MIA THORNTON
Silver Spring,Maryland
Summary
Dynamic Category Manager with expertise in IT consulting and strategic tech sourcing. Discovery, driving strategic sourcing and supplier diversity initiatives. Proven success in negotiating multi-year SaaS contracts and enhancing vendor compliance. Adept at stakeholder engagement and third-party risk management, ensuring alignment with business objectives and legal standards.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Category Manager, IT Consulting & Professional Services
Warner Bros. Discovery
Silver Spring, MD
11.2022 - Current
- Led IT sourcing initiatives and managed the full lifecycle of SaaS and MHSA contracts including strategy development, RFP execution, and supplier performance tracking.
- Negotiated multi-year enterprise technology agreements and professional service engagements, aligning deliverables with business and legal standards.
- Supported supplier diversity by identifying, onboarding, and engaging M/WBE firms and Tier 2 subcontractors within sourcing initiatives.
- Partnered with legal, risk, and business units to optimize contractual terms and mitigate operational and regulatory risks.
- Informed procurement strategy through benchmarking, market intelligence, and engagement with external peer networks.
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Diversity Analyst
American Express
Silver Spring, MD
05.2013 - 09.2022
- Managed source-to-contract activities across Technology and Services categories, with a focus on inclusive sourcing strategies and equitable vendor selection.
- Negotiated and analyzed SaaS, MHSA, and IT-related contracts; advised category managers on risk, compliance, and performance metrics.
- Supported Third Party Inclusion efforts by facilitating access for diverse suppliers (MBE, WBE, SBA-certified) and streamlining onboarding.
- Served as liaison across legal, compliance, and business functions to ensure policy-aligned contract execution and vendor governance.
- Maintained Ariba upstream workflows and drove compliance across procurement platforms and third-party risk systems.
Procurement & Supply Chain Analyst
Republic Services
Phoenix, AZ
01.2010 - 08.2012
- Supported over 300 hauling divisions in spend analysis and supplier compliance; promoted cost savings through contract standardization.
- Collaborated with operations teams to ensure material availability and supplier alignment for landfill and logistics sites.
- Reduced invoice discrepancies and streamlined the procure-to-pay lifecycle through data-driven insights and best practices.
Education
Master of Social Work - DEI
New York University
New York, NY05.2016
Master of Human Resources Management -
Webster University
Phoenix, AZ03.2013
Bachelor of Political Science -
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ08.2009
Skills
- Strategic sourcing
- IT and SaaS contracting
- Supplier diversity
- MHSA Negotiation
- Contract Lifecycle Management
- Third-Party Risk Management
- Procurement Systems (Ariba, ADP)
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Category Management
- Vendor Compliance
Awards
- American Express Game Changer Award, Global Supply Management, 2020
- Warner Bros Discovery Stellar Award, Tech Sourcing, 2025
Timeline
Category Manager, IT Consulting & Professional Services
Warner Bros. Discovery
11.2022 - Current
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Diversity Analyst
American Express
05.2013 - 09.2022
Procurement & Supply Chain Analyst
Republic Services
01.2010 - 08.2012
Master of Social Work - DEI
New York University
Master of Human Resources Management -
Webster University
Bachelor of Political Science -
Arizona State University
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