Virtual Conferences

Jackie Martin is a professional trainer, speaker, and non-profit founder with a passion for equipping professionals all over the world with the change resiliency, communication, and leadership skills needed in the workplace.  

For more than 25 years Jackie has been providing powerful, energetic, training to help individuals and leaders understand the Change Cycle and better adapt to the changing workplace.  Just like all skills, Jackie believes it takes intention and practice to learn to think, behave, and lead through these crazy changing times!  

These past few months Jackie has walked her talk by pivoting her business to virtual training and stayed busy working with organizations across the globe helping them find ways to thrive in the ever-changing business environment.

Jackie is a John Maxwell Leadership Trainer, a certified Change Cycle Expert, an NLP Practitioner, NSA Professional Speaker and overall serial entrepreneur.

Arden began her career as a linguist working for the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.  From there she continued in Japan as a translator, interpreter, educator and procurement professional for various Japanese corporations including Murakami Ongaku Jimusho and Canon Corporation.   She currently handles complex procurements relating to IT as well as general goods and services for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (VA ABC). 

Arden holds a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Japanese from Boston University, a Master of Science in Environmental Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, but her first love is music.  Outside of work, Arden is heavily involved in local music organizations ranging from old-time Americana and bluegrass to Classical and Baroque.  If you have ever travelled to destinations within Virginia’s Historic Triangle (Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown, VA), you may see her in period costume playing the fiddle or banjo at taverns, museums, and theaters. She is also the proud mother of two teenage boys who share her love of music and stringed instruments.

Marcheta E. Gillespie, FNIGP, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., CPM, is a dynamic speaker, trainer, consultant and experienced leader with 29 years in the procurement profession. As the former Director of the City of Tucson's Department of Procurement, Marcheta had over 27 years of experience in one of the country's largest, most highly acclaimed procurement organizations. Retired from government service, Marcheta now shares her extensive experience and expertise with public and private industry through numerous roles in the industry. In January 2020, Marcheta became the NIGP Consulting Program Manager working with Periscope Holdings, Inc (the managing corporation for the NIGP Consulting Program). Marcheta also provides extensive training and public speaking in the profession through her business, MG Procurement Consulting, LLC. As a passionate advocate for the procurement profession, Marcheta possesses a broad and deep range of expertise in numerous areas of public procurement best practices, professional development and leadership. Marcheta is the 2019 Albert H Hall recipient and the 2017 Distinguished Service Award recipient, the highest and second highest honors bestowed upon individuals by NIGP in the public procurement profession. Marcheta is a former Chair of the UPPCC Governing Board, was the 2013- 2014 President of NIGP and served on the NIGP Board of Directors for 10 years.

For the last 19 years, Sharita has served the Commonwealth in a public procurement role.  She began her procurement career as a Procurement Technician.  In her current role, she provides e-technical and procurement consulting services, develops and facilitates procurement training events, conducts procurement compliance reviews, and provides executive management recommendations of operational enhancements & efficiencies to assigned client entities.   During her time with Virginia Department of General Services (DGS), she has held several advancing positions.  Prior to joining DGS in 2010, she served in various procurement roles at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Ms. Bryant is an advocate professionally and civically; she currently serves as the 2nd Past President of the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing (VAGP), and serves on the board of Directors for the Henrico County Council of PTAs.

Kate Rotella is the Purchasing Manager for the Capitol Region Education Council. She has significant experience as a public procurement professional. Currently she works for a regional education district. Prior to she oversaw and ran procurement departments for a municipality and a Higher Education Institution. 

Kate is a State Representative serving Stonington and North Stonington’s 43rd district. She serves as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Education Committee, and Internship Committee. 
She is the Legislative chair for the Purchasing Association of Connecticut. She is a member of the Purchasing Council for Capitol Region Council of Governments. 

On the National level, Kate is a member of the National Institute of Government Purchasing where she occupies the role of Finance Chair, Treasurer and sits on the Governing Board. 

She received her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of New Haven and her Bachelor of Science in Economics/Finance from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Kate is a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).

Michael Bevis  is a thought leader with  30+ years procurement experience and is the 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.  

Michael is passionate in his support of fellow professionals.  He the immediate past Chairman of the Governing Board of NIGP; represents the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management on the Global Standards Board and is the Chair of the Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence. 
  
Michael has presented papers and taught throughout North America, Latin America and Europe and served as an Adjunct Professor at Old Dominion University, University of Maryland and DePaul University. Michael’s professionalism has been recognized by NIGP (Distinguished Service Award, Pareto Award of Excellence, Manager of the Year, OA4 awards), IFPSM (the Lewis Spangler Award).

Michael is a graduate of Georgetown University Law School, Lincoln Memorial University and completed post graduate studies at North Central College and Northern Illinois University.  He holds several professional certifications including the NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPSM and lifetime CPM.

As the Director of Contract Compliance and Business Development, Korey Gray works to ensure that contracts adhere to the Authority’s efforts to promote economic and business development (e.g., the Certified Enterprises Program and/or the Federal Fair Share Objective) in the District and the service region. Responsible for assuring contractors’ compliance with applicable federal and local employment programs - Davis Bacon, Service Contract Act, and DC Water’s Water Works Program (local hiring program). 

Mr. Gray represents DC Water at a variety of public events and is charged with engaging the business and local community concerning a variety of topics including: Equal Opportunity Programs, Title VI/Contract Compliance, and Procurement Opportunities. 

At the direction of CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis and DC Water’s Board of Directors, Mr. Gray and his team developed a program to incentivize contractors to hire residents of the DC Water service area. The comprehensive program, called DC Water Works already made an impact with increasing the number of District residents working on DC Water projects.

Anthony D. Sparks is a speaker, content creator, and certified development coach who has impacted thousands of people around the globe! 

• As a speaker, he’s spoken at over 300 conferences, retreats, worship services, graduations, workshops, and seminars; 
• As a content creator, he’s written & published four books (“#BETTER: 7 Keys to Living a Life of Progression, Not Perfection”, “RelationTIPS”, “Confessions of a Dreamer”, & “HELP...I’m Struggling With My Purpose!”) and he’s also the creator & host of the Crock-Po(d) Conversations podcast that has over 9,400 downloads, listeners in 25 countries across 6 different continents, and holds a 5-star rating on Apple; and 
• As a certified development coach, he has coached CEOs, vice presidents, clergy, educators, administrators, entrepreneurs, first responders, and so many more!

Anthony is a native of Birmingham, AL and is a proud member of “The A-Team” with his wife Ashley, and sons Aidan (age 8) & Ashton (age 3). He’s a man of faith, family, and fun who believes that his purpose is to help others live a life of purpose on purpose!

Lynda Allair has over forty years of experience as a public procurement leader within the provincial, municipal and health care sectors in Ontario.  She has served the Institute in numerous capacities, and her local Chapter and is a frequent Forum speaker and moderator.  Lynda instructs public procurement classes for NIGP, the University of Guelph and others upon request, as well as providing consulting services through NIGP's Consulting program.

Barbara R. Johnson served for 38 years as a State, City and Airport Authority Procurement Leader. She serves the Institute members on many committees, task forces, and as a frequent Forum speaker and moderator. Barb instructs public procurement courses for the Institute (NIGP), the Ohio State University, and others upon request, as well as providing consulting services through NIGP's Consulting program.

Andrea Mindenhall is currently the Manager of Strategic Sourcing, Regional Municipality of Halton in Ontario.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she is currently working and supervising her procurement team remotely.  She brings her experiences with remote work and remote supervision and support of employees to this session.  She has been an Executive Member of the Ontario Public Buyers Association for many years.

Christine has been a procurement professional for over 25 years.  Her experience includes 10 years corporate procurement, management, training, and change management for companies in the Washington, D.C. area.

Public procurement experience includes director-level and statewide experience at a wide variety of Colorado agencies, including Colorado State Patrol, University of Colorado, the Colorado Department of Human Services, and the State of Colorado - State Purchasing & Contracts Office.

As an NIGP Certified Instructor, she supports public entities with challenging, fun, and effective hands-on approaches to learning.  She is an author for the 2020 revised NIGP textbook, Developing and Managing Requests for Proposals in the Public Sector. 

Victoria Cortinas, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M, is currently (since October 2020) a Senior Procurement Specialist with Tucson Electric Power Company in Tucson, Arizona.  Victoria has 24 years of Procurement experience working with the Town of Oro Valley, Arizona as their Chief Procurement Officer and with the City of Tucson, Arizona serving in various contracting and leadership roles culminating as a Procurement Administrator. 

Victoria has vast experience contracting for design, construction and goods and services.  In addition, she has been responsible for the management of procurement programs including contracting, contract administration, services, Accounts Payable, Small Business Enterprise (SBE) / Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs, pCard, and Davis Bacon Contract & Related Acts contract compliance.  

Victoria has been a member of the Copper Chapter of NIGP and NIGP, the Institute since 1997 and is very passionate about the public procurement profession.  She co-created Professional Buyer’s Day (2nd Wednesday in March) with Nathan Daou and is the recipient of the 2018 NIGP Manager of the Year, 2014 Copper Chapter of NIGP Manager of the Year and 2008 Copper Chapter of NIGP Buyer of the Year award.  She served as an NIGP Area 9 Chapter Ambassador from 2015 – 2019 and is currently serving on the NIGP Member Council.

Nathan Daou, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P., is the Procurement Administrator for the City of Tucson, Arizona.  Throughout his 19 years in the Procurement profession, Nathan has been an active member of the Copper Chapter of NIGP.  Nathan is a strong believer in the value of professional certification and is an advocate for the elevation of the Procurement profession.  In 2015, Nathan co-created “National Professional Buyer’s Day” with Victoria Cortinas to bring recognition to the people on the front lines of our profession.  In 2019, Nathan was the recipient of NIGP’s Manager of the Year Award.

Nathan believes that the success of a Procurement operation is highly dependent on the strength of the Procurement Team.  Nathan encourages his team to strive for excellence by pursuing professional development opportunities, striving for a high degree of competency and professionalism, bringing value to the agency, and being an active member of NIGP. 

Nathan graduated from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree.