Kristal Burgess Honored as Procurement Specialist of the Year
Kristal Burgess, Procurement Specialist for Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS), has been recognized as a 2025 Procurement Specialist of the Year Award nominee for her outstanding performance, professionalism, and contributions to public procurement.
Ms. Burgess works in a fast-paced, understaffed procurement office and is widely respected for maintaining a highly organized and professional work ethic while supporting multiple departments across the school system.
As one of the largest school systems in the State of Maryland, she manages a significant portfolio of on-call contracts used to support both HCPSS operations and broader procurement needs across the state. Her work spans critical building services commodities including renovation projects, HVAC system repairs and replacements, general contractor services, energy management and temperature controls, mechanical insulation, plumbing, and fire alarm services. In addition, she is responsible for managing utility services for the entire school system and oversees the full solicitation, award, and contracting process from start to finish.
Beyond day-to-day procurement execution, Ms. Burgess actively seeks opportunities to improve processes and service delivery. She has developed procedures and reference tools to streamline operations and strengthen customer understanding of procurement requirements—such as creating a piggybacking Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to help educate and support end users. She also played a key role in the selection of a new procurement solicitation system, helping the department implement improvements that increased operational efficiency.
Ms. Burgess is recognized not only for her technical excellence, but also for her positive impact on team culture and collaboration across the organization. Even with demanding responsibilities, she consistently contributes to a strong working environment and is highly regarded by staff at all levels within the school system.
The Procurement Specialist of the Year Award recognizes professionals who demonstrate excellence in procurement planning, solicitation development, contract award, and ongoing support to their agency. Ms. Burgess’ achievements reflect her commitment to high-quality public service and her lasting impact on procurement operations at Howard County Public Schools.