Procurecon Indirect West 2026
March 09 - 11, 2026
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort and Spa
Day 2: It Takes Two To Tango: Driving Effective Procurement And Supplier Partnerships
7:05 am - 8:05 am
Breakfast In The Solutions Zone
8:05 am - 8:15 am
Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
Jagmeet Lamba -
Founder and CEO,
Certa
8:15 am - 8:55 am
Keynote Panel: Redefining The RFP As A Request For Partnership: Key Strategies To Employ To Be A Partner Of Choice In Uncertain Times
Jagmeet Lamba -
Founder and CEO,
Certa
Sarah Kaye -
Senior Director Of Procurement,
Spin
Maria Centeno -
Head of Procurement,
SoFi
Josh Pickles -
Senior Director - Head of Strategic Sourcing and Procurement,
DoorDash
8:55 am - 9:15 am
Presentation: Stories From The Frontlines – Actionable ML-Driven Insights To Realize 2-4% Savings And Mitigate Supplier Risk In 2 Months
Ashley Cline -
SVP of Sales,
ElectrifAI
Reimagining procurement should not require a new platform or several months or a year to roll out. In this session, we will learn about driving 2-4% savings with vendor compression and mitigating supplier risk in a large, complex sourcing environment in under 2 months.
9:15 am - 9:35 am
Fireside Chat: Managing A Merger In Unprecedented Times: Executing The Strategy At T-Mobile
Jagmeet Lamba -
Founder and CEO,
Certa
John Thong -
Director, Procurement - Strategy and Transformation,
T-Mobile
9:35 am - 9:55 am
Presentation: Accelerate Value Capture
Paul Gleeson -
Senior VP Global Alliances & Partnerships,
Icertis
Patricia Miller -
Procurement Transformation Director,
Accenture
Join Paul Gleeson, Senior VP Global Alliances & Partnerships at Icertis and Patricia Miller, Procurement Transformation Director at Accenture, as they share Accenture’s transformation story, illustrating how Accenture’s Legal transformation can translate into ways that your organization can combine ingenuity with contract intelligence to accelerate value capture.
9:55 am - 10:35 am
Southwest Morning Break Sponsored By Sun Technologies
Stay energized throughout the conference! Grab a coffee & enjoy some cinnamon sopapillas before heading back to the General Session room!
General Session
10:35 am - 10:55 am Keynote Presentation Installing A Strategic Mindset: Key Tactics To Develop Your Team From Buyers To Strategic Sorcerers Paul Williams - Associate Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer, University of California
Paul Williams
Associate Vice President and Chief Procurement OfficerUniversity of California
General Session
10:55 am - 11:15 am Presentation By GEP Karen Rhee - Associate Director, Sourcing and Contracts Technology, University of California
General Session
11:15 am - 11:55 am Panel: Driving Meaningful Change: Developing A Roadmap To Achieving ESG Goals Jagmeet Lamba - Founder and CEO, Certa Barry Kull - Senior Director, Category Management, Americas, AstraZeneca
General Session
11:55 am - 12:15 pm Presentation: Real Business Cases Of Leveraging Data To Drive Procurement Strategy And Corporate Social Responsibility Jason Stern - Chief Executive Officer, Simfoni
CPO Network Limited to Chief Procurement Officers and Heads of Indirect Procurement with $1 Billion in spend and above
10:35 am - 11:15 am Session #1 Developing The Business Case And Level Of Investment For Emerging Procurement Technologies Joseph Martinez - Managing Director, Chief Procurement Officer, BNY Mellon (Formerly)There’s no shortage of buzz around emerging procurement technologies that are out there. How do you figure out fact from fiction? And who can really deliver what they promise? This boardroom discussion will provide one leader’s viewpoint and provide ample discussion time to share your viewpoint, perspective, and questions as well.
CPO Network Limited to Chief Procurement Officers and Heads of Indirect Procurement with $1 Billion in spend and above
11:15 am - 11:55 am Session #2 Building Your Team For The Future: How Your Talent & Team Structure Is Changing Before Your Own Eyes; And How to Harness The Change Josh King - Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer, American WaterThis interactive think tank will provide a forum to share key insights and procurement trends related to the talent revolving around procurement.
Exceptional talent creates exceptional outcomes. Listen and engage in conversation with your fellow CPOs as you share talent strategy tips to create the team for tomorrow, and how to prepare them for today.
Key takeaways will include
- Plan and design a procurement talent structure
- Attract and orient new talent
- Manage and develop the skills of existing talent
- Best practices to retain talent
12:15 pm - 1:05 pm
Interactive Roundtable Discussions
Julien Nadaud -
SVP of Innovation,
Corcentric
Paul Gleeson -
Senior VP Global Alliances & Partnerships,
Icertis
David Gonzalez -
Vice President, Sales & Business Development,
WNS Denali
Susan Austin -
Principal,
American Express Global Business Travel
These interactive industry roundtable sessions take a deep dive into the specific areas you came to talk about. Sit and learn in an intimate format from the speakers who have had an impact on their company and industry. Take control of your own event experience and don’t be shy! Ask questions (or answer them!) alongside other conference attendees who are dealing with the same challenges as you network with industry peers with very similar challenges, interests and responsibilities.
- AI and Procurement: A Partnership in the Making Julien Nadaud, SVP of Innovation, Corcentric
- Procurement Transformation Story: Delivering Organizational Value, Paul Gleeson, Senior VP Global Alliances & Partnerships, Icertis
- Top 3 Keys For Success To Hire and Retain Procurement Talent In 2022, David Gonzalez, Vice President, Sales & Business Development, WNS Denali
- Reframing Business Travel: Transactional Mechanism to Transformational Tool, Susan Austin, Principal, American Express Global Business Travel
1:00 pm - 2:10 pm
Lunch For All Attendees
TRACK A Technology Enablement and Digital Transformation
2:10 pm - 2:50 pm Panel: Does It Really Need To Be That Complicated? Streamlining The Procurement Intake Process Rujul Zaparade - Cofounder & Chief Executive Officer, Zip Mark Zafra - Head of Source to Pay, LiveRamp Sarah Kaye - Senior Director Of Procurement, Spin Gary Levitan - Global Head of Procurement, WeWork Trent Walker - Partner Account Manager, Pipefy
TRACK A Technology Enablement and Digital Transformation
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm Presentation: Holistic Supplier Collaboration In Source-To-Pay Processes Sundar Kamakshisundaram - Head of Industry Solutions & Presales, IvaluaSource-to-Pay transformation is the idea that a company can leverage its suppliers to provide the right products, at the right time, at the right price. Collaboration between suppliers and buyers can be an effective way to create multiple organizational benefits such as: increased speed-to-market, better innovation, improved risk identification, supply chain resilience, and an elevated competitive advantage. But for many procurement & supply chain teams, pre-existing strategies, processes, and legacy technological capabilities serve as potential roadblocks.
Join our experts for actionable insights to create your digital transformation strategy as you develop best-practices to maximize supplier-driven growth.
In this session
• Your Source-to-Pay “to-do” list. How to get started to transform your processes.
• Making the right supplier collaboration decisions to improve your performance. Learn the essential factors that can make your supplier collaboration strategy successful.
• Leveraging digital strategies and implementing new solutions to start your S2P journey.
• Successful supplier collaboration transformation stories and testimonials.
TRACK A Technology Enablement and Digital Transformation
3:10 pm - 3:30 pm Presentation: The Procurement Team Of The Future: Driving Innovation In A Disruptive Environment Roselle Lagunzad - Director of Procure To Pay, Coinbase
TRACK A Technology Enablement and Digital Transformation
3:30 pm - 3:40 pm Presentation: Materion's Digital Transformation with Fairmarkit Greg Tennyson - SVP of Strategy & Procurement, Fairmarkit Gaston Alvarado - Sourcing Director, Global Professional Services | LATAM Indirect Sourcing, Lincoln ElectricDigital transformation is a key ingredient for innovation in the procurement space.
Join Gaston Alvarado of Materion and Greg Tennyson of Fairmarkit to hear how Materion’s dedication to digital transformation has revolutionized their procurement processes and saved them time, money and resources along the way.
Gaston Alvarado
Sourcing Director, Global Professional Services | LATAM Indirect SourcingLincoln Electric
TRACK B Moving From Tactical To Strategic: Keys For Successful Transition
2:10 pm - 2:50 pm Panel: Achieving Excellence: Reassessing Your Category Plan To Elevate Your Team Beyond Savings Joanna Martinez - Founder/CEO, Supply Chain Advisors LLC German Torres - Global Director of Indirect Categories, TechnipFMC Gregory Antoniono - Principal, Antoniono Consultation Services Angela Zou - Sr. Director, Indirect Procurement, Schneider Electric, Inc.Are you spinning your wheels every year to find more savings but know there’s more that you and your team should be doing? But not sure exactly what or how? Our leading team of experts will help you rise to the occasion and shine the light towards true category management. You’ll be shining a like a star no time! Key takeaways include:
- How to measure your success by contribution vs. savings (even if you’re being evaluated on savings)
- Pushing the envelope – how to truly make a difference when you have a seat at the table in category planning
- Planning for success – targeting initiatives where you can make the most impact
TRACK B Moving From Tactical To Strategic: Keys For Successful Transition
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm Presentation: The Goldilocks Effect: Finding What’s “Just Right” For Procurement in Your Organization Kate Seagriff - Director of Strategic Sourcing, TripActionsImmediate access to inventory was easy in a pre-pandemic world, when warehouses were stocked and the phrase “supply chain crisis” hadn’t even been coined. Fast forward to today and immediacy is now the expectation while ports are backed up for months — a reflection of the biggest challenge procurement teams are currently facing in light of the past two years: figuring out what’s “just right”..
Join this session to unpack three key areas of focus for procurement leaders in a post-pandemic world
· Why you need to implement proactive strategies that optimize now while protecting for the long run, including tiered models and price caps for inflation
· The value of a consolidated supply base stack, providing scalability and a clear view into company spend
· How AI-driven technology enables you to futureproof your business for what’s next
TRACK B Moving From Tactical To Strategic: Keys For Successful Transition
3:10 pm - 3:30 pm Presentation: It Takes One To Know One: Improving Your Executive Presence To Deliver Strategic Results Josh King - Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer, American WaterTRACK B Moving From Tactical To Strategic: Keys For Successful Transition
3:30 pm - 3:40 pm Presentation: This is Us - LinkedIn’s Transformation Story Carrie Adnak - Senior Director, Global Strategic Sourcing, LinkedIn Julie Brignac - Corporate SVP, Client Services & Delivery – Procurement Services, WNS DenaliJoin Carrie Adank and Julie Brignac for a discussion of LinkedIn’s procurement transformation journey, including approach, experiences and the learnings they’ve gleaned along the way.
TRACK C Supplier Relationship Management In A Post-Covid World
2:10 pm - 2:50 pm Panel: Supplier Relationship Management Check Up: How Do You Measure Up? Jeff Devon - Procurement Executive, CASME Limor David-Sternfeld - Vice President, Global Indirect Strategic Sourcing & Purchasing, Western Digital Peter Melanson - Director, Marketing Strategic Sourcing, IntelNearly all procurement organizations have an intent and commitment to do more in the area of supplier relationship management. But executing it successfully can be another story.
Whether it be supplier registration, small business development, supplier diversity, and supplier business reviews, you have to be strategic in your time and resources to be successful in this arena.
You’ll receive takeaways surrounding
- How to prioritize SRM initiatives within your team and organization
- Techniques to elevate your SRM programs
- Ways to measure and communicate success
Limor David-Sternfeld
Vice President, Global Indirect Strategic Sourcing & PurchasingWestern Digital
TRACK C Supplier Relationship Management In A Post-Covid World
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm Presentation: Saving Millions: The Qualtrics Playbook - Procurement's Role Scaling from $1B to $24B David Campbell - CEO and Co-Founder, Tropic Michael Shields - Former Global Head of Procurement, Real Estate and Facilities, Qualtrics
TRACK C Supplier Relationship Management In A Post-Covid World
3:10 pm - 3:30 pm Presentation: Software: The Silent Killer Of Your Company’s Budget: How To Negotiate And Manage Your Software Portfolio Without Getting Taken Advantage Of By Your Suppliers Brad Veech - Sr. Director IT Sourcing, WalmartThe fuse on your software budget is BURNING fast! Software companies have crafted a one-sided business model, and they are the only winners… until now! This interactive session, led by author and 20-year IT Procurement veteran Brad Veech will enable you to
• Level the playing field as you navigate the complexities of one of the most critical contracts in your business
• Provide both a suppliers and buyer’s perspective during the negotiation process
• Give you one-of-a-kind insight on how to negotiate not only new software agreements but also annual renewals
Boardroom: CPO Network (Limited To 30 CPOs & Global Heads Of Indirect With $1B+ In Spend)
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm Session #3 Negotiation Master Class: Negotiating With The C-Suite To Make A Difference Scott Wilkerson - Chief Procurement Officer, University of California HealthListen to a fresh take on how to tackle those big negotiations with your C-Suite leaders on your to-do list.
In this informative workshop, learn to think differently, achieve a better outcome, and walk away with new ideas and approaches to add to your toolkit.
Boardroom: CPO Network (Limited To 30 CPOs & Global Heads Of Indirect With $1B+ In Spend)
2:50 pm - 3:10 pm Session #4 Wiping The Slate Clean: A True Procurement Team of the Future For 2022 Melissa Drew - Associate Partner, IBM
3:40 pm - 4:20 pm
Sweet & Salty Afternoon Break
Craving a sweet & salty snack? Grab some chips & candy in the Solutions Zone as we start to unwind after action-packed days of networking and knowledge.
In the era of digital transformation and increasingly complex world of strategic sourcing, analytics plays an important role in providing insightful recommendations for sourcing professionals to make informed-decision.
By leveraging your analytics capability, procurement organization can achieve more tangible results in scouring events, and beyond to establish a true competitive advantage for your organization.
Join this session to learn
- Analytical deliverables that add value to each step of strategic sourcing process
- Analytical approach on balance of cost, quality, performance, and other qualitative
Michael Shaw
Executive DirectorAmerican Council of Sourcing and Procurement Executives (ACSPE)
Let’s face it, procurement has a reputation of slowing things down in fast-moving, growth-orientated environments. And in some cases that may be well-deserved given procurement’s role in managing third-party risk. But how do you find the right balance?
These seasoned procurement professionals have all made in-roads in fast moving organizations and will share their tips, tricks and techniques they use to ‘course-correct’ in high growth environments
White glove service is a phrase that conjures images of grandeur, like a 5 star hotel or a Rolls Royce.
While that may seem a bit extreme, it’s critical that, as procurement professionals, we provide our suppliers with the ability to execute their best work and deliver their promised value.
This panel of procurement ‘concierges’ will give you some tangible ways you can:
• Streamline supplier onboarding
• Address conflicts between suppliers and stakeholders
• Ensure your suppliers are providing you with their best talent
For the next hour and change, one of the Grand Sheraton’s sommeliers will present a selection of some of his favorite wines. This is your opportunity to chat with your fellow CPOs on top of mind issues and current events; because we know that your business is never static.
5:30 pm - 5:45 pm
EPIC Awards
it’s time once again to recognize & honor exceptional achievements in corporate procurement! There are many award programs out there, but none that focus on the drastic transformations achieved by you and your peers within indirect procurement organizations and that is why the EPIC Awards were created!
5:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Sunset Soiree Reception hosted by Icertis
Eat, Drink, and Enjoy a taste of Arizona while soaking in the desert views during the Sunset Soiree Reception hosted by Icertis! Join us to celebrate a successful day 2, sip on a Prickly Pear Margarita, & experience tasty hors d’oeuvres!