In the Business Development role, I have excelled in supporting my sales staff, by offering guidance on how to navigate the legal complexities of government procurement, contracts, and helping them to understand the mindset of the government buyer to more successfully. I have excelled in offering creative approaches and analysis of solicitations and proposals I have struggled to gain my footing on the more sales-ey aspects of the role. I have the mind and hear of a buyer and contract officer. I constantly look for new and creative ways to work within the rules, but I do not have the eye or heart of a sales person. Though I love my coworkers and team mates, it is time to find the team where we will all grow as a part of my involvement. Most who know me knew this was not the place I would thrive before I realized it myself.

I have been drawing and making things for years. Outlier Custom Design is my place to get everything together in one place where it can be viewed, perhaps sell some of the things I have made, and see where my art can go.https://outliercustomdesig.wixsite.com/ocdmain

From 2010 to 2017 I was a State Procurement Analyst primarily managing statewide Information Technology contracts. I have been both sourcing team member and sourcing team lead for nationwide NASPO ValuePoint projects. I conceptualized and lead the team the created the Oregon HVAR contract in 2015.I began my state career at the Department of Consumer and Business Services in December of 2017. I was shown the list of certifications I could work towards and I earned them within the first six months of starting. I was awarded the Rising Star Award in 2008 by the State of Oregon. In 2010 I was asked to go to the State Procurement Office on a one-year job rotation. I did not want to go because of my experience as a customer of the office, however, it would have been a bad career move to say no, so I accepted. Two weeks into the rotation, I let my new boss know I was so bored, I was counting the days until my rotation was over. I was given projects above my level immediately, and a few weeks later was hired on permanently as a State Procurement Analyst. The job began as me being in an office I didn't love, but in an office whose potential I saw. I began recruiting others to come help me make SPO what it needed to be. I improved as many processes and contracts as I was able. I opened as many eyes and hearts to possibilities as I was able (and away from the status-quo, the-way-its-always-been-done, and you-can’t-fight-the-system attitude that prevailed). I maintain many personal and professional relationships to this day, but after nearly a decade, I needed to step away and find my next opportunity• only person to earn all 4 procurement certifications in OR (CPPO, CPPB, OPAC, OPBC)• led the team to build the Oregon Hardware VAR contract.• NASPO ValuePoint sourcing teams• NASPO ValuePoint team lead for PSP• OPPA Newsletter chair• Gypsy Moth contract fully solicited and awarded 28 days from initial customer meeting

After being laid off from WTS, I thought that the state would be secure and not lay off employees, so I focused my attention on getting a purchasing job with the state. I was hired at DCBS and proceeded to take every training that was available with a purpose they had not seen in that office. I earned all of the procurement certifications I was able to earn within the first six months of starting, leading the State Procurement Office to create and give me the Rising Star Award. After a year and a half, my manager asked me to give up my favorite customer (Information Management Division) and instead begin mentoring a fellow coworker. As reluctant as I was, we both grew tremendously from the experience.

Immiately upon returning to Oregon, I found a job posting at Western Tool Supply that looked just like the job I had just left in Oklahoma. It took me six days to move up to my second position at the company and I began to settle in, thinking this would be my career. I moved up through various positoins until I was the purchasing agent and inventory manager for all pneumatic and fastener related lines. In the 9-1/2 years I had been with the company we had grown from 23 stores in the Western US to 75 stores in the US, Canada, and UK with four distribution centers. August 2007 I was called into an office and was informed that the company had been doing very poorly and I was in the first round of layoffs.