Rebecca N. Sullivan was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) on January 7, 2022, by Governor Brian P. Kemp. She most recently served as DOAS General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner of Government Affairs, where her responsibilities included managing the agency’s legal division, as well as providing advice and counsel to the agency’s five operating divisions that support the enterprise of state government: statewide procurement, risk management, fleet management, surplus property, and human resources administration. Prior to joining DOAS, Ms. Sullivan spent time in private practice and served as a Policy Advisor, Deputy Executive Counsel, and Executive Counsel to former Governor Sonny Perdue. She began her legal career in labor and employment law with Elarbee Thompson in Atlanta. Ms. Sullivan is a “Double Dawg,” having earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctor from the UGA School of Law.

Jim Barnaby serves as the DOAS Deputy Commissioner of State Purchasing. Prior to joining DOAS on December 1, 2021, Mr. Barnaby served as Strategic Sourcing Director for the University System of Georgia before retiring in October 2021 with more than 25 years of service. During his service with the University System of Georgia, Mr. Barnaby worked at Georgia Perimeter College as the Director of Logistical Services where he launched eProcurement and the Georgia First Marketplace. He served in the United States Army for over 20 years and retired as a First Sergeant. As an Army Infantry First Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant, he dedicated most of his time to leading, planning and logistics. Some of the highlights of his military career were serving nine years in Europe, training new recruits as a drill sergeant at Ft. Benning, Georgia and receiving the Bronze Star for actions in Desert Storm. His last duty assignment was at North Georgia College, where he served as a military instructor. After retiring from the Army, Mr. Barnaby remained with North Georgia College and began working in Auxiliary Services. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, he was hired as the college’s Procurement Officer and the Director of Materials Management. During his time there, he established new procurement processes and launched the new PeopleSoft eProcurement Module. Mr. Barnaby earned his National Certification as a Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) and a Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).

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Mark has spent the past 17 years at GTA in various capacities including customer-facing account management, new service development, business strategy, and strategic sourcing.  He is currently responsible for a newly-formed Product Management team overseeing all of GTA’s product portfolio.  Prior to joining GTA he spent 14 years in sales and marketing for several telecommunications companies.

Becky is the State of Georgia Purchasing Card Program Manager. In this role, she is responsible for policy, training, audits, and contract management for Georgia governmental p-card and e-payables programs. Previously, she worked as an external auditor for the Georgia Department of Transportation. She received a BBA in accounting from Clayton State University and a Master of Accountancy from Georgia Southern University. She has over 10 years of state and local government procurement, P-Card and auditing experience.

Joyce J. Auld is a native of Virginia. In 2004, she relocated to Georgia with her retired military husband after traveling all over the world. After relocating to Georgia, Joyce became very serious and focused on completing her educational pursuit. As a Dean’s List recipient at Shorter University, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree (Management) in December 2007. Knowing the value and importance of education, Joyce immediately enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program (Human Resources) with Strayer University. In December 2009, she completed the requirements for an MBA with a 3.9 GPA. Joyce has worked with several state entities in various procurement roles. She currently works as a Senior Procurement Training Manager with the Department of Administrative Services. In July 2016, Joyce obtained the national certification - Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council. Other certifications held by Joyce include; Georgia Certified Purchasing Manager (GCPM), Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate (GCPA), Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG) – Primary Government Accounting Series.

Julian Andrea Bailey leads the Division’s efforts to facilitate communications and engagement with minority-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Julian joined DOAS in 2013 and has established a strong knowledge base in state procurement operations, policies and systems. She has successfully implemented and managed numerous training programs on navigating the procurement process and systems in the state of Georgia. In addition, Ms. Bailey oversees the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification program. Prior to joining DOAS, she worked with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute. Ms. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Management from Troy University. She is a Professional Certified Marketer with the American Marketing Association.

Ross where he oversees the management of approximately 170 agency contracts and approximately $415 million in combined annual spend. He has over 14 years of experience with Georgia governmental purchasing and a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining GDC, Ross worked for Central Georgia Technical College. In the recent past, Ross served as the issuing officer to successfully transition two critical GDC service contracts, Offender Physical Healthcare Services and Offender Pharmacy Services, with a combined annual value of over $220 million from a long time public sector provider to private providers. He was born, raised and currently resides in Macon, GA with his wife Jenny and son Ethan. When not at work or working on a DIY home renovation project, the Barrineau family enjoys spending time outdoors – hiking, fishing, golfing or just appreciating the beauty of the natural world. Ross Barrineau is the Director of Procurement for the Georgia Department of Corrections and Georgia Correctional Industries where he oversees the management of approximately 170 agency contracts and approximately $415 million in combined annual spend. He has over 14 years of experience with Georgia governmental purchasing and a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining GDC, Ross worked for Central Georgia Technical College. In the recent past, Ross served as the issuing officer to successfully transition two critical GDC service contracts, Offender Physical Healthcare Services and Offender Pharmacy Services, with a combined annual value of over $220 million from a long time public sector provider to private providers. He was born, raised and currently resides in Macon, GA with his wife Jenny and son Ethan. When not at work or working on a DIY home renovation project, the Barrineau family enjoys spending time outdoors – hiking, fishing, golfing or just appreciating the beauty of the natural world.

Rick is the Group Category Manager for the Goods team in the State Purchasing Division for the State of Georgia. In this role, Rick is responsible for leading a team of procurement professionals charged with sourcing enterprise wide tangible commodities. His team’s statewide contract portfolio includes contracts such as Office Supplies, MRO, Guns and Ammunition, Generic Drugs, Liquid Propane Gas, Diagnostic Instruments, Biological Supplies, Hospital and Medical Supplies, and Police Pursuit Vehicles just to name a few. The Goods team’s statewide contract portfolio is valued at over $340M. Rick earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Valdosta State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Strayer University. Rick has over 30 years of procurement experience. He is a Certified Purchasing Manager (lifetime designee) through the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) as well as a Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate.

With more than 32 years of experience in Procurement, Contract Management, Negotiations, and Mentoring, Josh Borden is the SPD Business Project Manager with State Purchasing, and Georgia Procurement Conference Manager, and has been a valuable resource for agencies, universities and colleges statewide. Mr. Borden has partnered and presented with the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) and National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). He also serves as a Trainer for State Purchasing in RFP, Market Research, and Contract Administration and assists with the DOAS Leadership Academy. In addition to the GPC, he also coordinates the Small Business Symposium for the Small Business and Diversity Program and serves on planning committees for NASPO Annual and REACH Conferences. Mr. Borden is certified as GCPM and Lifetime C.P.M. with the Institute of Supply Management.

Lanique Bradley earned her B.S. in Advertising Communications with a concertation in Media Planning and Buying from St. John’s University. She currently serves as the Supplier Outreach Specialist for GA Department of Administrative Services, State Purchasing Division. Supporting suppliers across the state by providing professional development and training opportunities of how to access, submit and secure bids and contracts with the peach state, she is helping to grow the base of suppliers! Lanique also drives development of communications collateral to ensure delivery of relevant communications through various media channels that help expand businesses.

Krystal has a background in policy for state government and has been a Congressional Fellow with a US Senate Office. As the P-Card Policy Analyst, she works with entities on improving their processes and interpreting, giving guidance, and offering technical expertise with the State of Georgia’s purchasing card laws, policies, and procedures. Krystal earned her Bachelor of Arts, Political Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She earned her Master of Arts, Global Public Policy from Suffolk University. She holds her GCPCA certification and is working to complete her GCPA and GCPM certifications.

Crystal joined DOAS in November 2022. She is responsible for assisting with activities relating to the Small Business and Supplier Diversity Initiative, including the minority business enterprise (MBE) certification process, as well as supplier training and outreach efforts. Prior to joining DOAS, Crystal worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation as a DBE Coordinator. With 17 years of experience in customer service, human resources, operations management, and small business development, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Crystal holds a certification in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. Presently, she is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree with a minor in finance and will graduate in June 2023.

Barbara Burns joined the Agency Sourcing Group in September 2021 with 15+ years in public procurement. With more than 20 years of experience with the State of Georgia, Barbara has experience with higher education through her most recent work as the procurement director for Middle Georgia State University, but also state agency experience through her procurement work for the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Technical College System of Georgia. She is originally from Germany, but has lived in the U.S. since 1995. Her interests include traveling, reading, and spending time with friends.

Scott M. Callan, CPSM, SPM, CF APMP is a certified professional with over 2 ½ decades of procurement and contracting experience in both the public and the private sectors. Having worked at state and local levels of government, he is passionate about our industry and strives to educate himself and others in order to achieve our greatest potential in our chosen profession. He is an award-winning and internationally recognized trainer and mentor and believes in the pursuit of value propositioning for all.

Matt Carter began his state career at the Department of Administrative Services in 1996. He has worked in several agencies from 2010-2021 to include the Department of Community Health, Department of Public Health, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. He has served in managerial roles as well as at the Agency Procurement Officer level. Matt returned to the Department of Administrative Services in 2021 serving as an Agency Sourcing Group Manager where he assists state agencies with their complex sourcing needs.

Ms. Chaplain provides general representation to state agencies and authorities in the following areas: contract disputes, procurement, banking, lottery operations, bankruptcy, securities, charitable trusts, hospital acquisitions, and general business matters. As part of her practice, she also assists the Attorney General with the regulation of charitable and nonprofit entities. Brooke has also served as the hearing officer in numerous hospital acquisitions involving the Attorney General’s review under the Georgia Hospital Acquisition Act. In addition, Brooke has represented the State of Georgia in litigation matters in state and federal courts, including trial and appellate litigation. She also handles transactional matters on behalf of, and provides legal advice to, a variety of governmental entities throughout Georgia. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s office, Brooke worked for private firms representing clients in bankruptcy. A 2012 graduate of the Georgia State College of Law, Brooke received her B.S. in Environmental Economics from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Drew, live in Cobb County with their two dogs.

Mary Chapman serves as the Deputy Division Director for the State Purchasing Division and leads the Policy, Training and Supplier Outreach programs. Mrs. Chapman has more than 15 years experience in state government procurement policy, contract negotiations, program management and implementation of major projects. Mrs. Chapman began her legal career by clerking for the Augusta Judicial Circuit. She has served in state government in a variety of roles, including as a staff attorney, contracts attorney, executive business analyst with the Medicaid program and division chief for the healthcare facility regulation division within the Department of Community Health. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Georgia State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia Law School.

Autumn joined the Georgia Department of Administrative Services in 2013 as a legal analysis and policy writing specialist and later became manager of the Policy and Compliance unit in the DOAS Human Resources Administration Division. Ms. Cole most recently served on the DOAS legal counsel from 2018 through July of 2022 in primary support of the HRA Division. She advised HRA in all legal matters including contracting and procurement matters, statewide employment policy, statewide substance abuse testing program, flexible benefits program, state charitable contributions program, statewide talent management, and administrative oversight of the Governor-appointed State Personnel Board and Employee Benefit Plan Council. Ms. Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Mercer University and a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University’s College of Law. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and previously chaired the YLD Leadership Academy.

Prior to joining DJJ, she worked at DOAS, DBHDD, and DHS in various capacities including Agency Procurement Officer, Purchasing Manager and Contracts Liaison. She has over 13 years of public procurement and contracts experience. Ira holds the GCPA and GCPM certifications and has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Brooklyn College-CUNY and a Master’s degree from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Bob has 28 years of experience building and leading procurement teams inside Fortune 100 companies including Delta Air Lines, Pratt & Whitney and Bombardier. Joined UGA in October 2021 and leads UGA’s Procurement team and PCard program. He is a Proud UGA Graduate (BSEd), U.S. Air Force veteran and private pilot.

Ms. Efik has over five years of training and leadership experience helping state agencies with developing and delivering training to their target audience and over fifteen years of experience working for the State of Georgia. Brittany uses that experience to conduct trainings and for training development, but it’s the development of accessible training that gets her up in the morning. Brittany earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. When she is not at work, Brittany is an avid Crafter and loves spending time with her husband and kids. A fun fact about Brittany is that she started working for the State of Georgia as a teenager and has been working for the state since.

McCall Ginsberg joined DOAS in June 2014 as Deputy General Counsel. Prior to joining DOAS, Ginsberg Served as Assistant Legal Counsel and directed contracting and procurement functions for the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. She served as Legal Aide to the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives during the 2001 and 2002 legislative sessions. She is a “Double Dawg,” having earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia and a JD from the UGA School of Law and is a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO).

Ms. Gonzalez is a paralegal supporting the State Purchasing Division and the Department of Administrative Services.

Dr. Carl A. Hall, Esq. is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, John Marshall Law School and Madison University. He has over twenty five years of professional procurement and contract management experience, in both the pubic and private sectors. Dr. Hall is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has also served as an adjunct professor at Strayer University for five years. He has served in several positions within the State Purchasing Division. He currently leads the Contract Management team for the Department of Administrative Services, State Purchasing Division.

Emily Hirst is an attorney working for the legal team at the Department of Administrative Services for the State of Georgia. Emily is qualified to practice law in Georgia as well as the UK, California, and the jurisdiction of Gibraltar (which is a British Overseas Territory located in the Mediterranean between Spain and Morocco). Emily studied law in Oxford, England and then completed her UK law studies in London before moving to San Francisco in 2010 where she worked for the University of California San Francisco’s Neurological Surgery department as part of their contracts and grants team. Emily has been working in the local government field since 2016 when she moved to Georgia to join the Office of the County Attorney at Fulton County, she then progressed to the Georgia Municipal Association where she worked with the Association’s 537 member cities. She joined DOAS in August of 2022.

Travis Horsley is on a mission to utilize data analytics and concepts to improve efficiency in the public sector. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a dual-BS in International Affairs & Modern Languages and Public Policy, with a MS in Public Policy from the same alma mater. A Georgian by birth, he enjoys the nexus of technology and humanities. Striving for a customer-centric focus of government services, he supports State Purchasing Division of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services in their auditing and recovery efforts.

Mr. Howell is responsible for leading enterprise human resource functions, including talent management, HR policy and compliance and compensation and benefits. With over 26 years of service with the State, Mr. Howell has extensive experience leading support services in the areas of human resources, information technology and administration operations. Mr. Howell has served as the Human Resources Director for the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Clayton County Water Authority and the City of Forest Park. He also served as the Director of Local Government Services for the Coastal Regional Development Commission. Mr. Howell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia Southern University. Prior to joining DOAS-HRA, Mr. Howell served as Director of Administration for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. He is certified as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

Catherine Ice has worked for fifteen years in State government, starting as a Contract Manager at then DHR’s MHDDAD. Since then, she has held various positions including Contract Compliance Manager, APO and CUPO before landing at DOAS as a Category Manager: IT & Professional Services. Always open to learning opportunities, Catherine enjoys sharing her knowledge and lessons learned with others. One of DOAS’ strong suits is encouraging and empowering others to be the best they can be in public procurement and aligns perfectly with Catherine’s beliefs. (Prior to joining the State of Georgia, Catherine worked in the private sector at Atlanta Gaslight Company and NDCHealth among others.)

Clarence Ingram serves as the Deputy State Purchasing Officer for the State Purchasing Division. He most recently served as the Group Category Manager within the Strategic Sourcing Unit of State Purchasing, where he was responsible for negotiating and implementing statewide enterprise agreements, spend management, customer and supplier relationship management, cost reduction, and savings maximizing strategies in the areas of Information Technology and Professional Services. Mr. Ingram has been a successful practitioner of strategic sourcing concepts for over 20 years. Prior to joining DOAS, Mr. Ingram held leadership positions with Xerox Corporation, BellSouth Telecommunications, AT&T and Advance Micro Devices. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, and a Master’s from Rochester Institute of Technology and Georgia Institute of Technology.

John Kreeger has worked for the Department of Administrative Services since 2013 and currently serves as a Senior Compliance Auditor for the State Purchasing Division. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Kreeger has gained purchasing, financial management and audit experience in state and local government and higher education in both the U.S. and the U.K. Prior to moving to the U.K. in 1997, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service. He has an M.A. in Political Science from Villanova University and a B.A. in Political Science from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. John and his wife live in Cherokee County, GA.

She is responsible for establishing and monitoring the Statewide internal control guidance which is based on the Federal Green Book. Also, Rachael is responsible for accounting and business process policies, along with certain Federal Statewide reports including the Single Audit and SWCAP. Rachael has over 20 years of experience working with internal controls in various levels of government.

Rebecca Krystopa is SPD’s Policy Operations Manager and has served the State of Georgia for over 25 years. Prior to joining DOAS in April 2016, Rebecca most recently worked at Georgia Piedmont Technical College as the Director of Administrative Services. In that role she was responsible for overseeing the college's student accounting, bookstore, payroll, p-card program and various finance office functions. Ms. Krystopa is a graduate of Reinhardt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and Leadership. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair for the Southern Region Council of the National Association of State Procurement Officers. She is also a member of the National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals and currently serves as part of the certification exam council.

Mr. Lange has worked in State government law enforcement and investigations for 32 years and is a 22-year employee with the State of Georgia. He is a POST Certified Peace Officer, Polygraph Examiner, and IT specialist. Since obtaining his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees from Queensland University of Technology (Australia), Nigel has been awarded the credentials of Certified Inspector General, Certified Protection Professional, and Professional Certified Investigator. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff & Command, and the FBI National Academy. Nigel has been married for 25 years and has two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling with his family and tinkering with cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Lisa Elliott Little serves as the Executive Director of Strategic Sourcing for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Prior to joining BOR, Lisa served as the Director of Purchasing for the University of West Georgia. Before joining higher education, she worked in the industrial and construction equipment field for several organizations for more than 10 years. She earned her BBA from Mercer University and her MBA from the University of West Georgia. Lisa maintains her GCPM, GCPCA, GCPA, NIGP-CPP and CPPB certifications. Lisa considers herself a lifetime learner and has a passion for Procurement, servant leadership, and customer service.

Stephanie McInnis is the P-Card Coordinator for the State Purchasing Division. Previously, she was an Auditor with SPD and a Payroll Specialist with the State Accounting Office. As P-Card Coordinator, Stephanie is responsible for training and outreach for the p-card program. She supports new State and Local administrators on their p-card plan, how to use Bank of America Works, and training opportunities. Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in Theatre from North Caroline Central University. Stephanie holds the following certifications: Instructional Design, CFE, GCPCA, GCPA, and GCPM.

Lisa oversees the Governor’s statewide technology services initiatives, including over $100M in spend annually. She also works closely with other state agencies, cities, counties, and municipalities on getting the best value with existing GTA/statewide technology services. Prior to joining GTA, Lisa was an Assistant Director of Procurement at Kennesaw State University, where she managed the formal bidding processes for multiple large dollar purchases. She has over 20 years of government procurement and contracting experience and currently holds a GCPM, the Georgia Certified Procurement Manager certification. Lisa possesses a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from the University of Georgia, and multiple national certifications from organizations such as the Universal Public Certification Council (Certified Public Procurement Officer, CPPO), the Institute of Internal Auditing (Certified Internal Auditor, CIA; Certified Governmental Audit Professional, CGAP) and Institute of Supply Management (Certified Supply Chain Manager, CPSM.). In NIGP, Lisa is a proud member of the national Leadership Development Committee, assisting members achieve success. She also serves as the Treasurer and Educational Chair of the Georgia Chapter of NIGP (GANIGP) and is a board member of the Atlanta Chapter of ISM. Lisa and her husband, Bruce, live in Roswell with their beagle, Pretzel.

In the over 32 years she has been at Georgia State University, she has held positions of increasing responsibility. Having started in Purchasing as a Buyer I she worked her way through several levels of management before being promoted to department head. As the Sr. Director of Business Services, Karmen is responsible for oversight of Purchasing, Card Programs & Support Services and Property Control and manages a staff of 24. While at Georgia State University, Karmen worked on several committees streamlining the P2P process and assisted with preparing the University for migration to a full eProcurement system in 2012. Karmen is a lifelong Panther! She graduated from Georgia State University and began working at the University after graduating. Karmen has three daughters, one who attends Kennesaw State University and two daughters who followed in her footsteps as fellow Panthers. Go Panthers!

Marcia Primus is a procurement professional with over 21 years of experience. She began her career in 2001 as a purchasing agent with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and in 2006, she accepted a promotion with the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) as a Deputy Warden of Administration (DWA). In 2012, she was transferred to GDC headquarters has worked in several manager roles to include Purchasing Manager, Deputy Director of Budget Service, and she currently serves as the Deputy Director of Procurement. She holds a Master of Business Administration from DeVry University, and has obtained several procurement certifications to include GCPM, CPPB, and NIGP-CPP. Professionally, she is an active member of NIGP and currently serves as the Public Relations Chair for the Georgia Chapter. Marcia is married to Jarvis Primus and currently resides in Milledgeville, GA. They have three children, Shaniah, Jartavious, and Jordyn. In her spare time, she enjoys hosting and attending paint parties.

Kristen Raley joined the Department of Administrative Services as an Auditor in June 2018. As a part of the P-Card Audit team, Kristen is responsible for the enterprise-wide p-card continuous monitoring program and procurement audits of state entities within the executive branch of state government. Kristen received a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of North Georgia and a master’s degree in Accounting from the University of West Georgia. Kristen has over 4 years of auditing experience and holds the following certifications: CFE, GCPA, GCPCA and GCPM. Kristen also serves on the Executive Committee of the Atlanta Chapter of the AGA (formerly known as the Association of Governmental Accountants) as the 2022-2023 President Elect.

Michael brings a perspective to Government procurement that is unique and extremely advantageous. He has worked in State government for three years, starting as a Data Analyst and now as a Category Manager: IT & Professional Services. Michael enjoys sharing and applying the knowledge and lessons learned from 20 years of private sector experience in his role(s) in state government. DOAS is always challenging and empowering it’s teams to be the best they can be in public procurement and that works just fine for Michael. In his time away from DOAS, Michael enjoys family and traveling.

Margaret Robert currently serves as an IT Enterprise Business Analyst II with the IT Division of the Department of Administrative Services. Ms. Robert supports Open Records Requests and the Team Georgia Marketplace™ eProcurement and Supplier Contracts modules. She has been with DOAS/state of Georgia for almost 9 years. Prior to that, she spent 19 years as a Senior Business Analyst in the Beverage Industry. Ms. Robert was born and raised in Kentucky and received her Business degree from Murray State University of Murray, Kentucky. GO RACERS! She loves to listen to great music, cook, read, watch movies, and do the occasional water color painting, which will never be seen in a museum.

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

Gerald Schaefer joined DOAS in June 2015. He is responsible for cost recovery audits and administrative fee reviews of statewide contract suppliers and p-card and procurement audits of state entities. Prior to joining DOAS, Gerald worked as a performance auditor in the Georgia Department of Audits, and as an internal auditor for the City of Atlanta and for the Georgia Department of Education. Gerald has over 20 years of auditing experience and holds the following professional certifications: certified public accountant, certified internal auditor, certified fraud examiner, certified information systems auditor, and certified government financial manager. Gerald has also earned the GCPA and the GCPM, which are procurement certifications issued by DOAS. Gerald earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri.

Jessica has 6 years of procurement experience. She began her career at Georgia Department of Corrections in March of 2012. In September of 2017, she accepted Agency Procurement Officer at Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC). In June of 2021 she accepted a position as Agency Sourcing Manager in State Purchasing Division at Department of Administrate Services (DOAS). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from DeVry University and a Master’s Degree in Public Safety Administration from Columbus State University.

Tetchjan Simpson believes that Procurement is the life blood of any organization, “We ensure that employees have the products and services necessary to perform.” She serves as the Group Category Manager of the Professional Services and Information Technology statewide contract sourcing team in the State Purchasing Division of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services.  Ms. Simpson and her team develop and award complex contracts such as Management Consulting, IT Temporary Staffing and End User Computing with an annual spend ranging from $5M -$150M.  She has over 14 years of contracts and procurement experience working at GDOT, GATech, Xerox Global Procurement, MARTA and DOAS.

Carrie Steele is the Agency Sourcing Director for the State Purchasing Division. Most recently, she served as Agency Sourcing Group Manager. Ms. Steele has over 20 years of procurement experience with the State of Georgia. Prior to joining DOAS, she worked for the Georgia Court of Appeals. Ms. Steele is a graduate of Queens University in North Carolina with bachelor’s degrees in biology and accounting.

Alex Stewart joined DOAS in April, 2022. Before joining DOAS, she spent 9 years at the University of West Georgia (UWG), where she is also a two-time graduate with a Bachelor of Science-Biology (BS) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Her last role at UWG was as the Director of Procurement (CUPO). Alex has 9+ years of governmental procurement experience and earned her GCPM in 2019, and hope to continue and further her procurement-related education in the coming years. Alex loves procurement and strategic sourcing and says that it is the ” perfect blend of science, art, policy, and methodology”. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family, especially to her native country of Sweden, sports, especially the real football , TV/movies, and spending time with her friends

Matt Taylor is a Category Manager in the State Purchasing Division and has been with the Department of Administration Services for 15 years. Mr. Taylor began his career in the SPD Goods group and rejoined the group in 2017 after working in the Services group for 6 years. He currently manages the Energy portfolio on the sourcing side. In his free time, Matt enjoys reading, ballroom dancing, movies, running, and UGA football!

Jamillia L. Valentine rejoined the Department of Public Health (DPH) in February 2014 where she currently serves as the Deputy Director of Procurement and Contracting Services and as the Agency Procurement Officer. Mrs. Valentine has 8+ years of experience as a procurement professional. She has spent her entire state government career with DPH and has served in various roles. She is a Georgia Certified Procurement Manager (GCPM), Georgia Certified Purchasing Card Administrator (GCPCA) and a member of various procurement organizations such as National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and Governmental Procurement Association of Georgia. Mrs. Valentine graduated with honors from the Pennsylvania State University with a Master’s in Public Administration and with distinction/cum laude from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations. She is currently pursuing her Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) certification from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC). Jamillia spends her spare time with her loving husband and finding new ways to service the community.

Vivian recently graduated from Capella University with an honorary Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Instructional Design for Online Learning. Beforehand, she graduated from South University with a Master’s degree in Information Technology, specializing in Network Security. In 2003, Vivian worked with the State of Florida Health Department as Senior Clerk and advanced herself in several positions, from Executive Administrator to Fiscal Assistant II (Senior Accounting Clerk). During this time, Vivian continued her studies at Florida Memorial College, which is now a university, where she was able to transfer her education credits from Lincoln University. In 2006, Vivian completed her undergraduate and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In 2009, Vivian moved to Savannah, GA. She was hired by the GA Department of Behavioral Health & Disabilities, where she began her career in Procurement as a Buyer for Georgia Regional Hospital. Her professional interests focus on collaborative solutions to help achieve State initiatives for procurement processes. With her accomplishments of earning her Georgia Certified Purchasing Manager, Vivian desires to continue her career path to earn a Certified Professional Procurement Buyer and Project Management certification from other professional organizations. In her spare time, she also likes to volunteer as the Service Unit Cookie Manager and Troop Leader for Girls Scouts and served as a Cheer Board Director of the Shiloh Athletic Association.

Susan Scheff Wells is an attorney in the State Purchasing Division of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services. In this role, she is responsible for contract drafting and review and form development. She retired from the University of Georgia after over thirty years of service and now works as a retiree rehire for the University of Georgia as Senior Contract Counsel. She received a B.S. and J.D. from the University of Georgia.

Kiaja Williams has over 20 years of experience in application development/support and system analysis. As the Business Analyst Manager for the Team Georgia Marketplace™ enterprise system, she is responsible for the development, implementation and support of the Team Georgia Marketplace™ enterprise suite that includes PeopleSoft Financials Procurement, Supplier Portal, Georgia Procurement Registry, eSource, and Jaggaer. Prior to joining DOAS, Kiaja worked in various roles for IBM Global Financing and IBM Systems and Technology Group. Ms. Williams graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering.

Logan Winkles has served in his current role since August 2022. He was previously the Chief of the Business and Finance Section where he represented a number of state entities, including the Georgia Lottery Corporation, the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, the University System of Georgia, and the State Accounting Office. Logan also served as the general counsel for DOAS. Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, Logan worked in private practice where he represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of civil and business litigation. He earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Berry College and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Mary is currently the Assistant Chief Procurement Officer for the GA Department of Transportation. Under her leadership she is responsible for the broad range of procurement activities associated with the various transportation systems within the state, to include rail, county airports and transit systems. Her team of 37 procurement professionals assist in meeting the needs in the operations and maintenance of the travelling public. Mary is a government procurement professional with 25+ years’ experience combining cross functional capabilities of procurement, staff development, training, and efficiencies. Her expertise in project management and procedure implementation, continuous improvement, and change management to positively impact the organizational goals the Department of Transportation. Under Mary’s leadership, the Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Procurement – Operations has been the recipient of the National Procurement Institute - Achievement of Excellence in Procurement, for the years of 2018, 2020 and 2021. Her career in procurement in 1995 and is a professional known by many within the State of Georgia procurement profession. Mary has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea Ohio. Prior to her current position, Mary’s experience includes Procurement Compliance Officer at GA Department of Transportation, and at DOAS as an Operations Purchasing Agent 1, aka Associate Category Manager and Procurement Certifications Trainer.

Jim Barnaby serves as the DOAS Deputy Commissioner of State Purchasing. Prior to joining DOAS on December 1, 2021, Mr. Barnaby served as Strategic Sourcing Director for the University System of Georgia before retiring in October 2021 with more than 25 years of service. During his service with the University System of Georgia, Mr. Barnaby worked at Georgia Perimeter College as the Director of Logistical Services where he launched eProcurement and the Georgia First Marketplace. He served in the United States Army for over 20 years and retired as a First Sergeant. As an Army Infantry First Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant, he dedicated most of his time to leading, planning and logistics. Some of the highlights of his military career were serving nine years in Europe, training new recruits as a drill sergeant at Ft. Benning, Georgia and receiving the Bronze Star for actions in Desert Storm. His last duty assignment was at North Georgia College, where he served as a military instructor. After retiring from the Army, Mr. Barnaby remained with North Georgia College and began working in Auxiliary Services. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, he was hired as the college’s Procurement Officer and the Director of Materials Management. During his time there, he established new procurement processes and launched the new PeopleSoft eProcurement Module. Mr. Barnaby earned his National Certification as a Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) and a Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).

Julian Andrea Bailey leads the Division’s efforts to facilitate communications and engagement with minority-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Julian joined DOAS in 2013 and has established a strong knowledge base in state procurement operations, policies and systems. She has successfully implemented and managed numerous training programs on navigating the procurement process and systems in the state of Georgia. In addition, Ms. Bailey oversees the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification program. Prior to joining DOAS, she worked with the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute. Ms. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Howard University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Management from Troy University. She is a Professional Certified Marketer with the American Marketing Association.

Rick is the Group Category Manager for the Goods team in the State Purchasing Division for the State of Georgia. In this role, Rick is responsible for leading a team of procurement professionals charged with sourcing enterprise wide tangible commodities. His team’s statewide contract portfolio includes contracts such as Office Supplies, MRO, Guns and Ammunition, Generic Drugs, Liquid Propane Gas, Diagnostic Instruments, Biological Supplies, Hospital and Medical Supplies, and Police Pursuit Vehicles just to name a few. The Goods team’s statewide contract portfolio is valued at over $340M. Rick earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Valdosta State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Strayer University. Rick has over 30 years of procurement experience. He is a Certified Purchasing Manager (lifetime designee) through the Institute of Supply Management (ISM) as well as a Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate.

Lanique Bradley earned her B.S. in Advertising Communications with a concertation in Media Planning and Buying from St. John’s University. She currently serves as the Supplier Outreach Specialist for GA Department of Administrative Services, State Purchasing Division. Supporting suppliers across the state by providing professional development and training opportunities of how to access, submit and secure bids and contracts with the peach state, she is helping to grow the base of suppliers! Lanique also drives development of communications collateral to ensure delivery of relevant communications through various media channels that help expand businesses.

Crystal joined DOAS in November 2022. She is responsible for assisting with activities relating to the Small Business and Supplier Diversity Initiative, including the minority business enterprise (MBE) certification process, as well as supplier training and outreach efforts. Prior to joining DOAS, Crystal worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation as a DBE Coordinator. With 17 years of experience in customer service, human resources, operations management, and small business development, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role. In addition to a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Crystal holds a certification in Human Resource Management from the University of Phoenix. Presently, she is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree with a minor in finance and will graduate in June 2023.

Howard Dent’s work with the UGA SBDC is buoyed by his belief that real success is the success you share. His mission is to use his 25-plus years of experience in banking and finance to help aspiring entrepreneurs start and grow their business and help existing owners take their business to the next level. Prior to working at the UGA SBDC, Howard held positions at various financial institutions, including Credit Suisse, WF Commercial Capital and Wells Fargo Bank, where he and his team were responsible for raising over $3 billion in capital. Howard was founding Principal and President of a mortgage finance company where he oversaw the accounting, finance, marketing and human resources functions. Prior to that, he started a specialty-finance focused business consultancy.

Allen previously served as the Director of Creative Industry Partnerships working with Georgia’s thriving music, film and digital entertainment industries. Prior to his work with GDEcD, Allen was a senior consultant in the private sector, specializing in corporate solutions for many Fortune 500 companies, including IHG and UPS. He also worked in public affairs, leading corporate coalitions devoted to pro-business legislation and initiatives. A member of Governor Brian Kemp’s Transition Committee, Allen has also worked with various elected officials at the state and federal level. Allen’s academic credentials include a Master in Science in International Affairs from Georgia Tech and Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Furman University. He is a proud native of Gainesville, Georgia and resides in Atlanta.

Dr. Carl A. Hall, Esq. is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, John Marshall Law School and Madison University. He has over twenty five years of professional procurement and contract management experience, in both the pubic and private sectors. Dr. Hall is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has also served as an adjunct professor at Strayer University for five years. He has served in several positions within the State Purchasing Division. He currently leads the Contract Management team for the Department of Administrative Services, State Purchasing Division.

Travis Horsley is on a mission to utilize data analytics and concepts to improve efficiency in the public sector. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a dual-BS in International Affairs & Modern Languages and Public Policy, with a MS in Public Policy from the same alma mater. A Georgian by birth, he enjoys the nexus of technology and humanities. Striving for a customer-centric focus of government services, he supports State Purchasing Division of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services in their auditing and recovery efforts.

Clarence Ingram serves as the Deputy State Purchasing Officer for the State Purchasing Division. He most recently served as the Group Category Manager within the Strategic Sourcing Unit of State Purchasing, where he was responsible for negotiating and implementing statewide enterprise agreements, spend management, customer and supplier relationship management, cost reduction, and savings maximizing strategies in the areas of Information Technology and Professional Services. Mr. Ingram has been a successful practitioner of strategic sourcing concepts for over 20 years. Prior to joining DOAS, Mr. Ingram held leadership positions with Xerox Corporation, BellSouth Telecommunications, AT&T and Advance Micro Devices. He received his Bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, and a Master’s from Rochester Institute of Technology and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Alex Irby joined the Department of Administrative Services in June 2018. Alex transferred to the Data Team in March 2019 and is responsible for validating the spend data from Statewide Contracts in Georgia. Alex received his bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of West Georgia. Alex earned his Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate (GCPA) certification and is currently pursuing the Georgia Certified Procurement Manager (GCPM) certification.

Most recently Carolina has led multiple divisions with the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development program, overseeing its Multicultural Business Division, International Trade Center, and the new Treasury program State Small Business Credit Initiative. Prior to joining the UGA SBDC, Carolina worked as director of the WEDA/SBA Metropolitan Atlanta Women’s Business Center and CNN. Carolina holds a bachelor’s in marketing and a Master of Business Administration with concentration in Finance and Accounting from Georgia State University School of Business. Carolina’s areas of expertise include procurement, minority business certifications, mergers and acquisitions, business planning and valuations, corporate financial management, business case analysis, capital formation, allocation, and return analysis.

Gerald Schaefer joined DOAS in June 2015. He is responsible for cost recovery audits and administrative fee reviews of statewide contract suppliers and p-card and procurement audits of state entities. Prior to joining DOAS, Gerald worked as a performance auditor in the Georgia Department of Audits, and as an internal auditor for the City of Atlanta and for the Georgia Department of Education. Gerald has over 20 years of auditing experience and holds the following professional certifications: certified public accountant, certified internal auditor, certified fraud examiner, certified information systems auditor, and certified government financial manager. Gerald has also earned the GCPA and the GCPM, which are procurement certifications issued by DOAS. Gerald earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri.

Joel Wilcox currently serves as an IT Business Analyst II with the IT Division of the Department of Administrative Services.  Mr. Wilcox supports the Team Georgia Marketplace™ Procurement Card and Supplier modules, and the Georgia Procurement Registry. He has been with DOAS/State of Georgia for a little over 2 years. Previously, he spent 10 years as a Senior Business Analyst in the Financial Industry. Mr. Wilcox was born and raised in Georgia (he's a Grady baby). He considers himself an excellent chef and loves a great movie. Mr. Wilcox is an avid reader and aspiring artist. 

Kiaja Williams has over 20 years of experience in application development/support and system analysis. As the Business Analyst Manager for the Team Georgia Marketplace™ enterprise system, she is responsible for the development, implementation and support of the Team Georgia Marketplace™ enterprise suite that includes PeopleSoft Financials Procurement, Supplier Portal, Georgia Procurement Registry, eSource, and Jaggaer. Prior to joining DOAS, Kiaja worked in various roles for IBM Global Financing and IBM Systems and Technology Group. Ms. Williams graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering.

Rebecca N. Sullivan was appointed Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) on January 7, 2022, by Governor Brian P. Kemp. She most recently served as DOAS General Counsel and Assistant Commissioner of Government Affairs, where her responsibilities included managing the agency’s legal division, as well as providing advice and counsel to the agency’s five operating divisions that support the enterprise of state government: statewide procurement, risk management, fleet management, surplus property, and human resources administration. Prior to joining DOAS, Ms. Sullivan spent time in private practice and served as a Policy Advisor, Deputy Executive Counsel, and Executive Counsel to former Governor Sonny Perdue. She began her legal career in labor and employment law with Elarbee Thompson in Atlanta. Ms. Sullivan is a “Double Dawg,” having earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctor from the UGA School of Law.

Jim Barnaby serves as the DOAS Deputy Commissioner of State Purchasing. Prior to joining DOAS on December 1, 2021, Mr. Barnaby served as Strategic Sourcing Director for the University System of Georgia before retiring in October 2021 with more than 25 years of service. During his service with the University System of Georgia, Mr. Barnaby worked at Georgia Perimeter College as the Director of Logistical Services where he launched eProcurement and the Georgia First Marketplace. He served in the United States Army for over 20 years and retired as a First Sergeant. As an Army Infantry First Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant, he dedicated most of his time to leading, planning and logistics. Some of the highlights of his military career were serving nine years in Europe, training new recruits as a drill sergeant at Ft. Benning, Georgia and receiving the Bronze Star for actions in Desert Storm. His last duty assignment was at North Georgia College, where he served as a military instructor. After retiring from the Army, Mr. Barnaby remained with North Georgia College and began working in Auxiliary Services. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, he was hired as the college’s Procurement Officer and the Director of Materials Management. During his time there, he established new procurement processes and launched the new PeopleSoft eProcurement Module. Mr. Barnaby earned his National Certification as a Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) and a Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO).

Ms. Carter has served the Human Resources community for over 20 years and the State of Georgia for 35 years. She is a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) with the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and also certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR). Ms. Carter currently serves as an Officer on the SHRM Georgia State Council, the Board of Directors for the Greater Henry SHRM Chapter and is an active member of the South Metro Human Resources Association in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Mary Chapman serves as the Deputy Division Director for the State Purchasing Division and leads the Policy, Training and Supplier Outreach programs. Mrs. Chapman has more than 15 years experience in state government procurement policy, contract negotiations, program management and implementation of major projects. Mrs. Chapman began her legal career by clerking for the Augusta Judicial Circuit. She has served in state government in a variety of roles, including as a staff attorney, contracts attorney, executive business analyst with the Medicaid program and division chief for the healthcare facility regulation division within the Department of Community Health. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Georgia State University and her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia Law School.

Autumn joined the Georgia Department of Administrative Services in 2013 as a legal analysis and policy writing specialist and later became manager of the Policy and Compliance unit in the DOAS Human Resources Administration Division. Ms. Cole most recently served on the DOAS legal counsel from 2018 through July of 2022 in primary support of the HRA Division. She advised HRA in all legal matters including contracting and procurement matters, statewide employment policy, statewide substance abuse testing program, flexible benefits program, state charitable contributions program, statewide talent management, and administrative oversight of the Governor-appointed State Personnel Board and Employee Benefit Plan Council. Ms. Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Mercer University and a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University’s College of Law. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) and previously chaired the YLD Leadership Academy.

McCall Ginsberg joined DOAS in June 2014 as Deputy General Counsel. Prior to joining DOAS, Ginsberg Served as Assistant Legal Counsel and directed contracting and procurement functions for the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. She served as Legal Aide to the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives during the 2001 and 2002 legislative sessions. She is a “Double Dawg,” having earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia and a JD from the UGA School of Law and is a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO).

Mr. Howell is responsible for leading enterprise human resource functions, including talent management, HR policy and compliance and compensation and benefits. With over 26 years of service with the State, Mr. Howell has extensive experience leading support services in the areas of human resources, information technology and administration operations. Mr. Howell has served as the Human Resources Director for the Georgia Student Finance Commission, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Clayton County Water Authority and the City of Forest Park. He also served as the Director of Local Government Services for the Coastal Regional Development Commission. Mr. Howell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration degree from Georgia Southern University. Prior to joining DOAS-HRA, Mr. Howell served as Director of Administration for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. He is certified as a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach.

Ms. Hunter has served the Technical College System of Georgia Mrs. Hunter has 31 years of experience to include 23 years in State Government and 8 years County Government. She is very passionate and energetic about purchasing. Mrs. Hunter is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. In 2004, she earned her National Certification as a Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB). She lives in Atlanta with her husband Michael of 26 years their three children and grand-daughter. In her free time, she enjoys reading.

Rebecca Krystopa is SPD’s Policy Operations Manager and has served the State of Georgia for over 25 years. Prior to joining DOAS in April 2016, Rebecca most recently worked at Georgia Piedmont Technical College as the Director of Administrative Services. In that role she was responsible for overseeing the college's student accounting, bookstore, payroll, p-card program and various finance office functions. Ms. Krystopa is a graduate of Reinhardt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and Leadership. She currently serves as the Vice-Chair for the Southern Region Council of the National Association of State Procurement Officers. She is also a member of the National Association of Purchasing Card Professionals and currently serves as part of the certification exam council.

Ajay Patel is currently the Director of Procurement at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has over 20 years of direct and indirect procurement experience purchasing a variety of commodities in various industries including higher education, automotive, utilities, apparel, textiles and consumer goods and packaging. Ajay has spent the majority of his career in the industry working for companies such as Ford Motor Company and Georgia Pacific. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Gerald Schaefer joined DOAS in June 2015. He is responsible for cost recovery audits and administrative fee reviews of statewide contract suppliers and p-card and procurement audits of state entities. Prior to joining DOAS, Gerald worked as a performance auditor in the Georgia Department of Audits, and as an internal auditor for the City of Atlanta and for the Georgia Department of Education. Gerald has over 20 years of auditing experience and holds the following professional certifications: certified public accountant, certified internal auditor, certified fraud examiner, certified information systems auditor, and certified government financial manager. Gerald has also earned the GCPA and the GCPM, which are procurement certifications issued by DOAS. Gerald earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri.

Tetchjan Simpson believes that Procurement is the life blood of any organization, “We ensure that employees have the products and services necessary to perform.” She serves as the Group Category Manager of the Professional Services and Information Technology statewide contract sourcing team in the State Purchasing Division of the Georgia Department of Administrative Services.  Ms. Simpson and her team develop and award complex contracts such as Management Consulting, IT Temporary Staffing and End User Computing with an annual spend ranging from $5M -$150M.  She has over 14 years of contracts and procurement experience working at GDOT, GATech, Xerox Global Procurement, MARTA and DOAS.

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Carrie Steele is the Agency Sourcing Director for the State Purchasing Division. Most recently, she served as Agency Sourcing Group Manager. Ms. Steele has over 20 years of procurement experience with the State of Georgia. Prior to joining DOAS, she worked for the Georgia Court of Appeals. Ms. Steele is a graduate of Queens University in North Carolina with bachelor’s degrees in biology and accounting.

Mary is currently the Assistant Chief Procurement Officer for the GA Department of Transportation. Under her leadership she is responsible for the broad range of procurement activities associated with the various transportation systems within the state, to include rail, county airports and transit systems. Her team of 37 procurement professionals assist in meeting the needs in the operations and maintenance of the travelling public. Mary is a government procurement professional with 25+ years’ experience combining cross functional capabilities of procurement, staff development, training, and efficiencies. Her expertise in project management and procedure implementation, continuous improvement, and change management to positively impact the organizational goals the Department of Transportation. Under Mary’s leadership, the Georgia Department of Transportation, Office of Procurement – Operations has been the recipient of the National Procurement Institute - Achievement of Excellence in Procurement, for the years of 2018, 2020 and 2021. Her career in procurement in 1995 and is a professional known by many within the State of Georgia procurement profession. Mary has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea Ohio. Prior to her current position, Mary’s experience includes Procurement Compliance Officer at GA Department of Transportation, and at DOAS as an Operations Purchasing Agent 1, aka Associate Category Manager and Procurement Certifications Trainer.