience their most profitable year ever, grow to a national distributor, and develop a national cooperative contract strategy for their public sector business.
David joins the GovMVMT team with a desire to reestablish the standard in public sector cooperative programs, with the highest ethical standards, a public agency first focus, and true nonprofit structure with public benefit programs and initiatives. He brings over a decade of experience and perspective in the industry by working with a national cooperative, a supplier, and a public agency.
When he isn’t serving his customers and team, David enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, Haden and Connor. He also enjoys being active in his church, community, the outdoors, golfing and cheering for his Florida Gators.
Secretary General of the State of Pennsylvania, State of Pennsylvania, Department of General Services
Reggie McNeil was unanimously confirmed on June 7, 2023 by the Pennsylvania Senate to serve as Pennsylvania's 11th Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS), making him the first African American to hold that cabinet position. Governor Josh Shapiro nominated McNeil on February 1, 2023.
As secretary of the Department of General Services, McNeil oversees Pennsylvania's state government operating agency responsible for the procurement of goods and services, the management of non-highway capital projects, the management of the commonwealth's real estate portfolio, increasing and advancing contracting opportunities for small and small diverse businesses, the expansion of energy sustainability and conservation activities, and the maintenance and protection of state-owned buildings and facilities.
McNeil's long history of servant leadership began as a naval officer in the United States Navy Civil Engineer Corps where he gained executive-level experience in facilities management. After twenty-two years of military service, he transitioned into public education, serving as executive director of Capital Programs in the Charleston County School District in Charleston, South Carolina, as well as chief operating officer of the School District of Philadelphia.
McNeil holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Memphis; a master of science in construction engineering management from the University of Florida; a technical project management certificate from The Citadel; and public education leadership certification from Yale University's School of Management program.
Reggie McNeil has over twentyfive years of experience in leadership, process improvement, strategic facilities investment planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, acquisition and programming. He was strategically assigned to lead administrative and technical professionals in the execution of critical facility requirements for the state of Pennsylvania. Reggie is an accomplished leader in team building and mentorship that spans across international waters.
Purchasing and Contracts Manager, City of Longmont
Valerie Scott, NIGP-CPP, CPPB is the Purchasing and Contracts division manager for the City of Longmont. She has over a decade of professional public procurement experience including higher education and municipal government. She attained her Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) credential in 2013, and her National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Certified Procurement Professional credential (NIGP-CPP) in 2021. She is a past president of the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association (RMGPA) and served on its Board of Directors for five years. She currently serves on the Talent Council for NIGP, the Board of Directors for the Safe Shelter of the St. Vrain Valley, and the Board of Directors for 5th Element Center for Dance. She earned her B.A. in economics from Colorado State University and Master of Legal Studies at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Founder & Chairman of the Board | Leadership Society of Arizona; Managing Director | Kashiwagi Solution Model Inc.; Assistant Director | Performance Based Studies Research Group
Dr. Kashiwagi is a thought leader in the areas of education, leadership development, procurement, and supply chain management. He received his PhD from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the area of Supply Chain Management. His research led him to co-develop the Best Value Approach, a revolutionary and international renowned approach to business. His groundbreaking model is the most licensed technology out of Arizona State University in the past twenty years (sixty-one licenses) and has been tested on over 2,000 projects valued over $6 billion in services, with a 98% success rating (on time, within budget, and client highly satisfied), and savings of 10-30% on all project costs. The global success of the Best Value Approach inspired Dr. Jacob to author the No-Influence Leadership Model, a radical approach to teaching leadership skills to students and professionals. This unique methodology emphasizes that effective leadership is about understanding and aligning expertise without attempting to change or influence others. This leadership model led Dr. Kashiwagi to create the Leadership Society of Arizona (LSA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization focused on helping high school students to be successful. Using his professional and educational experience, he has taught this approach to over 8,000 management professionals, 1,500 college students, and 1,200 high school students. He has personally mentored over 150 students helping them use the No-Influence Leadership Model to develop lucrative careers and overcome personal instability (substance abuse, family trauma, depression, severe anxiety etc.). Today, Dr. Kashiwagi continues to champion programs to advance the field of leadership development by presenting to large groups, inspiring young people, giving back to the community and publishing books. His most recent book “In Search for Truth” has gone to sell hundreds of copies and help professionals, parents, and students all over the world.
Director of Pre-Construction, ECI Site Construction Management Inc.
Ian Mestdagh has held numerous roles during his time at ECI, allowing him a unique expertise in many facets of the company. Now as the Director of Pre-Construction, he leads the pre-construction department with his primary focus on ECI’s best value, CM/GC, and design-build project delivery. He provides leadership and technical problem-solving support for all project teams, and his extensive experience working on ECI’s most challenging projects has given him the ability to strategize in even the most complicated situations. During his free time, Ian enjoys spending time with his family, traveling to new places, and cheering on his daughter at her sporting events.
Chief Procurement Officer, Houston Community College, Procurement Operations Department, TX
Dietrich von Biedenfeld, CPPO is an attorney, educator, and public servant based in Texas. He is the interim Chief Procurement Officer of the Houston Community College System “on loan” from the University of Houston-Downtown where he is a professor teaching courses in business, law, and supply chain management. Dietrich has extensive experience in government procurement, having worked as a contracts officer for various educational institutions, served as a State Senate confirmed member of the Texas Council on Purchasing from People with Disabilities, and provided budget oversight for a decade on West Columbia’s City Council. Dietrich provides pro bono representation of veterans and participates on various boards, commissions, and councils.
Director of Procurement Operations and Sourcing, Houston Community College System
Yasmeen Hasan brings more than fifteen years of leadership in the private and public sector procurement space. A highly credentialed subject matter expert, Ms. Hasan is newly appointed to a director role. Ms. Hasan has led a team of more than ten people in building contract administration and sourcing solutions.
Harford County Public Schools (Retired)
Ms. Bobbie Tolston, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, retired after a distinguished twenty-five-year career in public procurement management. Her expertise has shaped the operations of various public agencies, including school district, water utilities and municipal governments. Renowned for her leadership and innovative approach, Bobbie has significantly influenced public procurement through technology adoption and best practices. In 2024, Bobbie was honored with the NIGP Integrity Award for her exceptional servant leadership. She has actively volunteered with the NIGP Talent Council and served as a Liaison to the Mentorship Committee. As a Pathways Instructor for NIGP, she has been instrumental in developing and teaching courses, with the most recent course being the Request for Proposal (RFP)– Advanced Certificate course. She hosts a popular segment on NIGP Radio, "Deeper Dive—'make a splash'," where she delves into important topics with insight and depth. Post-retirement, Bobbie has embraced a holistic journey of self-care, focusing on her mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. This new chapter has allowed her to share her experiences and contribute to others' healing.
Author, Certified Coach, Trainer, Speaker, Behavioral Consultant & Owner - M. L. Coss and Associates, LLC
Lourdes Coss, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, MPA is a transformational leader and former Chief Procurement Officer with a more than thirty-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”.
Chief Procurement Officer, Metropolitan Council, St. Paul, MN
Jody Jacoby, NIGP-CPP, CPPO’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, she leads a high functioning team of thirty-six 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).
An educational behaviorist (one of very few in the world) and a globally recognized speaker and scholar, Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe is also your friendly neighborhood scientist who makes life make sense! With a treasure trove of awards and a worldwide following, she's on a mission to empower leaders and teams everywhere with practical strategies for fostering resiliency and making stress your ally, not your enemy.
Dr. Robyne embodies her teachings by seamlessly blending real-world realities, rigorous research, and profound wisdom with her own personal journey. A mother of three teenagers, a high school dropout turned respected professor, author, entrepreneur and survivor of a life-altering accident, her life story exemplifies her unwavering dedication of spreading resilience. Dr. Robyne proves that it is not just a theory, but a transformative skill set.
Known for her engaging delivery, Dr. Robyne crafts experiences that integrate scientific research with inspirational narratives into actionable insights across diverse platforms. Her approachability and relatability shine through, inspiring individuals and organizations to face challenges with confidence.
Procurement Manager, Orange County Government, FL
Carrie has over twenty-five 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.), Accredited Purchasing Practitioner (A.P.P.), and Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM). Carrie holds a Master in Public Administration from the University of Central Florida. Carrie currently serves as the AEP Officer for the National Procurement Institute, and has served as Chair of the Governing Board for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement, Past President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials, and the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP.
Chief Learning Officer, National Contract Management Association
Ms. Michelle Currier serves as the Chief Learning Officer for the National Contract Management Association leading education, training, and innovative practices for the Association. Prior to joining NCMA, she served as Professor of Contract Management at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). Ms. Currier brings a wealth of real-world experience from her forty-six-year career, having served with distinction as a Contracting Officer, Division Chief, Deputy Director Small Business and Director of Contracts at the Naval Research Laboratory, Military Sealift Command, Small Business Administration, Naval Sea Systems Command, and the Army Contracting Command. Ms. Currier has received numerous DAU awards and recognitions, including inductee DAU Hall of Fall, Frank J. Anderson, Jr. Leadership Award, Faculty of the Year, and Distinguished Teacher Designation. Ms. Currier was awarded the Army Superior Civilian Service Medal and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. Ms. Currier was recognized by Inside Business as one of the Top 25 Women in Business in Hampton Roads. Ms. Currier is a recognized speaker coach for TEDxDAU events.
Ms. Currier is a Past National President of the NCMA (2001-2002) and an NCMA Fellow. NCMA has recognized Michelle with the Alvis D. Keen Honorary Life Member Award, the Charles A. Dana Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Fellow Award, the NCMA Education Award, National Achievement Award and NCMA Volunteer of the Year 2017. Ms. Currier is a frequent presenter at industry and government events and currently serves on the NCMA Board of Advisors as a Past National President. She is a Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP) mentor and faculty member.
Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"
As a public procurement professional with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving and innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent twelve years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies, concentrating on the procurement and implementation of complex solutions.
In 2004, Mike obtained his CPP certification, and his CPPB certification in 2023, Additionally, Mike graduated with his Masters of Business Administration with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. He is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. When not working, he writes his monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. His spare time is spent with his wife and their five-year old son.
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 Agent, City of Knoxville
Penny Owens, NIGP-CPP, CPPO has over thirty years’ experience in public procurement, both local and federal government, which covers nearly all aspects of procurement. She spent 16 years at the Oak Ridge National Lab in procurement and the past seventeen years at the City of Knoxville in Tennessee. She currently serves as the City’s Purchasing Agent, leading the Purchasing Division, which includes the City’s surplus property sales and the Small Business and Diversity Business Outreach Office. Penny holds a bachelors’ degree in Business, an NIGP-Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) certification, and a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) certification. Penny is an active member of the East Tennessee Purchasing Association (ETPA), the Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (TAPP), and NIGP, The Institute for Public Procurement. Penny is a past President of both ETPA and TAPP and currently serves as a committee chair for both chapters. She is a member of NIGP’s Consulting team and is a member of the Radio NIGP staff. ETPA awarded Penny the 2016 Buyer of the Year and Volunteer of Year award, the 2021 Manager of the Year award, and was recognized as NIGP’s Volunteer of the Year in 2023.
Director of Procurement, South Carolina State University
Stacy Gregg, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB began working in public procurement in June of 1996. Currently, she is the Director o Procurement at SC State University (Go Bulldogs!). Stacy is an Online Instructor for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. She volunteers with The Institute on the Governing Board, Member Council and Certification Commission. Stacy is an active member of the SC Association of Governmental Purchasing Officials (SCAGPO), National Association of Educational Procurement and honorary member of the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials (IAPPO) and National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).
CEO and Co-Founder, Beacon Bid
Stephen Hetzel is the CEO and Co-Founder of Beacon Bid and BidPrime, leading SaaS providers elevating government procurement through efficiency, accessibility, and transparency. For over fifteen years, he has driven innovation in procurement technology, overseeing the development and execution of transformative solutions. Stephen has shared his experience through speaking engagements and written articles on business operations and SaaS management. He regularly presents at industry conferences, championing initiatives that lower entry barriers and encourage broader supplier participation in public contracting.
COO, BeaconBid, and Host: 'The Big Bid Theory'
Bill Culhane brings over forty years of experience spanning the private and public sectors, military service, and broadcasting. As the co-creator and host of The Big Bid Theory podcast—now in its eleventh season—he has interviewed industry leaders, government officials, and procurement experts, providing valuable insights into government purchasing and emerging trends. In addition to his role as COO for two procurement-focused companies, Culhane is a seasoned emcee and speaker, having led discussions at industry events nationwide. A proud USAF veteran, his expertise extends across leadership, client success, marketing, and technology.
Training Administrator, City of Houston, Strategic Procurement Division
With three years of experience in public procurement, Perla Arredondo has played a key role in implementing new procurement systems across the City of Houston. As a Training Administrator, she has been instrumental in developing and delivering training to ensure staff are equipped to navigate these evolving systems. Perla has contributed to efforts to modernize procurement processes, driving forward efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. She has helped integrate technology that improves the overall effectiveness of public purchasing for the City of Houston and its suppliers. Outside of work, she loves to travel and takes every opportunity to enjoy quick weekend trips, exploring new places and cultures.
Deputy Assistant Director, City of Houston, Strategic Procurement Division
Yesenia Chuca is a dynamic leader in modern government procurement, serving as Deputy Assistant Director with the City of Houston's Strategic Procurement Division. With over sixteen years of experience in public-sector procurement, she specializes in professional services and technology-related acquisitions, driving efficiency and transparency in the City's processes. Yesenia is committed to advancing procurement strategies that streamline operations and foster innovation. Her expertise and dedication position her at the forefront of transforming government purchasing for the future.
Assistant Director, City of Houston, Strategic Procurement Division
Candice Gambrell is a licensed attorney in the state of Texas and has worked for the City of Houston for eighteen years, spending the last eight years in procurement. During her time in procurement, she has worked collaboratively with her colleagues to streamline and advance the City’s procurement processes utilizing e-procurement tools and AI. Outside of work, Candice enjoys staying fit with kettlebell and boxing workouts and watching her ten-year-old daughter compete in equestrian events.
Supervisor of Supply Chain, Ascension Parish Schools
Amber Miller is an experienced leader in the K-12 sector of governmental procurement, ensuring schools have what they need to focus on what matters—educating students. Passionate about efficiency and innovation, Amber enjoys exploring AI tools to improve processes and is always thinking about how technology will shape the future of education and logistics. As a member of the Gonzales Lions Club, she takes pride in giving back to the community through service projects that support local schools, vision programs, and other initiatives. Whether it's finding smarter ways to do things or supporting the next generation, Amber is committed to making a positive impact.
CTO and Co-Founder, Beacon Bid
Josh Schwartzbeck is the CTO and Co-Founder of Beacon Bid and BidPrime. With over 20 years of experience as a software architect and developer, Josh has led teams in building tools that support how government agencies and vendors work together. He combines hands-on development with long-term planning to support the growth and reliability of the platforms. Previously Josh led technical teams at Amazon, designing high scale, low latency, customer-first solutions.
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.
Al Hleileh is a visionary entrepreneur, civic innovator, and the Co-Founder & CEO of Civic Marketplace. A two-time founder with a proven track record of scaling mission-driven ventures, Al blends strategic foresight with relentless execution to drive impact at scale.
Before launching Civic Marketplace, Al played a pivotal role in leading technology and data analytics at Delivery Associates, where his expertise in digital transformation and data-driven decision-making contributed to a landmark case studies. His leadership in leveraging analytics for actionable insights helped governments optimize performance and maximize impact. He also shaped product and analytics strategy at Spring.
Al’s work in data-driven governance has been widely recognized. He was featured in "City Heroes: Celebrating Data and Analytics Innovators" by the National League of Cities, highlighting how cities like Fort Worth, San José and Knoxville are leveraging data for efficient, and responsive public services. Additionally, his efforts in Youngstown, OH demonstrated how digital tools can enhance public health messaging and vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. His collaboration with Stanford University on leveraging SafeGraph foot traffic data helped Stamford, CT optimize peak-hour monitoring and vaccine penetration analysis, showcasing how cities can harness analytics for better decision-making.
Armed with an MBA from Stanford, Al has cultivated deep expertise in civic tech, procurement, and digital marketplaces. His data-driven approach ensures that Civic Marketplace not only streamlines procurement but also empowers governments and small businesses with actionable insights for smarter decision-making.
Under Al’s leadership, Civic Marketplace is revolutionizing how communities connect, collaborate, and contract, unlocking economic opportunities through technology and analytics. His ability to blend visionary leadership with rigorous execution has attracted industry recognition and investor confidence, positioning Civic Marketplace as a category-defining force in civic technology.
Senior Purchasing Coordinator, Escambia County Office of Purchasing
Aby is a senior purchasing professional with extensive experience in managing complex solicitations and fostering innovation within public purchasing. Aby’s expertise includes integrating technology into procurement workflows, educating stakeholders, and enhancing operational efficiency. With a passion for modernizing procurement processes, Aby is at the forefront of adopting AI tools to drive excellence in public sector purchasing. Most notably, Aby was recognized, for her achievements in her role in Purchasing as Procurement Specialist of the year for the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of NIGP for 2023 & the March 2024 Employee of the Month for Escambia County. Aby is responsible for establishing & maintaining fair, equitable, vendor relations for Escambia County. She enjoys educating professionals at my entity on Purchasing Best Practices & Procedures, and helping develop Vendor Relationships for Escambia County through hosting Supplier Excellence Academy sessions & participating in How to Do Business Events. Aby is also the 2025 Chapter President for Central Gulf Coast Chapter of NIGP.
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 more than twenty-five 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.
Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness, City of Owen Sound
As the Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness for the City of Owen Sound, Michelle Palmer, NIGP-CPP, DASM, CSCMP, CPPB, PMP is at the forefront of driving positive change in a small, rural community. At the heart of her role is the art of building positive relationships and fostering collaboration, a philosophy she brings from her experience in purchasing. She thrives on leading innovative projects that not only enhance operational efficiency but also strengthen the bonds across different corners of the organization and find joy in connecting individuals from various service areas. A dedicated advocate for the public procurement profession, she has volunteered with the Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) for twelve years, contributing significantly as a Board of Directors member. Having recently completed her term as the past president, she was a guiding force in the development and implementation of the OPBA's strategic plan. She has also played a pivotal role as the lead for the chapter conference, orchestrating a platform for knowledge sharing and networking. Her commitment to education is evident through her previous role as an instructor for the OPBA's Principles of Effective Public Purchasing Certificate Program. This dedication to lifelong learning extends beyond teaching, as she has earned designations, including the CPPB and CSCMP in procurement, as well as the PMP and DASM in project management. Known for her authentic approach, she believes in the power of genuine connections and transparency as catalysts for continuous professional growth. It is her genuine enthusiasm for public service and unwavering dedication to people that fuels her excitement every day to make a meaningful impact on the community.
Procurement Manager, Rural Authorities of Alberta
Stéphanie Dion, NIGP-CPP, CPPB is a senior public procurement leader with twenty years of experience with various types of public entities in Canada. She is the Procurement Manager for Canoe Procurement of Canada. She holds NIGP-CPP certification. Stéphanie was previously the Director, Procurement Centre of Excellence with the Government of Manitoba. She graduated university with a teaching degree and has been involved with professional development in various capacities including as an NIGP instructor and the RFPDreamTeam. She has been an active volunteer and advisor with professional associations since 2012 and was appointed as a member of the NIGP Certification Commission and Talent Council. She contributed a few articles to Supply Pro Magazine and is the recipient of NIGP’s 2021 Buyer of the Year Award.
Chief Procurement Officer, City of Norfolk, VA
Michael Bevis, Esq., NIGP-CPP, JD, CPPO, CPSM, C.P.M. 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.
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 and Procurement Services. Kirk also served as Deputy Director of Finance 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, and an MBA, with a concentration in Procurement and Acquisitions Management, from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. In August 2023, Kirk received his Master’s in Legal Studies, (MLS), from the University of Cincinnati Law School.
Kirk has received certifications in Cybersecurity Leadership and Data Security and Privacy from Cornell University.
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 was the 2023 recipient of NIGP’s Albert H. Hall Award, the highest honor awarded by the Institute.
Kirk co-authored the NIGP LEAP text “The Legal Aspects of Purchasing,” 3rd edition, and has published various articles concerning Procurement Case Law in nationally peer-reviewed academic journals.
Director of Purchasing, Solid Waste Authority, Palm Beach County, FL
Jodi Hart is the Director of Purchasing for the Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County. Jodi began her purchasing career in 1994 and has been involved in Procurement and Inventory Management in both the public and private sectors. Having worked in commodities speculative buying, medical purchasing, City/ Special District Government, K12 and higher education, Jodi has a diverse background to offer. Jodi holds the CPPB, CPPO and NIGP-CPP certifications. Jodi has earned a Master’s in Business Administration and Juris Masters Law Degree from Florida State University. Jodi prides herself in taking the theory and laws of Procurement and applying them to real world needs of a company or agency.
Jon Walton is a lawyer member of his state bar with experience in government structure and legal issues. He has been in government contracting and procurement since 1997, with specialties in contracting for construction design and engineering, information technology, and contracting for numerous economic development loan and grantmaking programs. He has managed administrative regulations, agency policies, and facilities. He has been a leader in state government procurement improvement initiatives for decades, including extensive development of enterprise contracting templates, new risk management and insurance tools, delivering training throughout state government, being a LEAN champion for process improvement and advanced procurement certification programs. Jon has been a textbook editor, curriculum developer, and long-time instructor for NIGP. He is an author and contributor for many NIGP policy position papers and Global Best Practices, and authored the “Public Procurement Guide for Senior and Elected Officials.” He was the NIGP 2015 Procurement Specialist of the year, Chair of its Legislative & Position Committee and served two terms on its Board of Directors. Jon is now devoted to his consulting work with NIGP Consulting.
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 Agent, City of Knoxville
Penny Owens, NIGP-CPP, CPPO has over thirty years’ experience in public procurement, both local and federal government, which covers nearly all aspects of procurement. She spent 16 years at the Oak Ridge National Lab in procurement and the past seventeen years at the City of Knoxville in Tennessee. She currently serves as the City’s Purchasing Agent, leading the Purchasing Division, which includes the City’s surplus property sales and the Small Business and Diversity Business Outreach Office. Penny holds a bachelors’ degree in Business, an NIGP-Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) certification, and a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) certification. Penny is an active member of the East Tennessee Purchasing Association (ETPA), the Tennessee Association of Public Purchasing (TAPP), and NIGP, The Institute for Public Procurement. Penny is a past President of both ETPA and TAPP and currently serves as a committee chair for both chapters. She is a member of NIGP’s Consulting team and is a member of the Radio NIGP staff. ETPA awarded Penny the 2016 Buyer of the Year and Volunteer of Year award, the 2021 Manager of the Year award, and was recognized as NIGP’s Volunteer of the Year in 2023.
Senior Buyer, Spokane County
Victor Leamer, CPPB has over thirty-five 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 seven-part RFP Learning Lab 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 and currently serves as Chair, produces the monthly Radio NIGP show, and is a founding member/former Vice President of the Alaska/Hawaii Governmental Procurement Association NIGP Chapter. Victor is the recipient of the Procurement Professional of the Year (2021) and the Distinguished Service Award (2023) from the Washington State NIGP Chapter.
Retired
Theresa Webb, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M. has more than forty years of experience in procurement with eighteen of those years in the public sector as well as five years of experience as a senior government procurement process consultant for Civic Initiatives LLC. She holds Bachelor and Master degrees in Business. Theresa is an NIGP Instructor and has served as chair of NIGP Accreditation Committee, on the NIGP Talent Council, Member Council , and on multiple teams creating NIGP coursework and Global Best Practices. Theresa was 2019 - 2020 President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials and President of the Tampa Bay Chapter of NIGP in 2014. Theresa has led training, workshops, and webinars for numerous professional organizations, authored articles on procurement-related topics, and is co-author of Strategic Sourcing in the Public Sector. part of the NIGP Cornerstones of Public Procurement textbook series.
Director of Government Relations, Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW)
Kim Cullen is the Director of Government Relations at Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW). Bringing over twenty-five years of marketing and customer relations experience to the team, her areas of focus include industry insight, customer engagement and education within the public sector, specifically surrounding IT hardware and software. Kim an active member of the NIGP Business Council, NIGP Marketing Taskforce Leader, 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.
Statewide Equity Manager, Supplier Diversity, State of Colorado Department of Personnel & Administration
David Musgrave is the Equity Manager of Supplier Diversity at the Colorado Statewide Equity Office where he oversees the Colorado Supplier Diversity and Bond Assistance Programs. Previously David was the Vendor Outreach Administrator and Purchasing Agent for the Colorado Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) Center for Procurement and Contract Services where he facilitated larger dollar purchases for goods and services and coordinate outreach activities for the Department. He has many years’ experience with the Advance Colorado Procurement Expo. He also worked as the Supplier Diversity Liaison for the State Purchasing & Contracts Office, and Vice President of Membership Services at the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. David is Chair Emeritus of The Opportunity Council and is Past President of the Rocky Mountain Governmental Purchasing Association (RMGPA) and holds a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion certificate from eCornell University.
Chief Procurement Officer, City and County of Denver, CO
Lance Jay is a seasoned procurement expert with over three decades of experience in both the hospitality and government sectors. As the Chief Procurement Officer for the City and County of Denver, he leads a team responsible for managing over $700 million in goods and services, surplus property activities, and asset inventory management. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the most renowned global brands, including The Walt Disney Company, Disney Cruise Line, Gaylord Hotels, Marriott International, and Millennium Hotels. His expertise in navigating complex procurement landscapes has made him a leader in delivering value-driven solutions with agility and efficiency.
A strong advocate for small, women, and minority-owned businesses (SWMBE), Lance prioritizes outreach, training, and certification opportunities to help diverse vendors access business with the city. Under his leadership, Denver has successfully awarded over $242.7 million in contracts to MWSBE entities in the past two years. Guided by his personal mantra— "Seek first to understand, then to be understood"—he believes in thinking big, acting with precision, and embracing adaptability to drive impact in procurement and beyond.
Director of Procurement Planning and Strategic Sourcing, City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
Yolanda Broome, NIGP-CPP, CPPM, CPP, CGPP 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.
Assistant Analyst - Purchasing, City of Thousand Oaks
Dr. Grace Ng has worked in procurement for over ten years in both the public and private sectors. She received a B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed her graduate studies at Biola University (Ed.D. Educational Studies). Her background in education has helped her view procurement through a training lens instead of only a compliance approach. She is passionate about helping others build bridges across the organization to create better communication and more efficient and effective processes. She currently works for the City of Thousand Oaks in California.
Senior Purchasing Specialist, City of Thousand Oaks, CA
Kim Sherman is a Senior Procurement Specialist at the City of Thousand Oaks, CA, and has been with the City for over twenty years. She currently works with the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant (HCTP) at the City and provides contract management and procurement support for the wastewater treatment plant operations. Kim is passionate about process improvements and utilizing new systems to create efficiencies.
Chief Learning Officer, National Contract Management Association
Ms. Michelle Currier serves as the Chief Learning Officer for the National Contract Management Association leading education, training, and innovative practices for the Association. Prior to joining NCMA, she served as Professor of Contract Management at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU). Ms. Currier brings a wealth of real-world experience from her forty-six-year career, having served with distinction as a Contracting Officer, Division Chief, Deputy Director Small Business and Director of Contracts at the Naval Research Laboratory, Military Sealift Command, Small Business Administration, Naval Sea Systems Command, and the Army Contracting Command. Ms. Currier has received numerous DAU awards and recognitions, including inductee DAU Hall of Fall, Frank J. Anderson, Jr. Leadership Award, Faculty of the Year, and Distinguished Teacher Designation. Ms. Currier was awarded the Army Superior Civilian Service Medal and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Award. Ms. Currier was recognized by Inside Business as one of the Top 25 Women in Business in Hampton Roads. Ms. Currier is a recognized speaker coach for TEDxDAU events.
Ms. Currier is a Past National President of the NCMA (2001-2002) and an NCMA Fellow. NCMA has recognized Michelle with the Alvis D. Keen Honorary Life Member Award, the Charles A. Dana Distinguished Service Award, Outstanding Fellow Award, the NCMA Education Award, National Achievement Award and NCMA Volunteer of the Year 2017. Ms. Currier is a frequent presenter at industry and government events and currently serves on the NCMA Board of Advisors as a Past National President. She is a Contract Management Leadership Development Program (CMLDP) mentor and faculty member.
Senior Procurement Agent, State of Colorado, "Office of Information Technology"
As a public procurement professional with an expertise in technology, Mike Whalen has a passion for creative problem solving and innovation, and a knack for applying order to chaos. Since 2018, he has worked for the State of Colorado's Governor's Office of Information Technology (OIT), as a senior procurement agent. During his tenure he has procured technology goods and services which supports 30,000 Colorado state employees and 5.8 million Coloradans. Overall, he has spent twelve years in the public sector, spreading his time across local municipalities and state agencies, concentrating on the procurement and implementation of complex solutions.
In 2004, Mike obtained his CPP certification, and his CPPB certification in 2023, Additionally, Mike graduated with his Masters of Business Administration with a focus on strategic management, from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2022. He is a certified green belt, and SCRUM master. When not working, he writes his monthly article "Going Solo" for the Neighborhood Gazette, a local Denver newspaper. His spare time is spent with his wife and their five-year old son.
Vice President, Partners for Public Good (PPG)
Elena Hoffnagle, MPP is Vice President at Partners for Public Good (PPG), where she oversees teams working to set new standards for procurement excellence and scale innovative government operations practices nationwide. Previously, Elena was a Director at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL), where she spent seven years helping to build the GPL’s procurement portfolio. This work included designing new executive education programs helping over 100 city leaders grow their potential to solve thorny problems facing their governments and leading the launch of the Procurement Excellence Network. Elena has also worked at the National League of Cities, where she managed Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties, a key part of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative to reduce childhood obesity. Elena holds a B.A. in Political Science with Distinction from Yale University, and a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Director of Government Transformation, Partners for Public Good
Rebecca Graffy is the Director of Government Transformation at Partners for Public Good, where she heads projects working directly with governments to take on their thorny operational challenges. With 15 years of experience, she has worked with governments across the world to transform procurement systems, modernize operations, and better serve their residents.
Previously, as a Director at the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab, Rebecca led initiatives that reoriented procurement systems to deliver $1.42 billion in contracted goods and services more efficiently, openly, and effectively. Earlier in her career, Rebecca managed programs that expanded access to high-quality healthcare products worldwide, while saving $250 million for government buyers. She also led work to advance South Africa’s malaria elimination campaign.
Senior Procurement Analyst, City and County of Denver, CO
Elizabeth Hewes, NIGP-CPP, CPPB has been in procurement since December 1999 in various roles. She started by entering requests for her office at a state agency in Texas. She progressed to become a procurement specialist for a water district in Texas. After she moved to Colorado, she worked at another water district, and two state agencies, and currently works for the City and County of Denver. She is a Senior Procurement Analyst and helps mentor upcoming buyers and procurement analysts. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas A&M in 1999. She earned her CPPB in2014 and her NIGP-CPP in 2021. Ms. Hewes has volunteered in her local NIGP chapter, RMGPA, since 2014 in various roles including Programs Chair, Awards Chair, and Secretary for two terms.
Retired
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 NIGP The Institute for Public Procurement in numerous capacities, is an OPBA Chapter Past-President and is a frequent conference speaker and moderator. Lynda instructs public procurement classes for NIGP, the University of Guelph and others upon request. Lynda has been part of the NIGP Consulting Program since 2010 assisting entities to transform their procurement operations. She is NIGP’s 2012 Distinguished Service Award and the 2021 Anne Deatherage Meritorious Service Award recipient in the public procurement profession. She is one of the two instructors inducted into NIGP’s Instructor Hall of Fame in 2024.
Administrator II, Denver Arts & Venues - City and County of Denver
Scott Harris, NIGP-CPP has been involved in Public Procurement since he joined the City and County of Denver's General Services Purchasing team in May of 2017. He started as a Staff Buyer and rose through the ranks of an Associate Buyer, and ultimately a Senior Buyer. In his time with that team, he was responsible for handling procurements for a variety of City agencies including Facilities, Golf, Parks, Fleet, and Arts & Venues. He managed several yearly MPOs for each of those groups and also conducted solicitations for other high-profile contracts such as ARPA Program Funding, the STAR Program for unarmed Behavioral issue requests, the Five Points Jazz Festival which highlighted the musical history of the Five Points neighborhood, the Wellness Winnie, which was a mobile healthcare clinic to serve Denver's underserved and immobile population, Event Staffing for Arts & Venues, and created a contract for the Holiday Lighting Display at the City and County Building which is seen nationally during assorted sporting broadcasts. In October of 2023, he left GS Purchasing to join Denver Arts and Venues full time. In his time there, I have been involved in such projects as a new center-hung display (scoreboard) for the Denver Coliseum, the procurement of 18,000 chairs for the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center, the procurement of updated fixtures for the Ship Rock Grill at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and new stage flooring and sound arrays at the Buell Theatre. He recently completed solicitations for concessions services at Red Rocks and the Coliseum and security services for the Arts Complex, as well as fundraising services for the Loretto Heights Theatre. Prior to joining the city, he was a fastpitch softball umpire for twenty-eight years. He was honored to have that job for as long as he did. Unfortunately, concussions made him step away from that profession two weeks after his procurement career began and now he shares how both professions require the same planning, preparation, and social skills to be successful.
Procurement Manager, City of Ft. Myers, FL
Denise Finn, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., CPPB is an accomplished Procurement Professional with over 30 years of experience in public procurement, currently serving as the Procurement Manager for the City of Fort Myers, Florida. A dedicated leader in her field, Denise oversees the city’s procurement operations, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations while driving innovation, efficiency, and transparency.
As a seasoned expert, Denise is passionate about fostering professional growth and advancing the public procurement profession. She is the current President of the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officers (FAPPO) and a Senior Procurement Consultant with NIGP Consulting. Known for her strategic vision, Denise has a proven track record of developing and implementing policies that strengthen organizational effectiveness, promote fairness, and optimize resource allocation.
Denise’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration, talent development, and adaptability. Her work in process improvement and her commitment to continuing education underscore her belief in empowering teams and future-proofing procurement practices. She has led initiatives to align municipal procurement policies with federal CFR 200 guidelines, Florida statutes, and local ordinances, ensuring robust compliance and fostering public trust.
A skilled educator and mentor, Denise shares her expertise through consulting, professional training, and public speaking. She is an advocate for certification in public procurement, believing it to be a cornerstone of professionalism and excellence in the field.
Beyond her professional achievements, Denise is passionate about giving back to the community. She has worked on policies that support local and minority businesses, emergency response efforts, and sustainable procurement practices. When she’s not working, Denise enjoys spending time with her family and her two beloved rescue dogs.
Senior Purchasing Coordinator, Escambia County Office of Purchasing
Aby is a senior purchasing professional with extensive experience in managing complex solicitations and fostering innovation within public purchasing. Aby’s expertise includes integrating technology into procurement workflows, educating stakeholders, and enhancing operational efficiency. With a passion for modernizing procurement processes, Aby is at the forefront of adopting AI tools to drive excellence in public sector purchasing. Most notably, Aby was recognized, for her achievements in her role in Purchasing as Procurement Specialist of the year for the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of NIGP for 2023 & the March 2024 Employee of the Month for Escambia County. Aby is responsible for establishing & maintaining fair, equitable, vendor relations for Escambia County. She enjoys educating professionals at my entity on Purchasing Best Practices & Procedures, and helping develop Vendor Relationships for Escambia County through hosting Supplier Excellence Academy sessions & participating in How to Do Business Events. Aby is also the 2025 Chapter President for Central Gulf Coast Chapter of NIGP.
Purchasing Director, Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, FL
Carrie Roberts, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M. is a Public Procurement Professional with over thirty-two years’ experience at agencies such as cities, counties, utilities, aviation districts, K12 and higher education, with over twenty years of supervisory experience. Carrie has earned her NIGP Certified Procurement Professional designation (NIGP-CPP), her Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO), and a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.) certification. She is currently a member of the Tampa Bay Chapter of NIGP and the Florida Association of Public Purchasing Officials (FAPPO. Carrie was honored to be the recipient of the 2023 FAPPO Volunteer of the Year award and the 2024 George H. Wolf Distinguished Service Award. Carrie has previously served on the Boards of the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP and the Airport Purchasing Group (APG), earning their Above and Beyond award in 2014. In 2015 Carrie was excited to be a finalist for the 2015 NIGP Buyer of the Year award. Carrie is a proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, having earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice in 1996 and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 2004. Carrie currently serves on the NIGP Member Council, where she represents the needs of members nationwide. In 2022, Carrie, relocated to Dade City, Florida along with her husband Dave and puppers ShelbyLou and Griffin, to begin her journey with Pasco County as their Purchasing Director.
Senior Analyst, City of San Jose, CA
Nuran is a Senior Analyst in the Purchasing Department at the City of San Jose. In her role for just over two years, Nuran has leveraged her expertise in procurement and vendor management to oversee complex IT contracts and provide strategic guidance to multiple City departments. Her responsibilities include leading RFP development and conducting contract negotiations. Drawing on her skills in analyzing, negotiating, and maintaining IT software licensing agreements, Nuran has streamlined purchasing processes and built strategic partnerships to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in procurement. Her ability to navigate the complexities of contract structures has made her a trusted resource for City departments seeking tailored solutions to their procurement needs. Nuran is deeply passionate about leadership and the impact it can have on driving meaningful change. She is committed to growing as a leader, not only to advance her career but also to inspire and empower others within her organization. This passion for leadership motivated her to seek out development opportunities, ultimately earning her the prestigious NIGP Edge program scholarship. Recently, Nuran has been diligently enhancing her leadership skills through this program and is thrilled to be attending the NIGP Leadership Summit in Chicago this February. She views this as a valuable opportunity to connect with other professionals, gain insights, and further refine her ability to lead effectively. Nuran looks forward to continuing her professional growth with aspirations of stepping into a larger leadership role in the future, where she can make an even greater impact. Outside of work, Nuran is passionate about exploring new destinations and discovering hidden culinary gems on Yelp—always on the hunt for her next great food adventure! She also enjoys staying active through reformer Pilates and yoga, which keep her balanced and energized.
Chief Executive Officer, NIGP
Rick Grimm, NIGP-CPP has served as NIGP’s Chief Executive Officer for 27 years. He served county governments and public school districts for 23 years, including over 12 years in the leadership of the public procurement function, before joining the NIGP team in 1998.
As NIGP continues to develop, support, and promote public procurement, Rick’s three most recent priorities are:
§ The competency-based Pathways program that guides professionals on their career aspirations through learning and credentialing options;
§ The NIGP Certified Procurement Professional designation (NIGP-CPP) with over 1,600 certificants to date and one of only two procurement programs to be accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board, and
§ NIGP’s Center for the Advancement of Research and Excellence (CARE) which represents a diversity of senior practitioners, academicians, business leaders, and association leaders who come together as an incubator think tank to discuss public procurement trends. The Center also commissions research that will intentionally impact content, standards, and best practices for the profession.
8:15 AM - 10:00 AM
From disengaged and stagnant, to purpose-driven and fully-activated, Seb's Performance and Transformation keynote will unlock peak performance, deep connection and purpose-driven collaboration in your individuals and teams.
Sharing his inspiring personal story as well as his framework to help Unlock Limitless Possibility, Seb's profound and interactive keynote will create an environment for success and transformation through arming people with not only the agility to adapt to change, but the bravery to create, through re imaging what's possible.
Plenary
1.0
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects provide opportunities to upgrade technology, modernize processes and policy, adopt best practices, and transform administrative practices and outcomes throughout an organization. ERP projects are also high profile, expensive, and difficult. They require coordination and alignment between vendor and staff resources. Procurement professionals can serve a critical role in using the procurement process to drive readiness activities and make the right selection for ERP supplier. Focus will be on establishing outcome oriented requirements that can be used to help select the best value supplier. In addition, the session will highlight strategies to manage the evaluation team, define a process for evaluating proposals, and navigate the selection process with emphasis on reducing bias and properly weighing key decision factors. GFOA has done recent research into behavioral science and decision architecture that will be used as basis for group activities.
Understand the importance of readiness and an effective procurement process in preparing the organization for an ERP project
Develop strategies for defining evaluation criteria and structuring an evaluation process
Facilitate the procurement process to reduce potential bias and make fair determination of best value
Help reduce implementation risk
Technology
Workshop
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Negotiation is an essential skill in procurement yet often overlooked. This session will kick off with an interactive lecture on the basics of negotiation theory, including how to set priorities, understand each party’s perspective and competing commitments, and define value. Then participants will be assigned roles and in small groups, act out a simulation and try to come to a negotiated agreement. After the negotiations conclude, they will discuss what went well and what was challenging in this simulation and reflect on how they could apply this in their day-to-day work.
Essential Skills
Workshop
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Successful procurement hinges on understanding your end-users/stakeholders and funding sources. In this session, we'll examine various procurement methods, the origins of contractors (public/private), and the importance of strategic outreach. Additionally, we'll explore the unique rules tied to funding sources and highlight why grasping these rules early can prevent future issues.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Legal Learning Path: Overall Description
The Legal Learning Path will help equip public procurement professionals with essential legal knowledge to navigate contracting with confidence. Throughout four sessions, participants will explore the plain meaning of key contract clauses, negotiation strategies, weigh the pros and cons of various options for terminating a contract, and consider the discretion to waive procurement informalities. Each session will provide practical insights and real-world applications, helping participants develop the skills to interpret legal terms, assess risks, and make informed decisions that align with agency objectives.
This session provides participants with a deep dive into commonly encountered contract clauses, such as indemnity, sovereign immunity, governing law, and force majeure. Participants will learn how to interpret these clauses in plain language and understand their impact on risk allocation.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Unlock the secrets to successful vendor partnerships. Learn how to build trust, negotiate better deals, and improve communication for stronger, long-lasting relationships. Get hands-on tips, real-world examples, and discover how data can help you find the right vendors for your projects. Don’t miss out on this chance to boost your procurement success!
Understand how to build and maintain strong vendor-buyer relationships through clear communication, trust-building strategies, and networking opportunities such as vendor expos and lunch-and-learn sessions;
Develop effective negotiation tactics to overcome obstacles and secure favorable procurement outcomes, leveraging insights gained from vendor expos and demo sessions;
Identify opportunities for improvement using data-driven insights and surveys to optimize vendor selection, enhance performance, and ensure project success;
Gain practical skills in conflict resolution and managing vendor relationships through real-world examples, including lessons from vendor expos and interactive demo sessions; and
Learn best practices for conducting disparity studies, surveys, and other assessment tools to promote inclusivity and growth within the procurement process, leading to more diverse vendor partnerships.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Session participants will learn different methods to confidently advise their Evaluation Committee (EC) on their roles, responsibilities, and how their contributions aid in the success of the procurement process. This learning session will include interactive practical exercises and activities.
Participants will be able to provide clear expectations and instructions, to their Evaluation Committee (EC) team;
Participants will be able to have a clear system and process in place that includes providing guidance on applicable procurement, confidentiality, and conflict of interest principals;
Participants will be able to develop agency specific specialized evaluation committee documents that may include: Welcome (initial) messaging outlining roles and responsibilities; supplemental messaging for each key stage of the process; RFP Evaluation Committee Guidelines Document; Initial EC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Form (Part A); Continuation of EC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Form once firms have been identified (Part B); EC Kick off Meeting Agenda and Memo; and
Participants will be able to assess what method or methods should be utilized for each procurement, that includes providing guidance on applicable procurement, confidentiality, and conflict of interest principals.
Essential Skills
Learning Session
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Join us for an interactive session on how highly involved management can build high-performing teams and drive organizational success. Learn how effective leadership, coaching, mentoring, and succession planning can transform team dynamics, enhance collaboration, and ensure long-term growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable strategies for fostering a culture of engagement, performance, and continuous learning.
Identify key strategies for involving management in decision-making that enhance employee engagement, communication, and collaboration, resulting in improved team performance and alignment with organizational goals;
Design and implement a coaching and mentoring program within their teams to foster employee skill development, support growth, and build a high-performance culture;
Evaluate and develop a succession planning framework that identifies and nurtures top talent, ensuring a pipeline of capable leaders to support long-term strategic growth and organizational sustainability;
Apply techniques to promote constructive interaction and knowledge-sharing within teams, leading to increased goal commitment, task achievement, and overall team success; and
Measure the impact of highly involved management on team dynamics and organizational performance by assessing improvements in collaboration, skill development, and alignment with strategic objectives.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
We have all faced the storms of change as individuals, teams, departments, and/or entities. Storms are disruptions that can cause significant damage and/or reveal hidden opportunities. How we forecast the storm, prepare for it, navigate through it, and recover from it all hold the keys to success. While participants will be reminded of the five stages of group development (forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning), we will focus on the storming phase and how best to lead through it (whether you are in charge or not).
Participants will examine tactics to better forecast, prepare, navigate, and recover during the storm of change;
Participants will identify and explore leadership skills and characteristics that are effective when leading through change; and
After participating in the session, participants will be able to analyze various lessons learned, and applications of the same, when going through a storm of change.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM
Strong leadership isn’t an accident — you must build intentional systems to drive accountability, innovation, and alignment. Explore how a structured leadership approach enhances communication, decision-making, and employee development at all levels of an organization. Through real-world examples, including Sourcewell’s successful implementation, attendees will gain actionable strategies to fuel organizational success.
Understand the Fundamentals of an Intentional Leadership System – Define what a leadership system is, its key components, and how to fully use it to influence decision-making, communication, and organizational success;
Recognize the Benefits of Intentional Leadership – Explore how a structured leadership approach enhances accountability, employee development, and alignment with your organization’s mission and values;
Learn Strategies for Effective Implementation – Identify the necessary steps, tools, and resources for successfully developing and embedding a leadership system within your organization; and
Overcome Common Leadership Challenges – Discover practical solutions to address barriers in leadership development and system implementation, ensuring long-term success.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
In the realm of public sector procurement, the intricate process of acquisition plays a pivotal role in the functioning of governmental operations. This session will provide an engaging and thought-provoking conversation with the authors of the recently published Introduction to Procurement in the public sector, a comprehensive book that delves into the nuances of this essential subject. The authors have about 100 years of combined public procurement experience. Their insights will shed light on the multifaceted nature of procurement, illuminating the challenges and opportunities that lie therein. Through their expert lens, participants will be taken on a journey that explores the strategic methodologies, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations that underpin successful procurement practices in the public sector.
Engage with the Authors
Explore Best Practices
Current Conversations
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) projects can present major challenges for organizations and many face risk of cost overruns, delays, difficulty in dealing with change, testing failures, business continuity and more. This session will focus on key risk areas within ERP contracts. GFOA assists local governments with contract negotiations and will draw from this experience to highlight current examples, market trends, and successful negotiation strategies. All ERP projects should have a detailed statement of work and contract that provides protection with milestone payments, clear deliverables, service level agreements, and other tools for accountability. In addition, the workshop will use interactive exercises and real examples to highlight common industry terms and strategies for negotiating away unfavorable terms found in most supplier contract templates that lead to changer orders.
Understand the most common risks with ERP contracts
Learn how to identify and negotiate unfavorable terms
Evaluate contracts risks and communicate impacts to key stakeholders
Understand essential components of an ERP contract to promote accountability
Technology
Workshop
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Ready to level up your negotiation game? In this session, you'll learn practical tools and strategies to prepare for negotiations that create real value, not just victories. We'll cover researching contracts, defining your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA), identifying non-negotiables, and building decision-making frameworks. You'll also learn how balancing confidence, mission-focus, and organizational alignment can transform your outcomes.
Define and leverage your BATNA to strengthen your negotiation position.
Identify essential, non-negotiable terms and understand their impact to your organization.
Develop targeted questions, decision trees, and if/then frameworks to manage negotiation scenarios proactively.
Balance assertiveness, mission alignment, and organizational purpose to achieve optimal negotiation outcomes.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Step into this engaging session where leadership meets the dynamic world of public procurement. Led by George Barber, a former professional baseball player turned Chief Procurement Officer, this session blends real-world sports experiences with academic research to uncover what truly drives effective leadership in government. Explore how leadership styles, trust-building, and autonomy shape team performance while addressing common misconceptions in public procurement. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, attendees will gain actionable strategies to elevate their leadership impact and enhance organizational success.
Evaluate how leadership styles and actions influence team performance, morale, and productivity in government settings;
Design strategies to build trust, foster autonomy, and empower procurement teams to perform at their highest potential;
Implement proven methods to identify and address leadership gaps, challenge procurement misconceptions, and drive continuous improvement in public organizations;
Create a personal leadership development plan grounded in academic research, real-life examples, and best practices from both sports and public service; and
Inspire with purpose by translating key leadership principles into practical actions that inspire teams and improve procurement outcomes.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Someone once said, “the best way to learn from mistakes is vicariously”. This session will help professionals (young and seasoned) do just that. For this session, conference organizers are encouraged to choose their most engaging members to participate in a panel discussion of seasoned procurement professionals to share stories of the highs and lows they experienced in their careers. Where did they start and what path did they follow to get to leadership? What hindrances did they successfully eliminate? What has been their biggest challenges? What mistakes created their biggest lessons? Have there been any regrets? What has been their most gratifying moments or procurements? What has been their lessons learned and what wisdom can they impart to younger professionals? A storyteller at heart, Stacy will serve as moderator to weave a patchwork of panel experiences into an intricate tapestry that tells the story of triumph and success. Not only will there be stories shared by panelists, but attendees will have time to ask questions and share their own experiences. While there will be lessons learned, the session promises to be fun, engaging, and inspired.
Meet and connect with other professionals build their network of professional resources;
Review case studies of honest mistakes made by newer and sometimes veteran Procurement Officers;
Discuss different approaches, which may have prevented the mistake, and approaches to resolve mistakes; and
Learn the outcomes that the Procurement Officer took in each instance.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
While Procurement Cards (P-cards) are a convenient tool for public sector organizations to streamline their purchasing for small dollar transactions, they do present several challenges, especially when it comes to controlling fraud, waste, and abuse. These risks can arise due to the ease of making multiple transactions without oversight or proper authorization, particularly in large, decentralized organizations. To mitigate these risks, many public sector organizations implement a range of internal control measures of which several methods will be examined during this session.
Participants will be able to explain the role of P-cards in improving the efficiency of small-dollar and high-volume purchases in public sector organizations;
Participants will understand the risks associated with P-cards, including fraud, waste, and abuse; and
Participants will understand the importance of creating strong internal controls to support P-card programs.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Mentorship is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Mentorship fosters skill development, knowledge sharing, guidance, and networking. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how to cultivate meaningful mentor-mentee relationships that drive success. Attendees will hear real stories from mentors and mentees in public procurement about the transformative impact of mentorship. Through engaging table discussions, participants will reflect on their own mentorship experiences and identify key qualities that make mentorship effective.
Topics include:
• What makes a great mentor in public procurement?
• How can mentorship support personal and professional development?
• What strategies can mentees use to maximize their mentorship experience?
Additionally, we’ll introduce tools and strategies for finding, fostering, and sustaining successful mentorship relationships—whether through the NIGP Mentorship Program or other avenues. Walk away with actionable insights to develop a personalized mentorship plan and build a culture of mentorship in your professional journey.
Develop a personalized mentorship plan that identifies key skills, goals, and strategies for a successful mentoring relationship; and
Apply best practices to establish and nurture meaningful mentorship connections that enhance professional growth.
Essential Skills
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
The procurement workforce is constantly changing, and leaders often find themselves stepping into atypical roles – even as coaches. This session will dig into ways that procurement staff find themselves coaching others, whether its other purchasing staff, external departments, or vendors. The facilitator will first provide a framework for coaching and discuss ways participants find themselves acting as coaches. Participants will then break into groups of three for mini coaching simulations. After each simulation, there will be a brief debrief of the scenario, along with a close-out group reflection, encouraging participants to name their next steps in their development as coaches.
Essential Skills
Workshop
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
1.5
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
We’re celebrating 80 incredible years of NIGP Forum with a totally rad 80s throwback bash—because what better way to honor the past than with the decade that defined fun, fashion, and unforgettable vibes?
Step back in time and make a splash at Retro Wave at the Denver Aquarium for an unforgettable 80s extravaganza! Whether you're a fan of neon fashion, teased hair, arcade games, or unforgettable tunes from artists like Madonna and Prince, this event has it all. Relive the magic of the decade with an evening packed full of retro vibes, epic networking, and amazing aquatic wonders as we transform the aquarium into a throwback paradise.
Highlights include:
Dress to impress in your most outrageous 80s outfit, and let's celebrate the era of big dreams and even bigger shoulder pads. Don't miss out—this is your chance to experience the 80s like never before!
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
The Key to Unleashing The Full Potential in Your People
The four Caring Leadership principles delivered in this interactive experience serve as a powerful reminder of every leader's responsibility to uplift their team and organization and drive real business results. Built around the framework of Lead Yourself, Lead Your Team, Lead Your Industry, this keynote will develop leaders who inspire loyalty and retention.
Plenary
1.0
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Continuing the theme of cooking, this session will share how rare ingredients, arduous instructions, or making a dish from scratch can be challenging. The same could be said by conducting your own bid or RFP process. Discover the right recipes for tackling federal funding requirements, construction projects, pricing determinations and learning to navigate with limited resources and time. There is no magical crock pot to take care of your tough issues. However, learning new skill sets during this more advance session will guide your team on that next culinary cooperative adventure.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Choosing the right project delivery method isn’t just about following a process—it’s about making a decision you can stand behind. In this session, we’ll walk through how to select a project delivery method that is not only effective but also defensible in case of audits or challenges. We’ll explore the project delivery methods outlined below and why it’s essential to ensure they align with state legislation. This session will provide practical insights to help you stay compliant and confident in your choices.
Analyze the available project delivery methods and evaluate the pros and cons of each for your project.
Choose the best delivery method for your project to ensure successful completion. Use available resources to aid in this decision-making process.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Public entities often work within pre-drafted contract templates, but some clauses can be negotiated or modified to better align with agency goals and risk tolerance. This session will explore when and how to negotiate contract terms such as indemnification, intellectual property rights, and confidentiality. Participants will engage in interactive exercises where they evaluate examples of indemnity, intellectual property rights, governing law, and other situational clauses to determine their fairness, potential burdens, and insurability issues. Additionally, participants will identify and propose modifications to standard contract clauses.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
In the evolving landscape of public procurement, successful leadership extends beyond traditional management practices. Transforming from a manager to a mentor empowers teams, enhances morale, and fosters future leaders. This session examines how adopting a mentoring mindset encourages professional growth, builds stronger team dynamics, and prepares organizations for sustainable success. With a focus on leadership development, attendees will explore how mentorship practices align with the goals of public procurement to create resilient, high-performing teams.
This session will cover the following key areas:
Apply mentoring techniques to build trust and enhance team engagement;
Explore methods for identifying and nurturing leadership potential within their teams;
Discover how active listening and constructive feedback can improve relationships and team dynamics; and
Use strategies to delegate effectively, empowering team members to innovate and take ownership of their roles.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Strong communication is the key to successful procurement. This session will provide practical strategies for engaging stakeholders early, managing evaluation committee discussions, and leading successful goal-oriented vendor negotiations. Join us to gain actionable insights, hear real-world success stories, and enhance your ability to drive collaboration and better procurement outcomes.
Develop stakeholder engagement strategies that align procurement objectives with project goals during the pre-solicitation phase;
Apply best practices for managing evaluation committees to encourage collaboration and reach well-informed procurement decisions;
Implement structured communication techniques to facilitate productive and goal-oriented vendor negotiations;
Analyze real-world procurement scenarios to identify effective communication strategies and common pitfalls; and
Enhance professional relationships by utilizing clear, consistent, and strategic communication throughout the procurement process.
Essential Skills
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Purchasing is happening in every entity it is just a matter of how. It is often handled by various departments, which may lead to inconsistencies in policies, procedures, and overall effectiveness. Engaging in this presentation will focus on how a public procurement professional joining an entity lacking a designated purchasing staff can build and improve procurement functions. We will examine the common obstacles procurement professionals face in a new environment, including policy gaps, lack of structure, competing interests, and the influence of pre-existing practices. Through the process, we will build a toolbox of resources for your success.
Discuss the process to evaluate existing policies and align them with organizational goals and legal requirements;
Explore the steps to establish standardized templates and tools, such as RFPs and vendor communication protocols, and the many resources available; and
Navigate change management and gain buy-in from stakeholders across departments.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Current Conversations
1.25
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
This session explores the critical role of the supply chain in public procurement, specifically how vendors like Graybar help procurement professionals streamline their operations and address challenges such as product availability, logistics, and project delays. Graybar’s strategies and solutions for supporting public sector projects were emphasized, including the use of cooperative contracts and innovative technologies to optimize procurement processes.
Innovation Theater
0.5
1:45 PM - 2:15 PM
Learn about the Canon you didn’t know and how evolving industry trends/cooperative purchasing contracts can simplify procurement and drive efficiency. Explore the latest innovations in technology designed to streamline operations, maximize value for government and education institutions while meeting industry standards. Plus, stick around for a fun, interactive game with a chance to win fabulous prizes!
Innovation Theater
0.5
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Update NIGP members on the New Capabilities that Home Depot has in our Pro Eco System to better serve their procurement needs and shop the way that you want to shop with your Suppliers. Come attend the event and learn how to save time and money with the Home Depot.
Innovation Theater
0.5
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Procurement professionals are under more pressure than ever: shrinking budgets, leaner teams, and zero room for delays. Yet expectations keep climbing. In this session, we’ll dig into practical strategies for turning daily bottlenecks into moments of efficiency. The session will explore how AI and digital tools are streamlining high-friction areas like RFP development, reporting, integrations, and vendor management. Whether you're looking to entirely transform you processes or make incremental improvements, this session will show you how modern public procurement teams are gaining time back.
Innovation Theater
0.5
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Innovation Theater
0.5
3:15 PM - 3:45 PM
The primary goal of this facilitated discussion is to delve into key aspects of ground transportation management. Participants will gain insights into optimizing operational efficiencies as it relates to fleet management, car rental, truck rental, mileage reimbursement solutions and more.
Innovation Theater
0.5
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
To meet rising customer expectations, many government procurement professionals are interested in using generative AI to strengthen smart buying decisions, drive efficiencies, and create value for their organizations. Join us to learn more about available tools, including an AI-powered procurement solution developed by California Polytechnic State University’s Digital Transformation Hub with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The solution, “ScopeBuilder,” uses generative AI to assist procurement staff in scope development for contracts, Bids, and RFPs, and help create high-quality Statements of Work.
Innovation Theater
0.5
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Innovation Theater
0.5
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Better Results, Better Relationships, Limitless Possibilities
What do you get when you combine a background in leadership development with decades of corporate entertainment experience? You get something that is fun, engaging, and that builds a bridge between insight and actionable strategies to bring the best out of your people. This is what Ben Whiting's Creating a Limitless Culture™ keynote delivers.
In addition to experiencing draw-dropping (and often hilarious) magic and mind reading, we will be able to instantly increase productivity through better communication, reduce drama by learning how to create and sustain quality relationships in the workplace, and learn to thrive amidst constant change with a simple mindset shift that will also help them find not just happiness, but fulfillment in our day-to-day work lives (all while having A LOT of fun!).
Ben will give us the Blueprint to Create a Limitless Culture that will help people…
Plenary
1.0
9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
In today’s rapidly evolving IT hardware and software landscapes, understanding the complexities of tariffs, procurement constraints, and shifting policy environments is more important than ever. Join Southern Computer Warehouse (SCW) for an insightful discussion that unlocks the often-overlooked challenges in IT procurement. We’ll explore how tariffs, regulatory changes, and contract structures impact purchasing decisions and vendor relationships. You'll gain practical insights into navigating procurement roadblocks, managing lead times, ensuring compliance, and adapting to evolving policies — all while maintaining efficiency and cost-effectiveness to stay ahead in a constantly shifting market.
Innovation Theater
0.5
10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Join Delivering Results and Solutions (DRS) as we share several case studies demonstrating how we've helped our clients optimize their disaster recovery funding by establishing sound federal procurement and contracting practices
Innovation Theater
0.5
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Cintas Corp. will provide key insights into how public agencies are streamlining their contracts and vendors to delivering more efficient procurement processes across multiple product and service categories to provide improved options and procurement experiences for their stakeholders.
Innovation Theater
0.5
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Innovation Theater
0.5
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
This brand-new presentation, set up like an HGTV cooking show, will compare cooking with developing a good cooperative procurement recipe! Sharing key ingredients for conducting due diligence, with a pinch or two of insights into how good procurement teams use these contracts. Favorite recipes and cooking tips will be tied into cooperative purchasing strategies. Fun and interactive, this cooking show will host contestants that include a cooperative, a supplier and a public procurement chef.
Discover the top questions to ask before using a cooperative contract;
Know the key ingredients for a successful strategy;
Spice up your current procurement policies with new insights; and
Find out about free recipe resources to continue your learning journey.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Ever had a negotiation spiral out of control? In this session, you'll learn to stay composed, maintain control, and navigate even the toughest procurement conversations. We'll explore how to recognize and diffuse non-productive tension, know when to pause or step away, identify hidden pitfalls, and handle hostility effectively, keeping you cool under pressure.
Identify and strategically leverage opportunities, even in difficult or hostile negotiations.
Recognize and address risky or unproductive behavior within your negotiation team.
Determine when to pause negotiations and when walking away is the best option.
Spot hidden pitfalls early to mitigate their impact.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Are issues like chemical exposure, labor rights, climate change, equal opportunity and local economic growth important to your community and organization? Did you know that most organization’s abilities to address these issues and opportunities lies within its supply chain and procurement decisions? Join us to get an introduction to sustainable procurement – a strategy and set of best practices that promotes more sustainable procurement of goods and services, while providing additional organizational and end user benefits such as cost savings and supply chain resilience. Participants will have an opportunity to apply their learnings along the way by drafting an initial strategic sustainable procurement and supplier engagement plan with the support of their peers and SPLC’s expert coaches.
Leadership
Workshop
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Join us in demystifying procurement in this interactive session that explores the concept of adopting a mindset that avoids deflection, focuses on problem-solving, and encourages perseverance without blaming external factors to avoid the common phase of “Its Held up in Procurement?” Join us for an interactive session where we break down the procurement process and explore how adopting a proactive mindset—one that emphasizes accountability, problem-solving, and persistence—can help you avoid the all-too-common excuse of “It's held up in procurement.” Discover innovative strategies through case studies, group discussions, and practical exercises, all focused on fueling the “No Excuses’ Mindset.”
Identify Key Pitfalls Leading to Procurement Delays: Understand the common obstacles that contribute to the culture of “It’s Held up in Procurement.” Pinpoint the underlying issues that cause delays and inefficiencies within the procurement process;
Evaluate the Procurement Structure: Assess the foundational structure of procurement within your agency. Review the workflow, key stakeholders, and communication channels to identify areas for improvement or inefficiencies;
Develop Case Study-Based Solutions: Utilize case studies to explore real-world scenarios and draft potential solutions to overcome the roadblocks within the procurement process. Focus on actionable strategies that have proven successful in similar settings;
Create a Communication and Collaboration Strategy: Design a strategic playbook for improving communication and collaboration within your agency. Focus on establishing clear lines of communication and fostering a collaborative culture that minimizes misunderstandings and delays; and
Implement a “No Excuses” Mindset: Develop a comprehensive action plan to instill a “No Excuses” mindset throughout your agency. Encourage accountability, proactivity, and problem-solving at all levels to promote a results-oriented culture.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
The field of public procurement is often misunderstood. Many organizations consider procurement a back-office clerical function. However, public procurement is much more than a clerical function, it’s a strategic powerhouse that drives efficiency, cost savings, and innovation.
Public Procurement has transformed into a strategic partner and responsible for being stewards of maximizing the value of public spend through relationships with our stakeholders and suppliers. However, many procurement teams operate under finance leadership, limiting their influence and visibility. As a division of Finance, Procurement is not always valued as much as their finance counterparts. However, the procurement professionals are required to hold many of the same qualifications of their finance counterparts, including advanced degrees, certification, continued education, etc. In addition, procurement professionals are key collaborators building cross functional relationships with other departments and the supplier community.
In this session, procurement professionals will explore strategies to enhance collaboration with finance while advocating for procurement’s independence as a standalone function. Attendees will gain actionable tools to assess procurement’s current position, communicate its value to leadership, and develop stronger cross-departmental partnership. This session provides the insights and practical steps to elevate procurement’s role in public sector organizations.
Assess procurement’s strategic impact and identify areas for increased influence;
Apply effective communication strategies to gain executive leadership buy-in;
Develop a metrics-driven case for elevating procurement’s role;
Implement professional development strategies to enhance procurement’s visibility; and
Strengthen collaboration with finance while advocating for procurement’s independence.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Procuring human services can be complex and challenging. Join this session where presenters will walk attendees through a timeline-based case study of Multnomah County’s RFP for the SUN Service System, a large, $14.6M human/personal services system focused on supporting the success of children and families.
Participants will learn about the considerations in leading a human services procurement, including:
Incorporating community input;
Supporting small emerging businesses;
Facilitating evaluation panels;
Debriefing suppliers and elected officials; and
Contract development, administration and monitoring
Attendees will hear about strategies that were used, and examples and methods that can be applied in daily procurement practice, including Multnomah County's Interactive RFP Timeline Tool.
Attendees will be able to design and manage RFPs that fully outline what skills/qualities/attributes are required for operating a large human services system procurement process;
Attendees will be able to develop and implement quality performance measures as they relate to human services, as well as analyze resulting data;
Attendees will be able to gain skills and tips for communicating with a broad group of stakeholders, including coordinating and communicating with elected officials; and
Attendees will learn approaches for developing and managing scoring methodologies for a complex RFP process, managing multiple evaluation panels, and conducting meaningful de-brief sessions for suppliers.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how government agencies deliver services, offering the potential for greater efficiency, accessibility, and responsiveness. But how can public agencies adopt AI effectively while ensuring its safe and ethical use? Join the GovAI Coalition, a volunteer coalition of over 500 public agencies, for a dynamic session exploring how procurement professionals can help their agencies adopt cutting-edge AI technology safely, efficiently, and responsibly. Through real-world examples, we’ll explore strategies for collaborating with technologists and other public agencies to shape solution requirements and terms, including how to leverage a shared contract repository to discover best practices and cooperative purchasing opportunities from across the country. Learn how you can tap into the expertise of the growing community of agencies adopting AI – and contribute your own experiences, too!
Gain insights into how procurement teams can effectively collaborate with technologists to shape AI requirements and mitigate potential risks;
Learn how to access and utilize a shared contract hub to identify cooperative purchasing opportunities and adopt best practices for AI procurement; and
Discover ways to tap into a network of public procurement experts to accelerate AI adoption and contribute to a growing body of collective expertise
Technology
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Embark upon an interactive mental wellness journey when you attend this two-part session! You will find space to engage in leadership round table discussions, and participate in wellness activities, curated for exploring self-care techniques, which will focus on creating a positive, supportive workplace.
Improve your leadership role by exploring new skills for modeling positive behaviors to support employee mental health and well-being;
Identify a new tool and technique for improving your team's overall mental well-being;
Develop an action plan for improving the overall mental wellness within your entity (department/team); and
Identify a plan to improve your mental, and emotional well-being.
Current Conversations
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Procurement professionals in the public sector face unique challenges — tight budgets, lengthy RFP processes, and growing demands to maximize limited resources. This session is designed to educate public agency procurement leaders on how to become champions within their organizations.
Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the evolving RFP landscape, how to leverage cooperative purchasing and other resources to maximize benefit and discover actionable strategies to transform procurement into a value-generating function. Whether your agency is large or small, you'll leave with practical insights to foster innovation and contribute to your agency’s overall growth.
This session will ensure purchasing professionals understand how to do their job more efficiently by leveraging the available tools, like spend analytics, to maximize efficiency and drive savings.
Navigate the Evolving RFP Landscape: Examine the financial implications and emerging challenges that public procurement professionals will face in 2025 and know how to stay ahead;
Positioning Procurement as a Strategic Function: Learn strategies to effectively communicate the value of procurement as a strategic asset within your agency. Hear stories from peers who successfully transformed their procurement functions and the measurable outcomes they achieved; and
Maximize Your Cooperative Purchasing Organization: Identify common pitfalls in cooperative purchasing and apply best practices to maximize benefits, ensuring competitive pricing, clear expectations, open communication, and effective partnerships.
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
A well-structured set of solicitation documents provides the foundation for a successful construction procurement. This session will cover best practices for drafting clear, fair, and reasonable solicitations that attract qualified contractors, support fair and reasonable competition, and lead to accurate proposals. We’ll discuss how to effectively communicate the procurement process—through advertising, outreach, and direct solicitation—to ensure strong proposer engagement. Attendees will also explore the role specifications and the use of basis of design in shaping project outcomes. Whether you're refining your solicitation approach or tackling challenges in contractor engagement, this session will provide actionable strategies to improve transparency, competition, and project success.
Implement essential elements of a strong set of solicitation documents and how those documents can drive interest and participation.
Avoid solicitation documents that can negatively impact fair and open competition, limit participation, and increase the risk of a protest.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
ontract termination can be technical, but it does not have to be scary. This session will explore different types of contract termination, including termination for cause, termination for convenience, and mutual termination. Through real-world examples, participants will learn the skills to make informed decisions and mitigate risks regarding contract termination. Join us to build your confidence in managing contract terminations and avoid costly mistakes.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Are issues like chemical exposure, labor rights, climate change, equal opportunity and local economic growth important to your community and organization? Did you know that most organization’s abilities to address these issues and opportunities lies within its supply chain and procurement decisions? Join us to get an introduction to sustainable procurement – a strategy and set of best practices that promotes more sustainable procurement of goods and services, while providing additional organizational and end user benefits such as cost savings and supply chain resilience. Participants will have an opportunity to apply their learnings along the way by drafting an initial strategic sustainable procurement and supplier engagement plan with the support of their peers and SPLC’s expert coaches.
Leadership
Workshop
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Are you guilty of common RFP pitfalls? Join this engaging and practical session to learn how to avoid the most common mistakes in creating RFPs. From unclear scopes to overloading mandatory criteria, this session will provide actionable advice and real-world examples to help procurement professionals improve their processes and outcomes. Whether you're new to public procurement or a seasoned professional, you'll leave with practical tools to create more effective, vendor-friendly RFPs. Perfect for anyone who wants to ensure fairness, compliance, and value in their procurement practices.
Write Clear and Effective RFPs: Avoid vague scopes and unrealistic requirements to attract quality vendor responses;
Enhance Communication: Engage stakeholders and vendors throughout the process to build trust and ensure transparency; and
Refine RFP Practices: Use feedback and market insights to continuously improve procurement outcomes.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
In today's rapidly evolving landscape, procurement professionals face unprecedented challenges and opportunities. This dynamic workshop will delve into the critical intersection of innovation, leadership, and cooperative procurement, with a specific focus on the transformative potential and ethical considerations of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Hear from public sector leaders about how they are leveraging the supplier community and addressing the needs of small local businesses.
Embrace Innovation: Explore cutting-edge procurement technologies and discuss how to effectively integrate them into your agency's operations;
Develop Strong Leadership: Gain insights from seasoned procurement leaders on fostering a culture of innovation within your organization, empowering your team, and navigating the complexities of change management;
Unlock the Power of Cooperative Procurement: Learn how to leverage cooperative purchasing arrangements to access innovative solutions, drive economies of scale, and improve service delivery for your community;
Understand the potential of AI: Discover how AI can revolutionize procurement processes, from supplier selection and contract management to risk mitigation and spend analysis;
Address the ethical considerations: Explore the ethical implications of AI in procurement, including data privacy, bias mitigation, and responsible AI development; and
Develop a responsible AI strategy: Learn how to identify the right AI applications for your agency, build trust with stakeholders, and ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI in your procurement processes.
Technology
Learning Session
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Join us for a story from the field highlighting how innovation, collaboration, and transparency led to a successful $13+ million alternate delivery project for three new park projects in a growing mid-sized city. This session brings together a unique panel of experts – the procurement officer, the best value expert consultant, and the awarded general contractor – to share their firsthand experience navigating a paradigm shift and committing to the process. We will provide an overview of the approach and share data collected throughout the project. Discover how transparency and the commitment to follow a transparent, simple, and metric-centered process for both procurement and project management led to a successful outcome!
Analyze how results-driven procurement and planning impact the outcome;
Identify change management concepts to apply when challenging the status quo; and
Identify strategies to maximize transparency and mitigate risk.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Are you ready to revolutionize your approach to strategic sourcing and have fun doing it? Join us for an exciting, interactive session that will demystify this critical component of public procurement. Through practical, streamlined approaches, you'll learn how to seamlessly integrate strategic sourcing into your existing workflows. We will refresh your solicitation knowledge and cover everything from building high-performance teams to leveraging data analytics. Participate in a hands-on exercise, engage in lively discussions, and learn from real-world case studies. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to procurement, this session promises to equip you with actionable insights and tools to enhance your strategic sourcing processes. Don't miss this opportunity to learn, network, and transform your procurement practices!
Identify and Apply Optimal Solicitation Methods: Participants will be able to determine the most suitable solicitation type (RFP, IFB, RFQ, etc.) and method based on project parameters, controlling factors, and key contextual elements discussed during the session;
Streamline Strategic Sourcing Processes: Participants will learn and apply techniques, such as Lean methodology and automation, to simplify and standardize strategic sourcing processes within their organizations;
Enhance Team Performance and Communication: Participants will be able to implement strategies for building high-performance teams, improving stakeholder communication, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement within their procurement functions;
Optimize Efficiency and Risk Management: Participants will learn to implement data-driven strategies for increasing operational efficiency, achieving cost savings, and enhancing compliance and risk management in their strategic sourcing processes; and
Cultivate Stakeholder and Supplier Relationships: Attendees will review and discuss skills to improve supplier relationships and increase stakeholder satisfaction through effective communication techniques, performance metrics, and collaborative approaches in strategic sourcing.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM
Embark upon an interactive mental wellness journey when you attend this two-part session! You will find space to engage in leadership round table discussions, and participate in wellness activities, curated for exploring self-care techniques, which will focus on creating a positive, supportive workplace.
Improve your leadership role by exploring new skills for modeling positive behaviors to support employee mental health and well-being;
Identify a new tool and technique for improving your team's overall mental well-being;
Develop an action plan for improving the overall mental wellness within your entity (department/team); and
Identify a plan to improve your mental, and emotional well-being.
Current Conversations
1.25
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
The Stress Wisely approach is a kind-hearted reckoning against everything we have learned about stress, delivered as a knockout punch.
Dr. Robyne, with her signature honesty, humor, relatability, and gift of translating scientific research, invites you to lean into the parts of you that intuitively know there must be a better way to achieve greatness in both livelihood and lifestyle. Using the eight realms of wellness, Dr. Robyne presents deep-yet clear and concise-insights and strategies that are instantly actionable.
Learn to harness stress as an ally, not an adversary, and elevate your capacity for peak performance and resilience. It’s time to stress wisely and live well. Audience members learn to transform their relationship with stress, gaining actionable strategies to harness it as a powerful ally for achieving peak performance and enhanced resilience.
Plenary
1.0
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Procurement may operate behind the scenes, but its credibility should resonate at the highest levels of the organization. This session explores how procurement professionals can elevate their profile and become trusted advisors to external and internal stakeholder, including agency leadership through strategic communication, performance transparency, and intentional relationship-building. Learn how to communicate value in ways that resonate with diverse audiences—from frontline departments to elected officials—while positioning procurement as a strategic partner in organizational decision-making. Learn how to translate day-to-day successes into meaningful narratives that demonstrate value, influence decisions, and earn executive confidence. If you’re ready for procurement to be heard, respected, and relied upon—this is your blueprint.
Recognize the importance of credibility in strengthening procurement’s influence across all levels of the organization.
Develop strategies to build trust and foster strong relationships with internal staff, external stakeholders, and agency leadership.
Identify strategies to position procurement as a strategic, solution-oriented partner in organizational planning and decision-making.
Current Conversations
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Success is close, with a few remaining items to agree on. This is still about preparations to create as close to a win/win for both parties as possible and remembering not to allow “the perfect” to get in the way of good. Practice compromise, using the tools from Session 1, without classifying it as a loss or failure, expanding where value can be achieved by both parties instead of sacrificing more of the pie, and get more pie to negotiate over.
Apply negotiation tools to support compromise and expand value creation, ensuring both parties benefit by increasing available opportunities rather than viewing concessions as losses.
Implement the zone of agreement, where success is not at a single point; it's between the minimum one party is willing to accept and the maximum another party is willing to offer.
Integrate key negotiation points early in the process to set expectations and reduce potential conflicts.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Join this dynamic session designed for public procurement professionals who procure using federal grant funds as we dive into the latest Uniform Guidance and explore practical insights for integrating local and federal requirements into your procurement functions. Explore real life approaches through activities, group discussions, and hands-on exercises, aiming for long-term workplace success. Obtain answers to your real-life questions!
Comprehend the latest changes in Uniform Guidance;
Craft the required language to include in your federally funded procurements;
Identify the allowed procurement methods and the allowed contract types;
Understand major Davis Bacon principles and identify wage classifications for projects; and
Recognize what Cost Analysis, Price Analysis and Independent Cost Estimate are and when they are required.
Cornerstones
Workshop
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Join members of the NIGP Certification Commission for an interactive panel discussion on the evolution and impact of the NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP) certification. Learn firsthand how this ANAB-accredited credential enhances career opportunities, reinforces ethical procurement practices, and aligns with the evolving complexities of the profession. Panelists will share their certification journeys, discuss best practices, and answer your questions about the value of becoming an NIGP-CPP.
Explain the evolution of the NIGP-CPP certification and its significance in public procurement;
Provide information about the recent changes in eligibility, updates to the Exam Content Outline and testing, and changes to the application policies and timelines for the NIGP-CPP;
Recognize the career benefits of earning the ANAB-accredited NIGP-CPP certification;
Identify how certification reinforces ethical standards and best practices in procurement;
Explore strategies for leveraging certification to advance within the profession; and
Engage in an informed discussion about the certification process, requirements, and long-term professional growth.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
As public procurement continues to evolve, agencies must navigate the challenges of modernizing processes while ensuring compliance, efficiency, and stakeholder buy-in. AI, automation, and e-procurement systems offer powerful solutions, but successful implementation requires strategic planning and an understanding of best practices.
This session brings together a panel of experienced procurement professionals and technology leaders with firsthand experience in driving procurement modernization across government agencies and public institutions. Through real-world insights and lessons learned, they will explore:
Along with prizes for in-person attendees and everyone in attendance being entered into an exciting raffle, attendees will gain actionable takeaways to help modernize their procurement processes, whether they are selecting new technology, refining existing systems, or preparing for future advancements. This is an opportunity to learn from experts who have successfully navigated procurement transformation and are helping to shape the next era of public sector purchasing.
Apply Best Practices for E-Procurement Software Selection & Implementation – Learn strategies for successful adoption of e-procurement systems, avoiding common mistakes, and ensuring internal stakeholder buy-in.
Navigate Organizational & Internal Challenges – Gain understanding into the dynamics of procurement reform in large and small agencies, learning how to address resistance to change and drive modernization efforts.
Assess the Future of Procurement Technology – Develop actionable insights into emerging trends in AI, automation, and e-procurement systems that will shape public procurement in the coming years.
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
The future of public procurement is driven by data—but how do we translate raw numbers into strategic action? In this dynamic session, Marcheta Gillespie and Al Hleileh will unpack the power of procurement analytics, from foundational insights to advanced AI-driven forecasting. We’ll dive into real-world examples of spend analysis, supplier performance, and risk assessment—showing how agencies can cut costs, drive efficiency, and enhance compliance. Expect an interactive experience where we’ll explore the full analytics lifecycle, tackle implementation challenges, and discuss the future of AI in procurement. Join us to unlock smarter decision-making and next-level procurement strategy.
Technology
Learning Session
1.5
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming procurement processes by enabling teams to efficiently draft detailed and precise scope of work (SOW) documents. This presentation will showcase how procurement professionals can collaborate with end users to harness AI tools for SOW development, ensuring clarity and compliance while saving time and increasing solicitation responses. Attendees will gain insights into practical AI applications, best practices, and strategies for incorporating this technology into their workflows.
Leveraging AI for SOW Development: Explore how AI can simplify the drafting process, improve accuracy, and enhance end-user collaboration;
Best Practices for Using AI: Understand ethical considerations, data security, and maintaining human oversight in AI-assisted procurement processes; and
Practical Applications and Tools: Discover user-friendly AI tools and techniques tailored to procurement and solicitation needs. Participants should leave this session understanding how to use AI tools more effectively in their workflow, how to educate their end users/requesters/project managers on how to better use the tools, or at the very least feel comfortable to ask the questions to start their journey into AI with their legal/IT team.
Technology
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
In this learning session, we show with the help of real-world examples and case studies, how AI based spend system is able to detect the duplicate payments and other non-compliant procurement spend. The data comes from ERP system, eProcurement systems, contract management systems, supplier portal, banks (pcard), diversity management portals, financial analysis, and other heterogeneous data sources. The data is scrubbed for quality tuning. Statistical techniques like regression is used impute missing data as needed. An AI based system learns over time and becomes more intelligent in detecting duplicate payments, and other non compliant spend that occurs because because of negligence and fraud. Using real data we show step by step various different scenarios where non-compliant spend occurs and gets detected by the AI based spend analytics system. Without going into detection algorithms we explain in simple words how the AI system works, traces, monitors, and detects possible duplicate payments. Invoice data, PO data, EFT/check data data, procurement data, requisition data, diversity and and contract data help in detecting the duplicate payments. The learning session will expose participants to AI applications and behind the scene compliance monitoring and reporting techniques.
Explore how an intelligent AI based Spend Analytics system work;
Discover how an intelligent AI based Spend Analytics system detects duplicate payments and other non-compliant send items; and
Apply the knowledge gained to detect some of the duplicate payments based on presented scenarios and use cases.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Courage and Mistakes: both are needed in public procurement and leadership. If we agree we need innovation, then we have to get comfortable with things not going exactly to plan and learn to rebound from that. Through story-telling and small group discussion, we are going to get real about mistakes made. Not the fluffy stuff, but the real-life, "I think I might get fired for this" kind of mistakes. Ready to be brave and dive in? This session is not for the faint of heart or those with egos, this session is for those who want to hear the honest stories of mistakes I've made and discuss how we can learn to embrace mistakes and conduct deep dives to learn from them (even when we are so embarrassed about the mistake - we want to hide in the bathroom stall).
Attendees will be able to name and own a mistake;
Attendees will be able to review how they reacted to the mistake;
Attendees will be able to review how they moved past the mistake; and
Attendees will be able to plan to actively embrace mistakes, and learn and grow from them.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Today’s headlines are dominated by discussions of tariffs—threats of new ones, implementation of existing ones, reciprocal tariffs, quotas, and other national-level market control measures. Whether merely proposed or actively enforced, tariffs can disrupt markets in significant ways.
Bidders often respond to tariff uncertainty by either avoiding opportunities altogether or including risk premiums in their bids to hedge against potential future tariffs. Contractors may seek price adjustments or even cancel contracts, while buyers face escalating costs and the possible loss of key suppliers. This seminar will explore strategies to proactively and fairly manage these risks:
• Explain how tariffs and risk premiums function and influence markets
• Discuss both proactive and reactive strategies for managing price adjustment requests due to tariff changes
• Offer tools to anticipate and manage the pricing impact of potential tariff changes—whether imposed or lifted—on current and future contracts
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Case Study
Learning Session
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Theory is important, but seeing construction procurement best practices in action is where the real learning happens. In this session, we’ll examine real-world case studies, including an analysis of the Denver International Airport construction project, to understand how procurement challenges were successfully navigated using best practices. By breaking down each case into clear problem-solution-outcome frameworks, participants will gain actionable insights for applying lessons from previous sessions directly into their own procurement processes.
Analyze real-world case studies to identify procurement best practices that address complex construction challenges
Develop actionable strategies for applying construction procurement best practices to current and future projects.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Government entities often have discretion in waiving minor informalities in procurement decisions. This session will explore the legal boundaries of agency discretion by reviewing key case law examples and best practices for waiver decisions. Participants will engage in scenario-based discussions and determine when it is in an agency’s best interest to waive a minor informality or enforce strict compliance.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Cornerstones
Workshop
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
This learning session draws from the legendary resilience of Tina Turner, highlighting her incredible journey of turning adversity into triumph. Using her life story and iconic songs as a guide, as well as personal experiences from the presenters, you’ll explore how obstacles—like navigating difficult leadership dynamics—can ignite creativity, drive collaboration, and fuel success. Be inspired to turn setbacks into comebacks with confidence and grace. Together, we’ll celebrate the power of perseverance to turn adversity into opportunity—just like Tina did!
Learn to trust your intuition in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities;
Build resilience and harness collaborative experiences to tackle present threats and anticipate future challenges; and
Recognize your worth and leverage adversity to innovate and thrive.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Explore how socially responsible procurement is reshaping public procurement by expanding opportunities for suppliers. This session will cover key tools and real-life strategies for fostering and expanding small business participation. Learn how these capabilities help drive compliance and make a meaningful impact on your community.
Discover how and why agencies are putting the more emphasis on encouraging small vendor participation;
Learn what local, small businesses are saying are obstacles to do business with governments; and
Discover and make small changes to educate small suppliers to eliminate perceived barriers
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Procurement professionals have long experienced interference from top elected or appointed officials while attempting to carry out acquisition strategies within clear policies and procedures. Add that kind of political power structure on top of the already mounting pressures of post-COVID supply chain issues, talent scarcity, and overly aggressive goals, and the perfect storm begins to brew. In this session, we will take your stories from the field and dissect them, helping you to identify and analyze the source of pressure, while offering sustainable mitigation tools to keep your procurement team out of the news cycle.
The Learner will identify and analyze sources of pressure as either political, geo-political, inflationary, or other;
The Learner will use tools learned during the presentation to develop a systematic approach to mitigating risks from politicians, or pressures caused by inflation, the COVID-19 legacy, wars and conflicts, and stakeholders; and
The Learner will create, implement, or enhance policies, procedures, and practices that support transparency in procurement and trust and confidence to sustain internal and external relationships.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Join us for an engaging session on navigating the challenges of implementing an e-procurement system under tight deadlines! We’ll explore practical change management strategies, focusing on how to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, secure buy-in from key departments by incorporating their feedback, and ensure smooth integration of solicitation documents into the system. Plus, we’ll dive into the essentials of training staff on the new platform and share valuable lessons learned post-launch. You’ll leave with actionable insights on how to continue improving after implementation, ensuring long-term success for your team and organization.
Identify and describe the key steps in implementing an e-procurement system;
Apply effective communication strategies to secure buy-in from key stakeholders; and
Evaluate the ongoing needs for change and improvement of an e-procurement system after implementation.
Technology
Learning Session
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
In this session, we’ll start by reviewing the key tools, frameworks, and wins from Sessions 1–3. Then, we’ll dig into common roadblocks that derail negotiations and counter negative tactics deployed to throw you. We will develop a resilience playbook that lets you pivot your negotiations from setback to success.
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Cornerstones
Learning Path
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Many entities are looking to modernize transportation, water, energy, broadband infrastructure and more. However, using the same old procurement processes may not cut it. With time, strategy, and resources, smart procurement can be a key asset in delivering impactful projects on time and on budget.
In this session, Partners for Public Good (a new nonprofit launched by staff from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab) will share procurement planning, drafting, and contract management strategies, stemming from best practices from cities participating in the Local Infrastructure Hub (LIH). And, we’ll discuss how market research and outreach, goal setting, smart team building, and performance metric development can add value to complex projects.
• Understand the challenges, regulations, and opportunities distinct to infrastructure projects
• Learn about various market research and procurement planning strategies to help you better understand the vendor pool, incorporate community input, and promote accessibility among small and diverse vendors, and manage risk
• Identify ways to adapt current procurement and contract management practices and to new infrastructure projects, while also striving to maximize accessibility for vendors
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Join us as we delve into the importance of vendor debriefs in the procurement process. Learn how these discussions can not only help vendors understand their strengths and areas for improvement, but also create a pathway for better future proposals. Participants will also have the chance to learn and share their tips and tricks when preparing for vendor debriefs.
Discover why vendor debriefs are crucial to foster transparency and continuous improvement;
Learn key elements of a successful debrief; and
Provide strategies on how to have challenging conversations during debriefs.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Public Procurement Professional and Umpire, two professions that couldn't seem further apart from one another. However, it was the training received as a fastpitch softball umpire that helped with the transition to becoming a Public Procurement Professional. Join me for an intriguing look at how 28 years of umpiring prepared me for the procurement world.
Attendees will gain knowledge of how to use material presented in their own operations;
Attendees will learn to use life experiences to plan for future success;
Attendees will learn about preparation, presentation, and implementation of rules and guidelines in their own work; and
Attendees will learn the importance of believing in themselves, even if no one else does.
Stories from the Field
Learning Session
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
Public procurement is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by shifting regulations, rapid technological advancements, changing leadership priorities, and increasing stakeholder demands. Navigating this dynamic landscape requires more than compliance, it demands insight, adaptability, and a commitment to innovation.
This session will explore actionable strategies for building a procurement team that doesn’t just respond to change but anticipates and leads it. Learn how to foster resilience, enhance agility, and create a culture of collaboration that empowers your team to thrive amid uncertainty. Join us to discover how procurement professionals can move beyond reactive approaches and become architects of progress in their organizations.
Understand the concepts of resilience and agility and how they impact procurement success;
Gain tools to assess their team’s current capabilities and identify areas for improvement;
Learn strategies to upskill their teams, integrate technology effectively, and build stronger stakeholder relationships; and
Leave with a practical checklist for implementing resilience and agility-building measures within their own organizations.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
As public procurement professionals, we honor a legacy of fairness and inclusion while preparing for a future that demands greater equity and engagement. This session explores how to build on historical principles to lead with vision in enhancing supplier diversity and expanding opportunities for small and local businesses.
Expand the Supplier Pool: Develop and implement impactful outreach programs to identify and connect with diverse vendors;
Educate for Empowerment: Offer meaningful education and resources to guide potential suppliers through the bidding process, addressing common barriers and demystifying government procurement; and
Boost Bid Participation: Leverage data-driven insights, community partnerships, and innovative tools to increase the number of qualified, competitive bids while fostering lasting vendor relationships.
Cornerstones
Learning Session
1.25
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Workshops on specification writing typically address the what (content) and why (the reason the whats are important) of specification writing. This session addresses an area that most specification trainings do not address… the how. As we explore the hows, we will learn how to write clear, straightforward and easy to follow specifications.
Attendees will be reminded how important basic grammar and basic organization are, and how poorly written specification can affect the outcome of a solicitation;
Attendees will learn how to recognize and avoid some common pitfalls of specification writing: poor grammar, disorganization, being too bossy (for the sake of being bossy), lack of clarity and accuracy, and unnecessary repetition;
Attendees will be able to apply the tactics discussed to their own specification writing by developing an understanding of how specifications should be organized in a manner to provide clear information in a well-organized manner;
Attendees will develop the skills necessary to take a specification submitted by their customer and utilize the skills discussed in this session to make the document clear, concise and easier for their vendors to understand;
Attendees will be encouraged to apply the skills discussed to their existing agency specification templates or to utilize the information learned to develop templates which can be share with their customers. By having clear templates to share with their customers, Purchasing staff time to review specifications can be significantly reduced.
Essential Skills
Learning Session
1.25
2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
How to lead and influence without formal power. Leadership is not confined to titles or positions; it is about mindset, actions, and the ability to influence from any role.
Identify opportunities to influence and lead from any role by recognizing how their daily actions contribute to organizational success;
Develop essential leadership skills—communication, adaptability, and decision-making—to enhance their impact and professional growth; and
Create a personal leadership action plan using insights from interactive discussions and real-world procurement examples to drive influence in their organization.
Leadership
Learning Session
1.25
4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
As the 80th anniversary celebration comes to a close, we still have lots of Forum stories and memories to share – some humorous – some life-changing – always inspiring. In advance of the Forum dates, Rick will ask attendees to share the “funny thing that happened on the way to the Forum” (borrowing from a title of a 1966 musical comedy that appeared on Broadway and in cinema). The best stories will make it to the stage Wednesday afternoon – and Rick will insert some colorful memories of his own stories.
But the story-telling doesn’t begin or end with the Forum. For 28 years, Rick has listened to member stories and has witnessed countless careers flourish. These stories offer a composite of experiences, friendships, challenges, mentorships, and successes that have touched our lives – and they have become the blueprint for Rick’s life lessons that he will share with you during his final walk on the NIGP stage.
Plenary
1.0