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Arkansas Government Contracting Specialists

University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service PTAC staff have over 75 years of combined experience in government procurement.  Our knowledgeable staff can help you register as a government vendor, read a solicitation, and help you prepare your bid. How do you perform the award or handle contract close-out?  Our counselors have the know-how.  At Arkansas PTAC, we speak Procurement.

Need help registering in SAM (System for Award Management), reading a solicitation, or working on your bid? We offer one-on-one assistance to our clients.

Picture of Melanie Berman

Melanie Berman - Program Director

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    • Over 15 years of experience in the field of community and economic development.
    • 7 years of experience as a Project Manager of federally funded cooperative agreements.
    • Over 3 years of experience as an Awards Officer of federally funded grants and contracts.
    • Member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.
    • Lifelong public servant, former Peace Corps and AmeriCorps member.
    • Current member of the Little Rock Sister Cities Commission, promoting cultural and economic development opportunities within the state of Arkansas.
    • Masters of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
    • Bachelors of Art, Mass Communications from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
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Max Franks - Procurement Counselor

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    • Over 15 years of Procurement Technical Assistance Center experience
    • Over 15 years of experience working with small businesses (consulting, counseling and certification)
    • Certified VA Verification Counselor
    • Over 26 years experience in private sector management
    • Past Regional Director, Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers
    • Member, National Contract Management Association 
    • Associates Degree, Business and Accounting, Crowder College, Neosho, MO.  
    • B.A., Business Administration, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO.

Picture of Mary Love

Mary Love - Procurement Counselor

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    • 6 years as the Director of the Rolla Procurement Technical Assistance Center in Springfield, MO
    • 21 years as a contracting official at Pine Bluff Arsenal (construction, services and manufacturing)
    • 3 years purchasing experience buying products for US armed forces commissaries in Europe
    • 3 years in Finance and Accounting for commercial payments for US Air Force in Hawaii
    • Vietnam era veteran
    • Retired with 31 years Federal Service in 2007
    • Level 2 Defense Acquisition Certification
    • Level 3 Certification in the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers

 

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Debra Garcia- Procurement Counselor

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    • 24 years Grant/Contract Management experience
    • 12 years Community & Economic Development experience
    • Professional Community & Economic Developer (PCED)
    • Member of Arkansas Economic Developers
    • B.S. Business Administration; Double Concentration in Management & Marketing

      Lyon College, Batesville, AR.

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Liz Russell - Procurement Counselor

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    • 8 years economic development and small-business assistance experience
    • 5 years small business lending experience
    • 3 years experience as an adjunct instructor of Management
    • 24 years small-business ownership experience
    • MBA, University of Arkansas at Little Rock
      B.A., English, Rhodes College

 

Picture of Tim Hicks

Tim Hicks - Procurement Counselor

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    • Retired with 20years of military service
    • 7 years experience in public education
    • 4 years experience as the Arkansas Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) Manager (Defense Logistics Agency property acquisition) working with Federal, state, county and local governments.
    • Over 2 years as Vice-President of Operations for non-profit organization.
    • Over 2 years purchasing experience with Office of State Procurement (OSP), Arkansas.
    • Local, state, national, and international presentation and training experience.
    • Member of the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers.
    • Masters of Operations Management from the University of Arkansas.
    • Bachelors of Criminal Justice Administration, Park University, Parkville Missouri.

Outreach Coordinators

Our Outreach Coordinators speak to:

• Business Owners
• Chambers of Commerce
• Civic Groups
• Community Leaders
• Elected Officials
• Economic Developers
• Anyone who is interested in learning about Arkansas PTAC, the services we provide and the potential benefits PTAC offers to businesses and local economies.