Thought Leadership Webinar

Centralized or Decentralized Procurement? Finding the Sweet Spot Between Control & Agility

Hear procurement leaders from George Fox University and Seton Hall University share firsthand experiences, lessons learned, and practical insights on how to design a procurement structure that aligns with your institution’s goals and culture.

Available on-demand

UM _ TLW _ Purchasing circle

Why you should watch this webinar

Higher education institutions are under growing pressure to balance oversight, compliance, cost control, and responsiveness. Should you centralize procurement to maximize spend leverage and policy alignment — or decentralize to empower departments with speed and flexibility? And what does the practical “sweet spot” really look like in the real world?
 
In this thought leadership session, Unimarket and procurement leaders from George Fox University and Seton Hall University share firsthand experiences, lessons learned, and practical insights on how to design a procurement structure that aligns with your institution’s goals and culture — while avoiding the hidden costs of simply sticking with “how it’s always been done.”

What you'll learn

✔️ The core benefits and trade-offs of centralized and decentralized procurement models

✔️ The hidden costs, compliance risks, and inefficiencies leaders often overlook

✔️ How hybrid models can help balance control with agility

✔️ Real-world insights from institutions that have successfully evolved their procurement structures
 
✔️ A practical decision framework you can take back to your own team

Who should watch

This session is ideal for:
  • Procurement and purchasing professionals in higher education
  • Registrars and finance leaders seeking better spend control
  • Public sector sourcing and contract managers
  • Anyone tasked with modernizing procurement operations or policy

Featured Speakers

UM - Kristi Kerr Circle

Kristi Kerr

Manager of Procurement Services
Connecticut College

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As Procurement Manager at Connecticut College, Kristi Kerr leads initiatives to modernize procurement processes, enhance compliance, and drive strategic sourcing. With a focus on optimizing procurement operations, Kristi has been instrumental in streamlining workflows and improving supplier relationships.

Her expertise includes strategic sourcing, contract negotiations, and supplier relationship management. Kristi is also a founding member of E&I’s Strategic Advisory Board, contributing to collaborative procurement strategies in higher education.

UM - Christopher Rust Circle

Christopher Rust, APPM 

Former Director of Purchasing at Connecticut College & Mount Holyoke College
Director of Consulting Services, Unimarket

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As Unimarket’s Director of Consulting Services, Christopher helps institutions modernize procurement and contract management by applying real-world expertise from nearly two decades in higher education.

With a background leading purchasing departments at Connecticut College and Mount Holyoke College, Christopher brings deep insight into the challenges institutions face—transforming legacy processes into streamlined, compliant, and value-driven operations.

Hear firsthand how Kristi and Chris tackled common contract pitfalls and modernized their approach—leading to better oversight, fewer compliance risks, and more confident procurement decisions.

Featured Speakers

UM - Christopher Rust Circle

Christopher Rust, APPM

Former Director of Purchasing at Connecticut College & Mount Holyoke College
Director of Consulting Services, Unimarket

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As Unimarket’s Director of Consulting Services, Christopher helps institutions modernize procurement and contract management by applying real-world expertise from nearly two decades in higher education. With a background leading purchasing departments at Connecticut College and Mount Holyoke College, Christopher brings deep insight into the challenges institutions face—transforming legacy processes into streamlined, compliant, and value-driven operations.

Unimarket_Frank Charles_George Fox University

Frank Charles, MBA

Director of Purchasing and Administrative Services,
George Fox University

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As Director of Purchasing and Administrative Services at George Fox University, Frank leads the university’s transition from a decentralized to a centralized procurement model. With over 15 years of global supply chain experience, he focuses on integrating technology-driven solutions, sustainable practices, and robust vendor management to deliver efficient, future-ready procurement operations that align with the university’s mission.

UM - Seton Hall Uni - Circle

James Ferguson, MBA

Director of Procurement, Seton Hall University

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As Director of Procurement at Seton Hall University, James oversees the full procure-to-pay lifecycle, bringing more than two decades of supply chain and operations leadership across higher education, industrial, and construction sectors. With expertise in ERP, operational excellence, supplier management, and continuous improvement, James helps the university strengthen procurement processes, drive efficiency, and deliver greater value. A graduate of the NACUBO Emerging Leaders Program, he’s committed to advancing best practices and building transparent, collaborative partnerships across campus.

Hear firsthand how Christopher, Frank, and James have tackled the challenges of centralized versus decentralized procurement—unlocking better oversight, stronger compliance, and smarter spend decisions for their institutions.

Watch the webinar to gain practical insights you can take back to your team — plus real stories from campus leaders solving these challenges every day.

Available on-demand

 

On-Demand Webinar

Beyond the File Cabinet: Modernizing Contract Management to Minimize Compliance Risk

Learn how to eliminate outdated processes, reduce compliance risk, and take control of your institution’s contract management strategy.

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