SARASOTA COUNTY – Sarasota County has hired Melissa Wendel as its new procurement official.Wendel has more than 20 years of experience in procurement, including the past eight years with Manatee County Government, where she has served as purchasing official since 2011. She helped lead Manatee County to its first national recognition of excellence in public procurement, earning the National Procurement Institute’s (NPI) Achievement of Excellence award four times in a row. Manatee also earned the Florida Association of Public Procurement Officials’ excellence award for the first time in its history under Wendel’s leadership.
At Sarasota County, Wendel will lead a division that has also been recognized with the NPI’s excellence award for the past three years. The accreditation reflects sweeping changes and improvements not only to procurement and the way the county conducts its business, but also to the key areas of contracting, transparency and ethics.
“We’re very proud of the strides Sarasota County has made in recent years in the area of procurement, and we are continually seeking to improve,” said Sarasota County Administrator Tom Harmer. “Melissa’s extensive background in government purchasing in the state of Florida, her understanding of the industry and her commitment to excellent customer service will allow us to continue to evolve as an innovative organization.”
Wendel’s first day with the county will be Aug. 7.
Wendel is a certified public procurement officer and a graduate of the University of South Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She has held previous positions in procurement with Charlotte County, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services in Clearwater.
She replaces Ted Coyman, who left Sarasota County last year to take a position as director of procurement services with Collier County.
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to join the team at Sarasota County and to continue to serve the local community,” Wendel said. “I can’t wait to get to work and help further the procurement team’s mission of transparency, fiscal responsibility and providing excellent service.”
Wendel resides in Lakewood Ranch with her husband, Robert, and their two daughters, Alex, 16, and Maddie, 9.
For more information, call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net.
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