Samantha Blake Email and Phone Number

•In collaboration with the Department of Procurement, review records of all City solicitations with an aggregate value of one million dollars or more. The review is conducted to determine whether indications of fraud, abuse, illicit or illegal acts are present in the City’s procurement process.• Perform compliance audit and risk assessment. •Identify and report areas of concern, allowing corrective action before City Council considers legislation to approve contracts. •Identify potential conflicts of interest among participants of the procurement process.•Gather facts and perform data analysis to ensure consistency and fairness throughout the procurement process.•Preserve confidentiality of sensitive and protected information.•Ensure the integrity of City operations and ensure good stewardship of public resources in order to prevent conduct that undermines public trust in government.• Working knowledge of the procurement process in the government sector, including familiarity with Yellow Book Standards, Green Book Standards, and Red Book Standards.• Create accurate, logical work papers that clearly describe the work performed, the results of testing, and analysis.

• Evaluate, review and analyze a high volume of complex and diverse City contracts and contracting procedures to determine compliance with established City, State and Federal procurement rules, guidelines, statutes, laws and directives.• Review vendor responsibility decisions and performance to determine whether there is sufficient reason to believe possible corruption exists in the letting of a contract or that the proposed vendor is involved in corrupt activity.• Assist in formulating research plans as well as recommending and implementing approved risk mitigation strategies to prevent fraud or mismanagement within the City’s contract process.• Develop and maintain contract information on issues relating to procurement review.• Consult with City agencies, vendors and other relevant authorities to improve existing, and develop new, policies and protocols for contracting and oversight.• Draft letters, analytical reports and memoranda with respect to the above-referenced duties; perform special projects and analyses, as assigned; and, represent the Bureau of Contract Administration at interagency and intra-agency meetings.

•Manage IT software, hardware and maintenance contracts for the following MTA Agencies: New York City Transit Authority, Long Island Railroad, Metro North Railroad, MTA Bridges & Tunnels and MTA Headquarters.•Facilitate a productive and purposeful procurement process from draft of requisition and purchase order sourcing, to contract release and close-out, ensuring critical goods and services are prioritized and expedited. •Prepare weekly/monthly analytic status reports and present the data to upper management for review.

•Procured goods, equipment and services for Liberty Lines Transit, operator of the Westchester Bee-Line Bus System.•Developed, negotiated and awarded contracts through the Request for Quote process; prepared related documents, issued purchase orders.•Reviewed and processed all invoices; resolved all billing discrepancies. •Communicated and met regularly with vendors to ensure company was offered best possible price for bus parts, office products and building services.•Monitored inventory of all bus parts through integrated software program, Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne.•Assisted in the preparation of the Daily Budget Report; monitored funds distributed to the company by Westchester County Department of Transportation.

•Assist in negotiating and purchasing television media for brands such as Ameriprise, Blistex, Odor Eaters and Tamiflu.•Keep track of how well each client’s brand is delivering on network television, ensuring all deals deliver. •Estimate, update and adjust all Nielsen broadcast ratings per demographic, per quarter.•Meet and establish relationships with media representatives from various cable and news networks, to research the best available media placements for client’s brands.•Maintain all media buys, also responsible for the post-buy results of all buys.•Track media expenses made with each network.•Collaborate with clients and media team members to resolve billing discrepancies. •Master media math and work within media database Spectra OX.

•Book high profile politicians for the second season of the TV newsmagazine program, 18 Degrees North.• Establish relationships with each politician’s public relations manager.• Coordinate and make guest arrangements with several government communication offices across the Caribbean.• Conduct research, pitch story ideas and provide daily assistance for long-term projects.

• Produce news stories for the NPR program, Tell Me More with Michel Martin.• Book high profile guests for the program.• Write segments, find clips to complement stories, cut audio and prepare ISDN sessions with NPR member stations.• Conduct pre-interviews with prospective guests over the phone.• Line up talent; Find guests and develop professional relationships.• Book studios, escort visitors and coordinate the placement of guests for each day’s program.• Provide hosts Michel Martin and Celeste Headlee with background information for each story.• Use social media to connect with listeners and establish contact with future guests of the program.• Provide additional office support to the hosts and producers.• Experience with problem solving during LIVE broadcasts.• Data entry; manage the database where guest contact information is placed.• Receive and review all invoices.

•Manage budget and editorial department of the weekly student newspaper (Web and print editions).•Delegate assignments to section editors, reporters and photographers. •Contribute editorials, mentor reporters and advise editors. •Review and edit all content before publication and ensure proper journalistic standards are met.

• Pitch ideas for local news coverage.• Operate teleprompter and assist producers with story gathering,• Write voiceovers for the nightly newscasts; Familiar with station’s newsroom software, iNews.• Assist multimedia journalists with field interviewing, scriptwriting and video editing.

•Operate camera during live broadcasts of the WNIT show, "Ask an Expert"•Help set up equipment and operate camera for the station's taping of "Experience Michiana"•Research local events to prepare station for upcoming coverage.

• Research, interview and produce multimedia news and feature stories for web and print editions of the publication.• Contribute to editorial meetings; plan cover story and proofread all content before publication.• Assist with event coverage, field reporting and scriptwriting.

• Pitch ideas, produce and write feature stories for three issues of the award-winning collegiate Christian magazine.• Advise writers and graphic designers to ensure the magazine’s content and layout appeals to readers.• Review and edit all content before publication.

•Work with studio camera during LIVE tapings of station’s signature local news, sports and entertainment program, Open.

•Conduct ethographic research amongst locals in the Madaba region of Jordan in North Africa.•Work with an Arabic translator to set up interviews with natives (times and locations).•Interview local residents and shopkeepers, those impacted by tourism.•Record and transcribe interviews.•Submit field reports, study daily findings and share field reports with fellow ethnographers.•Present research to the Jordan Field School.