Lacy Perkins, FCCM, FCCN, PMP®
Lacy Perkins, FCCM, FCCN, PMP® is an accomplished Procurement and Grants Administrator with over a decade of experience supporting state agencies across Florida. She graduated from Florida State University in 2011 with a degree in Actuarial Science, initially aspiring to become an actuary for the state. Choosing to prioritize family while leveraging her natural people skills, Lacy has built a diverse career centered on customer service and problem-solving. From advising students in the registrar’s office at Tallahassee State College to managing a pharmacy call center, she consistently gravitated toward roles that allowed her to help others and resolve challenges efficiently. Inspired by her mother’s 30-year career with the State of Florida, Lacy transitioned to public service, starting with auditing and eventually moving into procurement. Since 2014, she has accumulated 12 years of governmental experience across multiple state agencies, including the Department of Corrections, Department of Health, and Department of Financial Services. Her work focuses on strategic sourcing, contract management, and compliance, ensuring that state resources are used effectively while supporting operational needs. Lacy’s dedication to accountability, efficiency, and collaborative leadership has made her a trusted professional across the public sector. For the past three years, Lacy has served as a Procurement and Grants Administrator with the Florida Digital Service. In this role, she oversees all purchasing, contracts, and vendor compliance for the agency, and manages a local cybersecurity grant program, providing software to local governments with limited funding to protect against cyber threats. One of her proudest professional accomplishments is earning her Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification, which has enabled her to apply structured project management principles to her work. Lacy’s combination of technical expertise, leadership, and commitment to helping others continues to make a meaningful impact across the State of Florida.
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Florida Certified Contract Negotiator (FCCN)
• Florida Certified Contract Manager (FCCM)
• Florida State University - BS, Actuarial Science
• Tallahassee State College - AA, General Transfer
• Team Mom for baseball teams
• PTSA volunteer
• School field trip volunteer
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to working hard, being ethical, and always looking for mutually beneficial solutions. I've been fortunate to have incredible mentors along the way, particularly Samantha Washington, who was my first supervisor when I started with the State of Florida. Sam was a Financial Administrator for the Department of Financial Services, Bureau of Auditing, and who also later worked in procurement. Another incredible mentor was Trueby Bodiford, who was the Assistant Bureau Chief for the Florida Department of Corrections, Bureau of Procurement. Both of these women have been very influential in my career, and I’m grateful for honest feedback that helped me grow.
Additionally, I attribute my success to my family. Without the constant support from my husband, parents, in-laws, and my Aunt Debbie, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They say it takes a village and wholeheartedly agree. I was lucky to find my person when I was in the tenth grade, so having Brandon be by my side for over 20 years has certainly attributed to my success. Our two sons, Brooks and Beau, have helped me to remember that I’m setting an example with everything I do. There is no greater accomplishment than them.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Funny enough, the best career advice I’ve received was advice I received secondhand. My husband’s baseball coach used to tell his team that if you want to soar with the eagles, you can’t run with the turkeys. That has stuck with me through the years. It is a reminder to hold yourself to your morals and values, and don’t fall victim to the groupthink mentality.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Work diligently and maintain a strong commitment to integrity. While it may be tempting to complete high-level reviews without examining the details, it is important to consistently look deeper and fully understand every aspect of a purchase. My advice is to always go the extra mile to ensure you have a thorough grasp of the scope.
At times, others may not fully understand the nuances of the purchasing processes or why such detailed reviews are necessary. Even so, continue to approach your work with diligence and professionalism, and remain committed to doing the thorough work required to understand each purchase completely. Your efforts will be invaluable when documentation is reviewed during an audit.
Although the work can be challenging, remember that the responsibility is significant. The taxpayers of Florida rely on us to ensure that purchasing decisions are made carefully, responsibly, and with the highest level of integrity.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my opinion, the biggest challenge is effective communication and ensuring that all parties are properly informed. There are so many nuances in our field that many people don't understand, and it can be difficult to communicate externally. When I watch the meetings of our Florida Legislature, they'll ask why procurements take so long, but a few sentences later they'll ask how we can ensure we're not executing amendments and change orders as often. Your procurement stage is your planning stage of everything you buy, and that's really where you need to spend your time. It isn’t likely that everything possible will be captured in the procurement stage, but that is the time to think about current and future risks, outcomes, and costs. It can be quite complex.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work, I value ethics, accountability, and generally doing the right thing. Making sure all parties are held accountable in our contracts is important for ensuring the Florida taxpayer’s money is accounted for. I'm passionate about making sure the procurement process is done correctly and that we're being good stewards of public resources.
In my personal life, my family is most important to me. I spend all my time with my kids and try not to get involved in professional organizations so I can spend more time with my family.
Otherwise, prioritizing fun is important to me. I love doing things for others, whether that's decorating and helping with birthday parties, participating in my kid’s school events, or being team mom for sports teams. Doing things for others is extremely rewarding for me.