Emily McAdams

Cindy Sullivan, Executive Director of Public Sector at CAI, outlines her strategic vision for contingent workforce programs, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among business teams. By synchronizing priorities and improving communication between HR, procurement, and other departments, we can provide seamless enterprise solutions and maintain consistent policies.   Discover how comprehensive contingent workforce solutions can help accomplish these objectives: https://lnkd.in/gktAQyrG [Video description: A stock image of a group of working within a office setting with a blue tint on the front of the image, with white text on the top that says, "How can we make contingent workforce programs more strategic?" Cindy Sullivan's name, role, and headshot are featured underneath. A white sound wave is seen next to Cindy's wave, being animated along with her audio, and white text captions are seen at the middle bottom of the image going along with Cindy's words.]

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Procurement teams know that a sourcing plan can fall apart if components aren’t available at the right time and price. Delays, stock shortages, and inflated quotes can disrupt production schedules, and incomplete information only makes it harder to respond quickly. Octopart makes that process easier. This article explains how to use Octopart to turn market data into your best negotiation tool when dealing with suppliers. Learn more: https://bit.ly/47AeZK8 #octopart #procurement #partdata #marketdata #suppliernegotiation

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Track Vendor Rebates in Real Time   Most procurement teams focus on rebate terms—but the real advantage lies in how closely you track your actual earnings. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Yet, many rebate programs rely on outdated data or lagging reports, leading to missed revenue and inaccurate forecasting. 📉 Real-time business volume tracking isn’t about seeing more data—it’s about acting sooner. The sooner you spot a shortfall or hit a target, the faster you can respond, adjust, and recover lost value. Are you truly in control of what you’ve earned—or just assuming the numbers will add up? 💭 It might be time to take a closer look at your volume base. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dHxgJ9fQ #SAP #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #IncentiveManagement #S4HANA #ASUGCommunity #B2B #TradeManagement #CPG #SalesDirector #SalesFinance #Wholesalers #Distributors #Billbacks #Chargebacks #MarketDevelopmentFund #Rebates #CustomerRebate #VendorRebate #ConditionContractManagement #ASUG #LifeSciences #Manufacturing #Automotive #Agriculture #Chemicals #HighTech #Telecommunications

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Procurement processes were inconsistent. Branches operated in silos. The connection between corporate and the field was strained. Gordon Ennis and Brad Weinbrum helped turn that around. They brought structure to procurement, rebuilt trust across teams, and introduced a tool that made spending visible and decisions easier. This wasn’t about enforcing rules. It was about creating clarity so every team could operate with more confidence and less friction. Michael Weinbrum captured the journey in this case study. It’s a real example of what thoughtful, steady leadership can do. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/ez8Kgvv7 #NivalmiImpact #BetterDecisionsBetterTeams #OperationsLeadership #ZookeeperThinking

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Great procurement teams don't appear overnight. They are cultivated by thoughtful and attentive leaders who understand the importance of empowering their people. In our latest blog post, Carrie Mathes, FNIGP, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CFCM, C.P.M., CPPB, shares her insights on what it takes for leaders to empower public procurement teams. https://lnkd.in/eCgQNij9

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April Showers Bring MAY JOBS!! Attention #jobseekers who are #opentowork, been #laidoff, part of a #layoff or hashtag #reductioninworkforce OR career professionals looking to be proactive with finding #newjob? The #jobmarket is very competitive. #jobseekers must have a #jobsearchstrategy. Do NOT just send out 100s of resumes to 100s of job postings and hope for someone to reach out. You need to be proactive and set yourself apart from the competition. Do you have a strong and #professionalresume? If you are unsure of your resume format, content, or quality…. Please take advantage of my FREE RESUME REVIEW https://lnkd.in/g-4bcFV Check out this #hotjob, #jobopportunity with Keith Ordan **I help active job seekers and proactive career professionals navigate their job search. **I prepare professional, ATS friendly resumes/LinkedIn profiles with a HUMAN APPROACH **I have a verified LinkedIn profile, and I am a U.S.-based, 1-person company *52 clients accepted job offers in 2026, 145+ in 2025** **Proven track record of getting clients more responses/interviews and turning around stalled searches to land new jobs** **133 LinkedIn Recommendations/Success Stories** **14K+ LinkedIn Network/Recruiter/Hiring Manager Contacts** I am passionate about helping professionals achieve their career goals by providing personalized 1:1 services specifically tailored to your needs. Let’s set up a call to “meet”, so I can understand your needs/situation and discuss how I can help you! Recent client success story: “Working with Nicki was the turning point in my job search. After 14 years with one company, I suddenly found myself navigating a market flooded with layoffs and a lot of competition. I had worked with three other firms before finding her. The difference was immediate. Her suggestions were built around me specifically, not pulled from a template. The moment I applied her suggested edits to my own LinkedIn profile and saw how differently my experience read, I knew she actually understood my background and what I brought to any organization. Her premier package covered everything: a full resume redraft, specific language and positioning changes she guided me to make directly to my own LinkedIn profile, role targeting strategy, interview prep, and introductions to her recruiter network. She also pushed back hard on my over-reliance on AI in the search process. She was right and adjusting that approach made a real difference. Within days of implementing her suggestions, I was hearing from recruiters regularly. Six weeks later, I accepted a role at a Fortune 500 company, exactly what I had been looking for. Nicki is the right person. I would work with her again without hesitation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​” #careercoach #resumewriter #resumewriting #jobseeker

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The future of work isn’t borderless by trend—it’s borderless by necessity. Talent access, cost efficiency, and speed to market are forcing new operating models. AI isn’t a future concept; it’s actively redefining how work gets done and where it gets done. If you’re attending ProcureCon, don’t miss Duke Energy’s perspective on how they’re evolving their operating model.

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Client Success Story: Strengthening Delivery Through an Outsourced PMO A rapidly growing professional services firm engaged AccruePartners’ Project Consulting Solutions (PCS) team, led by Paul Rundzieher, to address increasing operational pressures during a period of accelerated expansion. With the Chief of Staff serving as the primary stakeholder, the PCS team supported the organization through a 6-month engagement focused on building structure, improving delivery, and enabling sustainable scale. The Business Challenge The firm was experiencing several challenges as client demand outpaced internal bandwidth: ▶️ Resource Constraints: Internal teams were stretched thin, balancing client-facing responsibilities with administrative project tasks ▶️ Lack of Structure: Without standardized workflows, project tracking and communication varied widely, resulting in delays, inefficiencies, and rework ▶️ Expectation Misalignment: Inconsistent documentation and ad-hoc processes made it difficult to maintain alignment between client objectives and deliverables ▶️ Scalability Limitations: The existing operating model could not sustain increasing client volume without risking quality or missed timelines Our Solution AccruePartners deployed an Outsourced PMO model designed to bring discipline, visibility, and consistency across the firm’s project portfolio: ▶️ Dedicated Project Managers leading engagements end to end to ensure proactive communication and clear ownership ▶️ Standardized processes for planning, reporting, and tracking to drive consistency and predictability ▶️ Project management tools implemented to provide real-time visibility and collaboration for internal teams and clients ▶️ A scalable delivery model enabling the firm to flex support up or down based on demand without compromising quality The Impact By combining the right talent, tools, and governance, AccruePartners helped this professional services organization enhance client delivery, reduce internal strain, and establish a repeatable model for long-term growth. If your organization needs structure, capacity, or process rigor to keep pace with demand, our PCS team is ready to partner with you. #ClientSuccess #ProjectManagement #OutsourcedPMO #AccruePartners #OperationalExcellence #ScalableGrowth

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Are you considering an RFP (request for proposal) process to find the right talent and recruitment partner? Maximize your efforts and get the most out of your process with these critical tips for crafting a winning RFP. Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/fgJN30sNWTF

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There seems to be a ton of buzz about the ProcureCon Contingent Staffing 2026 event on LinkedIn the past few weeks. Honestly, it seems like validated excitement, especially with keynote topics like this one. I can't wait! Chief Product and Technology Officer, Thomas Jajeh, will break down how AI and platform work models are reshaping the fundamentals of workforce governance, risk, and delivery. He'll be joined by Bonnie Titone, Chief Administrative Officer at Duke Energy, for a practitioner's perspective on what the shift to human-AI workforce models will actually require at scale. It's pretty cool to envision how AI will reshape the labor story globally.

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Understanding Workforce Program Adoption Many HR and procurement leaders find it challenging to ensure participation in contingent workforce programs. This lack of engagement can hinder ROI and reduce business flexibility. In a recent article, Guidant Global's Sara Gordon discusses strategies for encouraging business participation in workforce solutions. Gordon highlights the importance of business involvement, lists its advantages, and outlines four steps to creating an effective workforce management strategy. Struggling with program adoption? Explore more in the blog. #ContingentWorkforce hashtag#WorkforceManagement

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Most contingent workforce programs say they are performance-driven. Many are actually relationship-driven. The suppliers receiving the most requisitions are often not the suppliers producing the best outcomes. They are usually the suppliers with the longest tenure, the strongest recruiter relationships, or the vendors who became “safe” over time. That creates a dangerous operating model. Because once req distribution becomes relationship-based instead of performance-based, programs slowly lose visibility into what is actually driving production stability. A supplier with: • Lower first-14-day turnover • Better onboarding execution • Faster productivity ramp-up • Higher retention in skilled environments • Stronger compliance discipline …may never receive enough req volume to prove it. Meanwhile, underperforming suppliers continue receiving distribution because nobody wants to disrupt the existing ecosystem. The result is something most organizations mistake as “labor shortage pressure” when it is often allocation inefficiency hiding inside the supplier model itself. The uncomfortable reality: Many contingent workforce programs do not have a supplier performance problem. They have a req distribution problem. The moment organizations begin tracking operational metrics beyond submittal volume, the ecosystem changes quickly. Not because incumbents are bad suppliers. But because performance transparency changes behavior. The best suppliers usually want scorecards. The weakest suppliers usually want relationships. #ContingentWorkforce #MSP #StaffingIndustry #WorkforceManagement #VendorManagement #HumanResources #TalentAcquisition #Manufacturing #DefenseIndustry #Shipbuilding #LightIndustrial #WorkforceStrategy #Recruitment #OperationalExcellence #Staffing #WorkforcePlanning

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Procurement teams aren’t losing out because they can’t source, they’re missing out because they can’t see. The problem isn’t searching harder. It’s that 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱. - 📇 Directories haven’t evolved since dial-up. - 🎪 Trade shows point to the same players year after year. - 🔁 Referrals circle the same top 5% of visible suppliers, while the true competitive edge slips by unnoticed. Some of the most capable manufacturers operate in LATAM, Southeast Asia, or MENA, but they’re hidden from legacy systems, often off the radar due to a lack of polished websites or formal references. The result? Procurement teams are stuck sourcing from a 𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹, exposed to 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 and 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀. 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗺 𝘂𝗽𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻. Instead of just referencing HQs and parent companies, Scout’s AI crawls billions of web pages, business registries, filings, and even local news to surface real, production-ready suppliers: active, verified, and operating today. ⚙️ It’s not “search”. It’s 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. Scout goes beyond the obvious, mapping not just the big names but the 𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 who can add 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 to any supply chain. 🌍 The implication for procurement? An explosion of qualified options, smarter diversification, and genuine cost leverage. Supply risk drops. Negotiation power rises. What was invisible becomes actionable. 🎯 Think you’ve already mapped the supplier landscape? Think again. Try Scout and see who’s been missing from your shortlist → https://lnkd.in/dcGfrwcV

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Looking to stay ahead in public procurement? Our Resource Center is built to support procurement professionals with the insights, tools, and guidance you need to keep up with change and lead with confidence. Whether you're modernizing your processes, exploring supplier diversity, or strengthening your procurement strategy, there’s something for everyone. What you’ll find: ✅ Actionable guides and checklists ✅ Procurement trend reports ✅ Thought leadership from industry experts ✅ Real-world success stories ✅ Upcoming webinars and learning sessions Knowledge is power, and we’re here to help you turn it into progress. Explore our latest resources: https://bit.ly/4fsPCMs #SOVRA #PublicProcurement #ProcurementResources #ProcurementStrategy #GovTech #ResourceCenter

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"Want in? Prove it… by taking the jobs no one else will touch." In the contingent workforce world, I see this from MSPs and hear this from staffing partners all the time: “If you want to join our supply chain and start receiving requisitions, you first need to take on, and fill, some of our hardest-to-fill roles.” On paper, I get it and at times have been found guilty as charged. It’s a way for clients and MSPs to vet a supplier’s capability. Show you can deliver in tough conditions, and you’ve earned your seat at the table. But here’s the thing… Those same openings can drain a recruiter’s bandwidth, stretch sourcing teams thin, and divert focus away from the roles where they could deliver their best results. In these situations, you may not be seeing the full value a firm can offer—sometimes it feels less like a ‘trial’ and more like an uphill battle stacked against the supplier. I’m interested in hearing some fresh perspectives so here’s my question to the community: Is this a fair proving ground, or an unreasonable barrier to entry? From your perspective, does it truly build strong, lasting partnerships, or is it a flawed practice that risks burning out good suppliers before the relationship even begins?

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This took me 15 years to learn, I'll teach it to you in 5 minutes: 1. Analyze your contingent workforce data Success in cost optimization starts with understanding your data. Every program needs: • Spend visibility • Rate benchmarking • Supplier performance metrics • Compliance tracking • Market rate analysis Procurement leaders are data scientists. 2. AI-powered insights beat guesswork Transform your program with AI: • Analyze spend patterns daily • Monitor market rates daily • Get 1% cost savings daily Don't wait. Start now. Action > Analysis paralysis 3. Build a savings identification system Regular analysis increases your savings potential. You need to build a system to: • Track rate variations • Monitor supplier markups • Identify cost leakage Review weekly and watch savings grow. 4. Create your optimization funnel The goal is to maximize value from your program: • Discovery: Find opportunities in spend and supplier data • Analysis: Convert data into actionable insights • Implementation: Turn insights into real savings 5. Cost control is a habit You are what you consistently measure. Program success is built in the planning phase. Your optimization starts with: • Weekly rate reviews • Monthly spend analysis • Quarterly program audits • Annual strategy planning • Continuous monitoring • Repeat 6. Trust the optimization process There's no quick fix for program efficiency. Celebrate incremental wins: • You identified a rate variance. Great work. • You optimized a supplier markup. Great work. • You implemented a cost control. Great work. Success is about compound improvements. 7. Stay ahead with AI learning The most successful programs leverage AI: • Learn from predictive analytics • Watch market rate trends • Listen to AI recommendations 8. Your supplier network is your advantage Create your optimization dream team. Here's what you need: • Data analyst: AI tools • Rate expert: Market intelligence • Risk manager: Compliance tracking • Cost controller: Spend optimization • Program leader: Strategy execution Who's on your team? 9. Execute with precision Build momentum through action. When you spot an opportunity, act within 5 days: • Analyze the data • Develop the plan • Engage stakeholders • Implement changes Don't delay. Time is money. Take action and drive results. Want to unlock 30% cost savings? Let's talk. Check out the link in the comments for access to free resources that will help 👇🏻 #BeTheChangeYouWantToSee #ContingentWorkforce #FutureOfWork #GigEconomy #ModernWorkplace #ContingentCompass

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Understanding Workforce Program Adoption Many HR and procurement leaders find it challenging to ensure participation in contingent workforce programs. This lack of engagement can hinder ROI and reduce business flexibility. In a recent article, Guidant Global's Sara Gordon discusses strategies for encouraging business participation in workforce solutions. Gordon highlights the importance of business involvement, lists its advantages, and outlines four steps to creating an effective workforce management strategy. Struggling with program adoption? Explore more in the blog. #ContingentWorkforce hashtag#WorkforceManagement

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