Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damon Duncan announced last week the hiring of Arthur J. Walker as the Agency’s Director of Procurement and Contract Administration. In this position, Mr. Walker will work collaboratively with RRHA personnel to develop, recommend, and implement policies, practices, and procedures for the procurement operations in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and RRHA policies. Additionally, he will oversee contract management, competitive bidding, and other purchasing programs.
Walker comes highly qualified for the position with 25 years of procurement experience from the Detroit Housing Commission (DHC), Michigan’s largest Public Housing Authority. “We are pleased to have Art’s caliber of procurement expertise to join our ranks. We have a great deal of confidence that he will bring the highest quality of goods and services at the best value to RRHA,” said CEO Damon Duncan.
Among his accomplishments while at the DHC, he managed the procurement and evaluations for the developer selection of $250 million in urban redevelopment. He developed and implemented procurement operating policies and procedures after the separation of the DHC from City of Detroit governance. He also facilitated a migration to online solicitation management to increase competition and automate procurement processes.
Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Michigan State University, is a member of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and is a Certified Public Procurement Officer by the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council.