Petty previously served as deputy administrator of the State Services Division, with responsibilities for risk management, procurement, surplus services and the state fleet. In 2001, he led the development of the Sustainable Supplier Council, whose recommendations helped change specifications in various products Oregon buys.
Petty was chair of the Western States Contracting Alliance, and has served on the board of directors of the Universal Public Purchasing Council. He also served as the president of the National Association of State Procurement Officials and was on the board of directors of the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council.