Author name: CSSYB26

One of my favorite parts of every NIGP Forum isn’t just the outstanding education, inspiring keynote speakers, or innovative solutions on the exhibit floor… it’s the conversations that happen across a lunch table! Some of the best ideas in public procurement don’t begin in a conference room… they begin over a shared meal, a handshake, a smile, & a simple question… Tell me about what you’re working on. That single conversation can spark a new friendship, solve a challenge, inspire a new best practice, create a future collaboration, or even change the direction of a career. That’s the incredible power of our profession! So here’s my invitation… 🍴 Who would like to join me for lunch during NIGP Forum 2026? Whether you’re a first time attendee, a seasoned procurement executive, a supplier partner, consultant, public servant, cooperative leader, contract manager, project manager, risk professional, or simply someone passionate about improving public service… I’d love to meet you! Let’s exchange ideas! Let’s share lessons learned! Let’s discuss innovation, leadership, AI, ethics, contract management, project management, supplier partnerships, culture, continuous improvement, risk management, public trust & Procurement Excellence! Let’s discover new opportunities where our experience, perspectives & passions create true Procurement Excellence Synergy! I firmly believe that every meaningful conversation plants a seed. Some become solutions. Some become partnerships. Some become lifelong friendships! Some become future mentors! Some become the next great innovation that benefits communities around the world! That’s what 6 STAR PROCUREMENT movement is all about… bringing great people together, sharing knowledge freely, building trusted relationships, creating value, raising standards & helping move our profession Forward Always! None of us has every answer… but together we have extraordinary experience, creativity & wisdom. When we collaborate instead of compete, we don’t simply improve organizations… we strengthen communities, elevate public service & build greater Public Trust! If you’re attending NIGP Forum 2026, send me a message, leave a comment below, or stop me in the hallway! I’d be honored to share a meal, learn about your journey, hear your ideas & explore how we can help each other grow! Let’s make this Forum about more than attending sessions… let’s build relationships that continue long after the conference ends! Thank you to everyone who makes our profession stronger through generosity, collaboration, mentorship & service. Every conversation matters. Every connection matters. Every person matters. Please Connect • Follow • Comment • Share so we can continue expanding the reach, visibility & positive impact of our amazing profession!

🇺🇸 YES, AMERICA… IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE “TOO QUALIFIED!” But maybe the better question is: Are our organizations prepared to fully USE the experience, education, certifications, courage & ethical integrity already sitting at the table? Sometimes being “overqualified” is not about having too much knowledge! It may mean seeing risks others have learned to walk past… asking questions others stopped asking… or bringing a flashlight into corners where “this is how we have always done it” has become the unofficial policy! Public service deserves more than comfortable agreement! It deserves COURAGE, CURIOSITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE,& PUBLIC TRUST! Strong leaders should not surround themselves only with people who agree with them! They build teams of professionals willing to respectfully challenge assumptions, identify risks, raise concerns & bring solutions! Ethical leadership is not blind loyalty! Loyalty to an organization should include the courage to protect its mission, people, resources, reputation & the public it serves! Compliance cannot simply be a binder collecting dust on a shelf! It must live in our decisions, procurements, contracts, documentation, internal controls, training & everyday behaviors! Independent audits, meaningful oversight & strong internal controls should not be feared! They are organizational seatbelts! They help us discover weaknesses BEFORE those weaknesses become headlines, findings, protests, litigation, wasted resources or lost public confidence! Professional certifications & continuing education matter because government is increasingly complex! Technology, AI, cybersecurity, supply chains, project management, contracting, ethics, risk & procurement are moving FAST! Government leadership must keep learning too! Organizations should WANT professionals who can see around corners! They should VALUE employees who respectfully say, “Have we considered the risk?” “What does the law require?” “Where is this documented?” “Is this fair?” “Is this transparent?” & perhaps the most important question: Is this worthy of the PUBLIC TRUST? That is where organizations such as NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement & our broader professional community can continue helping government elevate the floor while removing the ceiling on excellence! I remain incredibly thankful for the mentors, procurement professionals, public servants, suppliers, educators & leaders who demonstrate every day that integrity & innovation can travel the SAME road! Our profession does not move forward by hiding problems! We move forward by finding them, learning from them, fixing them & building systems strong enough to prevent them from returning! That is Procurement Excellence, Public Service Excellence, & LEADERSHIP!

I am incredibly honored, humbled & excited to share that I have been appointed by NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement to serve on the NIGP Leadership Development Committee! For me, this is much more than a committee appointment! It is another opportunity to SERVE, LEARN, LISTEN, CONNECT, COLLABORATE, MENTOR & HELP OTHERS GROW! Public procurement touches nearly everything government does! Behind every contract, project, program & purchase are people working to transform public resources into public value! That responsibility requires more than technical knowledge! It requires ethical leadership, courage, curiosity, collaboration, innovation & an unwavering commitment to PUBLIC TRUST! Leadership development matters because the strength of our profession tomorrow depends upon the people we encourage, prepare & empower TODAY! We need experienced leaders willing to open doors for emerging professionals! We need mentors who share lessons learned instead of allowing knowledge to walk out the door! We need organizations that invest in training, certifications, succession planning & meaningful professional leadership development! We need executives who recognize procurement not simply as a transactional function, but as a strategic partner, trusted advisor, value creator & mission enabler! Most importantly, we need a culture where professionals can climb! Leaders create & multiply leaders!When one of us grows, our profession grows! I am tremendously thankful to NIGP for the trust & opportunity to serve alongside accomplished procurement professionals committed to developing leaders & strengthening our profession! I also owe tremendous gratitude to the mentors, colleagues, friends, professional associations, public servants, suppliers & leaders who have invested in me throughout my journey! Every conversation, challenge, conference, classroom, project, success & lesson learned has helped shape the professional I continue working to become! Now comes the important part: PAYING IT FORWARD! My hope is to contribute ideas, energy, experience & a relentless growth mindset while continuing to learn from others! There is always another person to encourage, another connection to make, another leader to develop & another opportunity to elevate public procurement! The ceiling of our profession rises when we raise the floor for everyone! If you believe in public service, ethical leadership, mentorship, professional development & Procurement Excellence, I invite you to connect, follow, comment & share!Let’s expand the conversation, welcome more voices & inspire more executives to invest in, sponsor & champion the procurement profession! Together, we can build stronger leaders, teams, organizations, communities, & greater PUBLIC TRUST!