December 2, 2005
To:
UCOP Community
From: Kristine Hafner, Associate Vice President, Information
Resources and Communications
I am
delighted to announce that Stephen Benedict will join Information
Resources and Communications as Director, IT Strategic Sourcing,
effective December 19, 2005.
In this role, Stephen will oversee the IT Strategic Sourcing (ITSS)
Program, which includes the development or renewal of multi-campus
and Universitywide contracts for information technology (IT) and
telecommunications hardware, software, and services. The ITSS Program
focuses on reducing the University's cost of acquiring IT and telecommunications
products and services via proactive negotiations with vendors and
UC business partners and consolidation and simplification of IT
procurement agreements. In 2004, the ITSS Program produced savings
of $30
million for UCOP, the campuses, medical centers, and national laboratories.
Additional information about the ITSS program
is available on the Web.
Stephen has an extensive background in IT strategic sourcing and
a wealth of experience developing requests for proposals, negotiating
agreements, drafting contracts and managing vendor relationships.
Currently, he is Technology Contracts and Sourcing Manager for the
California State Automobile Association. In this position he leads
IT sourcing and enterprise software licensing and services contract
management for eighty locations statewide. Prior to that, he spent
seven years as Senior Procurement and Contracts Manager for the
U.S. division of Hitachi Computer Products, Inc. where he led purchasing,
licensing, and contract management in support of R&D, pre-production,
marketing, and sales. He also has held purchasing management positions
at Gupta Technologies and Computerland Corp.
Stephen recently completed his JD at Santa Clara University School
of Law and passed the California Bar Exam. He holds an MBA in business
information systems from San Francisco State University and a bachelor's
degree in sociology from Michigan State University. He is a Certified
Purchasing Manager (CPM) and a member of numerous professional associations
such as
the Institute for Supply Management, the National Contract Manager
Association, and the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals.
Stephen will report to me, take broad guidance from the UC
Information Technology Leadership Council and work closely with
a team of Universitywide IT professionals to create and pursue opportunities
to leverage UC's purchasing power in the IT and telecommunications
areas. Please join me in welcoming Stephen when he comes on board
on December 19. I look forward to his role in spearheading the UC
wide collaboration that results in very significant benefits to
the University.
