Lexington, KY – The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is excited to announce the 2025 finalists for the Emerging Leader and Rising Star Awards, which were presented at the 2025 NASPO Annual Conference Awards Dinner in Chicago, IL, on October 1, 2025.

The Emerging Leader Award celebrates leaders with 2–5 years of experience in public procurement who demonstrate effective leadership, enabling their team to thrive while achieving goals and objectives and improving efficiency and processes within the state office. This year’s finalists were:

• Melinda Tomlinson, State Procurement Manager, North Carolina. She has significantly impacted public procurement in North Carolina through her ability to lead with poise, integrity, and an ethical eye for all parties involved. When faced with the challenge of complex service Statewide Term Contracts, Melinda advocates for suppliers, customers, and stakeholders such as our taxpayers. She leads Statewide Term Contract procurement projects to ensure the most optimal and effective contract is in place.
• Kylie Carter, Procurement Training Manager, Illinois. Kylie oversees the development and operation of the Illinois Procurement Training Academy. When she was first appointed, Illinois only had one course that provided two hours of UPPCC credit. After two years, there are two virtual courses at two hours of credit each, three in-person courses worth another thirteen hours, and a library of instructional videos aimed at state procurement professionals, evaluators, and vendors. She did all this with just one trainer and no Learning Management System.

The Rising Star Award honors individuals with 1–5 years of experience in public procurement who embody the qualities of a future leader and act as champions of the profession but are not currently in leadership or management positions. This year’s finalists were:

• Anne Gerke, Senior Procurement Training Specialist, Wisconsin. Anne joined the Wisconsin State Bureau of Procurement in 2021 and immediately rose to fame within the Wisconsin procurement community for creating well-designed, informative, and user-friendly eLearnings. Under her tireless coordination, Anne has worked with subject matter experts to update Wisconsin’s procurement training from in-person instructor-led classes to a huge library of eLearnings and reimagined instructor-led classes that offer the flexibility for learners to attend virtually or in-person.
• Thomas Wilson, Instructional Designer, Colorado. Thomas embodies the Rising Star Award’s values through his exceptional work as an instructional designer. Colleagues have observed his intelligence and initiative as he tackles complex challenges with analytical rigor and creative problem-solving. Whether designing training programs, developing policy frameworks, or representing Colorado nationally, he consistently exceeds expectations. His ability to quickly grasp concepts and translate them into practical solutions, combined with his unwavering dedication to public service, positions him as a future leader in the procurement profession.

The winners of each award were chosen based on a committee vote. Kylie Carter and Thomas Wilson were the two selected winners. NASPO congratulates these outstanding finalists and all professionals nominated for their exceptional contributions to public procurement.

About NASPO: NASPO is a non–profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members achieve success as public procurement leaders through the promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. www.naspo.org

Media Contact:
Kate Davila, Creative Accounts Director
National Association of State Procurement Officials
kdavila@naspo.org