Our team

Tim Cummins serves as the Executive Director of CCM Institute and as the President of World Commerce & Contracting. He has also lectured in Law at the University of Leeds. For 25 years, Tim has led research and the development of standards for the Commercial and Contract Management discipline, an achievement that was recognised by the Financial Times ‘Market Shaper of the Year’ award in 2019.

Over that time, Tim has been instrumental in developing the world’s only international not-for-profit association dedicated to commercial and contract management and continues to work with its 80,000 members in both public and private sector to improve the quality and integrity of trading relationships.

Tim’s inspiration came from a career in Finance and Commercial Management, spanning multiple industries and countries and providing insight to the critical role that commercial innovation plays in delivering business and social value.

Nikki is the Chief Development Officer for CCM Institute, where she is committed to advancing research that underpins responsible change. She is passionate about leveraging insights to influence policy and practice for the professional community.

With over two decades of global experience, Nikki has lived in seven countries, helping organizations develop strategies and curate shared learning experiences through research, events and multimedia campaigns. Her work spans diverse industries in both public and private sector, including Financial Services, Energy, Transportation, Telecommunications, Pharmaceuticals, and Healthcare.

Nikki thrives on building relationships and bringing people together to collaborate and innovate.

Monica Puckett is a military spouse who has had the opportunity to work in several countries and excelled in some of the toughest environments. She is resourceful Executive Assistant and brings over 15 years of experience in travel, large scale meetings, and managing office staff. She has key strengths in C-Suite and Board of Directors relations. Monica is Chief of Staff and Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors at National Contract Management Association (NCMA), one of CCM Institute’s founding partners.

Dr. Daniel Finkenstadt is a recognized expert in public procurement and policy, currently supporting the CCM Institute. With over 23 years of experience in public sector acquisitions—from operational units to headquarters—he brings deep, practical knowledge to the field. His career includes overseas roles in Italy and Afghanistan, as well as joint acquisition work with the intelligence community.

Dr. Finkenstadt previously served as an assistant professor of defense management at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA, where he worked with graduate students on groundbreaking efforts to gamify acquisition education and training. During this time, he founded the Simulation and Ideation Lab for Applied Science (SILAS), which earned the 2023 Innovation in Contracting Award from NCMA.

He is the author of two books and a prolific contributor to peer-reviewed and professional publications, including multiple articles in Harvard Business Review. His HBR article, “How Generative AI Can Augment Human Creativity,” is a best-seller.

Tara Bevan is a Franco-British Senior Research Analyst at World Commerce & Contracting.

With a background in Aerospace & Defense, gained through experience at Thales, and holding a Master's degree in European Studies and International Relations from Maastricht University, Tara brings a strong analytical skillset to her work in the field of commercial and contract management.

In her role, Tara leads research projects for the CCM Institute, establishing timelines and ensuring the delivery of high-quality outputs. She conducts in-depth qualitative research, including interviews and stakeholder engagements, to create valuable data-driven insights.

‍

As Executive Assistant and Program Manager at World Commerce & Contracting, the WorldCC Foundation, and the CCM Institute, I bring strong practical, planning, and problem-solving skills to the table – paired with a technical mind and a natural ability to organize and energize those around me.

In my roles, I thrive on providing thoughtful, end-to-end support across a range of initiatives. With strengths in project management, strategic planning, and communication, I play a key role in driving our work forward. At the core of everything I do is a commitment to empathy, collaboration, and getting things done efficiently and (importantly) with heart.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts from Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, majoring in Education and Sociology, with minors in Social Policy and New Zealand Sign Language (2018). I’ve since added two contract and commercial management certifications (Associate and Practitioner level) and a Level 5 Executive Assistant Diploma to my toolkit.

Outside of work, I’m often on the squash court – my newest hobby and fast-growing obsession!

Cinthia Nazario Martin is a curious and forward-thinking Commercial Research and Innovation Specialist. She is passionate about exploring how contracts, commerce, and global dynamics continue to evolve. With a background in corporate law and legal engineering, she combines structure with creativity to bring clarity to complex topics across industries.

At CCM Institute, she leads and supports research that helps organizations make sense of emerging trends, challenge outdated models, and uncover practical ways to strengthen commercial performance in today’s fast-changing world.

Cinthia is driven by the belief that research should inspire action. She focuses on making insights accessible, relevant, and impactful contributing to a more adaptive and connected contracting community.