Live Webinar

Untangling the Supplier Sprawl: Strategic Paths to Consolidation & Cost Savings

Overwhelmed by fragmented suppliers and unwieldy onboarding? Join us to learn how higher ed institutions are gaining visibility, simplifying vendor relationships, and driving impactful savings.

Thursday, September 18  @  2 PM ET | 11 AM PT
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Why attend this session

Most institutions struggle with “supplier sprawl”—the result of decentralized purchasing, inconsistent onboarding, and outdated systems. This leaves strategic teams blind to spend, exposed to risk, and unable to negotiate better pricing. 
 
During this webinar, you’ll learn a modern roadmap for transforming fragmented supplier management into a coordinated strategy that maximizes efficiency, compliance, and value.

What you'll learn

  • How to audit and consolidate supplier spend to optimize costs
  • Best practices for centralizing onboarding and enabling risk controls
  • Strategies to strengthen supplier performance and contract compliance
  • Real-world examples of streamlined supplier strategies in action

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 - Mark Boucher Circle

Mark Boucher

Director, Procurement & Payment Services
Duquesne University

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Mark Boucher is a Director, Procurement & Payment Services at Duquesne University based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Previously, Mark was a Technology Buyer and  Store Manager at Duquesne University and also held positions at Apple and  European Atlantic Group.

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Darren Blakely

Executive Vice President, Unimarket

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As Unimarket's Executive Vice President, Darren spearheads source-to-pay solutions that empower organizations to turn their financial operations into strategic advantages.

With decades of experience in corporate payments and procurement, Darren has founded and led several B2B payments and AP automation companies, driving innovation and growth in the industry, including establishing one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, as recognized by Inc. Magazine.

UM - Candex Circle

Candex

Strategic Supplier Partner

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Candex helps organizations streamline tail spend by enabling fast, compliant payments to any supplier — without adding them to the vendor master.

As a trusted partner to higher education institutions, Candex simplifies onboarding, ensures compliance, and delivers end-to-end visibility across the supplier lifecycle. Their platform integrates seamlessly with existing finance systems, enabling procurement and AP teams to reduce manual work, increase agility, and accelerate digital transformation.

Register for the webinar to gain practical insights you can take back to your team.

Thursday, September 18 
2 PM ET | 11 AM PT
 

 

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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