GSA's Remarkable Women in Contracting
We’re excited for this edition of GSA’s Got Talent where we’re recognizing three female employees who work in our regional procurement divisions.
Jennifer Canfield
Contracting Officer
Years at GSA: 25
Jennifer Canfield is a Contracting Officer in GSA’s Wyoming Field Office. Variety and opportunity have driven Canfield’s lengthy career at GSA which started in 1997 when she was hired as a contractor. Shortly after in 1999, GSA hired Canfield as a Building Management Specialist and she received her first contracting warrant within six years.
“I've gotten to wear so many hats while working in a field office. We don’t just do one job, we do what is needed,” said Canfield.
When wearing her contracting hat, Canfield works on many types of contracts, including construction, custodial, and operations and maintenance.
“There’s a lot of planning between budget/finance, building management and contracting to ensure funds are allocated each fiscal year,” she added. “I work closely with the other field office employees and feel connected to the regional office (located in Lakewood, Colorado) even though I work in Casper, Wyoming.”
Canfield credits GSA’s staying power to growth opportunities, work life balance and open conversations between leadership and employees.
“I’ve seen women who work other places who haven’t had any development opportunities and that’s just not the case here. GSA has a lot of women in leadership, both at the regional and national level,” Canfield continued. “And leadership truly cares. They have open conversations with us. My division director checks in with me once a month and asks if there is anything she can do to support me.”
Canfield also loves having the flexibility to work in GSA’s hybrid environment.
Rhonda Widick
Senior Contracting Officer
Years at GSA: 15
Rhonda Widick is a Senior Contracting Officer in the Design and Construction division where she manages several of our region's capital projects, including a seismic upgrade project at the Frank E. Moss U.S. Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Widick’s career at GSA started right after graduating from college. She didn’t know that a job in government procurement existed and she credits her GSA career to “word of mouth” while working at the David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado. Widick met several GSA employees who spoke very highly of the agency.
After 15 years on the job, flexibility and empowerment are what matter most to Widick.
“GSA values work-life balance and that’s important to me. If I have a family emergency I know that someone will be there to help me out and I can pick up when I get back,” said Widick. “The thing I like the most about GSA is that I’m truly empowered to do my job. I’m given the resources I need to work independently. Being empowered inspires me to make good business decisions.”
Additionally, working on large and new construction projects excites Widick.
“Everyday is something new. You’re working with great people and great contractors. I don’t see myself leaving even if I could,” said Widick.
Suzanne Schuman
Project Manager
Years at GSA: 1.5
Suzanne Schuman is a Project Manager in GSA’s Federal Acquisition Service. She brings years of customer service experience and an aptitude to partner and serve the client agencies she works with.
“When I get on the phone with customers they are responsive because I’ve built trust and a sense of ease when working with me. Because of this, I get a lot of repeat customers and even client requests to work with me,” said Schuman. “When I work on a new project my inspiration comes from the mission of the client agency. If their mission is to build a new laser for an F-16, I’m on board with that mission and that inspires me! I become invested in my customer’s mission.”
Schuman recalls her onboarding experience back in 2001, “I didn’t know procurement, appropriations law or anything about contracting, but I knew that I could focus on my customer service skills to do the job. GSA’s a big proponent for training and put me through the Project Management (PM) certification soon after I started. I traveled to the Pentagon for the PM certification training. I learned a lot about contracting and PM through those training sessions.”
Schuman says that she also collaborates a lot with coworkers on procurement projects and she loves the camaraderie at GSA.
Download the GSA's Remarkable Women in Contracting story here [PDF - 109 KB].