Chris Smith on Elevating Public Procurement Through Servant Leadership, Strategic Vision and More

In this compelling episode featuring special guest Chris Smith, we explore why public procurement is more than rules and regulations. It’s the business of public trust. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or leading government procurement teams, this conversation brings practical insights on leadership, ethics, and the evolving role of procurement in 2026.

🔑 Key Topics Covered:
• The real value of public procurement and career opportunities
• Servant leadership and morale-building in teams
• Shifting from tactical work to strategic risk mitigation with AI
• How the NIGP CPP certification builds credibility and influence
• Leadership in public procurement

📌 Don’t miss this if you’re passionate about elevating your career and shaping your community through responsible procurement. Also, don't miss the announcement on the 2025 David and Beverly Nash Leadership Award recipient. ... coming up this week!

🎧 Listen to entire episode: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/chri...

👉 Learn more about Chris Smith: Chris Smith, MBA, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, VCO, VCA, VCARM, CSSYB, is a public procurement leader, educator, and keynote speaker based in Northern Virginia. He most recently served as a Contract Specialist II with Fairfax County’s Department of Procurement and Material Management and previously held procurement roles with the City of Alexandria, Virginia. Chris has led and supported complex formal solicitations, cooperative contracts, and strategic sourcing initiatives across transportation, public works, parks, solid waste, and general government operations, with a strong focus on compliance, transparency, and delivering best-value outcomes for the public.

In addition to his practitioner experience, Chris teaches, trains, and delivers keynote presentations on public procurement leadership, culture, compliance, and continuous improvement. He is deeply engaged in the procurement community through NIGP and multiple state and regional associations, and he regularly writes and speaks on advancing the profession. Chris is currently in the process of writing his next book focused on modern public procurement leadership and elevating excellence across the profession. He holds an Executive MBA from Virginia Tech, a BBA from James Madison University, and a Certificate in Higher Impact Leadership from the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.Links to Include

LinkedIn:   / chris-smith-mba  
Email: [email protected]

#PublicProcurement #NIGPCPP #ServantLeadership #GovernmentContracts #ProcurementLeadership #SupplyChain #AIinProcurement #TheBigBidTheory #CrazyBids #leadership