April Grace Kelly
Norwich exceeded my expectations when it came to the online degree program. It is very organized and efficient, setting me up for success throughout the entire process.
Q: “Tell us about yourself.”
A: “I am a single mother of two young men. My oldest just finished his sophomore year of college, and my youngest graduated high school last week. I have a great support system of amazing people, and we love to go to the beach or hang out by the pool. In my downtime, I enjoy sewing and making quilts. I am a Procurement Specialist III with the Horry County Office of Procurement. Before my current role, I was the Airport Contract and Procurement Administrator for the Horry County Department of Airports and Airport Project Manager.
Currently, I work in the County’s dedicated Procurement Department. While working with the airport, I performed contract and procurement administration for numerous solicitations and contracts, including a $60 million taxiway rehabilitation, various capital equipment acquisitions, multiple concessionaire opportunities, and an estimated $100+ million terminal expansion project. In addition to my procurement experience, I have performed project management for several substantial capital projects, including a $120 million new terminal, a $20 million rehabilitation of a single runway, and multiple other projects running concurrently. In this capacity, I have participated in federal and state funding applications, processing pay requests, and ensuring compliance with grant assurances.”
Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “My motivation for pursuing my degree started when I stumbled across Norwich University's booth at a Public Procurement annual forum, NIGP, in Salt Lake City, UT, in 2018. From then, I was nominated and became part of the Leadership Development Program at my agency, Horry County Government. The LDP offered tuition reimbursement, and I immediately thought of Norwich's business administration program because it offered a concentration in Procurement & Contract Management and provided credits for industry certifications that I hold, CPPB & NIGP-CPP
Q: “What are your future professional plans?”
A: “My future professional plans are to become the Director of Procurement and continue my education in public sector leadership to become an Assistant County Administrator and eventually the County Administrator before retiring.”
Q: “Did you have any uncertainties with choosing an online program?”
A: “I had zero uncertainties when choosing Norwich's online program. As a single mother working full-time, Norwich's online program perfectly fit my schedule. Norwich exceeded my expectations when it came to the online degree program. It is very organized and efficient, setting me up for success throughout the entire process.”
Q: “What advice would you give future students enrolling in one of Norwich's online programs?”
A: “Time Management. Online Programs don't mean you can do all the assignments on the weekend. Set aside time each day, even if just an hour, for discussion posts starting on Monday to help you meet your deadlines.”
Q: “How do you plan to use your degree in your career?”
A: “I plan to use my degree in my career because now I have a minimum qualification that most agencies require. The fact that it is in a specialized field makes it more impressive.”
Q: “What has been your biggest personal or professional success since your degree?”
A: “I just finished my degree in April 2024, which was my biggest personal goal thus far. Professionally, I plan to apply for the Director of Procurement position once the current person retires next year.”
Q: “Please tell us about a time you could put the knowledge you gained in the classroom to work immediately at your job.”
A: “The Leadership in a Technology Driven World course has been instrumental in my work life to date. I work from home four days a week and learning the tools and techniques to help mitigate work-life balance fatigue have been extremely helpful.”
Q: “What aspects of your Norwich experience will you carry most strongly with you?”
A: “Camaraderie. Every teacher, student, and administrator has emphasized the relationship that Norwich Alumni have with each other. It is a lifelong family.”
