Cheryl Rice

Cheryl Rice serves as a key procurement professional at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, overseeing acquisitions critical to maintaining the nation’s premier performing arts venue. Her work ensures the seamless operation of world-class audiovisual systems, stage machinery, and facility infrastructure, aligning with the Center’s mission to deliver exceptional artistic and audience experiences. She manages a diverse portfolio of contracts spanning technical production equipment, facility maintenance, and operational support services, often coordinating with engineering, operations, and arts management teams to align procurement with artistic and technical requirements. While specific contractor names are not publicly disclosed, Cheryl cultivates strategic partnerships with vendors specializing in live performance technology, industrial maintenance, and facility services. Her contracting patterns reflect a balanced approach between large-capability providers and agile small businesses, fostering reliable supply chains for mission-critical systems such as stage rigging, lighting control, and audio reinforcement equipment. She maintains consistent engagement with vendors capable of rapid response, technical customization, and compliance with stringent safety and acoustical standards unique to performing arts environments. Cheryl demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic inclusion, with nearly half of her acquisitions structured as small business set-asides under FAR 19.5, and a notable 12.5% allocated to 8(a) competed contracts. Her procurement strategy actively promotes participation from disadvantaged businesses, ensuring equitable access to opportunities while maintaining the high standards required by the Kennedy Center’s operational demands. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 334310 for professional audiovisual and stage equipment, 811310 for industrial machinery repair, and 562998 for specialized waste and facility support services. She frequently procures custom-engineered stage systems, commercial laundry services for theatrical costumes, and janitorial solutions tailored to high-traffic cultural venues, reflecting deep technical expertise in the unique operational ecosystem of a national performing arts institution.