Mar 4, 2020   SOURCE: BusinessWire

PRIDE Industries Promotes Paula Petersen to Vice President of Procurement

PRIDE Industries is pleased to announce that Paula Petersen has been promoted to Vice President of Procurement. Petersen originally joined PRIDE in 2012 as Director of Procurement.

PRIDE Industries is a nonprofit social enterprise meeting the manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and facilities service needs of businesses and government agencies nationwide while creating meaningful jobs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, including service-disabled veterans.

“As PRIDE continues to grow, we are fortunate to have Paula’s leadership,” said Jeff Dern, President of PRIDE Industries. “Her expertise and dedication over the past seven years has allowed our procurement department to deliver world-class results, saving PRIDE millions of dollars.”

An expert with over 30 years of direct, indirect, and services procurement management experience, Petersen is responsible for the sourcing of all PRIDE’s products and services, as well as fleet management of over 1,100 vehicles and heavy equipment, direct materials purchasing for the Electronics Manufacturing Division, and materials management/inventory.

With a focus on optimizing cost savings and partnering with vendors that deliver on quality, Petersen’s leadership has been instrumental in leveraging PRIDE’s purchasing power and developing reinvestment for future growth; as a result, the company has saved more than $25 million.

Before joining PRIDE, Petersen worked internationally for a Hong Kong-based import/export company, earning experience in global cultures and business practices, and had a 16-year career with Hewlett Packard, Inc., serving in management and director level leadership positions.

“I greatly appreciate the potential of people that I work with at PRIDE, especially those with disabilities,” said Petersen. “Knowing that every dollar my team saves furthers PRIDE’s mission is my biggest motivation.”

Petersen graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brigham Young University, serving as the student Vice-President of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

Passionate about expanding access to education, Petersen has served on the American River College Foundation Board of Directors and the Los Rios Community College Foundation Board of Directors.

About PRIDE Industries: PRIDE Industries is one of the largest employers of people with disabilities, with expertise providing facility operations and maintenance services, custodial services, contract manufacturing, supply chain management, and fulfillment services to public and private organizations nationwide. Founded in 1966, PRIDE creates paths to employment for people with disabilities through person-centered job coaching, training, and placement. PRIDE’s mission extends nationwide, assisting individuals to become self-sufficient, have a sense of purpose, contribute to their communities, and achieve their goals. For Business Services, learn more at prideindustries.com. For People Services, learn more at prideindustries.org and follow PRIDE Industries on Facebook.

If you would like more information about this topic, please call Jill Beilby at 916-788-2240, or email jill.beilby@prideindustries.com.