By: Jeremy Tomes

When people think of private equity, they rarely think of procurement reform. But Jeremy Tomes is working to shift that perspective, one acquisition at a time. By blending financial discipline with a deep understanding of industry needs, Tomes has positioned himself in a growing movement: private equity that doesn’t merely extract value but seeks to create improvements in how essential goods and services are sourced, priced, and delivered. Through his flagship venture, Prime Contractor Supply, and his broader investment portfolio, Tomes is showing that procurement reform is not just a moral consideration; it can also be a competitive advantage.

The Procurement Challenges in Construction and Infrastructure

For years, procurement in the construction and infrastructure industries has faced several challenges, including:

• Vendor fragmentation

• Inconsistent pricing

• Manual quoting delays

• Lack of transparency in sourcing

• Supplier exclusion due to outdated systems

Jeremy Tomes identified these persistent issues early on and realized that the solution wasn’t necessarily in top-down reforms. Instead, he believed that addressing these challenges could be achieved by acquiring the companies responsible for supply and modernizing them from within. His approach focuses on the middle of the value chain: the vendors, distributors, and suppliers that manage the movement of materials but often struggle with the infrastructure needed to meet contemporary standards.

Transforming Vendors into Platforms

Tomes does not treat his acquisitions as isolated businesses; instead, he views them as interconnected parts of a broader procurement ecosystem. After an acquisition, each business is adapted to include:

• Digital quote automation

• Real-time delivery scheduling

• Cloud-based inventory access

• Compliance tracking for government contracts

• Transparent cost breakdowns

These improvements allow buyers, especially municipalities and large contractors, to make more informed decisions, achieve more predictable delivery, and manage vendor relationships more effectively. While the result is often reduced overruns, better service, and improved risk management, the primary focus remains on creating a more efficient procurement system.

Empowering Buyers, Not Just Owners

One often overlooked aspect of procurement reform is the buyer experience. In the legacy system, buyers at construction firms or public agencies frequently had to:

• Call multiple vendors to get a quote

• Send fax or email requests

• Wait several days for pricing

• Requote projects when items became unavailable

Jeremy Tomes’ approach has sought to streamline these processes. His companies now offer:

• Portal-based quote requests

• Mobile access to availability

• GPS-confirmed delivery windows

• Centralized contact for multiregional orders

For institutional buyers, choosing a Tomes-owned supplier goes beyond just a price decision; it is an upgrade in governance and process efficiency, addressing the inherent challenges of public accountability, documentation, and transparency.

Driving Supplier Diversity from the Inside

Procurement reform isn’t just about speed or systems; it’s also about access. Jeremy Tomes has made it a priority to pursue Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification, ensuring that his firms meet government and corporate supplier diversity standards. His commitment to these values extends internally, fostering a culture that emphasizes inclusion.

This approach results in several potential benefits, such as:

• Government buyers meeting diversity goals

• Contractors earning credit toward DBE/MBE requirements

• Employees from underrepresented backgrounds having clearer paths to leadership

Rather than viewing diversity as a mere checklist, Tomes integrates it into procurement strategy, creating teams, systems, and incentives that encourage inclusion across all levels.

Sustainability, Compliance, and Reporting

Modern procurement must address environmental and regulatory expectations. Tomes’ businesses include tools for:

• Emissions reporting on logistics

• Tracking the source of raw materials

• Certifications for green building standards (e.g., LEED, EnergyStar)

• Vendor audit trails for compliance officers

These tools help clients, especially public entities and firms focused on ESG criteria, meet their regulatory standards while working with suppliers that share these values. In this way, procurement not only meets modern mandates but also addresses the operational and environmental challenges of the present.

Better Procurement = Better Cash Flow

One noteworthy outcome of Tomes’ procurement-focused model has been an improvement in financial performance. By improving systems and centralizing supply management:

• Order error rates drop

• Returns decrease

• Inventory turnover improves

• Vendor discounts increase

• Payment cycles accelerate

As a result, acquired companies have often experienced stronger EBITDA and better vendor performance for their clients. These efficiencies create a feedback loop that contributes to both operational excellence and more predictable market positioning.

A Quiet Revolution in an Overlooked Industry

While many private equity firms focus on tech or high-growth sectors, Jeremy Tomes has concentrated on modernizing the essential supply chain that underpins industries like construction and infrastructure. His work highlights that procurement is not just a back-office function; it’s an integral strategy that, when managed well, can result in:

• More competitive pricing

• Broader access to suppliers

• Improved compliance and transparency

• Faster project timelines

• Better financial returns

Rather than disrupting the system, Tomes is executing a scalable approach to procurement that has the potential to benefit the entire supply chain.

Summary

Jeremy Tomes is a private equity leader with a unique approach to procurement. He recognizes that the real influence in construction and infrastructure doesn’t solely lie in the projects themselves, but in the supply chains that enable those projects. By acquiring suppliers, modernizing systems, and centralizing operations, Tomes is not only transforming procurement practices but also demonstrating that a focus on efficiency, sustainability, and inclusion can create value in unexpected places.

Visit https://biglawcapitalist.com/jeremy-tomes/.

 

Disclaimer: The content of this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional, financial, or investment advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified advisor before making any financial or business decisions.