Two of NIGP's Finest Receive Top IFPSM Awards

This September, two NIGP professionals garnered international recognition by receiving two of the three awards presented by the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management, IFPSM.  IFPSM presents three international awards annually to members of the worldwide procurement profession for their outstanding talents and contributions:

•  Garner-Themoin Award
•  Hans Ovelgonne – Purchasing Research Award
•  Lewis E. Spangler – Purchasing Professional Award

For outstanding contributions to the development of purchasing, materials management and logistics through research and development studies, Donna McCarthy, CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., NIGP Director of Research and Technical Resources received the Hans Ovelgonne - Purchasing Research Award.

Donna is a member of NIGP’s senior management team and has over 20 years in public and private procurement.  As Director of Research, Donna is responsible for all NIGP research initiatives including the Public Procurement Research Center at Florida Atlantic University.  She also is Program Manager for the Procurement Management Assistance Program, which provides consulting services to public agencies in all areas of public procurement and systems management.  As a former practitioner, Donna brings rare and practical insight into her research initiatives which helps ensure that the trends and benchmarks identified are relevant to our profession.

For outstanding commitment to the puchasing profession and the positive contributions made to the bottom line of NIGP as well as support to the procurement field of education and training, Rick Grimm, CPPO, CPPB, NIGP Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, Board of Directors received the Lewis E. Spangler – Purchasing Professional Award.

Rick has been at NIGP's helm since 1998 and has dedicated himself to making NIGP a leader in the development, support and promotion of public procurement through educational and research program excellence, advanced member services for purchasing professionals, and by promoting collaborative relationships among all stakeholder organizations working on behalf of public procurement professionals.  Rick also serves on the IFPSM Board of Directors and was its President from 2004-2005.

As a result of Rick’s leadership and abilities, both NIGP and IFPSM have enjoyed growth in membership, stature and recognition from practitioners, procurement agencies and government leadership.

Congratulations Donna and Rick.

Resolution On Strategic Sourcing In Public Procurement

The following resolution was adopted by the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. at its official meeting on the 21st day of October, 2006 and signed by Rick Grimm, CPPO, CPPB, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary.

Whereas, the combined expenditures of federal, state and local governments exceed $700 billion on goods and services each year; 

NIGP Seeks Representatives to UPPCC

Applications Are Due December 1, 2006

NIGP is seeking qualified leaders who are interested in serving as an NIGP representative to the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC).

To be eligible for service, the NIGP representative:

•  Must hold a current designation as a Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO)
•  Must not be a member of the UPPCC Board of Examiners, a CPPO and/or CPPB
   review course instructor, or a member of a CPPO oral panel

The UPPCC is an independent entity formed to govern and administer the Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) and Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) certification programs. The UPPCC is comprised of eight members of whom the NIGP Board of Directors elects three.  Of these three positions, NIGP is currently seeking applications from candidates who are interested in applying for two representative terms that will expire on December 31, 2006.  The current two NIGP representatives are:

•  Mr. Rick Berry, CPPO – Executive Director for Construction and Procurement
   Services, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
   (Mr. Berry is eligible to serve another term)

•  Mr. James B. O’Neill, FNIGP, CPPO – Director for Purchasing and Risk
   Management, City of Fort Collins, Colorado
   (Mr. O’Neill is not eligible to serve another term due to term limits)

Elected representatives to the UPPCC will serve a three-year term beginning January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009.

To review the UPPCC’s responsibilities and qualification requirements, see the Position Description and Conflict of Interest Statement. To apply for these positions, complete the 2006 Auxiliary Organizations Application.

The application must be received in the NIGP National Office via mail to 151 Spring Street, Herndon, VA 20170; e-mail to sriggs@nigp.org; or via fax at 703-736-2818, by no later than December 1, 2006.  After that date, the NIGP Nominating Committee will recommend a slate of candidates to the NIGP Board of Directors.

Direct any questions to Sandy Riggs at 800-FOR-NIGP x243. [ return to top ]

International Public Procurement Conference 2006 - What's Ahead?

The second annual IPPC conference was held on September 21, 22, and 23 in Rome, Italy with attendance almost tripling from last year.  Over 240 practitioners and research academia came from all over the world to this international conference dedicated exclusively to the field of public procurement.  The strong international attendance reflects the interest by the community to grow its presence in the academic world.   Without academic support of the ideology associated with the work of the public servant, the practitioner will continue to be seen as one doing a "job", not a "professional".

NIGP had multiple attendees at the conference who served as both discussants as well as chairs of presentations.  Representatives were also present from the Research Committee, Advocacy Committee and Education Committee.  One of the highlights included a presentation by John Miller, CPPO, Director of Purchasing, Harford County Public Schools, Forest Hill, MD, on "Alternative Dispute Resolution" which is not in wide practice in the United States, yet very common in Europe. Ensuing discussion enforced the validity and credibility of ADR, as many attendees expressed that they do this all the time. 

Informative sessions included a p-card presentation by MasterCard and Dr. Richard Palmer (The EU does not use p-cards at this time due to legal wording in the EU formation documentation), Emergency Procurement Procedures used by the US, USAID and UN, and required skill sets for procurement professionals.  Referencing the identified skill sets provides a benchmark against which we can track the profession.  For example, in some countries, one cannot be a 'spender' of the government dollar without having a degree, and for many, the inclusion of an understanding of best business practice and management theory is a must. 

In discussions of procurement in lesser developed countries, it is interesting to note how cultural history influences their understanding of ethical and moral practices.  Corruption has many levels and what may be considered taboo in one environment is perfectly acceptable in another. Thus, the skill sets required for success are impacted by the morals of the jurisdiction.  There were several presentations on use of the US as a model for other governments to follow with regard to establishing a procurement policy/program with transparency and SBA programs.  If the US is considered the leader in establishing policy, we need to become familiar with – and sensitive to – the cultural or social development that may need to occur in order to support a US-based public procurement system.

The United States is considered an international leader in influencing public procurement policy and NIGP continues to establish itself as the leading icon of public procurement in the US.  For NIGP and its membership, this reaffirms the critical role that NIGP plays in spreading the message of best practices and good government.  One need only look at NIGP's mission statement to determine the relevance and value of NIGP's participation in international events.  The more NIGP has a global presence, the greater the impact we can have on the advancement of public procurement domestically and worldwide.

NIGP's Mission:  To develop, support and promote the public procurement profession through premier educational and research programs, professional support, and advocacy initiatives that benefit members and constituents.

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Understanding Your Role As Contract Administrator

The three-day "Contract Administration" class may be your answer. 

Here's what some of your colleagues had to say:

"I feel more knowledgeable and confident in my work."

"I have always focused on contract administration, but I have learned more tools to help me in doing a better job."

Contract administration is an essential and time-consuming function of public procurement.  This three-day class provides a comprehensive overview to help you understand the complexities of contract administration as well as best practices.  Discover the importance of planning, monitoring and proactive insight into and oversight of contract performance. 

Date:              November 15-17
Location:       Meriden, Connecticut
Instructor:      Keith I. Ashby, CPPO

Presented by the Public Purchasing Association of Connecticut Chapter of NIGP.
Register today at http://www.ppac.us

Course Objectives:

•  Develop an effective contract managmeent/administration plan that can meet
   organizational goals

•  Describe the tools needed to design, devlop and formulate the process

•  Assess how contract administration can be continually improved to enhance
   contract performances 

There are NO prerequisites, however, one to two years of public procurement experience is recommended before enrolling.  Or, you may find completion of the NIGP Introduction to Public Procurement Class, and the NIGP Planning, Scheduling and Rquirements Analysis class to be a benefit.

Contact hours:  24 hours
UPPCC Recertification points:  3
CEU Credits:  2.25

For more information, visit Contract Administration.

Interested in having your Chapter host this seminar, please email Lauren at lgaffney@nigp.org or call 800-736-8900 x 240.

"Great class!  Learned a lot, confirmed a lot, networked with other procurement professionals."

NIGP's Database Administrator Recognized as A STAR

Linda Riegelman Awarded The November NIGP Star

Congratulations!  Linda joined NIGP 2^1/2 years ago as part of the IT department and reports to Erik Steffan, MCP, Director, Information Technology. Linda plays a vital role in the operations and administration of NIGP's database system.  Her friendly and helpful demeanor is infectious.  Linda's hands-on style and 'can do' attitude make her a pleasure to work with and her accolades can be heard by internal as well as external clients.  Linda received the NIGP STAR for her dedication and commitment to the Core Values of NIGP and as expressed by a staff member

...While traveling with other association professionals, when our organization is named, on more than one occasion the response heard is 'Oh, that's where Linda Riegelman works.  She is amazing!'  What a joy to be on your team...

NIGP's STAR employee recognition program gives SPECIAL THANKS AND RECOGNITION to key team members.  The program encourages staff to recognize fellow colleagues for their valuable support of our members, constituents, and staff. What makes this program special is the fact that STARs are recognized by their peers and the criteria selection is based on NIGP core values that include:

• Professionalism
• Ethical behavior
• Customer Service
• Diversity and its benefits
• Innovation
• Collaboration and the synergy it provides
• Excellence in leadership

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Welcome New Members - October 2006

Agency Members

Bainbridge College
Representative:  Natalie Higley
Bainbridge, GA

City of Auburn
Representative:  Karen Broome
Auburn, AL

City of Burbank
Representative:  Paul Herman, C.P.M.
Burbank, CA

City of Hutto
Representative:  Diane Mehaffey
Hutto, TX

City of Kingsland
Representative:  Denise Green
Kingsland, GA

City of Lewiston
Representative:  Joy Schwank
Lewiston, ME

Limestone District School Board
Representative:  Patrick Fisher
Kingston, ON

Livingston Parish President – Council
Representative:  Jennifer Woodward
Livingston, LA

Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism
Representative:  Thomas Politz
Baton Rouge, LA

Maryland Child Support Enforcement Administration
Representative:  Fred Cauble, CPPO, CPPB
Baltimore, MD

Maryland Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs
Representative:  Herbert Jordan
Baltimore, MD

Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
Representative:  Diane Lewis
Oklahoma City, OK

Orange County Fire Authority
Representative:  John Coggins, C.P.M.
Irvine, CA

Saskatchewan Telecommunications
Representative:  Michael LeCren, CPPB
Regina, SK

Terrebonne Association for Retarded Citizens
Representative:  Sandra Waire, CPPB
Houma, LA

Travis County Sheriff’s Office
Representative:  Mary Swanson
Austin, TX

Washington State Department of Transportation, Ferries Division
Representative:  Robert Estes
Seattle, WA

Wil Lou Gray Opportunity School
Representative: Melissa Thurstin
West Columbia, SC


Individual Members

William Douglas
Santa Ana, CA

Nixa Haisley
Palmetto, FL

Merel Hayes
Inglewood, CA

Anthony Jones
Camden, SC

Nataliya Kabakova
St. Paul, MN

Joyce McClane, CPPB
Flint, MI

Tiffany Olson
Eagleville, PA

Dale Ponder
Yuma, AZ

Diane Salisbury
Lincoln, RI

Cynthia Sellers
Cheraw, SC

John Woolery Jr., CWO4, F&S, USCG (ret)
Seattle, WA


Student Members

Maira Fakier
Barry University

Adriane Garcia
University of Nevada Las Vegas


Faculty Members

Dr. John Wyatt III
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA


Retired Members

Alan Bodine, CPPO, CPPB
Stillwater, OK

Betty Harper, C.P.M., CLGPO
Jamestown, NC

Larry House, CPPO
Columbus, OH



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