Her Story
About Christina
I've been in multiple fields over my career. I started in private industry working my way up from administrative to procurement roles, then moved into project management and back to procurement as a purchasing manager. In 2017 I took a year off to care for my dad after his stroke, then entered public procurement at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Now at the City of Huntsville, I transitioned from procurement to grants management in August. I specialize in finding the best suppliers, contract management, and writing grant applications by collaborating with departments to tell our community's story and secure funding.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I come in every day determined to do what I can and I don't give up. If I don't win today, I'll try again tomorrow. Perseverance is key.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
You have to listen because you can't fix a problem or know it exists unless you're listening. When you make a mistake, own it and learn from it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Read everything. Learn everything, ask questions, don't be afraid to ask questions. Keep your eyes and ears open, and the opportunity will come to you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
On the grants side, federal funding regulations keep changing with very short timeframes between notice of funding opportunity and application deadlines. On the procurement side, the shift from transactional purchasing to strategic procurements requires a mindset change.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are the two most important. I can work with anybody but if someone's going to lie to me I don't see the point. Especially in public service we have to keep that trust.
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