Chester County has a new key player in its government's procurement game with the appointment of Kelly Laubach as Director of Procurement and General Services. Laubach, a seasoned veteran in the procurement sector, comes to Chester County after over two decades at Berks County, including 15 years leading its purchasing department, according to a recent announcement. She also has extensive experience on the board of the Pennsylvania Public Purchasing Association, where she has served for 14 years and was President for two terms.
Chester County's CEO, David Byerman, lauded Laubach's qualifications, stating, "Kelly distinguished herself in a highly competitive interview process, clearly exhibiting the qualities we seek in all Chester County leaders: insight to complex processes, conscientiousness, and a strong commitment to delivering exceptional value for our constituents." Laubach's role is set primarily to, essentially, ensure the government's buying practices stay clean, competitive, and punctual.
The position is crucial for maintaining ethical and sustainable procurement practices, which carry an added weight of responsibility in the governmental sphere. Fiscal accountability paired with a commitment to competitive bidding and vendor negotiation are staples of an effective procurement strategy, and this is what Laubach will bring based on her track record. Julie Bookheimer, Chester County's Chief Financial Officer, emphasized the importance of the procurement sector in government. She said, "In any organization, the work of those who focus on procurement is crucial, and especially so in a government setting where compliance, sustainability, and ethical factors are as important as cost reduction and sourcing."
Laubach's responsibilities will include collaborating to closely monitor contracts, ensuring the County gets what it is paying for, and leading the charge to conduct spending analysis. She will also work to develop strategies to consolidate county purchases and foster cooperation with other purchasing agencies, as indicated in a Chester County press release. Beyond simply negotiating with vendors, Laubach will have to regularly work to maximize the County's buying power through short-and long-term strategic planning.
