Danny Mays on Servant Leadership, Lessons to Learn, and the Human Factor s12 e4

Bill Culhane sits down with Danny Mays, Chief Procurement Officer for the Maryland Judiciary, overseeing a $760 million operating budget for a statewide court system. Danny holds five procurement certifications (CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, CPSM, CPSD) and has invested creativity, passion and years sharing what he knows with the profession.In this episode, Danny discusses technology procurement failure patterns, the gap between vendor demos and actual delivery, what it means for the future of procurement to be empowered rather than diminished. Danny and Bill share why NIGP Forum in Columbus this August is worth attending. Straightforward, experienced, and worth a listen.Rick Jennings closes down the episode with a Crazy Bids that really rocks!... and waters.Danny Mays on LinkedInMore on Danny Mays: Danny Mays is the Assistant State Court Administrator of Operations for the Maryland Judiciary, where he leads Procurement, Budget and Finance, Facilities, and Security Administration. He also serves as the Judiciary’s Chief Procurement Officer, overseeing procurement strategy, contracts, grants, process improvement, and cross-functional operations for a statewide court system with a $760 million annual operating budget.A longtime public procurement practitioner, instructor, and advocate, Danny has built much of his career around helping procurement move beyond compliance and into leadership. He has served as President of the Maryland Public Purchasing Association, teaches for NIGP, serves as a consultant for public procurement agencies, and holds multiple procurement and supply management certifications, including CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, CPSM, and CPSD.Danny’s work focuses on making procurement more practical, strategic, and people-centered, whether that means improving solicitation quality, navigating technology and AI-related risks, strengthening supplier relationships, or helping teams understand their value within the organization. Outside of procurement, he is a musician, public speaker, and professional wrestling ring announcer, which probably explains why he believes even the most technical public procurement conversation can use a little more energy.Nominations for the 3rd David and Beverly Nash Leadership Award are open. Go here or email [email protected] by BidPrime and Beacon Bid.Watch on YouTube