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Decisions That Matter: A Public Procurement Podcast

Decisions That Matter: A Public Procurement Podcast

By Procurated

There are nearly 20 million employees in state and local governments and educational institutions across the United States. They are all touched by the procurement decisions that are made every day. Decisions That Matter is brought to you by Procurated, and features in-depth discussions with procurement leaders and subject matter experts on the the most pressing topics in the public sector.
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Ep. 68 - The Future of Fleet with Ken Hess

Decisions That Matter: A Public Procurement PodcastMay 25, 2023

00:00
55:29
Ep. 68 - The Future of Fleet with Ken Hess

Ep. 68 - The Future of Fleet with Ken Hess

On this episode of the Decisions that Matter Podcast, we are sharing a conversation between Procurated Founder and CEO David Yarkin and Ken Hess - Deputy Secretary for Procurement for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Together they discuss the trends that procurement professionals should be aware of when purchasing for Fleet!

May 25, 202355:29
Ep. 67 - Procurated Buyer Survey | Results & Analysis
Feb 08, 202328:34
Ep. 66 - Diversity, Inclusion & Small Business Opportunities with Pennsylvania's Kerry Kirkland

Ep. 66 - Diversity, Inclusion & Small Business Opportunities with Pennsylvania's Kerry Kirkland

Procurated’s Denitra Gober is joined by Kerry Kirkland, Pennsylvania’s Deputy Secretary for Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities for a conversation on the ways that government can better engage the supplier community. 

The discussion covers ways that agencies can use grassroots organizations, community engagement and sheer determination to overcome obstacles and create a procurement process that is inclusive, expansive and fortified in supporting historically underutilized businesses.

Jan 09, 202343:35
Ep. 65 - A Public Procurement Life with Jack Pitzer

Ep. 65 - A Public Procurement Life with Jack Pitzer

Procurated’s founder and CEO, David Yarkin, sat down with Jack Pitzer, a public procurement legend whose career began in 1966 and spanned more than 40 years, to discuss the evolution of procurement during his tenure, and what it means for the future. Jack worked in two state procurement offices (and was the CPO of IA) and ran procurement for a university and a large local government. He was a leader in National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO), becoming its president in 1984.

To understand the future of procurement we must understand the history that has brought us to the point where we are today. Jack provides context and insight into the decisions that have led to our recent transition to a more digital world and an emphasis on technology, collaboration, and communication. 

Oct 18, 202227:31
Ep. 64 - NIGP Recap & Takeaways w/ Procurated's Becca Moran, Mike Derr, Jenny Doherty, and John Walters

Ep. 64 - NIGP Recap & Takeaways w/ Procurated's Becca Moran, Mike Derr, Jenny Doherty, and John Walters

Becca's goal is to elevate the role of public procurement by bringing buyers together on the Procurated platform and making it easy for them to share insights and find great suppliers. She leads the product, design, engineering, marketing, and community functions for the company. Together, her team discovers new ways to solve user problems, builds innovative solutions, and develops creative strategies to drive engagement with the government and supplier communities served by Procurated.

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


Michael Derr joined the Procurated team as Community Engagement Manager in 2021 and is excited to bring to the Procurated Team his 25 plus years of experience and wealth of knowledge to the Procurated Team in supporting the needs of our clientele.

Prior to joining Procurated Michael worked as the Contracts/Purchasing Officer for the County of Monterey, where he was directly responsible for the following operations: Contracts/Purchasing, Fleet Operations, Records Management, Mail Operations, as well as the oversight of two Food Service Operations and one Daycare Center.


Jenny Doherty joined the team in July 2022 as the Vice President of the Community Engagement team, where her mission is to serve government customers by giving them a voice in the supplier performance process to inform purchasing decisions. Jenny has a broad breadth of public procurement experience in both state government and higher education. As the Chief Procurement Officer for Pennsylvania, she saved over $100 million in year one and implemented technology innovations and private-sector best practices to streamline the RFP process and created transparency and efficiency with a new e-procurement solution (Jaggaer). She also recognized the value of commercial feedback and brought together suppliers and purchasers for the Commonwealth’s first Supplier Forums.

As the Director of the Shared Services Procurement group at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), Jenny was a thought and change leader and transformed the siloed university procurement teams into a unified commodity-based shared services team. In parallel, she implemented SAP Ariba to make PASSHE a leader in higher education. Prior to joining PASSHE, Jenny led Amazon Business’s State Government sector, where she brought together state governments, purchasing cooperatives, and the digital marketplace to drive best-value procurement. Jenny started her procurement career as an entrepreneur with FreeMarkets in Pittsburgh, PA.


John Walters joined the Procurated team as Community Engagement Manager in 2022 and is excited to bring to the Procurated Team his 24 plus years of experience in enterprise software and public procurement.

Prior to joining Procurated, John was a co-founder of Periscope Holdings, a leading e-procurement solution for state and local governments. At Periscope, he led the development of the BuySpeed product, executing 4 statewide e-procurement implementations. He also led the NIGP Code and NIGP Consulting groups within Periscope. He is an author on procurement topics and a frequent speaker on public procurement best practices. 

Sep 01, 202233:38
Ep. 63 - Utilizing New Technology and Community with Norma Hall & Darin Matthews
Jul 27, 202231:16
Ep. 62 - Live Education Purchasing Panel with Michigan Dept. of Edu. and Purdue University

Ep. 62 - Live Education Purchasing Panel with Michigan Dept. of Edu. and Purdue University

Procurated's Genna Gold is joined on this live webinar recording by several highly respected education purchasers, including:

  • Jayme Baker, Manager, Category Management, Purdue University
  • Carol Munroe, Business Analyst, Michigan Department of Education
  • Kevin Walters, Supervisor, Office of School Support Services, Michigan Department of Education

The webinar covers a variety of important topics specific to the education market including the unique buying cycles of higher education and K-12, trending goods and services, and more.

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you have a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

May 27, 202240:26
Ep. 61 Trends in Cooperative Purchasing with Deltek's Paul Irby

Ep. 61 Trends in Cooperative Purchasing with Deltek's Paul Irby

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, Procurated Founder & CEO, David Yarkin, interviews Deltek's Paul Irby to get his thoughts and understand the data behind the biggest trends impacting cooperative purchasing. 

Paul Irby is a Principal Research Analyst on Deltek’s SLED Market Analysis team. Learn more about how GovWin IQ enables companies to identify early stage opportunities, plan strategically, build relationships and navigate the competitive landscape.

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you have a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

May 10, 202227:08
Ep. 60 - The Evolution and Importance of Strategic Sourcing with Dr. Stephen Gordon
Apr 28, 202240:12
Ep. 59 - 4 Key Elements of Complex IT Software Procurements with DC's James Crenshaw

Ep. 59 - 4 Key Elements of Complex IT Software Procurements with DC's James Crenshaw

This episode of Decisions That Matter features an in-depth interview with IT Software & IT Service procurement expert, James Crenshaw.  James has been with the District of Columbia, Office of Contracts since 2019, where he joined after 4+ years with the City of Atlanta in Georgia. He also serves as the Vice-President of NIGP's Washington, DC Chapter. 

On this episode, you will hear James discuss the 4 Key Elements of Complex Software Procurements:

  • Partnering with program office as early as possible
  • Building a strategic scope
  • Period of performance
  • Demos and customer interviews

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you have a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

Mar 14, 202218:38
Ep. 58 - CAPPO 2022: Top Trends and Key Takeaways from California
Feb 10, 202220:45
Ep. 57 - Job Order Contracting (JOC) as an Alternative Project Delivery Method

Ep. 57 - Job Order Contracting (JOC) as an Alternative Project Delivery Method

This episode of Procurated's Decisions That Matter podcast is brought to you by Gordian. Gordian is revolutionizing the construction industry with data software, and expertise. 

On this episode, we are joined by:  

  • Andrea S. Patrucco, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Department of Marketing and Logistics at the Florida International University College of Business
  • Ana-Maria Dimand, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration in the School of Public Service at Boise State University
  • Randy Horn, Director, Gordian

Together, they share the recent results from a study they completed in tandem with the NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. You can access the Full Study here, as well as a slide on JOC Benefits and Time Savings mentioned in the show. 

Also, be on the lookout at the end of the episode for a short, 7-minute segment with Michael Derr, about his time using Job Order Contracting for the County of Monterey in California. 

Jan 31, 202249:17
Ep. 56 - How DC DOEE is Using ARPA Funds to Improve Energy Performance of Local Buildings

Ep. 56 - How DC DOEE is Using ARPA Funds to Improve Energy Performance of Local Buildings

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, we are joined by several leaders from the DC Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), including: 

  • David Epley - Associate Director at Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE)
  • Katie Bergfeld - Chief, Building Performance & Enforcement Branch at Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
  • Nicole Goines - Acting PIO at Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)

This in-depth discussion goes into the agency's overall mission, DOEE's plans for use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the creation of a new retrofit accelerator program, and much more. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the importance of working together as a team, collaborating with other government agencies, and communicating regularly with the end-users that are able to use their programs for to reach a variety of positive outcomes. 

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you work with a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

Jan 21, 202258:07
Ep. 55 - Rapid Learning and Supplier Discovery with Angelic Davis MPA, CPPO, NIGP-CPP
Dec 07, 202133:07
Ep. 54 - Workplace Optimization with Shuli Steele

Ep. 54 - Workplace Optimization with Shuli Steele

On this episode, we sit down with Shuli Steele to discuss workplace optimization in the public sector, and its implications on employee engagement, retention, efficiency and overall profitability. The workplace has evolved over the years, and there are many reasons for that evolution, but not all have led to positive outcomes or a more productive workforce. Listen to hear Shuli explain how you can adjust your government office or higher ed / k-12 set up to give people the best environment to excel. 

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you have a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

Sep 23, 202133:30
Ep. 53 - Building Broadband Infrastructure and Access across Wisconsin w/ Alyssa Kenney

Ep. 53 - Building Broadband Infrastructure and Access across Wisconsin w/ Alyssa Kenney

On this episode, we are joined by Alyssa Kenney, the Director of Digital Access for the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin. Her  mission to bring high-speed broadband internet to the people that need it most, across the state of Wisconsin, is truly inspiring. She discusses the challenges that come with working in both densely populated cities and more spread out rural areas, and she shares details about how they allocate funds to different regions and projects. 

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the first supplier evaluation and vendor management platform created exclusively for public sector purchasers. If you have a supplier that you love, or one that you want to warn other purchases about, you can write a review in 90 seconds at www.Procurated.com/review.

Sep 01, 202127:15
Ep. 52 - Using Data to Build an Effective Fleet Management Operation w/ Mike Derr

Ep. 52 - Using Data to Build an Effective Fleet Management Operation w/ Mike Derr

This episode of Decisions that Matter, a Procurated podcast, features a great conversation with Mike Derr about the ins and outs of transforming a fleet division by using data to its fullest capacity. Michael recently joined the Procurated team after running Contracts and Purchasing for over 20 years for the County of Monterey in California. 

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by Procurated. For a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for every supplier review that our listeners write on Procurated.com, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with local suppliers to help fund NIGP Memberships for at-risk members.

Aug 11, 202137:38
Ep. 51 - Transitioning to a Green Fleet w/ Mark Stevens and Alison Kerstetter (City of Sacramento)

Ep. 51 - Transitioning to a Green Fleet w/ Mark Stevens and Alison Kerstetter (City of Sacramento)

This episode of Decisions that Matter, a Procurated podcast, features an incredibly insightful discussion about transitioning to a green fleet with Mark Stevens and Alison Kerstetter from the City of Sacramento in California. Together, they discuss how Sacramento’s sustainability policy has impacted the city’s push for a green fleet, how they get buy-in from local agencies, how they standardize and build an infrastructure to support green fleet, and finally, how they take full advantage of the cooperative purchasing options at the state and national level.  

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by Procurated. For a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for every supplier review that our listeners write on Procurated.com, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with local suppliers to help fund NIGP Memberships for at-risk members.

Aug 02, 202138:11
Ep. 50 - Creating a Centralized Procurement Division with TDOT's Chris Yarbrough

Ep. 50 - Creating a Centralized Procurement Division with TDOT's Chris Yarbrough

This episode features an interview with Chris Yarbrough from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). Chris shares several actionable pieces of advice from his years in procurement about how to effectively create a new, centralized procurement division from scratch, and how to excel by being agile when the plan has to change due to unforeseen events like the 2020 pandemic.

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by Procurated. For a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for every supplier review that our listeners write on Procurated.com, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with local suppliers to help fund NIGP memberships for at-risk members. Hope you enjoy this episode, and have a great day.

Jul 28, 202138:47
Ep. 49 - Public Procurement in 2021 & Beyond with Jennifer Olzinger (Pittsburgh) and Trevor Day (Philadelphia)

Ep. 49 - Public Procurement in 2021 & Beyond with Jennifer Olzinger (Pittsburgh) and Trevor Day (Philadelphia)

On this episode of Decisions that Matter, Procurated CEO and Founder, David Yarkin, and co-host Bernadette Launi, sit down with two of the most innovative procurement leaders in Pennsylvania, Jennifer Olzinger, the Assistant Director and Procurement Manager for the City of Pittsburgh, and Trevor Day, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Philadelphia.  They share their experiences working in public procurement in the age of COVID, and they tackle important topics like sustainability, social responsibility, the realities of working in centralized vs. decentralized governments, and much more.

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by Procurated. For a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for ANY supplier review written on Procurated.com, and there is no limit to the number of entries, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with suppliers to keep one of your peers from losing their NIGP membership.

Jun 29, 202141:34
Ep. 48 - The Importance of Knowledge Capture and Effective Communication in the Public Sector with Olivia Duke, CFO of GA DCS.

Ep. 48 - The Importance of Knowledge Capture and Effective Communication in the Public Sector with Olivia Duke, CFO of GA DCS.

This episode of Decisions that Matter, a Procurated podcast, features a great interview with Olivia Duke, the Chief Financial Officer for Georgia Department of Community Supervision. Olivia shares both strategic and tactical thoughts on a range of topics including procurement, communicating across agencies and internally across departments, the importance capturing institutional knowledge, and hiring the next wave of government leaders.

This episode is also brought to you by NIGP, the institute for Public Procurement. This coming August and September NIGP will be incubating big ideas with daily impact at  the priemier public procurement event of the year. Visit NIGP.org/events to register for Virtual Forum August 23-26, and the New NIGP Forum Leadership Summit, September 11-14. I hope you enjoy this one.

Jun 23, 202123:40
Ep. 47 - Reimagining Higher Education Procurement, Part II, with Bloomsburg University's Jeff Mandel

Ep. 47 - Reimagining Higher Education Procurement, Part II, with Bloomsburg University's Jeff Mandel

Jeff Mandel is the Director of Procurement and Operations at the University of Bloomsburg, one of the fourteen higher education institutions that are part of Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). On episode 45, we spoke with Jenny Doherty and Sharon Minnich about how they have transformed the procurement processes and capabilities within PASSHE over the last two years, and Jeff speaks to what that experience has been like as a member of PASSHE and a leader at one of the universities. 

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by ProcuratedFor a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for every supplier review that our listeners write on Procurated.com, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with local suppliers.

Jun 17, 202118:06
Ep 46 - Adding Value to Supplier Relationships with Jason Steinmann

Ep 46 - Adding Value to Supplier Relationships with Jason Steinmann

This episode of Decisions that Matter, a Procurated podcast, features a wonderful interview with Jason Stienmann about adding value to supplier relationships by collaborating and working toward long term relationships that foster growth and innovation for both parties.

This episode is also brought to you by NIGP, The Institute for Public Procurement. In just a few months NIGP will be incubating big ideas with daily impact at the premier public procurement event of the year. Visit NIGP.org/events to register for Virtual Forum August 23-26, and the New NIGP Forum Leadership Summit, September 11-14.

Jun 09, 202132:05
Ep. 45 - Reimagining Higher Education Procurement w/ Sharon Minnich & Jenny Doherty

Ep. 45 - Reimagining Higher Education Procurement w/ Sharon Minnich & Jenny Doherty

Starting in 2019, Jenny Doherty and Sharon Minnich have been on an incredible transformation journey. In this episode, they sat down with Procurated's David Yarkin to share how they reimagined Pennsylvania’s higher ed procurement administration to create a commodity-based central procurement organization serving all 14 universities across the Commonwealth. 

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by ProcuratedFor a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for every supplier review that our listeners write on Procurated.com, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with local suppliers.

Jun 03, 202154:16
Ep. 44 - Recruiting the Next Generation of Public Procurement Leaders with Darin Matthews

Ep. 44 - Recruiting the Next Generation of Public Procurement Leaders with Darin Matthews

Thank you for listening to Decisions that Matter, a public Procurement Podcast brought to you by Procurated

On this episode it is our pleasure to be joined by author, director, consultant, podcaster, and all around great procurement mind, Darin Matthews. On this episode we have a great discussion about nurturing and hiring the next generation of procurement leaders, the future of procurement technology, and much more. In addition to being a great guest, Darin is also a great podcast host on his show, The Evolution of Procurement.

Darin has also been deeply involved with NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement over the years, and Procurated is happy to announce that we are partnering with NIGP to donate $5 to the NIGP member scholarship for supplier every review you write on the Procurated site

May 19, 202129:57
Ep. 43 - Achieving Transformation in Government the Right Way with Lourdes Coss

Ep. 43 - Achieving Transformation in Government the Right Way with Lourdes Coss

On this episode, Procurated's founder and CEO, David Yarkin, sits down with Lourdes Coss, the former Chief Procurement Officer of the City of Houston and Cook County, IL. Both David and Lourdes have dedicated their careers to public procurement, and this great conversation shines a light on how you can learn from their journeys and make lasting change in state and local government. Her podcast, Transforming Procurement with Lourdes Coss can be found on Apple, Spotify, and other popular podcast sites. 

Decisions That Matter is brought to you by Procurated. For a limited time, Procurated will donate $5 to NIGP's Membership Scholarship for every supplier review that our listeners write on Procurated.com, so visit the site today and share your experiences working with local suppliers. 


May 06, 202142:22
Ep. 42 - Nebraska's Supplier Concierge Program w/ Doug Carlson, Chief Procurement Officer
Apr 16, 202125:00
Ep. 41 - Building Dynamic Tools, Platforms & Communities for Public Purchasers w/ Becca Moran

Ep. 41 - Building Dynamic Tools, Platforms & Communities for Public Purchasers w/ Becca Moran

Becca Moran joined Procurated in 2019 as one of the company's first key hires, and since then she has grown the platform and core technology that fuels Procurated to where it is today. Becca was also featured on Episode 11 of the Decisions That Matter podcast, and on this episode she shares her experience transitioning her responsibilities and her team to a remote environment,discusses new site features that are helping public purchasers do their best work, and provides a glimpse of the future and Procurated's role in it. 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Apr 14, 202124:37
Ep. 40 - Public Procurement Trends: Rise in eProcurement and Cybersecurity in First Months of 2021

Ep. 40 - Public Procurement Trends: Rise in eProcurement and Cybersecurity in First Months of 2021

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, a Procurated podcast, host Alex Stonehouse dives into the results of the Winter 2021 Procurement Trends Survey to analyze the current trends in procurement, and the changes in priority since the previous survey from Fall of 2020 according to public procurement leaders from across the country. As mentioned in the episode, you can access the survey results in the following article:

Winter 2021 Procurement Trends Survey Results 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Mar 17, 202109:15
Ep.39 - Improving Farm-to-School Accessibility for K-12 w/ FoodCorps' Jillian Dy

Ep.39 - Improving Farm-to-School Accessibility for K-12 w/ FoodCorps' Jillian Dy

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, hosts Alex Stonehouse and Bernadette Launi sat down with Jillian Dy to discuss her work at FoodCorps as the Director of Supply Chain Engagement. FoodCorps' mission involves bringing together local communities to connect kids to healthy food in school. Throughout this episode Jillian does a great job of covering everything from the high-level policy topics that drive a lot of rules and outcomes, to the on-the-ground supply chain challenges involved in feeding and educating kids in school districts across the country. 

This topic is important to all of us, both as individuals as a nation, because the choices being made every day have a tremendous impact on the next generation of kids. The habits that define their future are being made now, and we have the ability to improve their lives through improvements to supply chain processes, procurement policies, and communication between schools and local farms and businesses. 

The topic of school food may seem like a niche topic, but this discussion is full of fascinating information from Jillian that is relevant to a wide range of people, including procurement and supply chain professionals, a food service workers, teachers, school administrators, and parents in general. 

Below is a list of resources that Jillian was generous enough to provide to support the information she shared during the episode in case you want more in-depth information:

Click here to sign up for news and policy alerts from FoodCorps and stay up to speed on the great work they are doing, or follow FoodCorps at their @foodcorps handle on all major social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and more.

And as always, this podcast is brought to you by Procurated, where you can instantly access thousands of peer-reviewed suppliers to make make complex buying decisions much easier. 

Mar 12, 202133:38
Ep. 38 - Creating a Thriving HUB Program w/ North Carolina's Tammie Hall

Ep. 38 - Creating a Thriving HUB Program w/ North Carolina's Tammie Hall

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, a Procurated podcast, co-hosts Alex Stonehouse and Bernadette Launi meet with North Carolina's Tammie Hall to discuss how she has created on of the most successful programs for historically underutilized businesses (HUB) in the country. Her work within North Carolina's Department of Administration includes and in-depth disparity study to lay the groundwork for diversity and inclusion policies, a no-strings-attached grant program to help HUBs during the coronavirus pandemic, and so much more.  As mentioned in the episode, you can access the disparity study and the NC HUB resources in the links below. 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Mar 02, 202139:22
Ep. 37 - The Biggest Trends in Procurement in 2021 So Far w/ Jason Soza, CPPO, CSSBB

Ep. 37 - The Biggest Trends in Procurement in 2021 So Far w/ Jason Soza, CPPO, CSSBB

Former Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) of the State of Alaska, Jason Soza, joined the podcast today to discuss the current trends and issues facing public procurement leaders across the country. As Vice President, West at Government Sourcing Solutions (GSS) Soza shares his knowledge from 20 years of experience in public procurement, starting as a frontline buyer for Alaska and ascending to CPO in 2013. Active in national procurement organizations, Soza was elected by his peers in 2018 as President of the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).

In his role with the State of Alaska, Soza was responsible for the oversight of all goods and services purchases, inventory, and property disposal by all executive branch agencies across a very geographically diverse and challenging state. He also undertook several initiatives to transform Alaska's procurement function, starting with the formation of a cross-agency procurement officer group to increase communication and idea sharing, breaking down silos, and fostering new inter-agency relationships. These initiatives significantly increased spend under management, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in additional savings over his tenure.

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the leading ratings and review site for the public sector. 

Feb 23, 202130:41
Ep. 31 - The Data, Technology, and Relationships that Drive JOC w/ Dan Cook

Ep. 31 - The Data, Technology, and Relationships that Drive JOC w/ Dan Cook

This episode of Decisions That Matter is presented by Gordian, and features a discussion between Procurated's David Yarkin and Dan Cook, the Vice President and General Manager of State and Local Government and K-12 Education (SLED). 

Dan Cook, Vice President of Operations for the eastern U.S., has over 20 years of experience with Job Order Contracting (JOC). With a deep understanding of what makes a successful JOC program, he guides his team to provide and train on successful implementations. He’s overseen projects from Los Angeles to New York City and many places in between. Today, Dan oversees SLED Sales and Procurement Operations teams. Dan holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland and sits on the board of Eyrus, a cloud-based workforce productivity data collection solution.

From construction planning and building to facility operations, Gordian empowers their customers to overcome business challenges by delivering critical data, innovative technology and extraordinary services.

If you are a Procurated government member you can also log in to see what other governments and agencies are saying about Gordian. 

Feb 23, 202118:60
Ep. 36 - Reopening Public Schools, Managing Inventory, and Implementing eBidding with Dave Pelletier and Kara Daniel
Feb 16, 202124:15
Ep. 35 - Gordian's Bill Pollak Discusses Adaptation to Virtual Solutions and the Future of AI in Contracting

Ep. 35 - Gordian's Bill Pollak Discusses Adaptation to Virtual Solutions and the Future of AI in Contracting

This episode of Decisions That Matter is presented by Gordian, and features a discussion between Procurated's David Yarkin and Gordian's Bill Pollak. Bill serves as President of Gordian (a Fortive company), the leading provider of innovative construction data, software and services to organizations pursuing efficient and effective facilities planning, estimating and construction procurement. 

This fascinating discussion highlights the importance and effectiveness of properly using data to create efficiency in the public sector. Bill Pollak shares his views on the future of contracting, including the need to a adapt to a virtual solution and the emergence of AI technology that is changing the way business is done.

If you are a Procurated government member you can also log in to see what other governments and agencies are saying about Gordian.

Feb 01, 202125:23
Ep. 34 - Using Data and Analytics to Make Better Decisions w/ Andrew MacDowell

Ep. 34 - Using Data and Analytics to Make Better Decisions w/ Andrew MacDowell

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, co-hosts Alex Stonehouse and Bernadette Launi are joined by their Procurated colleague, Andrew MacDowell. 

Andrew joined the Procurated team in early 2020 as the Senior Director of Data Science & Analytics, where he has already had a tremendous impact our sales & marketing strategy, product roadmap, financial planning, and company vision through applied analytics.

Prior to joining Procurated, Andrew worked in the Corporate Affairs Analytics & Insights team at Booz Allen Hamilton, was the Director of Business Intelligence at Xometry, and cut his teeth at the Bethesda-based consulting firm, Marketbridge.

On this episode he discusses the vital role that data and analytics play in the decision making process, whether it's choosing the right supplier for a complex job, or deciding how to engage and react to a major problem.

Jan 26, 202121:59
Ep. 33 - 4 Questions to Ask Yourself before Reviewing a Supplier
Jan 13, 202108:21
Ep. 32 - How Women Can Advance in Government and Conquer Imposter Syndrome w/ Brooke Smith

Ep. 32 - How Women Can Advance in Government and Conquer Imposter Syndrome w/ Brooke Smith

On this week's episode of Decisions That Matter we are joined by Brooke Smith for a discussion about women in government, advancing their careers through education and mentorship, and advice on conquering imposter syndrome. 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Jan 05, 202132:32
Ep. 30 - Community and Innovation in Procurement w/ Genna Gold

Ep. 30 - Community and Innovation in Procurement w/ Genna Gold

Genna Gold, the Director of Partner Engagement & Business Development at Procurated, joined the team after long stints at Yelp and TripAdvisor. She leads community engagement initiatives to better understand, serve and bring innovation to procurement professionals. She also acts as a liaison between the public sector and the supplier community through outreach and education.

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the largest ratings and reviews platform for the public sector. For more information about government suppliers, or to sign up and explore the platform, visit www.procurated.com.

Dec 09, 202014:12
Ep. 29 - Consistent Communication with Suppliers is Key

Ep. 29 - Consistent Communication with Suppliers is Key

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, a Procurated podcast, host Alex Stonehouse is joined by our panel of former Chief Procurement Officers to discuss the possible avenues for repairing strained supplier relationships that can occur during an ongoing project. What makes a good, lasting supplier relationship? When is the right time to raise an issue with your supplier, and what's the best way to do it? What do you do if your supplier cannot deliver to the specs of the contract? What are the costs of moving on to a second supplier? What are the costs and benefits of doing so? 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Nov 17, 202018:23
Ep. 28 - Q&A: Curiosity, Creativity and Strategic Thinking in Procurement
Nov 10, 202035:42
Ep. 27 - Finding a Mentor & Building a Career in Procurement with Jenn Myers

Ep. 27 - Finding a Mentor & Building a Career in Procurement with Jenn Myers

Jenn Myers, NIGP-CPP, CPPB  has been with the City of Tucson for 8 years, currently in the role of Procurement Manager. She was selected as the 2020 Young Professional of the Year Recipient.  On this episode, Jenn Myers discusses her start in procurement and the path she took to rise to her current position. She shares lessons learned through her participation in Arizona's local NIGP chapters, and she also emphasizes the importance of the experience she has gained through NIGP's national programs. The procurement community is a collaborative one where people lift each other up, and Jenn is a great example of what can happen when you take the advice of others to heart. Jenn also goes into detail about how she found and fostered her relationship with her mentor, a story full of lessons that we can all benefit from.  She currently serves as Chair on NIGP’s Pipeline and Placement Committee and is very active with her local chapter – the Copper Chapter of NIGP where she currently serves as President.

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Oct 27, 202035:24
Ep. 26 - Public Procurement Trends: The Technology and Policies Shaping the End of 2020

Ep. 26 - Public Procurement Trends: The Technology and Policies Shaping the End of 2020

On this episode of Decisions That Matter, a Procurated podcast, co-hosts Alex Stonehouse and Bernadette Launi dove into the results of the Fall Procurement Trends Survey to analyze the current trends in procurement, and the changes in priority since the previous survey from Summer of 2020 according to public procurement leaders from across the country. As mentioned in the episode, you can access the survey results in the following articles: 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Oct 21, 202022:04
Ep. 25 - The Benefits of Using External Resources
Oct 13, 202011:36
Ep. 24 - Judy Smith: Navigating Procurement in Higher Education

Ep. 24 - Judy Smith: Navigating Procurement in Higher Education

On this episode Judy Smith discusses procurement in higher education. Judy has an impressive background in both healthcare and higher education, and she served as the Director of Procurement at the University of Michigan, where she worked for nearly 10 years.

We dove into the main differences between purchasing for colleges and universities compared to state and local government procurement, how higher education is handling the pandemic and the warehousing issues that were caused by the PPE shortage earlier this year, and Judy also shares advice for up-and-coming procurement leaders to help them learn and grow in a positive way.

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Sep 24, 202020:10
Ep. 23 - Creating Procurement Hurdles, Not Roadblocks with Stacy Gregg (Univ. of S. Carolina)

Ep. 23 - Creating Procurement Hurdles, Not Roadblocks with Stacy Gregg (Univ. of S. Carolina)

On this episode of Decisions That Matter,  brought to you by Procurated, co-hosts Alex Stonehouse and Bernadette Launi are joined by procurement rockstar, Stacy Gregg, from the University of South Carolina

Stacy does a wonderful job of pairing her years of procurement experience with her compelling storytelling ability, to give listeners seemingly endless anecdotes to learn from and act upon. 

She details the idea behind Procurement being hurdle, not a roadblock, that stakeholders and end users should look forward to working with because the relationship can and should be mutually beneficial. 

Stacy also discusses a range of other ideas, from the important of procurement ethics and doing what you know is right, to details on how the University of South Carolina has approached opening school in the fall for faculty and students in the COVID-19 era. 

If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe to the podcast. You can also visit www.procurated.com for all of your supplier evaluation needs, or follow Procurated on LinkedIn for regular content updates.

Sep 21, 202035:25
Ep. 22 - Touchless Tech & Facial Recognition on Campus (Higher Ed)
Sep 15, 202010:24
Ep. 21 - Preparedness in Procurement with Tim Hay

Ep. 21 - Preparedness in Procurement with Tim Hay

On this episode of Decisions that Matter we are joined by Tim Hay to discuss Preparedness in Procurement. Tim brings over 20 years of procurement experience to the table, including long stints with The State of Oregon and NASPO ValuePoint. 

The coronavirus pandemic has forced procurement and preparedness into the spotlight, and has taught us a lot about what could have been done differently, and what we can do in the future to plan ahead and ensure we are prepared for future events. And on top of the pandemic western states are battling raging wildfires, while the southeast is currently in the peak of hurricane season.  Tim walks the audience through strategies to help you best prepare for a variety of scenario. 

This podcast is brought to you by Procurated, the country's leading supplier evaluation tool. 

Sep 10, 202027:52
Ep. 20 - How to Maximize Impact after Virtual Events (NIGP Recap)

Ep. 20 - How to Maximize Impact after Virtual Events (NIGP Recap)

On this special "Buying Bunch" episode, the team of procurement experts from Government Sourcing Solutions shares their experience last week at the NIGP Forum 2020 conference that was initially scheduled to take place in Chicago, Illinois, but transitioned to a virtual event due to the national pandemic.  The team also gives actionable advice to maximize the impact of connections made and data collected during the week long trade show to ensure a successful end to 2020. 

This video features:

Jane Benton: CPO of Arkansas and University of Arkansas

Jason MacDonald: Former CPO of Long Beach and Fresno

Judy Smith: Former Director of Procurement, University of Michigan

Mike Smith: Former CPO of Illinois

Jason Soza: Former CPO of Alaska

For more procurement information please like and subscribe to the podcast, and visit www.procurated.com for more information about specific suppliers that can help you reach your goals and objectives.

Aug 31, 202016:04
Ep. 19 - Tackling Procurement Issues without Adequate Staffing

Ep. 19 - Tackling Procurement Issues without Adequate Staffing

Many times procurement shops find themselves short-staffed or under-trained, whether it's due to the recent wave of retirements, budget shortfalls due to the coronavirus pandemic, or an underpopulated pipeline of incoming young talent. 

There are several things that short-staffed offices can do to help get everything done while still meeting goals and objectives, including mandates like driving savings.   

On this special "Buying Bunch" episode, the team of procurement experts from Government Sourcing Solutions reaches into their 150 years of combined public purchasing experience to brainstorm new ways that procurement departments can organize their work to get the most out of the resources they do have.  

This video features:  

Jane Benton: CPO of Arkansas and University of Arkansas

Jason MacDonald: Former CPO of Long Beach and Fresno

Mike Smith: Former CPO of Illinois

Jason Soza: Former CPO of Alaska

For more procurement information please like and subscribe to the podcast, and visit www.procurated.com for more information about specific suppliers that can help you reach your goals and objectives..

Aug 18, 202009:40