About | Tips Construction

Our Story

TIPS began as a small department within the Region 8 Educational Service Center, which supported school districts throughout northeast Texas.

The founding leaders envisioned a procurement partnership between TIPS members and local vendors that would meet the needs of public entities and give highly qualified businesses an entry into this competitive, governmental procurement market through TIPS compliant bid process.

Public K-12 schools, civic municipalities, universities, and other governmental agencies had a growing need for a supportive and viable procurement process.

Over the course of over 20 years, TIPS has grown beyond its headquarters located in Pittsburg, Texas, and now services cooperative members and vendors across the nation.

The TIPS Construction team is not a commercial entity, but a department of the overall TIPS cooperative. Our lead agency, Region 8 Educational Service Center, is commissioned by the Texas legislature.

TIPS Construction is an exciting development for the TIPS-USA Cooperative which now offers specialized service to its vendors and members who utilize the TIPS construction contracts as a vehicle for procurement.

This individualized response is one unique way we are expanding and growing deeper into our motto, “Purchasing made Personal”.

David Mabe, Vice President of Construction

David currently serves as the Vice-President of Construction for the TIPS purchasing cooperative. He previously served as the Deputy Executive Director for the Region 8 Education Service Center, during which he and his team founded the TIPS purchasing cooperative in 2002. Today David’s focus is on the construction contracts for TIPS. Under David’s leadership TIPS has grown from a small regional purchasing cooperative in Texas to one of the largest purchasing cooperatives in the nation, with 130% growth in the last four years alone.

Sarah Reynolds, TIPS Counsel/Contract Manager (CTCM)

Sarah Reynolds is a senior attorney at Leon Alcala, PLLC and serves as the Legal Counsel/Contract Manager (CTCM) for both TIPS and TIPS Construction. She has worked with TIPS for over 3 years providing expert and strategic legal advice to the TIPS team, while also publishing and evaluating all of the TIPS solicitations.

Meredith Barton, Director of Business Development

Meredith has twenty-four years combined experience in procurement with TIPS and commercial retail leadership. As TIPS’ Director of Business Development, she is focused on enhancing revenue and streamlining business operations. Meredith oversees all business relationships with TIPS members and vendors. She works to identify and develop new business opportunities while also evaluating existing partnerships, assisting in continuous business and purchasing improvement.

Gene Hawk, Construction Compliance Manager

Gene comes from the K-12 sector with twenty years’ experience as a Facility Director and an independent construction consultant, completing over a billion dollars of construction activities in his career. His focus for TIPS is to educate both members and vendors on the requirements of JOC contracts and ensure they remain compliant with their contracts. Gene assists vendors that may need training in the use of required estimating platforms, proposal formatting and any compliance related inquiries for JOC contracts. 

Brandon Williams, Compliance Assistant

Brandon assists Gene Hawk in TIPS Constructions’ compliance department, where he ensures that all vendors and members remain compliant with their contracts. He works to educate TIPS vendors and members on the requirements of JOC contracts, assists in training vendors in the required estimating platforms, and answers any compliance related inquiries for JOC contracts. 

DaShauna Williams, Director of TIPS Assignment of Contract Program

DaShauna directs the TIPS assignment of contract program that connects TIPS members with local, construction service providers. In the ever-growing area of contract assignments, she offers guidance for all parties throughout the assignee process and valuable support connecting our TIPS members with local, construction service providers.

Ashley Patterson, Director of Quality Assurance

Ashley leads our Quality Assurance division. The goal of Quality Assurance is to follow up with TIPS Construction projects to ensure that our member agencies are satisfied with the quality of work and project compliance. She works closely with our member’s facility contacts and the project managers for TIPS Vendors to guarantee the overall satisfaction of Members utilizing a TIPS Construction contract.

Gabe Gaytan, Construction Business Manager

Gabe came to the Construction team from a previous position within the TIPS accounting department. Serving as a liaison between TIPS Construction administrative processes and vendor’s business operations, Gabe ensures that every partnership runs smoothly. He oversees your TIPS construction accounts and maintains the existing processes that will efficiently support TIPS contracted projects, ensuring accuracy in reporting and accounts payable.

Rachel Caldwell, Lead Vendor Support

In the role of Lead Vendor Support, Rachel is dedicated to assisting TIPS Construction vendors with any inquiries and trainings needed to aid in their procurement process. She offers guidance to potential Vendors navigating the TIPS bid process and IonWave to Awarded Vendors learning the TIPS Vendor portal.

Callie Easley, Marketing Communications Manager

As Marketing Specialist, Callie communicates important TIPS bulletins to current members and vendors through newsletter correspondence and social media channels. She also works to build brand awareness for potential members and vendors, developing promotional materials and maintaining the TIPS Construction website.

Chandie Randle, Construction Customer Support

Chandie came to the Construction team from a previous position within the TIPS contract department. She serves as first level support, helping TIPS Construction vendors and members with any inquires, training or guidance needed to aid their procurement process.