Tampa City Council honors purchasing staff during Procurement Month

Council members set aside the workshop’s agenda briefly to recognize March as Procurement Month and to introduce staff from the city’s purchasing department.

Deanna Faggart, identified in the meeting as director of purchasing, said the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing recognizes March to “bring light to what we do every day as professionals,” and thanked council for the recognition. “The intention is just to bring light to what our role is in … making sure that the process is followed, the ordinances are followed, the rules are followed,” Faggart said.

Several purchasing staff spoke to the council and gave their titles and years of service: Cheryl Aldridge, purchasing systems manager; Celeste Gibbons Peoples, certified senior procurement analyst; Michelle Estevez, senior procurement analyst; Jill Elder, purchasing technician; Chelsea (procurement analyst); and Anthony McGee, who oversees city warehouses. Council members thanked the team for long service and for managing the city’s complex purchasing needs.

The recognition took place at the start of a special-call workshop on FY27 priorities. Council returned to the scheduled budget discussions after the department introductions.