Advancing Sustainable Procurement Through Relationship-Centered Project Management

Overview:

This technical training session explores the intersection of project management and customer service in the context of locally based supply chains. Participants will gain practical insights into how customer service, risk management, evaluation, and marketing strategies shape the success of new programs, especially when engaging small to medium-sized businesses and integrating them into broader organizational frameworks.

Key Takeaways:

1. How Marketing and Transparency can strengthen local supply chain engagement
2. Learn why Momentum Management is critical as part of Sustainability Procurement
3. Discover how internal and external marketing can support sustainable procurement initiatives

Real-Life Case Studies:

The session will feature real-world examples of integrating Indigenous businesses into supply chains across Canada. Participants will explore what opportunity and risk can look like from a project manager’s perspective, and how to navigate these dynamics with cultural sensitivity and strategic foresight.

Speaker:

Kenneth Letander, MBA

Biography: 

Kenneth Letander, BSW, MBA is the Founder and CEO of Strat First Inc., an Alberta-based advisory firm specializing in risk management planning, Indigenous procurement strategy, and marketing integration.

Ken has worked on major infrastructure projects, including Ontario’s Small Modular Reactor (SMR) program. He brings over 15 years of experience in Indigenous relations, government policy, community engagement, and the engineering sector. Throughout his career, Ken has led complex program development, including forecasting Indigenous procurement and recruitment strategies for SMR deployment with Candu Energy Inc., and designing Indigenous policies, processes, and compliance frameworks for construction and engineering sectors across North America.

Kenneth’s MBA, with a specialization in Marketing Management, focused on de-risking Indigenous procurement initiatives within major project supply chains, equipping project managers with frameworks to reduce uncertainty, improve compliance, and build trust with both communities and customers.

Kenneth is a frequent speaker on Indigenous procurement and project planning, with a focus on operational readiness and strategic execution. He has contributed to public education and policy development in areas such as Indigenous Procurement Set-Aside programs and the integration of Indigenous procurement processes across engineering, nuclear, aviation, defence, and government sectors. His work also extends into the insurance and risk management space, where he promotes Indigenous procurement as a core component.