With nearly three decades of industry experience managing contracts, Latonia Jones Smith is a celebrated forward-thinker, innovator, and business leader, with renowned expertise in administering every aspect of the acquisition cycle—from birth to completion. Simply put: Latonia helps businesses compete for, win, and successfully manage government contracts.

An engaging and influential speaker, Latonia has collaborated with organizations from NASA to the National Institutes of Health to raise awareness and increase contract opportunities, including for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. An avid believer in helping minority institutions and businesses transition from being contract-driven to securing funding to increasing revenue, Latonia helped establish the Alabama A&M Research Innovation, Science and Engineering (RISE) Foundation, the University's government contracting arm. As a result, she helped secure more than $25 million in contract awards.

In 2015, Latonia founded and launched Phenomenal Management Partners and Phenomenal Media Productions— managing government contracts, providing various business and marketing services, and promoting academic institutions. Earning a B.S in Business Administration, Logistics, and Procurement from Alabama A&M University, along with a M.S in Contract Acquisition Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, Latonia has devoted her professional career to the procurement industry, which fuels her personal passion of helping individuals and businesses reach—and exceed—their goals to “Build Beyond."