Jennifer Frates, Chief Procurement Officer for Barnstable County, was recently named a winner of the 2022 Bonfire Procurement Awards for Innovation and Digital Transformation. Since she began working for the County in 2019, Jennifer has paved the way for companies seeking to do business with the county with a fair, open, and improved online process.
The first annual Bonfire Procurement Awards honored and celebrated individuals and teams who have significantly contributed to strategic sourcing. Ms. Frates was chosen for her proven success in public procurement and her dedication to Barnstable County and the constituents she serves.
The Purchasing Division, established by the County Commissioners in 1979, maintains a centralized purchasing system of goods and services, not only for county departments but also to serve and add value to towns in Barnstable County.
At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the county quickly integrated the Bonfire software, allowing for a paperless procurement system.
Ms. Frates said, “As a one-person department, modernizing and streamlining the procurement process for our regional government and cooperative county bids have taken a once “transactional” department to a much more data-driven, strategic operation.”
Barnstable County’s Finance Director, Carol Coppola said, “Congratulations to Jennifer on a well-deserved award; her dedication to procurement excellence exemplifies her dedication to her profession every day. Barnstable County is extremely lucky and privileged to have her.”
“Procurement professionals are the superheroes of our public agencies and rarely get the recognition they deserve,” says Bonfire CEO Omar Salaymeh. “I’m honored to congratulate Ms. Frates for this achievement and to celebrate her exemplary work in public procurement.”
“The County’s procurement system is a valuable regional asset; Jennifer has done an outstanding job utilizing technology to improve efficiency and accountability,” said Beth Albert, Barnstable County Administrator.
Jennifer Frates and all 2022 Bonfire Procurement Award winners were honored at the NIGP: Institute for Public Procurement Forum 2022 in Boston on August 22, 2022.
Visit Barnstable County’s Purchasing Division website to learn more about this department.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up