Explore the passion, purpose, and people behind RFxPremier. We’re committed to delivering streamlined procurement solutions that drive efficiency, value, and meaningful impact for organizations everywhere.
RFxPremier is a newly-formed cooperative contracting organization dedicated to promoting procurement excellence and delivering outstanding value. Committed to enhancing transparency and collaboration, RFxPremier fosters meaningful connections between buyers and suppliers, driving efficiency and innovation in the procurement landscape, while empowering organizations of all sizes to make informed decisions and achieve their procurement goals effectively. RFxPremier works collaboratively with NASPO ValuePoint, the cooperative contracting division of NASPO, who was the catalyst for RFxPremier’s formation.
Through hard work and the support of our partners and suppliers, we’ll be a leader in cooperative procurement.
We are committed to conducting business in a transparent, fair, and defensible manner.
No matter what the issue or roadblock is, RFxPremier will find a legal way to say yes!
We will work to advance cooperative procurement and the procurement profession.
Get to know the diverse talent, creative visionaries, and industry experts who make up our exceptional team of procurement experts.
Chief Cooperative Procurement Officer (CCPO)
Cooperative Portfolio Strategy Official
Cooperative Procurement Strategy Official
Cooperative Procurement Strategy Official
Jared Gardner has joined PPA/RFxPremier as its new Chief Cooperative Procurement Officer, bringing more than 30 years of public procurement leadership and expertise in cooperative purchasing.
Prior to joining PPA/RFxPremier, Jared served as Director of Procurement for Granite School District, where he led the district’s procurement operations for 17 years. Earlier in his career, he spent 13 years with the Utah Division of Purchasing and General Services, developing extensive experience in public sector purchasing and cooperative procurement programs.
Throughout his career, cooperative purchasing has been a central focus of his work. He has also played a key leadership role in procurement policy across the state, serving as both a member and chair of the Utah Procurement Policy Board.
Jared holds a Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University and is a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager through the Institute for Supply Management.
Kristin is a Cooperative Portfolio Strategy Official with the RFxPremier team. She began her procurement career in pharmaceutical manufacturing before moving into academic procurement at the University of Virginia, where she led strategic sourcing and sustainability initiatives. Kristin then brought her expertise to Huron Consulting Group, where she served as a Strategy and Operations Consulting Manager supporting procurement transformation across public and private universities. Along the way, she deepened her cooperative purchasing experience through roles with the Virginia Higher Education Procurement Consortium and E&I Cooperative Services.
Kristin holds an MBA and her CAPM certification. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and two children. When she’s not thinking about procurement, you can find her day trading or deep in a conversation about sustainable aquaculture.
Prior to joining RFxPremier as a Cooperative Procurement Strategy Official, Chad obtained his degree in Communications at Utah Valley University. He spent time in various supply chain / warehousing jobs that slowly evolved over the years to procurement centered work.
He spent the last 9 years in various roles in procurement at Utah Transit Authority, most recently as a procurement & contracts specialist. Chad lives in Spanish Fork, Utah with his wife and two daughters. He is fluent in all sports talk (except soccer) and loves fitness; he is a part-time jump rope trainer for Crossrope, a weighted jump rope company.
Michelle currently works as a Cooperative Procurement Strategy Official for RFxPremier. Prior to her role with RFxPremier, she worked as a Cooperative Portfolio Coordinator for NASPO ValuePoint, and before that for the State of Maine in their Central Procurement Office as a Procurement Analyst. Michelle currently resides in Augusta, Maine. On the weekends you can find her traveling all over New England, watching her son and daughter play hockey, baseball, lacrosse, football and field hockey.
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