The Big Bid Theory The Big Bid Theory

Welcome back! Season 10 of The Big Bid Theory, brought to you by BidPrime and Beacon Bid! It's hard to believe we've been on the air for a decade now, and what a journey it's been. But enough sentimentality, let's dive into the excitement of our first episode!

In this monumental season opener, we're thrilled to introduce Denise Finn, Procurement Services Manager at the City of Fort Myers and President of FAPPO (Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials). Denise is a recognized leader with a wealth of experience as a consultant, mentor, trainer, and public speaker.

We kick off with a preview of the FAPPO 2024 Annual Conference, themed "Riding the Winds and Waters of Change," happening in Orlando from May 19th to 22nd. Denise sheds light on the significance of this event for purchasing professionals and exhibitors alike, highlighting key aspects of the conference schedule. Who knows, maybe we'll even put together a special episode from Orlando!

For those new to procurement roles, Denise shares invaluable quick tips and lessons learned from her own journey. Additionally, business leaders keen on competing for government contracts will find her insights on contracting strategies indispensable.

As part of our 10th-anniversary celebration, we introduce the 'David and Beverly Nash Leadership Award,' honoring exceptional leaders like David and Beverly Nash who've made significant contributions to the procurement field. It's a fitting tribute to their legacy of integrity, passion, and innovation. Stay tuned, as our audience will take part in the nomination and selection processes!

But before we wrap up, Rick shares the first Crazy Bids installment in Season 10, go oral health!, setting the bar high for the episodes to come. And as always, don't forget to follow us on social media and spread the word about The Big Bid Theory!

Thank you for tuning in and here's to another decade of learning, sharing, and celebrating the world of procurement!

Go here for more information about FAPPO '24.

Discover procurement insights from Celeste Walker-Harmon, Assistant Finance Director for Procurement/Chief Procurement Officer, in this engaging episode of "The Big Bid Theory" podcast. Host Bill Culhane interviews this accomplished public purchasing leader about her experiences and advice for navigating a government procurement career.

Learn some takeaways from NPI 2023 through Walker-Harmon's unique perspective, as an attendee and award winner! She shares what made an impact for her by participating at this major public procurement conference. Also, gain an inside look at the successes and challenges faced by her procurement team in Coral Gables.

Walker-Harmon also provides candid career guidance, from tips on advancing in public procurement roles to benefits of serving to help your community. Her inspiring interview includes the advice she wishes she could give her younger self starting out in government purchasing. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership lessons from an influential person in public procurement.

Rick Jennings wraps up the episode, with Crazy Bids, by recapping an interesting RFP found in BidPrime’s database: a web-based animal husbandry system requested by Veterans Affairs. Yes, it’s true.

All of that and more. A lot more!

Our Guest: Celeste Walker-Harmon, MBA, CPPO, CPSM

Celeste Walker-Harmon is the Assistant Finance Director for Procurement/Chief Procurement
Officer for the City of Coral Gables. She has been with the city since 2017 and is responsible
for managing the day-to-day operations of the Procurement Division. In her role as Chief
Procurement Officer she ensures the citywide compliance of all purchases with the applicable
city, state and federal statutes, laws, ordinances and regulations. Her team facilitates the
procurement of goods, services, equipment and construction projects.

Mrs. Walker-Harmon has 25+ years of professional procurement experience in the public
sector. Her experience covers a variety of government/public sector areas that include several
City and County governments, a public school system and the Department of Transportation in
Georgia.

Mrs. Walker-Harmon earned her M.B.A, is a Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), a
Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), a certified Procurement Professional
with NIGP (NIGP-CPP) and is Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt Certified.

Procurement trailblazer Kirk Buffington joins us to reflect on key lessons and takeaways from NIGP Forum 2023 and championing professional development. With over 30 years of experience, Kirk shares his journey to leadership within NIGP, FAPPO and elsewhere. Kirk weighs in on TBBT’s announcement of the ‘David and Beverly Nash Leadership Award’ to be presented in recognition of fellow leaders, who have gone above and beyond in the advancement of the procurement profession.

We discuss considerations for those contemplating pursuing a leadership position in purchasing, along with the resulting rewards of service. Contemplating a career in the purchasing field? Kirk shares his perspective and thoughts. Don't miss this wisdom-filled conversation with a dedicated advocate for procurement excellence!

Rick closes down the episode with a Crazy Bids you can win that decorates an already outstanding episode.

All of that and more. A lot more!

Our Guest: Kirk Buffington, FNIGP, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, C.P.M., MBA, MLS

Kirk Buffington is a dedicated leader in the procurement profession with over 30 years of experience. He is the former Director of Finance and Procurement for the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Kirk has been an active member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) since 1993. He has held numerous leadership positions within NIGP at both the chapter and national levels. Kirk served as President of the NIGP Southeast Florida Chapter, as well as President of NIGP Inc. from 2008-2009.

At the 2023 NIGP Forum, Kirk was named an Albert H. Hall NIGP Fellow in recognition of his significant contributions to the advancement of public procurement. He was also honored with NIGP's Distinguished Service Award for his dedication and commitment to the institute.

Kirk earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Florida State University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Logistics and Materials Management from Webster University. He recently graduated with a Master's degree in Legal Studies from the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

On this episode of ‘The Big Bid Theory’ our host, Bill Culhane, recaps an exciting and memorable NIGP Forum 2023 in Louisville. Among the highlights, Bill and guests Stephen Hetzel, CEO, and Josh Schwartzbeck, CTO of Beacon Bid, reminisce about Louisville, Innovation Theater, the Technology track (sponsored by Beacon Bid), RFP Critic's debut, Beacon Bid's popular Hot Raffle party, the excellent education sessions, and more. In summary, Forum had plenty of fellowship, energy and excitement throughout the event.

Check out as the three describe the palpable buzz around the launch of RFP Critic, Beacon Bid's AI solution that builds on their existing tools like the RFP Archive and RFP Builder by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. Hetzel explained how Critic reviews your draft RFPs to identify unclear requirements, suggest improvements, and point out potential biases, you reserve the option to use or lose the feedback, so you can release rock-solid solicitations to improve your contracting success and outcomes.

As has become a tradition, Beacon hosted a lively Hot Raffle party at Guy Fieri's restaurant, where the Beacon Bid team including Hetzel and Schwartzbeck welcomed and hosted their special guests.

Culhane recalls moderating the widely popular Technology track education sessions. He also stopped by Beacon Bid's well-attended ‘Sip and See’ to see demos of the new RFP Builder and Critic and see a product roadmap workgroup in progress.

Hetzel and Schwartzbeck shared Beacon Bid's growth over the past year. The two founders reflect on the overwhelmingly positive response to their AI-powered products that leverage the technology to streamline procurement and share plans for enhancing these solutions and Beacon Bid overall. They credit the strong NIGP community for supporting Beacon Bid's rapid growth.

Looking ahead, the host and guests share their enthusiasm for more innovations to come from Beacon Bid. With the continued support of the NIGP community, they are excited to continue disrupting and improving procurement. Culhane closes by passing the baton to Rick Jennings, our producer, for another engaging edition of Crazy Bids.

In Crazy Bids, Rick wraps up this installment of TBBT with a Crazy Bid that will have you barking and meowing… but not too loudly.

All of that and more. A lot more!

Visit www.beaconbid.com for more on Beacon Bid and these ABC’s of procurement. Go to your favorite podcast platform for the full, audio version of the episode.

RFP Archive.
RFP Builder press release

Welcome to another edition of ‘The Big Bid Theory’ podcast! In this episode, host Bill Culhane is joined by a star-studded lineup of guests: Stephanie Akerley is the Corporate Procurement Program Manager for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Tabatha Freedman is a Senior Procurement Analyst with the County of Volusia, Florida, and Brooke Smith is City Recorder for Murray City, Utah. This trio of experts share an exclusive preview of NIGP Forum 2023 and the technology track sessions to be presented in Louisville!

Bill mentions Stephen Hetzel and Anna Barnett will be presenting some new, very cool technology at the Innovation Theater on Sunday, 3PM. There will be some cool TBBT swag available at Booth 817 (while supplies last!) Also, all are encouraged to stop by Booth 817 for a special invite to a mimosa brunch event on Tuesday, 1115AM-1215PM. Is there more? Also, go to 817 to ask about another very special event, hosted by Beacon Bid, in L’ville!

The experts share what attendees can expect from Forum. Spoiler alert: prepare yourself for excitement, networking, learning, socializing and engaging with other procurement professionals. New, lifelong friends await you.

These three panelists, along with Bill the Moderator, share overviews of the sessions, touching on topics like challenges when procuring technology, specification tools (to include AI), technology procurement contracts, cybersecurity, staff training, sustainability, and more. They emphasize the interactive Q&A portions and encourage attendees, regardless of in-person or virtual, to come prepared with questions.

Rick Jennings closes down the episode with a Crazy Bids that will have you gliding along, as we glide into NIGP Forum 2023.

All of that and more. A lot more!

Be sure to visit nigp.org for more Forum details.

Guests:

Stephanie Akerley is a seasoned Corporate Procurement Program Manager with over 27 years of experience in public procurement. For the past 14 years, she has excelled in handling all aspects of IT procurement for The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Stephanie's love for IT procurement lies in its ever-changing nature, where each transaction brings new insights.

Tabatha Freedman is a Senior Procurement Analyst with the County of Volusia’s Purchasing and Contracts Division and is actively engaged in the Central Florida Chapter of NIGP as President. Tabatha has over 15 years public procurement experience with 11 years specializing in information technology, telecommunications, and communications. Her passion for IT procurement led her to contribute and present as a NIGP FORUM 2023 Technology Track team member.

CFC NIGP Reverse Tradeshow, Nov 8th: https://www.cfcnigp.org/

Brooke Smith is a dedicated public servant who has served 18 years in local government work. As the City Recorder for Murray City, Utah, she has spent the last 5 years immersed in all things procurement. Brooke's passion for procurement led her to serve in several leadership roles with the Utah Chapter of NIGP, including the chapter's past president. In addition, she currently serves on NIGP's National Finance Council and assists with marketing for Radio NIGP. An early adopter and advocate for AI tools, Brooke has been training colleagues since December 2022 on how to utilize AI to work more efficiently, achieve better outcomes, and communicate more effectively. She firmly believes AI will be a transformative assistant across industries and looks forward to sharing her knowledge with the national audience at this year's NIGP Forum in Louisville.

On this episode of "The Big Bid Theory" podcast, we dive into the question, "What is the strategic impact that local government can make?" We shift the focus to small businesses, emphasizing the notion that "government works for you." Our special guest, Denisha Harris, the Purchasing and Contracts Manager for the town of Cary, North Carolina, joins us to discuss the opportunity for local government to support small businesses.

As we discuss her journey to becoming Cary’s Purchasing and Contracts Manager, Denisha's story reflects the importance of previous experiences and the guidance of influential individuals along the way.

With her involvement in various organizations, including being a speaker at NCAGP's event and serving on the North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper's Advisory Council on Historically Underutilized Businesses, Denisha has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of intentional inclusion. Together, we acknowledge the need for improved communication, transparency, and support for MWBE (Minority and Women Business Enterprises) and other small businesses in the public sector purchasing process.

In this episode, Denisha and Bill Culhane discuss a few of the opportunities and challenges faced by government agencies and MWBE businesses. Denisha passionately advocates for greater transparency, enhanced access to opportunities, and comprehensive assistance programs. By equipping MWBE businesses and fostering an inclusive environment, local governments can unleash their strategic impact and create a level playing field for all participants.

As a look ahead to us handing out tee-shirts (while supplies last) at NIGP Forum, Rick shares his favorite tee-shirt. Of course, he delivers another interesting, timely Crazy Bids you can win.

Join us for this enlightening conversation that highlights the ways in which local government can work hand in hand with small businesses. Discover how the government can truly serve as an ally, empowering and supporting entrepreneurs to thrive in the public sector. Tune in to gain valuable insights from Denisha Harris and explore the boundless possibilities when government truly works for you.

For more information about BidPrime go to www.bidprime.com. To learn more about Beacon Bid, visit www.beaconbid.com.

Our guest: Denisha Harris, Purchasing and Contracts Manager Town of Cary, North Carolina, Denisha.Harris@carync.gov