Editor’s Editor’s
Jay City and County of Denver, Department of General Services
Chief Procurement Officer
Lance
transparency,andaccessibility Theseinitiativescontinueto strengthenthelocaleconomy,improvepublicservices,and buildamoreinclusivebusinessenvironment.
Let’s explore Lance’s innovative procurement strategies for making a greater impact and value:
AgileandEfficientProcurementPractices
Lance'sjourneyinprocurementbeganinthelate1990s withinthehospitalityindustry,wheremanagingunexpected challengescultivatedagilityandefficiency.Overhiscareer, Lancehasworkedforsomeofthelargesthospitalityand entertainmentbusinessesintheindustry,includingTheWalt DisneyCompany,DisneyCruiseLine,GaylordHotels, MarriottInternational,MillenniumHotelsglobally,and nowtheCityandCountyofDenverDepartmentofGeneral Services.
Transitioningfromthehospitalitysectortothegovernment sphereenabledhimtobringmanyskillscultivatedand refinedinthehospitalityworld,includingexceptional customerserviceandanticipatingoperationalneeds.This uniqueperspective,encompassingoperationaland procurementviewpoints,hasultimatelyresultedinmutually beneficialopportunities.
DeliveringValueinCityGoodsandServices
Theteamalsomanagescity-widesurpluspropertyactivities throughthesaleandstrategicreutilizationofcitygoodsand
providesassetinventorymanagement.Onekeyfocusis engagementwiththeSWMBE(small,minority,and women-ownedbusinesscommunity)toensurealignment withcitygoals.Theteamalsoperformsoutreachtothe vendorcommunity,includingsmall,women,andminorityownedbusinessenterprises,providingopportunitiesfor trainingandcertificationsandidentifyingopportunitiesto dobusinesswiththecity.Inthepast24months,$242.7 millionwassuccessfullyawardedtoentitiesintheMWSBE community.
StrategicGoal-DrivenLeadershipFramework
Lance'sapproachtoleadershipanddecision-makingbegins withenvisioningtheendgoalandthenestablishinga frameworktoworktowardsthatgoal.Theprocessmust startwithstrategicallyrelevantgoals,allowingtheteamto focusonthemostimportantelementsfirst.Goalsshouldbe measurable,aspeopletendtoperformdifferentlywhenthey canseetheimpactoftheirefforts.
Itisimportanttoensurethatthestrategystepsare attainable,assettingunrealisticmilestonescandemoralize theteam.Furthermore,theteammustseetheirinvolvement intheprocess.Insimpleterms,theapproachistothinkbig, actsmall,andbewillingtopivotwhennecessary.
However,themostimportantaspectistheneedtolisten. Therearefourformsofcommunication:speaking, listening,reading,andwriting.Despiteextensivetraining andeducationinspeaking,reading,andwriting,many
Lance’s focus on clear communication and accountability allows him to drive meaningful change while maintaining a strong focus on continuous improvement. “ “
Hesetsprioritiesbyestablishinggoalsandprioritiesfor workandhome,helpinghimfocusontasksthatbring satisfaction,happiness,andasenseofaccomplishment.He ensureshemakestimeinthedayforregularexercise, adequatesleep,andhealthyeating.Lastly,heseekssupport byestablishingastrongnetworkatworkandhome, providingmuch-neededadviceandemotionalsupport,and nothesitatingtoseekhelpwhenrequired.
EngagingwithIndustryPartnersandVendors
AccordingtoLance,networkingisessentialtostaying aheadofindustrytrendsandinnovations.Engagingwith industrypartners,vendors,andthecommunitycanhelp gainkeyinsightsintofuturedevelopments.Anyonewho believestheycansucceedaloneismissingoutonvaluable opportunities.
MasteringSoftSkillsforCareerAdvancement
Hehighlightstheimportanceofembracingcontinuous learningandremainingopentofeedbackandcriticismto ensureconsistentpersonalandprofessionaldevelopment.In thecurrentworkplace,thebestadviceheoffersistomaster softskills,whichcanbeakeydifferentiatorandsetayoung professionalapartfromthecompetition.Withafocuson effectivecommunicationandleadership,developingthese competenciesisvitalforcareeradvancement.Ablendof personalambition,strategicplanning,andopennessto learningshapesthepathforward.
ImplementingStrategicTechnologyTools
Lance'skeyobjectivesfortheprocurementfunctionatthe CityandCountyofDenver,DepartmentofGeneral Servicesoverthenextfewyearsincludeexpandingthe reachintothesmallbusinesscommunityandstrivingto provideasmanybusinessopportunitiesaspossibleto ensurethesmallbusinesssegmentflourisheswithinthe Denvercommunities.Additionally,DenverGeneral Servicesaimstoinnovatebystreamliningand,insome cases,re-engineeringprocessestobenefitallCityAgencies.
Someexamplesoftheseinnovationsincluderevisitingand modifyingcurrentpurchasingdollarthresholdstoreduce barriersofentryforSmallandMinorityentitiesdoing businesswiththeCityandincreasingtheefficiencyofthe cityagenciesserved.Anotherobjectiveisimplementing strategictechnologytools,suchasthestrategicsourcing modulewithintheWorkdaysystem.Lastly,exploringtools likesubmittabletomanagetheexecutionofthegrant processbetterisalsoafocus.
LeavingaLegacyofTeam-FirstCulture
AspartoftheCityandCountyofDenverDepartmentof GeneralServices,Lanceaimstoleavealegacyasa procurementleaderwhoconsistentlyexhibitedateam-first culture.Heachievedthisbymaintainingaclearvision, regardlessofchallenges,andconsistentlyencouragingthe teamtopersevere.
Lanceisalwaysdirectandtothepoint,eliminatingany opportunityforconfusion.Heneverblamesothers,taking soleresponsibilityforunfavourableoutcomeswhilequickly creditingtheteamforitssuccesses.Lancebelievesthat excellenceresultsfromcaringmorethanothersthinkis wise,riskingmorethanothersthinkissafe,dreamingmore thanothersthinkispractical,andexpectingmorethan othersthinkispossible.
The Human Side of Digital Procurement
Inanerafueledbyautomationandalgorithms,it's
alltooeasythesedaystodisregardthehuman beingsthatdrivecurrent-daybusiness.Among theregionsthisismoreapttoringparticularlytruein DigitalProcurement,asphereoftenlinkedtomachine learning,dataanalytics,andoptimizedprocesses.
Butwithallthedashboards,KPIs,andsupplychain integrationsworkinginthebackground,thereremains asimpletruth:digitalchangeisn'tsuperiortothosein thebackground.
BeyondtheTechnology
DigitalProcurementisapplyingdigitalplatformsand solutionstomanageandoptimizeprocurement processes.Frommanagingcontractstosourcing,via spendanalysistocollaborationwithsuppliers, technologyisemergingasamajorplayerinenhancing speed,transparency,andprecision.Technologyisnot independent,though.Itisdeveloped,deployed,and operatedbyhumanbeingsmakingdailydecisionsthat count.Thesuccessofeveryprocurementrevolution hingesonhowsuccessfullywebalancethehuman factorinthedigitalformula.
Fartoooften,digitaltransformationinitiativescenter aroundtoolsandplatformswithoutbeingawareofthe significanceofculture,communication,andchange management.Theguaranteeofefficiencyandcost savingsexists,buttheycanbeobtainedonlywhenthe procurementprofessionalsareempoweredand includedintheinitiative.
EmpoweringProcurementProfessionals
ThistransformationtoDigitalProcurementcansend shiversdownthespinesofteams,particularlywhen automationisseenasareplacementfortheirjobs.
“Topprocurementfunctionswillbecome akeypartoflargeorganizationsandwill influencetheoverallbusinessstrategy, growth,andcompetitiveadvantage. Thoseinleadershippositions... willshifttheirfocusfromcostcontrol tofacilitatinginnovation, businessagilityandsupplycontinuity.”
