Gaston Alvarado is a Fractional Procurement Executive with over two decades of experience in indirect procurement and founder of G&S Business Solutions, a Boutique Firm that partners with mid-market companies to build and optimize procurement functions without the overhead of full-time hires. Gaston's career began in the supply chain, where he gained unparalleled experience in the operational side of the business. He then transitioned to indirect procurement, where he honed his skills in strategic management and tackled the challenges of the MRO, IT, Professional Services, and Facilities Services categories in multiple global organizations like Lincoln Electric, Materion Corporation, and Eaton Corporation. As a member of several procurement organizations, Gaston is a sought-after speaker at procurement, automation, and digital transformation events. He is also a regular contributor to CPONET magazine in Spain, where he shares his expertise on procurement negotiation strategies for AI&ML and software solutions. In addition to his professional pursuits, Gaston is also a talented fiction writer, with his first novel published in July 2024, and two more coming soon. Gaston holds a master's degree in business administration, a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, and post-graduate diplomas in data analytics and Artificial Intelligence. He enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and engaging in church-related community service activities. When he's not immersed in the procurement world, Gaston can be found reading, watching movies, training CrossFit, or playing soccer.