The Process Improvement Award

The Process Improvement Award was created to acknowledge the monumental efforts that helped Minnesota State streamline processes and demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement.

The Procurement Recognition Committee recognizes Gina Walkup from Bemidji State University as the recipient of the Process Improvement Award for her custom automations, documentation, and inter-agency processes. Gina was nominated by Marie Bock, Interim CIO.

Gina has worked on improving invoice processing using Microsoft Power Automate, which is saving staff time and effort. She has offered training and published knowledge base documentation in TDX to better serve Minnesota State users. She also strives to collaborate with other campuses, departments, and vendors to iterate on processes that will optimize the workflow for each party.

The Systemness Award

The Systemness Award recognizes an individual who shows a strong commitment and advances Minnesota State systemness through actions, work, or words.

The Procurement Recognition Committee recognizes Katie Nelson from Metro State University as the recipient of the Systemness Award for her outstanding contributions to collaboration, efficiency, and process improvement across the system. Katie was nominated by Steve Reed, VP of Finance and Operations, and Elis Hanson, Office Operations Coordinator.

Katie’s leadership in bringing together Office Managers and purchasing professionals through bi-weekly Financial Management drop-in meetings has transformed the way colleagues share knowledge and navigate procurement processes. Through her expertise in Workday and Marketplace, she has enhanced operational efficiencies, expanded the pool of trained individuals, and fostered a culture of peer support that strengthens the entire system.

A key achievement in Katie’s work is her leadership in implementing the University’s Service Management platform, a critical initiative that streamlined service requests, improved knowledge sharing, and resulted in measurable efficiencies and cost savings. Her efforts have increased transparency, accountability, and trust, while making essential financial processes more accessible and effective for faculty, staff, and students.

The Expanding Supplier Relationships Award

The Expanding Supplier Relationships Award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond in their collaboration and engagement with suppliers in service to Minnesota State.

We are thrilled to recognize Wayne Wolden for his exceptional work in supplier outreach. Wayne serves as the Director of Business Services at Minnesota State Community and Technical College.

Whether it is lending a hand at events like the procurement fair in Mahnomen, Minnesota, or supporting vendors in creating strong connections, Wayne has gone above and beyond to make a real difference on campus and in the community. Wayne’s enthusiasm, professionalism, and proactive attitude have helped build stronger partnerships and open doors to new opportunities.