Spotlight on Galveston District's Jacqueline Adekanbi

There were two things that intrigued Jacqueline "Jackie"

Adekanbi while growing up -- the military and fashion.

While in high school, she was employed at Foley's department

store in downtown Houston, a dream job for a girl her age.

"I was so impressed with how the buyers would fly to New York

every Wednesday and purchase merchandise for the store," said

Adekanbi. "The position seemed to offer all of the glamour and

excitement that a teenager could aspire to. That's what inspired me

to become a buyer too."

Adekanbi now serves as a procurement analyst (or buyer) and

systems administrator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston

District, where she focuses on ensuring systems are running

effectively, coworkers are trained properly and employees are kept

abreast of all new inititatives in government contracting. She also

purchases items for the district.

Having served in the Galveston District for 10 years, Adekanbi is

able to combine her childhood ambition as a buyer and her love of

the military in her current position at the Corps.

"The most interesting thing I've encountered while working at

the Corps was having the opportunity to work on the Wounded Warrior

Program for Fort Bliss,Texas," said Adekanbi. "I was responsible

for awarding the landscaping multiple award task order contract

and had the opportunity to visit the job sites and see the work that

was being completed. I saw the housing, dining and recreational

facilities -- all in support of the solider in the field -- and it was a

great experience. I felt proud to have done my part in improving the

quality of living for our Soldiers."

Adekanbi has purchased items in support of men and women

serving in the field since first being hired by the Department of

Defense.

"I've had the privilege to buy tanks at the Tank Automotive Command

in Warren, Mich., helicopter parts and engines for the world's

largest helicopter repair facility, the Corpus Christi Army Depot, in

Corpus Christi, Texas, and landscaping and paving services for the

Wounded Warrior Program at Fort Bliss," said Adekanbi.

Adekanbi says she is proud and honored to serve the nation, the

USACE Galveston District and the National Contracting Organization.

"I try to provide excellent customer service in a professonial manner

and with a positive attitude," said Adekanbi. "When my customers

ask me for something, I do not tell them all the reasons why it

can't be done; rather, I try to come up with new and innovated ways

of doing business. My job is to provide service and to do it with

excellence."

Adekanbi's friends and family believe she "lives and breathes" the

Corps.

"My husband Josh, a civil engineer with the Galveston District,

has been deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan and it is most comforting

when Col. Sallese, Mr. (Arthur) Janecka, Bill Wise and Gus

Marinos take the time out of their busy schedules to inquire about his

well being and to pass on words of heartfelt greetings to him," said

Adekanbi. "It is also very refreshing to know that all of my friends

in contracting have been very supportive of me in the absence of my

husband. Good friends can be hard to find, for this reason, I will be

forever grateful to be part of this most dynamic and unique group of

professional men and women."

Adekanbi earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Prarie

View A&M University. She is Contract Level III certified and has

received numerous achievement medals for civilian service, including

a Commander's Award for Civilian Service in February 2011.

In her spare time, Adekanbi enjoys reading, traveling, entertaining

family and friends and gardening, earning "yard of the month" several

times in her neighborhood. Adekanbi is married to Joshua Adekanbi

and has three sons, Ashton, Christopher and Joshua Jr.

Adekanbi offers the following advice to her coworkers, "do something

nice for someone who can't do anything for you; be approachable;

give someone a hug or smile today; be a blessing to someone

and by all means, treat others the way you would like to be treated."