CHANCE STRAUSBAUGH
Columbus,OH
Summary
Procurement expert with proven track record in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and cost reduction. Strong focus on team collaboration and adaptability, ensuring reliable and consistent performance. Adept at analyzing market trends, managing vendor relationships, and optimizing procurement processes. Known for high standards and delivering impactful results.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sr. Project Procurement Manager – Director of Procurement
Energy Vault
08.2023 - 06.2025
- Led Energy Vault Project Procurement team by overseeing all supply chain operations and delivery services to up to 4 different project sites at one time
- Developed and implemented processes, policies, procedures, and best practices while driving strategies to ensure proper contract execution and administration
- Initiated and drove strategies for the procurement of materials, equipment, services, and negotiation of NDAs and contracts for GESS, BESS, and/or HESS (gravity, battery, and hydrogen battery energy storage systems) projects
- Procurement leader and assistant project manager for the Calistoga Resiliency Center project which is the world’s largest utility-scale, ultra-long duration energy storage project which enables a fully carbon-free microgrid
- Spearheaded major equipment acquisitions to include the timely and crucial delivery involving freight and transportation with both international and domestic vendors
- Developed and executed RFXs to award and onboard service suppliers, such as an EPC contractor, several engineering consultants, logistics and transportation vendors, and critical services
- Led Procurement efforts for the Reid Gardner BESS project - a short duration energy storage project that improves Nevada’s grid resilience and enables excess solar generation to serve demand after the sun sets
- Successful management of a diverse set of vendors while navigating challenging site conditions to deliver a fully operational 440MWh asset in under 4 months
- Single point of contact between the Procurement Team and the Commercial, Preconstruction, and Project Execution Teams
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with utility and IPP customers, EPC, Engineering, and Construction contractors, while also ensuring a preferred vendor list with inverter, battery, transformer, and enclosure OEMs
Distribution Operations Manager – Work Scheduling Manager
AEP Ohio
04.2020 - 08.2023
- Oversight, mentorship, and leadership of work scheduling department (20 employees, 8 direct reports) engaged in the coordination of resources to complete over 300,000 job site hours to serve 650,000+ customers in Central Ohio
- Establish and maintain close working relationships throughout the district to facilitate critical planning needs between departments, cities, and contractors depending on customer requirements and business objectives
- Plan, organize, direct, and coordinate Distribution Work Plans including work activities, schedule, and budget
- Provide oversight of customer solutions including obtaining easements, permits, and PUCO complaint resolution
Senior EPC Project Manager
American Electric Power
04.2019 - 04.2020
- Provided leadership, direction, training, coordination, and effective communication to successfully complete construction projects in a safe, risk-balanced approach to achieve set goals while maximizing customer satisfaction
- Responsible for a yearly portfolio totaling over $75M of Transmission Project Investment
- Led cross-functional teams in the commencement of the project from the engineering phase through the procurement process and to the successful completion of Transmission construction within complex environments
- Led and managed Tier I EPCs from award and throughout the scope development strategies and into the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction phases ending in final commissioning and budget closeout
Principal Contract Analyst
American Electric Power
06.2015 - 04.2019
- Partnered with business unit stakeholders, such as engineering, project management, legal, and regulatory, by building and fostering relationships to develop pertinent scopes to fulfill requirements for desired services
- Utilized best practices in contracting with market analysis, financial modeling, and total cost of ownership
- Performed detailed analysis by reviewing pricing, clarifications, exceptions, deviations, and scope of vendors’ bids and partnered with the Risk Department in claim management and dispute resolution as needed
- Executed over 90 RFX events for Transmission Capital Construction (Capex) projects, as well as renewable initiatives
- Achieved a cost avoidance of over $100M and over $5M of negotiated savings for bid events
Supply Chain Consultant
NiSource
02.2014 - 05.2015
- Consulted and provided procurement/supply chain strategies to business units, created and executed RFXs, developed KPIs and SLAs, and negotiated all aspects of contractual terms and conditions
Contracting Officer
The Defense Logistics Agency
07.2010 - 02.2014
- Reviewed projects to ensure deadlines, contractual terms and pricing models were understood and in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
Education
Master of Business Administration - Strategy and Finance (Strategy)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OHBachelor of Science - Business Administration (Finance, Real Estate and Urban Analysis)
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OHSkills
- Leadership
- Process Improvement
- Operations and Project Management
- Contract Management
- Relationship Building
- Creative Problem-Solving
- Analytical Decision-Making
- Oral and Written Communication
- Risk Management
- Strategic Sourcing
- Procurement Strategy
- Budget Planning
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP) - Credential #2642082
- DAWIA Level II Certified in Contracting
- Ohio Adjutant General’s Department (Ohio National Guard) – Unit Public Affairs Representative 2009-2010
Affiliations
- 2022 AEP Ohio Plugged-In Committee – Team Scarlet
- 2018 AEP Finance, Audit and Regulatory Targeted Development Program
- The Disabled American Veterans
- The Ohio State Alumni Association
- Central Ohio Men’s Adult Baseball League
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Fisher Veterans Association
- MBA Veterans
- Ohio State Fisher College of Business Mentor
- Saint Andrew Parish Council Member
Timeline
Sr. Project Procurement Manager – Director of Procurement
Energy Vault
08.2023 - 06.2025
Distribution Operations Manager – Work Scheduling Manager
AEP Ohio
04.2020 - 08.2023
Senior EPC Project Manager
American Electric Power
04.2019 - 04.2020
Principal Contract Analyst
American Electric Power
06.2015 - 04.2019
Supply Chain Consultant
NiSource
02.2014 - 05.2015
Contracting Officer
The Defense Logistics Agency
07.2010 - 02.2014
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration (Finance, Real Estate and Urban Analysis)
The Ohio State University
Master of Business Administration - Strategy and Finance (Strategy)
The Ohio State University
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