| JESUS J. AMEZCUA, CPA |
| Jesus is the Assistant Superintendent for Business Services for HCDE, he oversees the financial management, investment management, debt management, procurement, compliance, tax collections, accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll departments. Dr. Amezcua is a CPA as authorized by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy and a member of the Professional Standards Committee for the Texas Society of CPAs. Jesus has been an adjunct professor for accounting, auditing, governmental and not for profit accounting, ethics and finance management, marketing, and tax and business courses for 22 plus years. He received his Doctor of Educations Administration from Texas A&M University in 2014. He received his MBA in 1990, Pubic Accountancy in 1994, and International Logistics in 2001 from Texas A&M International University; additionally, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration and Accounting in 1987. |
| RUDY SALINAS |
| Rudy’s public purchasing career actually started when his company was trying to sell equipment to a municipality. Years later, he found himself on the other side of the table being hired as the buyer for Mission CISD Maintenance Department. A long with the new role, the department also assigned him as their warehouse supervisor because of his business background. His twenty-year career in public purchasing would have him serving in various positions from buyer to procurement manager with Mission CISD, Hidalgo County, and with the City of McAllen. He retired in 2024 from the city where his role as senior buyer would provide him with the opportunity to help develop and lead the purchasing department’s procurement training program. Following his retirement and with his entrepreneurial spirit still alive, he started a consulting company specializing in assisting businesses having the very same issues he himself had to overcome in order to do business with a government agency. |
| EDNA JOHNSON |
| Edna E. Johnson currently serves as the Director of Procurement Services for the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE). Johnson holds a doctoral degree in education from the University of New England, a Master of Public Administration from Villanova University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas Southern University. Before joining HCDE, she served as a revenue accountant and procurement manager in Spring Branch ISD. Beyond her professional achievements, she has taught procurement classes at state and national conferences, and has earned multiple state and national procurement awards. |
| PAIGE ETHERINGTON |
| Paige is an Assistant Attorney General in the antitrust division of the Texas Attorney General's Office, where she works on a range of antitrust cases. Prior to working at the Attorney General's Office, Paige worked for sports agencies concerning antitrust issues, name, image, and likeness, and compliance with advertising and endorsement guidelines. Paige attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a psychology degree before graduating with her J.D. and a Sports and Entertainment Law Certificate from the Tulane University School of Law. |
| CAROL COOPER, CPM., CPSM, CPPO |
| Carol has been providing consulting and training on procurement and professional development topics at conferences, workshops and governmental work-sites since 1996. Prior to retirement from the City of Garland, Texas in 2011, Carol was the Director of Materials Management. She was actively employed in the purchasing and supply profession since 1978. She has both public and private sector experience in a variety of industries. Carol has served on the Board of Directors for ISM-Dallas, ISM Southwest Forum and BuyBoard. She is a Charter member of the Texas Public Purchasing Association and served on the TxPPA Board of Directors. Carol is a co-founder of N&C Consulting, specializing in procurement solutions. Carol is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas and holds a lifetime C.P.M. and CPPO. |
| NARITA K. HOLMES, MBA, CPA., CIA, LCTURER IN ACCOUNTANCY AND COMPLIANCE AND TITLE IV COORDINATOR, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS OF THE PERMIAN BASIN, AND PURCHASING CONSULTANT |
| A C.P.A. in the state of Texas since 1971, Narita has extensive experience in both the financial and purchasing sectors. She served as Ector County Purchasing Agent from 1987 until she retired in 2004. Her employment includes three years with a big-eight accounting firm, fifteen years as chief financial officer for financial institutions and most recently Director of Audit and Compliance for The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Narita has been an accounting instructor at the college level and also has taught a variety of management courses including Purchasing Management. She speaks frequently on a variety of topics for workshops, conferences and in-service training. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Accounting, she earned an MBA in Management at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Narita is a Charter member of TxPPA and is co-founder of N&C Consulting, specializing in procurement solutions for governmental entities. |
| STEPHEN KENDRICK, RTSBA |
| Stephen is Senior Manager of Facilities Planning at Harris County Department of Education. His wide-reaching expertise in facilities stems from more than 25 years of experience in construction, job order contracting, and procurement in the government, education, and private markets. Kendrick conducts training for school districts and other governmental entities. After graduating with a degree in business from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Kendrick strengthened his project management skills with positions at ExxonMobil, Perry Homes and Vogel Construction, eventually landing a job at Santa Fe ISD as Assistant Director of Maintenance and Operations. |
| DALLAS SMETTER |
| Dallas Ray Smetter holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska and a Master's degree from the University of Texas at Brownsville. As an experienced IT consultant, Dallas Ray specializes in cybersecurity, custom scripting, and automation, with a focus on integrating security measures into procurement processes. He is also the founder of DallasRay.com, Inc., where he advises organizations on mitigating cyber risks. In addition to his IT work, Dallas Ray is a published author in the field of educational technology, bringing a unique perspective that blends academic insight, military discipline, and hands-on experience to protect businesses from evolving threats. |
| PHILLIP VASQUEZ |
| Phillip has 25 years of materials management experience in developing cost effective contract strategies. Phillip has a BA from Oklahoma State University. Phillip has directed major technology procurements, major cooperative contracts, and major construction contracts. Phillip oversaw a portfolio of over $500 million is cooperative purchasing contracts while with a large program. He has worked or collaborated with over 8 different purchasing cooperatives trying to understand what a Cooperative Purchasing Best practices. Phillip has worked for the City of Dallas, Dallas County, Region 4 ESC, and for Collin College. Prior to joining Collin College, Phillip founded Shepherd Government Services. He often speaks on various topics especially Cooperative Purchasing. |
| MARK ROGERS |
| Mark has been providing training and consulting on public purchasing issues since retiring in 2009. Prior to his retirement in 2009, Mark was Director of Materials Management for the Austin Independent School District for twenty-four years. Prior positions include Director of Materials Management for the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque and Director of Purchasing & Support Services for Austin Community College. Mark has been speaking on public purchasing at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas since 1981 and at public purchasing seminars for the Rio Grande Valley chapter of ISM-Rio Grande Valley since 1988. While Director of Materials Management at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, he was responsible for implementing the New Mexico Procurement Code. Mark has been in public purchasing since 1974. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin. |
| MIKE SALDANA |
| Miguel (Mike) Saldana is a native of Brownsville, TX and the current leader of Walsh Gallegos’ Rio Grande Valley law office. In addition to his general school law practice, Mike focuses on litigation involving school employees and personnel issues as well as facilities and business. He is an experience litigator with over 45 jury trials in his career, Mike has argued successfully before the Texas 13th Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to joining Walsh Gallegos’ law firm, he served as a school board trustee and later as general counsel to Brownsville ISD. Mike received his law degree from UT Austin. |
| JERRY HADDAD |
| Jerry Haddad / Sr. VP of Sales / Government / Commercial Fleet Division. In 2005, Jerry took a leap by joining D&M Leasing as a sales agent. This move marked the beginning of a 19-year tenure that would see him evolve into a pivotal figure within the company. His ascent through the ranks—from Sales Agent to Company Training Manager, and from Commercial General Manager to his current position as VP of Sales for the Government and Commercial Fleet Services division—demonstrates his leadership and dedication. Jerry's work at D&M is driven by a commitment to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of fleet management for public sector organizations. He specializes in helping cities, counties and schools navigate the fleet leasing and management programs. His goal is to demonstrate the tremendous benefits of leasing, helping these entities to optimize their fleets and achieve substantial savings. From vehicle acquisition and maintenance to disposal and everything in between—Jerry ensures that each agency he works with can operate at its best. His approach is not just about managing fleets but about cultivating long-lasting relationships and fostering a sense of partnership that leads to mutual success. |
| MELITON MOYA, Ph.D |
| Dr. Moya earned a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Pan American University in 1974 and earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Social Psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1981. He spent twenty years as a public servant (Air Force, welfare, outpatient and inpatient mental health, juvenile and adult probation, public education administration, and teaching psychology and education at the college undergraduate and graduate levels.) In 1993, he founded The Process Manager, a consulting service specializing in K-12 psychoeducational management solutions. In 2013, he decided to focus on his writing career. He is now writing his third book and looking to publish his first two books along with poems and essays he has written through the years while also consulting with attorneys, courts and as a member of the Citizens Review Teach for Child Protective Services. |
| DAN ELLIOTT |
| Dan provides a point of contact to clients and potential clients for procurement products. He focuses on his relationship building and how the Euna solutions can affect daily activities in purchasing operations. For over twelve years he has provided outstanding Euna solutions to government agencies. |
