Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation’s (KCDC) Procurement Division once again has earned top accreditation in 2026 by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, a designation it has held since 2006.
Terry McKee, Procurement Director, Knoxvillle’s Community Development Corporation
NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement recognized KCDC with Accreditation for Quality Public Procurement Departments (QPPD) for operations grounded in sound authority, professional standards and NIGP’s Global Best Practices. The accreditation, which is subject to review every three years, signals to governing bodies, internal stakeholders, suppliers and residents that KCDC is committed to ethical, accountable, transparent and effective procurement service.
“Our procurement division, led by Terry McKee, has achieved this accreditation over a 20-year span by exemplifying ethical practices and meeting the highest standards of transparency,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “I commend our staff’s ongoing dedication and commitment to keep the public’s trust.”
KCDC is among more than 2,600 governmental agency members in NIGP throughout the United States and Canada, and 44 currently have QPPD accreditation, formerly known as Outstanding Agency Accreditation (OA4), through the self-assessment process.
“This accreditation establishes that our processes and procedures are aligned with industry standards,” said McKee, procurement director for KCDC. “That lets our vendors and the public know that we employ high ethical standards for sourcing and securing goods and services.”
McKee, who has served KCDC for 21 years, earned NIGP’s 2025 Integrity Award, which honors the modeling of ethical behavior that has shaped and inspired professionals across the public procurement field to leave a legacy of trust, transparency and stewardship.