By Mike Durkin, Chief Procurement Officer
Last month, the Unified Procurement Services Team (UPST) gathered to honor the remarkable career of John Healey, Contracts and Strategic Sourcing Manager, as he officially entered retirement. Surrounded by colleagues, friends, and well-wishers, we celebrated not only John’s impressive tenure but also the legacy he leaves behind.
John began his journey with the UMass President’s Office in 2011 and has been a foundational part of UPST since its formation. Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in shaping procurement operations, building strong supplier relationships, and mentoring team members across the system. His deep institutional knowledge and unwavering commitment to service excellence have made a lasting impact on our team and the broader UMass community.
While we will greatly miss John’s professional expertise, it’s his day-to-day presence—his steady guidance, thoughtful conversations, trademark fist bumps, and steadfast support—that we’ll miss most. Personally, I’ve valued our weekly check-ins, where his insight and humor always left me with a fresh perspective.
As John embarks on this exciting new chapter, we wish him health, happiness, and plenty of time to enjoy the things he loves. Thank you, John, for your years of dedication and for helping to make UPST what it is today.
Please join us in celebrating John’s retirement!