Alumni Spotlight: Contracting a New Career

Attorney and author Temre Beltz set a new path in contract management

DCE alumna Temre Beltz had a successful legal career, working as an associate attorney at the firm Latham & Watkins, before taking a long break to stay home and raise her two daughters. Aside from transitioning to a full-time mom, she managed to carve out some space to pursue her passion for storytelling and, as it turns out, write two children’s books that HarperCollins published.

Sixteen years later, her teenage daughters have moved on to a new stage of their lives, and Temre decided to do the same. She returned to her alma mater UCI to relaunch her career with a DCE Contract Management certificate.

Temre had a “fantastic undergraduate experience” at the university, earning a B.A. in Cognitive Science, so returning for her next step was a no-brainer.

“To be fair, it has, at times, felt like a daunting prospect,” she said. “But I am convinced that I would not have had the same level of courage and confidence to move forward without the DCE Contract Management certificate program. It reminded me how much I love to learn, to produce results, to be part of a team, and to make a positive and valuable contribution wherever I find myself.”

The program gave her a coveted new skillset and prepared her to pass the entry-level Certified Contract Management Associate (CCMA™) certification exam, a valued designation offered by the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) that gives applicants a notable edge when seeking employment.

In Temre’s case, she quickly found a full-time position with a rapidly scaling software tech company, working remotely under the General Counsel.

“When the path opened up for me to begin looking for employment again, I was thrilled to find that the Division of Continuing Education offered a six-course certificate program,” she said. “The coursework was rigorous, reasonably priced, and I was happy to return to my alma mater. It is abundantly clear that the instructors in the Contract Management program want their students to succeed not just in the coursework but in their careers as a whole.”

Certified career advancement

Even individuals with little to no experience in the field can earn the ANAB-approved CCMA™ certification, which showcases their dedication and understanding of the Contract Management Standard, including a strong grasp of contract management principles and life cycle. To qualify, candidates must have 40 hours of approved contract management credits and either an undergraduate degree or one year of experience in the workplace.

It’s the first of four NCMA certifications, each reflecting continued career growth in various specialized areas and ongoing professional education.

“I definitely plan to pursue further NCMA certification,” Temre said. “I really appreciate that the NCMA offers different levels of certification for different stages of career development. It will motivate me to stay up to date on new and emerging issues in contract management. With educational opportunities, discounts, and local networking opportunities, I would also highly recommend membership in the NCMA.”

Having NCMA certification provides a standardized way for employers to have insight into a candidate’s training, knowledge, and skillsets, she added. “It helps provide credibility, and in my circumstances at the start of my contract management career, this helps give employers confidence in my potential and dedication despite my current lack of professional experience.”

Signing on for success

The DCE Contract Management certificate program is designed to focus on the core competencies recognized by the NCMA, addressing procurement and contracting in a wide range of fields and industries. Taught by expert, experienced instructors, the courses provide a deep dive into contract formation, negotiation, financial analysis, and risk management, all key elements of contract management.

Additionally, students explore new and emerging areas in international commerce and global outsourcing, with a special emphasis on the latest edition of the NCMA’s Contract Management Body of Knowledge (CMBOK), helping to prepare students to pass NCMA certification exams.

“The DCE Contract Management program was instrumental in my preparation for the CCMA™ certification exam,” Temre said. “The exam is based on the contract life cycle, and the coursework similarly addresses each life-cycle phase along with practical applications such as Contract Negotiation, Ethics, and Finance Principles.”

Re-entering the workforce after more than a decade can be a bit intimidating, Temre said. Although she had experience as a court clerk and attorney, she was looking for a fresh start, but she wasn’t sure which direction to go. Then a friend recommended a new career track in contract management, a lucrative and in-demand field. “I knew I found a good fit with the DCE program,” she added. “It is beneficial both for those who are currently employed and prefer to take one course at a time, and also those who, like me, want an accelerated route to begin looking for a job as quickly as possible.”

She found her dream job and couldn’t be more excited. “I was very much in need of a position, and I am so grateful to be starting on this new career path.”

Aside from focusing on her new career, Temre is far from finished with her writing pursuits.

“Being a writer and a storyteller is a part of who I am,” she said. “The opportunity to create a small offering of this same experience for a young reader will never not feel like a little bit of magic.”

Learn more about the Contract Management Certificate Program.