The SharpMinds Executive Team consists of some of the industry’s foremost experts with over twenty five years of experience in both the federal and commercial sector. We have extensive backgrounds in procurement and acquisition, management consulting, business development, program management, legal and contract compliance. Our team is directly involved with day-to-day consulting assignments, contributing their vast and diversified expertise to ensure that our clients receive the best customized business solutions.
Kristin Buczek, President
Ms. Buczek is the founder and President of SharpMinds, Inc., a Government contracting consulting firm established in 1988 as a women-owned business. As President of Sharp Minds, Ms. Buczek has provided the leadership and knowledge in educating and obtaining GSA and VA Schedule contracts for over 800 plus global clients. SharpMinds was at the forefront of the GSA Schedule program and continues to be a clear leader with a proven track record of successfully delivering consulting and advisory services in the areas of GSA and VA Federal Supply Schedule Contracts, Corporate Compliance Programs, Contract Administration, Program Management and Training.
Ms. Buczek has over 20 years of Government contract and acquisition experience in the Federal Market arena from serving as a DOD Federal Contracting Official for Office of the Secretary of Defense as well as Vice President of Contracts for a Raytheon Company and a Director of Business Development for Manugistics.
She has been responsible for directly increasing corporate revenues and profit margins based on the implementation of successful acquisition strategies, the establishment of procedures for effective contract management and compliance related issues. Her innovative and leading edge thinking have included expanding GSA schedules into the NATO arena and strategizing with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and GSA executives in the creation of the first awarded Government-Wide strategic sourcing agreement known as SmartBUY. Her vision, knowledge and know how combined with real world tactics provides companies with an edge in achieving their strategic goals of penetrating or increasing their Federal Market share.
Ms. Buczek holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Towson State University with a DoD Acquisition education from the U.S. Army Logistics Management College.
Lauren Binn, Director
Director, East Coast Office
Ms. Binn has over 25 years experience in strategic planning, business development and consulting in both the government and commercial arenas. During the past 10 years as Director for SharpMinds, she has successfully led consulting teams through the preparation, negotiation and award process of over 600 hundred GSA/VA Schedule contracts. She has an extensive array of expertise in a variety of GSA/VA Schedule issues to include key compliance issues such as the Price Reduction Clause, Trade Agreement Act, Service Contract Act and sales practice disclosures. Her negotiation skills and advisory services have been instrumental in reducing associated risks to SharpMinds clients. Ms. Binn has also developed compliance programs for fortune 500 companies and small businesses to assist with adherence to Federal Regulations as well as successfully leading them through GSA (Office of Inspector General) audits and site visits.
Prior to joining SharpMinds, Lauren worked as a senior program manager for both federal and commercial clients. She has worked extensively within the Federal Government as a program manager for contracts valued in excess of $300 million. Ms. Binn has proven analytical skills and problem-solving capabilities in the areas of business management and organizational change, including outsourcing and technology planning within the telecommunications, energy, travel and transportation, manufacturing, distribution and service industries.
Ms. Binn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Letters and Science from the University of California at Los Angeles.
Wennie Cinzano, Esq.
Ms. Cinzano has vast legal experience and strategic knowledge with all the complexities of GSA/VA Federal Supply Schedule Contracts. As a SharpMinds principal consultant she is responsible for supporting clients with the identification of appropriate schedules for products and services; drafting proposal documentation for solicitations; analyzing product / service pricing to devise sales strategy and ensure full disclosure of discounting policies; preparing letters of supply with manufacturers and dealers; and contract negotiations. Mrs. Cinzano also has experience conducting post-award contract maintenance functions, such as contract modifications, economic price adjustments, and preparing option packages.
Ms. Cinzano has assisted various clients in successfully meeting their compliance requirements, developing policies and procedures, as well as providing strategic guidance to assist businesses as they grow, through her extensive knowledge of Federal and Agency Regulations to include the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR) and the General Services Administration Acquisition Manual (GSAM).
Ms. Cinzano holds a J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law, B.A., Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Maryland and a B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Maryland.