Charity Hooper is a Senior Director, Analyst in Gartner's Procurement, Asset and Vendor Management team. Charity has a long history in IT sourcing, procurement and vendor management in public (state and local), higher education, and private enterprise.
She has extensive experience in, and leads clients in:
• SPVM Maturity roadmaps and modernization
• SPVM governance, organization and operating models
• IT SPVM talent development & up-skilling
• IT subcategory management
• Generalized IT strategic sourcing and contract negotiation strategies
• stakeholder relationship management
• IT Vendor/supplier performance & relationship management
Charity led enterprise-wide IT procurement for a large agricultural manufacturer, a state-owned retail chain (370+ locations), and a three-campus public state university. She was the head of central procurement (Director/CPO) for a local government jurisdiction—covering all spend categories including IT—while establishing a centralized, mature procurement organization. Accountable for end-to-end sourcing and procurement lifecycle: from budget request/requisition through invoice reconciliation and project-to-contract closeout.
Key achievements and capabilities:
• Sourced and implemented a standardized procure-to-pay and ticketing-based requisition workflow, reducing cycle time by 30% and delivering real-time spend visibility.
• Managed formal and informal competitive bids, as well as single-source procurements across software/SaaS, OEM hardware, reseller agreements, and professional services.
• Negotiated initial and renewal contracts—achieving significant cost savings on software and hardware renewals—and led SOW standard developments, contract administration, software license reconciliation, and technology decommissioning.
• Defined, tracked, and reported on procurement KPIs (e.g., cost savings/avoidance, cycle times, spend, risk), driving continuous process improvements and enhanced stakeholder transparency.
In non-IT categories, oversaw end-to-end procurement for:
• Architectural & engineering (A&E) services and New build/retrofit construction projects (including highways, public safety facilities, & social services venues).
• Emergency services—Police, Fire, Sheriff, Emergency Communications (911) and court technologies ensuring compliance with regulatory and public-sector procurement mandates.
This blend of strategic leadership, standardized processes & data-driven performance management has consistently delivered cost efficiencies, risk mitigation, and enhanced service delivery for complex, multi-stakeholder public and private sector environments.
Local/State Government Virginia, CPO-Director of Procurement/IT Procurement Sourcing & Contracts Mgmt, 7 years
Smithfield Foods, Inc, Senior Director, IT Sourcing, Contracts and Vendor Management, 3 years
University of Mary Washington, IT Business & Contracts Manager and Agency IT Resource (AITR), 8 years
IT Contracts Negotiations
IT Vendor Portfolio Management
IT Sourcing, Procurement and Vendor Management Operating Model
IT Sourcing Strategy Development and Execution
Master Graduate Certificate - Executive Negotiations, University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Master Graduate Certificate - Contract Management, Villanova University, Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Liberal Studies - Psychology, University of Mary Washington, Virginia
Previously held certifications include:
Scrum Alliance - ScrumMaster
UPPCC - Certified Public Procurement Buyer (CPPB)
Virginia State Level Procurement Certifications: Virginia Contracting Masters (VCM), Officer (VCO), Construction Contracting Officer (VCCO)
IT Sourcing and Procurement Governance & Policies
IT Procurement Organizational Structure, and Maturity (IT Score (S&P, VM) Assessment evaluations)
Developing IT Procurement Skills and Competencies, Staffing, Retention & Recruiting
IT Procurement Value Metrics and Measurement, ROI,KPI
IT Category Plan, Strategy, and Management (agnostic)