Helping IT Sourcing
Pros Do Better Deals

29th Annual
IT Procurement Summit

Virtual Show 2026

October 14–15

Join us this autumn in Atlanta for the 29th Annual IT Procurement Summit—the Extraordinary Event of the Year for IT Procurement Professionals. Discover practical strategies for navigating AI, managing risk, optimizing vendor relationships, and building the leverage needed to achieve better business outcomes.

ITPS Agenda 2026

Speakers

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Stephanie Akerley

Stephanie Akerley

Columbia Association

Director of Purchasing

Yolanda Williams

Amy Clark

SC Johnson

IT Procurement Manager

Brian Walsh

Judicial Council of California

IT Adm Manager

Seminar Calendar

Events

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2026 ITPS Session Descriptions

AI adoption is accelerating faster than most governance programs can keep pace. This session explores the critical role IT Procurement plays in establishing accountability, managing risk, and ensuring AI investments align with organizational objectives.

  • Establish governance frameworks for AI acquisitions
  • Evaluate vendor transparency, accountability, and risk
  • Address ethical, regulatory, and compliance concerns
  • Create procurement controls that support innovation without sacrificing oversight

AI is becoming a powerful tool for research, analysis, and negotiation preparation—but human judgment remains essential. Learn how to combine procurement expertise with AI capabilities to achieve stronger negotiation outcomes.

  • Use AI to accelerate negotiation preparation
  • Improve leverage through better data and analysis
  • Avoid common AI-driven negotiation mistakes
  • Create a practical framework for human-AI collaboration

Managing thousands of sourcing events across a global enterprise requires more than process—it requires intelligence, automation, and discipline. Hear how Ford is leveraging AI and automation to streamline sourcing activities, improve decision-making, and scale procurement operations.

  • Learn how AI is being applied in enterprise sourcing
  • Improve efficiency without sacrificing governance
  • Identify automation opportunities within your organization
  • Gain practical insights from a global procurement leader

Today’s technology vendors are armed with sophisticated sales strategies, pricing models, and negotiation tactics designed to maximize revenue. Learn how to recognize these ploys and respond with confidence and leverage.

  • Identify common vendor negotiation tactics
  • Strengthen your negotiating position
  • Avoid costly concessions and hidden traps
  • Improve commercial and contractual outcomes

The future belongs to procurement professionals who can translate data into business value and confidently navigate emerging technologies. Learn how to evolve from tactical execution to strategic influence.

  • Strengthen executive communication skills
  • Use data and analytics to influence decisions
  • Build AI fluency and business credibility
  • Position procurement as a strategic business partner

Procurement teams are under increasing pressure to do more with less. Discover how leading organizations are using AI, automation, and analytics to improve visibility, accelerate decision-making, and deliver greater business value.

  • Identify high-impact AI use cases for procurement
  • Improve spend visibility and decision support
  • Automate repetitive procurement activities
  • Transform procurement data into actionable insights 

Many project failures can be traced back to vague requirements, unclear responsibilities, and poorly written Statements of Work. Learn how to create SOWs that align expectations, reduce disputes, and improve project outcomes.

  • Define deliverables with greater clarity
  • Reduce scope creep and project ambiguity
  • Establish measurable acceptance criteria
  • Improve vendor accountability and project success

Agentic AI is rapidly moving beyond simple chat interfaces and into autonomous decision-making, workflow execution, and business operations. Explore real-world examples of how organizations are deploying AI agents and what procurement professionals need to know before acquiring them.

  • Understand the capabilities of Agentic AI
  • Evaluate risks, governance, and accountability concerns
  • Assess contracting implications for autonomous systems

Prepare for the next evolution of AI-enabled business

The best procurement outcomes occur when stakeholders are aligned early and often. Learn how procurement can create stronger partnerships with Legal, Finance, IT, and business leaders to accelerate decisions and improve results.

  • Break down organizational silos
  • Improve stakeholder engagement and alignment
  • Accelerate sourcing and contracting activities
  • Build stronger support for procurement initiatives

Sponsors

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Stephanie Akerley

Director of Purchasing
Columbia Association

Stephanie has built her career around solving problems, driving results, and keeping complex initiatives moving forward. She specializes in strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, and public sector procurement, with experience leading national cooperative solicitations and IT and cybersecurity-focused contracts. Known for balancing compliance with innovation, Stephanie helps organizations negotiate stronger agreements, improve procurement processes, expand supplier diversity, and build effective supplier relationships — all with sharp attention to detail and a practical, solutions-oriented approach.

Amy Clark

Amy Clark

IT Procurement Manager
SC Johnson

Amy Clark is an IT procurement leader specializing in strategic sourcing, commercial negotiations, supplier governance, and digital transformation. She has led procurement strategies for complex IT and enterprise modernization initiatives, including ERP and broader digital transformation programs, and is known for bringing a practical, business-focused approach to risk, value creation, and supplier strategy. Amy also serves as an AI SME within procurement, helping teams apply emerging technologies in ways that improve efficiency, consistency, and decision-making.

Brian Walsh

IT Adm Manager
Judicial Council of California

Brian has been in procurement for over twenty years in both the private and public sectors. He is currently the manager of IT Administration at the Judicial Council of California (JCC), overseeing IT Budgets, Contracts, Administrative Support and Human Resources. Prior to his current role, Brian oversaw the JCC Non-Facilities Contracts unit. In addition to his years of IT procurement, Brian has sourced materials for hundreds of retail store construction projects; developed and implemented procurement plans for startups; and negotiated a multi-million-dollar invoice and claim management system agreement for the one of the largest workers compensation carriers in the U.S.