Vernon and Jessica discuss the business practices of CPA, and how the organization has saved its members over 3 million dollars in the past three years. They also talk about how CPA has leveraged the buying power of community institutions to help lower operating costs, while also making investments in sustainability, worker equity, and community organizing. As Regional Director of CPA, Jessica Johnson manages the group purchasing and strategic sourcing of CPA’s 75 member community institutions in the Washington DC region. Jessica has 13 years of management, sales, and contracting experience working in the for-profit, non-profit and government sectors. Most recently Jessica led a team at Education Data Systems, Inc. where she assisted with the procurement of $2 million in annual contracts. She also managed and oversaw the daily operations of the TANF program that enrolled over 1,500 program participants each year. Jessica’s focus at CPA co-op is growing the organization’s membership in the MD-DC-VA metro region, and building new programs to meet the needs of members. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Studies from Elmira College in NY and Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.
