Lloyd Howell

Lloyd Howell serves as a key procurement lead at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he manages acquisitions critical to sustaining world-class performing arts operations. His responsibilities encompass the planning, solicitation, and award of contracts supporting technical infrastructure, stage production systems, and facility maintenance—ensuring the Center’s venues meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, and artistic performance. He routinely handles complex acquisitions for specialized audiovisual equipment, stage rigging systems, and industrial facility services, aligning procurement strategy with the Center’s mission to preserve and elevate national performing arts excellence. Howell cultivates strategic relationships with a diverse pool of vendors, including manufacturers of professional-grade audio and video systems, industrial launderers supporting costume and textile needs, crane and hoist specialists for stage automation, and licensed electrical contractors for venue-wide wiring upgrades. His contracting approach emphasizes technical precision and operational continuity, favoring vendors with proven experience in high-stakes cultural environments. He maintains collaborative, long-term partnerships with firms capable of delivering customized solutions under stringent performance and safety requirements. A strong advocate for small business inclusion, Howell consistently prioritizes small business set-asides, with over half of his awards designated under FAR 19.5. His contracting patterns reflect a deliberate commitment to socioeconomic diversity, regularly awarding contracts to small businesses, including those certified under HUBZone and SDVOSB programs, while maintaining flexibility for non-set-aside procurements where specialized expertise is required. His primary procurement focus centers on NAICS 334310 for professional audiovisual equipment, 333923 for overhead crane and hoist systems, and 812332 for industrial textile services—domains essential to stage operations and venue upkeep. He also manages specialized contracts in electrical installation and waste management services, demonstrating deep technical familiarity with the unique demands of a multi-venue performing arts complex.