Sandra Yu Stahl, Toni Stewart-Limmitt to lead Detroit’s Contracting and Procurement Department
Sandra Yu Stahl, Toni Stewart-Limmitt to lead Detroit’s Contracting and Procurement Department
- Stahl replaces Boysie Jackson, who has served as director since 2013
- Limmitt promoted to deputy director
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced today that General Services Department executive Sandra Yu Stahl has been appointed Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Chief Procurement Officer to manage purchasing and contracting for city government. Per the City Charter, CFO Jay Rising made the appointment.
As Director of General Services Department, Stahl has led operations for Detroit’s facilities, vehicle fleet, parks, recreation, blight remediation and animal control. In addition to the 800 employees and $150 million budget for city services she had been leading, Stahl last year took over responsibility for the roll out of $200 million of ARPA-funded projects including expanding recreation centers, implementing the Skills for Life workforce development, and beautification projects across Detroit.
Stahl has two degrees from MIT: a bachelors in Urban Studies & Planning and a masters in City Planning. Stahl and her husband are raising their four young children in the Pingree Park neighborhood on Detroit’s east side. In filling this cabinet-level position, Stahl becomes the highest ranking Asian-American in city government.
“My goals are to continue Boysie Jackson’s leadership in running this department on the principles of integrity and inclusion,” Stahl said. “As Detroit continues our recovery, I’m committed that the city’s procurement department does everything possible to make sure Detroiters get every opportunity to succeed in our purchases.”
Stahl named Toni Stewart Limmitt, a highly respected executive in OCP as her deputy. Limmitt has over 20 years of experience in procurement, having worked at Rouge Steel, Severstal and AK Steel and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department before joining OCP in 2017. Before today’s promotion, Limmitt was serving as OCP’s Associate Director for ARPA Administration and Procurement Strategies, making certain the city is in full compliance with complex federal procurement guidelines. Limmitt is responsible for working with City Council Members to implement the Detroit Supply Schedule that provides long term contract opportunities for city-certified small and micro businesses.
“Toni has played a huge role from the purchasing perspective on our $826 million American Rescue Plan Act program, which involves 80 individual initiatives and scores of contracts that must be managed impeccably,” Stahl said. “She’ll be a critical partner in making sure the department continues to operate to the highest of integrity and competence.”
Limmitt stated: “I look forward to continue the work in the office of Contracting and Procurement in my new position as Deputy Chief Procurement Officer. I will continue to provide outreach efforts to ensure the inclusion of Detroit small and micro businesses on ARPA projects and other programs.”
Mayor Duggan had high praise for OCP Director Boysie Jackson who retired this month: “Boysie Jackson took over a completely dysfunctional department in 2013 in the midst of bankruptcy and built it into a model of integrity,” Duggan said. “He reached out to small and minority businesses who had long been left out of city procurement and made great strides in building a culture of inclusion. The entire city owes him an enormous debt of gratitude.”
“I am confident the new team of Sandra Yu Stahl and Toni Limmitt will carry on Boysie Jackson’s proud legacy,” Duggan concluded.
Jackson expressed his gratitude for having been able to serve as director for nine years.
“I am honored to have served under the Mayor and for the citizens of Detroit as Deputy CFO and Chief Procurement Officer,” Jackson said. “The office of contracting & procurement has a great foundation in place now for procuring the best value for goods and services while ensuring inclusion for Detroit Based Businesses.”
Further background on Sandra Yu Stahl
Prior to coming to the City in 2018, Yu Stahl served as Director of Policy and Evaluation for CitizenDetroit, a nonprofit founded by former Council Member Sheila Cockrel and Wayne State President Emeritus Dr. Irvin Reid to engage residents in deliberative dialogue on Detroit’s most important public policy issues as it emerged from bankruptcy. She has worked in the private sector managing community initiatives for mapping company Loveland Technologies (now known as Regrid), as well as in the nonprofit sector leading strategic initiatives for Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice. She has served on the Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Advisory Committee and the board of Doing Development Differently in Detroit (D4), has been a board member of MACC Development since 2013, and has volunteered with her church’s youth ministry in 48214 since 2014.
Stahl is a 2013-14 Detroit Revitalization Fellow, a 2010-12 Great Lakes Leadership Academy alumna, and holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Urban Studies and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In all her work, Stahl brings a commitment to excellence, passion for equity, and dedication to integrity and stewardship of the public trust.
Further background on Toni Limmitt
A Detroit native, Limmitt holds BBA and MBA degrees from Western Michigan University and Davenport University, respectively. Limmitt, a procurement professional that has negotiated the best value for new and existing agreements for golf courses, marinas, the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater, park renovations, landscaping, and construction contracts. Limmitt also serves as the Co-Leader of the City’s Procurement Equity Council strategizing with Department Directors and Group Executives to implement and coordinate resources across programs to ensure inclusion for Detroit small and micro businesses.
Limmitt was also responsible for leading the City’s COVID-19 initiative procuring masks, test kits, gloves and the implementation of the drive-thru testing and vaccine sites per federal guidelines. Additionally, she was instrumental in having Detroit companies assist with the Flood Mitigation program. Limmitt represents the Procurement Department by participating and volunteering on Supplier Diversity boards and committees such as BuyDetroit. She is active with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Lambda Pi Omega, Detroit Chapter, she enjoys mentoring women and young girls.
