Testimonials
Joint Ventures/Partnerships
I had the pleasure of meeting Darlene Marino at the 2023 WBE Conference, where we immediately recognized the synergy between our businesses—her expertise in procurement and my specialization in grant and Proposal writing. That initial connection quickly turned into a dynamic and seamless collaboration.
Working with Darlene and Procurement Management Services Inc. (PMSI) has been an exceptional experience. From our first joint project, it was evident that Darlene’s deep industry knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to supplier diversity make her a standout in procurement consulting. The strength of our partnership was further proven when a shared client returned for multiple engagements—leading iPlume Writing to secure an additional contract for article writing services.
What I value most about working with Darlene is how effortless and intuitive our collaboration feels. She is not only a consummate professional but also a trusted colleague and mentor. Her insights into procurement management have expanded my own understanding of the field, and I truly admire Darlene’s ability to navigate the complexities of procurement with precision and integrity, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can successfully secure contracts and grow strategically.
I see our partnership continuing to grow for years to come, and I highly recommend PMSI to any organization looking for expert procurement guidance backed by integrity, experience, and a commitment to inclusivity.
Amanda Rogers, CEO
iPlume Writing Inc.
Procurement Training and Coaching
WBE Canada’s Toolbox is full of resources, programs and rich in content because of WBEs like Darlene Marino who are committed to mentoring, coaching and sharing insights with other women business owners like herself. Darlene’s experience as founder and owner of Procurement Management Services Inc. and her passion to share her knowledge in the key topic of Private and Public Procurement exemplifies why WBE Canada has the largest database of WBEs in Canada. WBEs supporting WBEs is fundamental to the success of women-owned enterprises across Canada. –
WBE Canada
Coaching
Darlene’s coaching has been nothing short of transformative. Her tailored approach has empowered our new and experienced managers, supervisors, and team leads to overcome challenges and unlock new levels of personal and professional growth. Darlene’s empathetic, yet strategic guidance, has provided practical insights that turn obstacles into opportunities, helping leaders develop greater confidence and clarity in their roles. Darlene’s commitment to understanding individual strengths and fostering continuous improvement is truly remarkable. I wholeheartedly recommend Darlene’s coaching services to anyone looking to elevate their performance and achieve lasting success.
Adele Salvati
Senior Director, Human Resources
Procurement Support for Small Enterprises
As a publicly funded non-profit organization with a small team, we needed additional expertise and guidance in navigating public sector procurement compliance and to support large complex procurements competitions. Darlene expertly helped us develop policies and led competitive procurement processes. She took her time to understand business needs, shared resources and process templates. Her deep experience and expert knowledge of public sector procurement requirements provided us with tailored practical solutions aligned with our business goals. Throughout our work together Darlene was always responsive, communicated very well with operational team members, and delivered with high competence.
Shirley Dong
Director, Corporate Services
Procurement Management Services Inc. (PMSI) provided excellent services for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) to support the procurement function’s transition and facilitate coaching and knowledge transfer to the organization. The consultant from PMSI had an in-depth knowledge of the BPS Procurement Directive and provided recommendations for changes and updating procurement policies and procedures. I would strongly recommend PMSI to anyone looking for support for day-to-day procurement services guidance, competitive procurement processes, or training internal staff to equip them with procurement knowledge.
Jessie Yin
Controller, Finance
“The Consultant from Procurement Management Services Inc. proved her value by leading some very high valued, complex projects for Mackenzie Health. She led the Mackenzie Health Senior Leadership Team through the RFP process and had a thorough understanding of the healthcare sector and BPS Procurement Directive. We were extremely happy with the delivery of service, professionalism, and response to Mackenzie Health requests. Her flexibility and willingness to change schedules to accommodate Mackenzie Health, her attention to detail and organization capabilities contributed to the success of the projects. She recommended contractual provisions, including service level measurements, that assisted Mackenzie Health in managing their suppliers effectively throughout long terms. Mackenzie Health wouldn’t hesitate to reach out to her to work on other opportunities in the future.”
“Procurement Management Services Inc. provided strategic sourcing services to the Central Ontario Healthcare Procurement Alliance (COHPA) over a period of five months. The consultant was extremely professional and effectively engaged our operational and executive stakeholders from the onset, maintaining excellent relationships throughout the various procurement projects assigned to her. The consultant demonstrated deep knowledge of the process and great project management skills, delivering successful contracts on time. Procurement Management Services Inc. proved to be very responsive and adapted quickly to my immediate needs to complete several broadly scoped strategic sourcing initiatives without interruption to business services. I was always confident that the consultant delivered value through exceptional service.”
“I had the privilege of working with Darlene at Sun Life. Darlene was very instrumental in managing the professional services category within our Procurement team. She is a highly organized, goal oriented, independent and a hard working individual always willing to do whats needed to get the job done. Darlene worked well in a fast-paced environment and developed many strategic relationships not only with her clients but with her suppliers as well.”