Lavonya C. Lester currently serves as the Director of Administration for the Erie County Water Authority. She was promoted to this position in March 2019. Ms. Lester manages four departments within the Authority and is responsible for overseeing Purchasing and Procurement, Facilities and Transportation, Stores and Information Services. Ms. Lester has more than 17 years of experience in both public and private industry.
Prior to becoming Director of Administration, Ms. Lester was the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity at the Authority, where one of her priorities was to ensure Minority and Women Owned Businesses were given an equal opportunity to subcontract with large scale contractors for the Authority. She was also responsible for ensuring compliance by the Authority with EEO policies and procedures and oversaw the development of EEO contractual language consistent with operating policies and procedures.
Ms. Lester's professional experience includes more than 12 years of service in the purchasing and procurement industry including supplier diversity, contract negotiating, and supply chain management. Prior to coming to the Authority she worked as a senior purchasing agent, legal assistant and a contract specialist.
Ms. Lester received a B.S. in Business Administration from the State University College at Buffalo.
