GPC 2023 Government Attendee Speakers
Customer Experience Officer, Georgia Technology Authority
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Purchasing Card Program Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Senior Procurement Training Manager, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Small Business & Supplier Diversity Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Director of Procurement, Georgia Department of Corrections and Georgia Correctional Industries
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Group Category Manager, Goods, Strategic Sourcing, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
GPC Conference & SPD Business Project Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Supplier Outreach Specialist, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
Lanique Bradley earned her B.S. in Advertising Communications with a concentration 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.
Purchasing Card Policy Analyst, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Small Business & Supplier Diversity Specialist, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Agency Sourcing Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Agency Sourcing Group Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Senior Assistant Attorney General, Chief of Business and Finance Section, Commercial Transactions and Litigation, Department of Law
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Deputy Division Director, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
General Counsel, Assistant Commissioner of Government Affairs, Georgia Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Director of Procurement, Department of Juvenile Justice
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Chief Procurement Officer, Finance Division, The University of Georgia
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Training and Development Specialist, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Deputy General Counsel, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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).
Paralegal, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
Ms. Gonzalez is a paralegal supporting the State Purchasing Division and the Department of Administrative Services.
Manager, Contract Management & Marketing, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Attorney, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Contract & Price Analysis Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Deputy Commissioner, Human Resources Administration, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Category Manager, IT & Services, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.)
Deputy State Purchasing Officer, Strategic Sourcing, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Senior Compliance Auditor
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Director of Internal Controls and Policy, State Accounting Office
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Policy Operations Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Interim State Inspector General
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Executive Director of Strategic Sourcing, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Purchasing Card Coordinator, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Director of Procurement, Georgia Technology Authority (GTA)
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Senior Director of Business Services, Georgia State University
Attendee Session Speaker
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!
Deputy Director, Procurement, Department of Juvenile Justice
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Auditor, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Category Manager, IT & Services, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
IT Enterprise Business Analyst II, Information Technology, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Assistant Chief Procurement Officer -Quality Assurance Compliance, Department of Transportation
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Director of Audits, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Agency Sourcing Manager, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Group Category Manager, IT and Services Team, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Agency Sourcing Director, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Category Manager, IT & Services, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Category Manager, Goods Group, State Purchasing Division, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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!
Deputy Director, Procurement and Contracting Services, Department of Public Health
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Category Manager, IT & Services, State Purchasing Division, Department of Administrative Services
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Attorney, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Senior Business Analyst, Information Technology, DOAS
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Deputy Attorney General, Commercial Transactions & Litigation, Department of Law
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
Assistant Chief Procurement Officer, Georgia Department of Transportation
Attendee Session Speaker
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.
