Petra Hicks
District Heights,MD
Summary
Accomplished Acquisition Specialist at the Library of Congress Professional Guild. Adept in mergers and acquisitions and stakeholder management. Spearheaded cost-saving initiatives, optimizing supplier selection and enhancing resource accessibility. Recognized for critical thinking and excellent communication, achieving significant vendor negotiation successes and aligning acquisition goals with organizational objectives.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Acquisition Specialist
Library Of Congress Professional Guild/afscme Local 2910, American Federation Of State, County And M
06.2016 - Current
- Developed acquisition strategies to enhance resource accessibility and collection diversity.
- Coordinated with vendors to negotiate terms and streamline procurement processes.
- Managed inventory systems to track acquisitions and ensure timely availability of resources.
- Trained staff on best practices for resource acquisition and management procedures.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align acquisition goals with organizational objectives.
- Achieved successful outcomes in negotiations with vendors by employing strong analytical skills and persuasive communication techniques.
- Contributed significantly towards company-wide cost savings initiatives by optimizing supplier selection processes.
- Tracked and monitored progress on delivery orders or contracts.
- Managed complex acquisitions projects from inception through completion, ensuring timely execution within budget constraints.
- Ensured compliance with federal acquisition regulations, minimizing risk exposure for the organization.
- Maintained documentation for all purchases.
- Conducted research, identifying potential vendors and better pricing options.
- Worked with departments to find new and better items to fulfill diverse needs.
- Searched for hard-to-find items and found high-quality, reliable vendors.
Library Technician
Library Of Congress Professional Guild/afscme Local 2910, American Federation Of State, County And M
09.2003 - 05.2008
- Managed library circulation systems, ensuring accurate checkouts and returns.
- Developed and implemented cataloging procedures to enhance resource accessibility.
- Trained staff on library software tools, improving operational efficiency.
- Oversaw inventory audits, maintaining up-to-date records of library materials.
- Led initiatives to digitize archival collections, increasing online access for users.
- Fostered collaborative partnerships with local organizations to expand library outreach efforts.
- Assisted patrons in locating materials, enabling them to conduct research more effectively.
- Participated in staff meetings, contributing valuable input towards improvement of library services and operations.
- Performed routine maintenance on equipment as needed, reducing downtime due to malfunctions or disrepair.
- Mitigated librarian workload by independently managing basic patron requests and locating materials.
- Processed incoming materials efficiently, expediting their availability for patron use.
- Enhanced library user experience by providing efficient customer service and assistance with various resources.
- Utilized advanced cataloging techniques for precise organization of library materials, improving overall accessibility for users.
- Implemented new shelving strategies that maximized available space without compromising ease of access for patrons.
- Trained new Library Technicians, ensuring they were familiar with library policies and procedures for optimal performance.
Education
No Degree - Criminal Justice
Prince George's Community College
Upper Marlboro, MDHigh School Diploma -
Oxon Hill High School
Oxon Hill, MD06-1991
Skills
- Mergers and acquisitions expertise
- Intellectual property evaluation
- Competitive analysis
- Stakeholder management
- Pricing strategy
- Deal structuring
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Documentation requirements
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking Abilities
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of eight people in the implementation of FOLIO.
- Documented and resolved shipping shipping and Customs issues which led to the successful delivery of collections from UK vendors.
- Achieved costs savings by completing a special serials cancellation project with accuracy and efficiency.
Timeline
Acquisition Specialist
Library Of Congress Professional Guild/afscme Local 2910, American Federation Of State, County And M
06.2016 - Current
Library Technician
Library Of Congress Professional Guild/afscme Local 2910, American Federation Of State, County And M
09.2003 - 05.2008
No Degree - Criminal Justice
Prince George's Community College
High School Diploma -
Oxon Hill High School
Selected by the Librarian of Congress Special Achievement Award 05/08/2025
In May 2025, I was selected by the former Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, to receive the Librarian of Congress Award. This award celebrated achievements that I have contributed to the Library's success in achieving it's strategic goals and objectives.