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Position Running For: President-Elect
One-year term
The President-Elect develops the next fiscal year’s activities, presents a proposed calendar to the Executive Board before August 1 and to members at the annual business meeting, and advances to President after serving the term.

Biography

I am honored to submit my self-nomination for the position of President-Elect of the Maryland Public Purchasing Association (MPPA). Having served as your Vice President over the past year-helping implement key organizational improvements for our members-I am eager to continue driving MPPA's mission of advancing professionalism, ethics, and education in public procurement.

As Director of Procurement and Materials Management for Howard County Public Schools, I lead a dedicated team managing contracts across a $1 billion budget. My focus has been on modernizing procurement systems, aligning policy with national best practices, and cultivating a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture grounded in compliance and transparency. Under my leadership, our department earned the National Procurement Institute's Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award for four consecutive years (2023-2026)-a distinction held by only a select group of school districts nationwide.

My commitment to our profession extends active service at the national level through NIGP. I currently serve on both the NIGP Member Council and Scholarship Committee, and I was appointed to the NPI AEP Evaluation Team (2025-2028). These roles, alongside my passion for mentoring emerging talent, keep me deeply connected to standard-setting initiatives, professional development, and educational advocacy across our field.

Thank you for your consideration and for the opportunity to continue serving the MPPA community.

Position Running For: President-Elect
One-year term
The President-Elect develops the next fiscal year’s activities, presents a proposed calendar to the Executive Board before August 1 and to members at the annual business meeting, and advances to President after serving the term.


Biography

Hey there #MPPA, I’m Sydnee Distance, and I’m running for MPPA President-Elect with fresh ideas, a commitment to service, and a record of putting my creativity to work for our association.

As an elected MPPA Director and Website and Communications Chair, I manage our website and help shape how we communicate with members and represent our chapter. My contributions include updated graphics and communications, support for the new member welcome packet and sponsorship packet, creation and growth of our LinkedIn page, and support for MPPA’s Procurement Across Maryland series. I enjoy taking ideas and turning them into something members can see, use, and participate in. These efforts reflect the energy and hands-on commitment I would bring to the role.

When I was first introduced to MPPA, I found a close-knit family. People showed up for one another, wanted to help, and were eager to offer support. That connection made being involved meaningful—and fun. I want to bring that liveliness back and help more members experience the sense of belonging that first drew me to MPPA.

Professionally, I serve as Director of Procurement at the Community College of Baltimore County, where I lead initiatives in governance, policy development, workforce development, and operational improvement. I bring more than a decade of experience across private industry, state government, and regional public transportation.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Acquisition and Contract Management and am pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership. My credentials include NIGP-CPP, CPPB, and CCMA. I am also an NIGP National Instructor, a member of the NIGP Talent Council, and a certified John Maxwell Speaker, Trainer, and Coach. Through teaching, speaking, writing, and mentorship, I work to support professional growth and introduce others to procurement—including through my children’s book, The Distance League Needs a Plane!

My contributions have earned national recognition through the 2026 NIGP National Young Professional of the Year award, the 2026 NCMA Advancing Professionals Award, and selection for NIGP’s 2026 Next Gen list. Within MPPA, I am honored to have received the 2025 Harry H. Bain Distinguished Service Award and the 2025 President’s Award.

I have more innovative ideas to bring to the table, and I want to help our members bring theirs forward, too. I want people to know how to get involved, feel that their contributions matter, and look forward to participating. Making that happen takes consistent effort, collaboration, and follow-through.

Showing up matters to me. I’m ready to keep doing the work, build on what we’ve started, and help make MPPA’s next chapter one we are excited to create together. I would be honored to earn your vote for President-Elect. MPPA?  MPPA! Procurement with Integrity.  It’s our time to shine!

Position Running For: Vice President
Unopposed | One-year term
The Vice President carries out duties assigned by the President and acts as President during the President’s absence. The Vice President also assumes the President’s duties if that office becomes vacant.

Biography

Janile Amecia Scott, CPPB, brings more than 15 years of public procurement experience. She entered the profession through work in a Minority Business Enterprise department, reviewing scopes of work, recommending subcontracting goals, and supporting contract compliance. Mentorship from a procurement officer helped her develop a foundation in solicitation, evaluation, contract award, and the principles of fairness and accountability in public service.

An MPPA member since 2012, Janile became Social Committee Chair in 2016, coordinating community volunteer opportunities and networking activities that strengthened member connections. She received the Harry H. Bain Distinguished Service Award in 2017, served as MPPA Vice President in 2021, and currently serves as a Director.

Janile values procurement’s role in responsible stewardship of public resources. She enjoys solving problems, working with stakeholders and suppliers, and balancing compliance with practical solutions. Her commitment to MPPA centers on professional development, member engagement, and supporting the next generation of procurement professionals.

Position Running For: Secretary
Unopposed | One-year term
The Secretary records the proceedings of Executive Board and regular membership meetings, sends dues and meeting notices, and performs other duties assigned by the President or Executive Board.

Biography

Gabriella Rene is a procurement and operations professional with Anne Arundel County Government, where she plays a key role supporting the countywide transition to Harbor, an Oracle Cloud ERP platform. In her role as Management Aide, she facilitates core procure-to-pay lifecycle operations, supplier onboarding, system testing, and high-volume data governance. Her expertise spans cross-departmental financial coordination, backend data validation, and hands-on system support to ensure compliant, efficient public purchasing operations.

Gabriella is currently pursuing a Master of Science and Graduate Certificate in Acquisitions and Contract Management at the University of Maryland Global Campus. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & History with a minor in Legal Studies from Albright College.

Position Running For: Treasurer
Unopposed | One-year term
The Treasurer accounts for association funds, maintains receipts and disbursement records, reports at meetings, collects membership dues, and prepares the annual budget for Executive Board approval.

Biography

Tony Reed is Director of Operations and Strategic Planning for the City of Baltimore Department of Finance, Bureau of Procurement, and the 2026 National NIGP Procurement Manager of the Year. He oversees supplier management, surplus property, the print shop, and the corporate credit card program, with a focus on accountability, public stewardship, and employee development.

Since 2024, Tony has instructed five NIGP-CPP study groups, mentoring more than 200 professionals. His guidance within the Bureau has helped 11 employees earn NIGP-CPP, CPPB, or CPPO credentials. Tony developed the City’s first formal Procurement Card User Manual, established a three-tier approval process, and strengthened monitoring and compliance practices. These improvements contributed to an approximately 24 percent reduction in maverick and unauthorized transactions. He also introduced annual cardholder training and the City’s first Agency Fiscal Officer training program.

As MPPA President in 2025, Tony welcomed nearly 100 new members, established the MPPA President’s Award, and organized a free professional development event attended by more than 100 procurement professionals. He also shares his expertise through national NIGP Forum presentations.

Position Running For: Board of Directors
Unopposed | Three-year term
Directors serve as voting members at large on the Executive Board. Together with the officers, they help manage the association’s affairs and finances and make decisions in MPPA’s best interests.

Biography

Known to many MPPA members as Brandi Naugle, Brandi Kentner married in December 2024. Brandi began her career with Washington County’s Office of Procurement in August 2003 and has steadily advanced to her current role as Director. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fiscal responsibility, operational efficiency, and delivering exceptional service—contributions that have been instrumental to the County’s success.

A proud Washington County native, Brandi earned an Associate of Business Administration from Hagerstown Community College (HCC) in 2020, where she now serves on the Board of Directors for the HCC Alumni Association. She continued her academic journey at the University of Maryland Global Campus, completing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2023. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her leadership in county government and her ability to oversee diverse business functions.

Brandi’s procurement experience spans both the public and private sectors, beginning with her early career as a Purchasing Agent for a Washington County manufacturer. She holds multiple professional credentials—including Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB), Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO), and NIGP Certified Procurement Professional (NIGP-CPP)—reflecting her dedication to excellence in the procurement field.

Since 2003, Brandi has been an active member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) and the Maryland Public Purchasing Association (MPPA). Her leadership roles include serving as MPPA President in 2020 and 2021, during which the chapter earned its first Platinum Chapter Performance Standard Seal both years. She previously served as Vice President (2018–2019), Immediate Past President (2022), completed two terms on the Board of Directors, and chaired the Information and Technology Committee—overseeing the newsletter and website—from 2011 to 2023. She is currently a member of the MPPA Advisory Committee. Her professional contributions have been recognized with the 2011 MPPA Distinguished Service Award and the 2019 NIGP You Rock Award.
Deeply committed to her community, Brandi remains actively involved with the Hagerstown Women’s Club and continues to support HCC through ongoing alumni engagement.

Position Running For: Board of Directors
Unopposed | Three-year term
Directors serve as voting members at large on the Executive Board. Together with the officers, they help manage the association’s affairs and finances and make decisions in MPPA’s best interests.

Biography

Ruthena Milbourne, MS, CPPB, is a Procurement Specialist II with the City of Baltimore, Department of Finance, Bureau of Procurement, where she specializes in reviewing, analyzing, and developing complex procurement contracts for specialized services and technology supporting City agencies.

Ruthena has more than eight years of experience in public procurement. She began her procurement career with the State of Delaware’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) as a Management Analyst III, where she managed and processed contracts and Requests for Proposals (RFPs). She played an integral role in implementing an eProcurement platform designed to process and track contracts from cradle to grave. In 2023, she was selected to participate in and successfully graduated from the DHSS Leadership Academy.

Ruthena holds a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus. In 2026, she earned a certificate from the PPA High-Performance Leadership Academy and received the NIGP 2026 Forum Project Management Path badge.

An active member of the Maryland Public Purchasing Association (MPPA) since 2024, Ruthena currently serves as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee. In 2025, she helped register and welcome nearly 100 new members to MPPA and was honored with the MPPA President’s Award for her service and contributions to the association.

Ruthena also brings prior professional association leadership experience. In 2023, she served as Second Vice President of the Delaware Public Purchasing Association (DPPA), where she was responsible for managing the NIGP Chapter Dashboard, maintaining document control, and supporting a variety of educational and member-engagement activities.

As Co-Chair of the Membership Committee, Ruthena has seen firsthand the value of welcoming new members and creating opportunities for them to become engaged in our association. She wants to build upon that experience by encouraging greater member participation, supporting professional development, and helping ensure that every member feels that MPPA is a place where their voice matters.

Photo to be provided 

Position Running For: Board of Directors
Unopposed | Two-year term
Directors serve as voting members at large on the Executive Board. Together with the officers, they help manage the association’s affairs and finances and make decisions in MPPA’s best interests.

Biography