ConnexFM2025 Session: The Ins and Outs of Working with Procurement - Balancing Competing Priorities
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- Facility Manager - Free!
- Individual Facility Manager - Free!
- Trial Member - Free!
- Educator Member - Free!
- Supplier Member - Free!
- Pro Services Member - Free!
- Staff Member - Free!
- Friend of Connex Member - Free!
In the complex world of facility management, the relationship between Facility Managers, Procurement, and Suppliers often resembles a delicate dance, marked by competing priorities and challenges. This session will explore the critical dynamics of this interaction, focusing on the roles and perspectives of each party. We will discuss common conflicts, such as the balance between speed and due diligence, and cost versus quality, while emphasizing the importance of effective communication and negotiation tactics to achieve win-win outcomes. Through real-world case studies, we will highlight successful collaborations that transformed potential conflicts into opportunities for innovation. Join us for an engaging discussion that will equip you with strategies to navigate the procurement landscape effectively and address specific challenges faced by attendees in facility management.

Todd Brinegar
Senior Vice President of Sales
BrainBox AI
Todd is a global sales and marketing leader - EBITDA Growth and Market Development Across Diverse Technology Sectors. He is an innovative business performance strategist and tactician with more than 20 years of sales, marketing, and market repositioning experience, with a strong record of revenue growth in software, hardware, services and human capital management solutions acquisition.

Joseph Molesky
Sr. Vice President
Sodexo
Joe Molesky is a visionary leader with a distinguished career transforming the service industry. Currently serving as Senior Vice President at Sodexo, he leverages deep expertise in all aspects of field service to drive rapid growth, employee experience, customer experience, and enterprise value. Joe’s innovative, data-driven approach and commitment to integrating cutting-edge practices have positioned him as a trusted authority in the service industry. His leadership continues to set new benchmarks for excellence, fostering sustainable growth and cross-functional collaboration across the organization.

Allison Gonzalez
Sr. Manager, Procurement
KinderCare
With over 20 years of extensive experience in strategic sourcing and category management, Allison has built a strong track record in optimizing procurement processes and driving cost efficiencies across multiple industries. Specializing in indirect services, she has worked with leading brands in the quick-service and fine dining restaurant sectors, as well as the theme park and early childhood education industries.
Allison leverages a deep understanding of supply chain management, vendor relationships, and market trends to deliver value-driven sourcing strategies tailored to each industry. Adept at negotiating high-value contracts and managing complex vendor portfolios, she consistently looking to improve bottom-line performance while maintaining operational excellence.

MIchelle Plasz
Sr. Manager, Global Category Management
Grainger
Michelle Plasz is a Senior Manager of Indirect Procurement at Grainger with twenty years of procurement experience across hospitality, manufacturing, distribution, and technology industries. She has expertise in negotiating contracts, driving supply chain efficiencies, assessing and mitigating supply chain risk, and leading cross-functional project teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Michelle brings a partnership focus to her work, balancing the need to move quickly with the need to get it right, with clear communication and project plans, and using the right metrics to ensure success. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two teenaged sons, and one rescue dog who resists her attempts at coaching for performance improvement.