Daniel Mays Honored with the Stanley D. Zemansky Award
Daniel Mays, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP, CPSM, Assistant State Court Administrator of Operations and Chief Procurement Officer for the Maryland Judiciary, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Stanley D. Zemansky Award, MPPA’s highest honor recognizing a procurement professional respected for outstanding deeds, leadership, and lifelong dedication to the public procurement profession.
With more than 18 years of public procurement experience spanning a wide range of commodities and services, Mr. Mays has built an exceptional reputation across Maryland and nationally as a trusted leader, mentor, educator, and advocate for advancing the procurement profession.
In his current role with the Maryland Judiciary, Mr. Mays provides executive-level oversight of major operational functions, including procurement, contract and grant administration, facilities administration, security administration, and an annual $760 million operating budget. As the Judiciary’s Chief Procurement Officer, he provides strategic leadership over procurement policy, contract approvals, and operational improvements that strengthen compliance, efficiency, and service delivery across the organization.
Mr. Mays’ professional influence extends well beyond his agency. He is a Past President of the Maryland Public Purchasing Association (MPPA), serves on NIGP’s Leadership Development Council, and regularly develops and teaches procurement training courses focused on sourcing, contracting, negotiation, leadership, and resilience.
Those who have worked alongside him describe Mr. Mays as the true embodiment of servant leadership—a leader who consistently invests in others, supports colleagues without hesitation, and strengthens the profession by building up the next generation of procurement professionals.
His impact is felt not only through policy and program leadership, but through the people he has influenced, mentored, and inspired across the procurement community.
The Stanley D. Zemansky Award honors individuals whose dedication and contributions leave a lasting mark on public procurement. Daniel Mays’ leadership, integrity, commitment to education, and unwavering service to others reflect the very highest standards of the procurement profession and make him a deserving recipient of MPPA’s most prestigious award.