Lexington, KY – The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is excited to announce the results of the 2026 Emerging Leader and Rising Star Awards, which were presented at the 2026 NASPO Annual Conference Awards Dinner in Phoenix, AZ, on September 30, 2026.

The Emerging Leader Award celebrates leaders with 2–5 years of management 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 Emerging Leader finalists were:

• Lisa Trombi, Procurement Specialist 5, Alaska. Lisa’s leadership shows up in how she approaches people and challenges. She stays calm under pressure, focuses on solutions, and brings together the right people to get work done. She invests in developing her team and other procurement staff. Whether she’s creating job aids, walking someone through a complex requirement, or sharing lessons learned from past projects, she ensures people feel supported and more confident in their work.
• Leneka Williams, Contract Management Supervisor, Florida. Leneka’s leadership is defined by a strong combination of strategic vision, innovation, and a genuine commitment to people. She challenges inefficiencies, identifies opportunities for improvement, and consistently works to create more effective and sustainable processes. At the same time, she invests in her team by developing their skills, building their confidence, and fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability. Leneka is said to lead with integrity, purpose, and a clear commitment to excellence, shaping the direction of procurement in Florida and contributing to the broader national conversation.

The Rising Star Award honors individuals with 1–5 years of experience in public procurement who embody the qualities of a future leader and champion the profession, but are not currently in leadership or management positions.

This year’s Rising Star finalists were:

• Alannah Doak, Category Management Specialist, Michigan. Alannah regularly steps into informal leadership roles, guiding teams with clarity and confidence even without a supervisory title. She is innovative, ethical, results-driven, and a natural leader, shaping the future of state procurement in Michigan
• Theresa Fraijo, Strategic Sourcing Specialist, Colorado. Theresa consistently demonstrates leadership, innovation, professionalism, and integrity. Whether managing a contract portfolio or helping set the strategic direction of a statewide cooperative contract program, Theresa’s contributions extend well beyond her individual responsibilities and leave a lasting impression on her customers and the statewide public procurement community.

After committee review, the winners are:

• Emerging Leader: Leneka Williams, Contract Management Supervisor, Florida
• Rising Star: Theresa Fraijo, Strategic Sourcing Specialist, Colorado.

To learn more about these awards, please visit the Awards tab on the NASPO website.

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
Director of Creative Accounts, NASPO
[email protected]