Translating a Confusing Marketplace. Unlocking Public Sector Innovation.

The Trading Post

The Trading Post is a space for public sector leaders and their partners to do real homework on the kind of innovation that is achievable. It’s a place built for awareness, learning, and practical exploration.

We noticed something missing. Nearly every conversation about PubSec innovation centers on the technology: What it does, how it works, or why it’s different. But real success depends on so much more. Too often the marketplace feels complex, transactional, and hard to navigate.

We created The Trading Post to be a trusted space for everyone pursuing mission advancement, from CIOs and their teams to executive leaders, procurement, policymakers, budget and program managers, and yes - even solution providers.

Inside, you’ll find thought-leadership, concepts, frameworks, and resources created specifically for various stakeholders with the purpose of truly unpacking how partnerships come together in practice. It’s a place to explore options and challenges without the usual noise or pressure.

Our goal is to open up the entire ecosystem and bring clarity to what drives progress — incentive alignment, solution discovery, program design, procurement, cooperative purchasing, and the role of policy and regulation — so that collaboration becomes more transparent and effective.

Whether you’re working inside the public sector or building technology solutions for it, The Trading Post is where meaningful change starts.

Out Here on the Digital Frontier, Standards Matter.

Every piece on The Trading Post follows a clear set of publishing principles designed to elevate ideas and serve the SLED community.

See how we steward that mission in our Editorial Charter.

View Editorial Charter

Team

Jamie Grant / Co-founder and CEO

Jamie Grant has deep experience that spans both the private and public sectors. He served as a state legislator and as the State of Florida’s Chief Information Officer, and he brings significant private-sector experience as a co-founder and operator. This blend gives him a practical understanding of how PubSec leaders and solution providers can work together to unlock meaningful public-sector innovation... Click or tap to read more

As Florida’s CIO, he led enterprise IT and security for one of the nation’s largest public-sector environments, overseeing initiatives such as the statewide cybersecurity operations center, the enterprise data catalog, the enterprise architecture, and the digital response to Hurricane Ian. In the private sector, he co-founded and scaled multiple ventures that raised institutional capital and reached eight-figure annual revenue.

A Tampa native, Jamie holds degrees from Auburn University and Stetson University College of Law. Outside of work, he is typically outdoors, following Auburn sports, playing hockey, or enjoying live music.

Jay Odom / Co-founder, VP of Partnership Development

Jay Odom began his career in SaaS sales with Oracle NetSuite and has since built deep experience helping organizations identify needs, create alignment, and adopt technology that actually solves operational problems. Across roles serving small, mid-market, and enterprise clients, he developed a sharp understanding of how to uncover real constraints, build cross-functional consensus, and guide teams toward solutions that increase efficiency and clarity... Click or tap to read more

His ability to bridge perspectives and build trusted relationships is central to the work he now leads at RedLeif, where he helps PubSec leaders and solution providers navigate a complex technology landscape and collaborate toward outcomes that create real, measurable progress.

Jay earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of South Carolina. He previously played collegiate soccer at North Greenville University before later coaching at the high-school level. Outside of work, he is typically trail running, snowboarding, or finding another way to enjoy the outdoors. He also mentors students through Minds Matter, an organization dedicated to helping students from low-income families succeed in college.

Paige Spizale / Co-founder, Director of Partnership Operations

Paige Spizale began her career at the Florida Digital Service, where she worked on initiatives focused on customer experience, cybersecurity, and digital transformation, while having to navigate procurement. As part of her role, Paige directly supported Florida’s nationally recognized CoLab, which brought subject matter experts from the private sector together with public sector leaders to drive progress forward... Click or tap to read more

That early exposure to the inner workings of state government gave her a practical understanding of how SLED agencies operate, where modernization gets stuck, and what it takes to move projects forward. She later transitioned into the private sector with ReliaQuest, adding frontline experience in technology sales and buyer enablement. This combination equips her to lead customers and partners through the ecosystem efficiently and achieve meaningful outcomes.

Paige graduated from Florida State University and brings a detail-oriented, operations-focused approach to everything she manages at RedLeif. Outside of work, she is usually following the Seminoles or the New Orleans Saints, exploring new spots around the city, spending time at the beach, or experimenting in the kitchen.

Ian Crafford / Operations

Ian Crafford brings deep experience in operations across high-tech financial services and marketing, with a track record of building systems, repeatable processes, and scalable solutions. He is exceptionally strong at distilling complex ideas into simple, actionable frameworks, a skill that makes organizational execution faster and clearer. At RedLeif, he applies this expertise to help both the internal team and RedLeif’s customers operate with greater consistency, predictability, and alignment.... Click or tap to read more

GM Webster / Digital Strategy

GM began programming as a teen, teaching himself to code from library books before building his first software projects. He went on to found a software development company and has spent his career helping high-growth startups scale through product strategy, technical architecture, and digital operations.... Click or tap to read more

His background in the traditional tech sector gives him a clear view of how modern companies build, iterate, and deliver value, and he applies those lessons to help SLED leaders and solution providers adopt practical, effective digital strategies.

At RedLeif, Grant is taking these skills and applying them to create clear pathways for modernization, enabling organizations to move faster with less friction. Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with his family.