Lauren Gerstner

Senior Corporate Purchaser- Technology Procurement @Burns & McDonnell

Kansas City, MO, US

Drive strategic oversight of the technology portfolio to maximize value, control costs, and mitigate risk across software assets while leading procurement efforts throughout the project lifecycle. Partner cross-functionally with Legal, IT, Finance, Information Security, Enterprise Architecture, Integrations, and Software Asset Management to ensure contracts align with company standards, compliance requirements, and long-term business objectives. Lead and support complex negotiations with internal stakeholders and external vendors, serving as a subject matter expert in contract governance and compliance. Oversee software license renewals, lifecycle planning, and compliance management, ensuring accurate entitlement tracking, reconciliation, and optimization within the software asset management platform. Analyze licensing and financial data to inform budgeting, forecasting, and TCO/ROI evaluations, enabling sound funding decisions. Mitigate contractual risk, standardize processes and KPIs, and implement automation and reporting enhancements to strengthen vendor performance management and increase transparency across the technology portfolio.