Catering@Penn – An Inclusive, Sustainable Solution for Catering Procurement

Catering@Penn is a catering procurement platform, collaboratively built by the University of Pennsylvania to support and help drive sustainable, inclusive, smart catering decisions.  Penn Procurement Services and Penn Sustainability teamed up to create a catering procurement solution that offers the University a stable of local, diverse, and environmentally-friendly caterers that have been strategically sourced and contracted.  Goals of the program include: 

• Set minimum sustainability requirements for University Caterers and establish levels of advanced sustainability standards 
• Foster inclusivity in the catering procurement environment.
• Establish an online search tool so that University buyers and event managers can easily find caterers based on their needs.
• Promote the platform through events and other means.

Join us and hear directly from the team at the University of Pennsylvania including Angela Martyak and Mark Mills. Learn how they built the program, established the above goals, launched it within the university, and hear about their successes and lessons learned. 

MEET OUR PANELISTS

Mark Mills, Chief Procurement Officer, University of Pennsylvania

As the University of Pennsylvania’s Chief Procurement Officer, Mark Mills oversees approximately $1 billion in university spend.  Mark’s team performs a variety of services on behalf of Penn, ranging from strategic sourcing and contracting, supplier management, procurement systems management, travel services, and procurement card administration.  In performing these services, Mark and his team are driven by core goals that address economic inclusion, environmental sustainability, cost containment, and service excellence.   Mark joined Penn in 2011 bringing over 20 years of procurement and financial management experience.  Prior to Penn, Mark held positions with such firms as Cigna, Johnson & Johnson, Unisys, BearingPoint, and Siemens.  Mark earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Delaware, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University, and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Angela Martyak, Associate Director, Strategic Sourcing, Penn Procurement Services

As Associate Director, Angela directs strategic sourcing efforts for catering, events, furnishings, transportation, and professional services within the University of Pennsylvania’s Procurement Department. She services the University by managing internal and external relationships, cost containment, economic inclusion, collaborative buying, contract management, and sustainability efforts for her areas of responsibility. She has held various procurement positions with companies and organizations such as Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Ethel M Chocolates, and MGM Mirage Corporation. Angela earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Telecommunications from Pennsylvania State University.