About The Webinar
Want to build stronger relations with Procurement? Join us for a webinar featuring two former Chief Procurement Officers, who will share strategies and insights to help you engage with Public Infrastructure Procurement 1 to 5 years before an RFP is issued.
Learn how to identify early signals, build relationships, and shape future projects by understanding and delivering what procurement teams truly find helpful, transforming your approach from reactive bidding to proactive partnership.
Meet Your Speakers
Rick Hughes, Managing Director at Government Sourcing Solutions, brings extensive procurement leadership across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Arizona. Most recently, he served as Deputy State Procurement Administrator in Arizona, helping rebuild the central Procurement Office for all government services. Prior to that, he led Illinois procurement as both Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director, and served seven years as Wisconsin’s Procurement Director - championing integrity, raising professionalism, and shaping statewide contracting policies. He also served five years as Treasurer and Regional Representative on the NASPO ValuePoint Management Board, and represented NASPO on the UPPCC Board through 2020. Before entering the public sector, Rick led his own law and consulting firm and brings strong financial, legal, and accounting expertise.
Jason Soza, Vice President, West at Government Sourcing Solutions, brings 20 years of public procurement experience, including rising from frontline buyer to Alaska’s Chief Procurement Officer in 2013. He transformed Alaska’s procurement function - bringing 50 % more spending under central oversight and delivering hundreds of millions in savings, with $7 million in recurring annual gains. Nationally, Jason has led multiple NASPO committees and authored key publications like NASPO’s State & Local Government Procurement: A Practical Guide and a Harvard Kennedy School paper. He holds CPPO, CPPB, and Six Sigma Black Belt certifications and is recognized for his innovative leadership in procurement.
Hosted By
Ahmed Badruddin, our CEO at Citylitics, has an impressive background in AI and data systems. He has guided thousands of Public Infrastructure sales professionals and teams by transforming ideas into scalable businesses, especially in regulated industries.
Why Attend?
The Public Infrastructure sector is undergoing a significant transformation, as procurement takes on a more strategic and proactive role in shaping projects long before RFPs are issued. As cities and utilities adopt multi-year planning and data-driven decision-making, suppliers who understand how to support procurement early will gain a clear competitive edge. This webinar will equip you with the knowledge, tools, and real-world strategies to build lasting relationships with procurement officials, become a valued resource, and help influence project direction from the start to win more bids
You'll Learn About:
- Procurement's Evolving Role: Gain insights into pre-RFP challenges and understand why helpful engagement is essential.
- Data for Procurement: Discover how Citylitics' data supports procurement's strategic planning and delivers actionable intelligence.
- Building Helpful Relationships: Learn how to engage procurement officials by identifying their pain points and providing relevant educational content.
- Shaping the RFP: Understand how educating clients and offering technical expertise can assist procurement in drafting more precise specifications.
- Navigating Budget Cycles: Explore the dynamics of multi-year planning and funding sources to become a timely resource for procurement teams.
- Cultivating Long-Term Value: Learn strategies for sustained engagement and how to measure success based on improvements in procurement efficiency.