Program Update September 15, 2021
Software Procurement
The BEST program is currently engaged in Procurement of Software. We are working with the Evaluation Committee and Subject Matter Experts to evaluate Bidders responses. After this phase, we will engage in a Procurement for a System Integrator. While we work on this we would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Program Management Office (PMO).
Meet the PMO
Our Program Management Office is a team of 10, made up of 9 functional leads and one program manager. The PMO team reports to our Executive Sponsors, A&F, CTR, and EOTSS. You’ll see our faces popping up in zoom calls and see our name in email blasts, but let’s take a moment to get to know some of our team members!
Name: Catherine Quan
Title: Financial Management Functional Lead
Where are you from? Boston, MA
Tell us a little bit about your role on the team: My role is to ensure all finance related functions are included in the new system with improved functionality, efficient business process, and improved user experience. These functions include Vendor Management, Procure to Pay, Order to Cash, Operating Budget Management, Acquire to Retire, Cash Management, Debt Management, Grants Management, Financial Reporting, and Cost Allocation.
What are you working on right now? I am currently working on identifying use cases for vendors who are bidding on the procurement for a systems integrator to demo. We are also holding software demonstrations as part of the software procurement process and I am attending these with the rest of the BEST team and the software Evaluation Committee and Subject Matter Experts.
What were you doing prior to BEST? I was working at Framingham State University as the Director of Budget and Treasury Services. I have held different positions within the state over the last 15 years in Executive Agencies, Higher Education, and the Comptroller’s Office’s leadership team.
What do you like best? (Any hobbies, TV Shows, Sports Teams you love?) I enjoy being outdoors with my family, we like to go hiking, jogging or biking. I am also a plant enthusiast! A hobby I’ve developed due to the pandemic.
Do you have a favorite spot for lunch? A few of my favorites are Sam Lagrassa’s, Falafel King, and the King & I. You will also spot me at Ashburton Café for Taco Tuesday!
Name: Odile Breton
Title: Functional Solution Lead Financial Reporting, and I am a CPA
Where are you from? Massachusetts
Tell us a little bit about your role on the team: I’m the Solution Functional Lead for Financial Reporting so I focus on items such as the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and Statutory Basis Financial Report and how these important annual financial reports for the Commonwealth will be produced in the new solution. I’ve also worked on an analysis of our current chart of accounts and reviewed the procurement documents and specifications for software and the system integrator that will work with us to configure the new solution. I was also on the evaluation committee to select a vendor that will provide quality assurance (independent validation and verification) for the BEST Program. Researching other states that are going through a similar project has been a terrific learning experience.
What are you working on right now? Procurement, procurement, procurement! Software procurement is under way, and we have just posted the Request for Response for a system integrator. I’ve also contacted other states with projects similar to ours - Nevada, Idaho, Florida, North Carolina, New York and Illinois have all been super helpful with sharing information.
What were you doing prior to BEST? Director of External Financial Reporting at MassDOT and prior to that I was at MassHousing as Senior Accountant.
What do you like best? (Any hobbies, TV Shows, Sports Teams you love?) I miss going to live theater and the ballet. I’m a Patriots fan.
Do you have a favorite spot for lunch? It depends where I am. There are so many great restaurants in Massachusetts.