Industry News: Purchasing 'Gets Respect' From State of Georgia

Over the past three years, sweeping changes have taken place in the state of Georgia's purchasing department.  In fact, these changes have been referred to as a 'revolution'.  State officials realized that during economic declines, smart purchasing adds to the bottom line and purchasers need to be strategists. 

When Governor Sonny Perdue took office in 2003, he urged agency officials to think differently about how they operated.  He wanted them to run their organizations like businesses and know where the money is spent and find ways to save it.  His primary business principle - fact-based decision making.

Revolutionary changes were necessary to bring Georgia's antiquated procurement department from the 'Dark Ages' into the 21st century.  Here are just a few of the obstacles and solutions that Georgia faced along the way. 

Data

Obstacle:  Prior to 2005, state employees did not keep records of suppliers and contracts.  There wasn't any spending data available to make better buying decisions. 

Solution:  A procurement overhaul.  Officials looked to strategic sourcing and the department created a knowledge center to handle procurement analyses.  Georgia's goal was to aggregate spending across its agencies and organizations, which in the past , operated independently.  To help accomplish this goal, in July, Georgia signed a contract with SciQuest, an e-procurement management company, to provide the state with a buying system that will become the hub for the state's procurement system.

Law

Obstacle:  State law obstructed good buying practices.  According to state procurement law, agencies were not permitted to negotiate with vendors on the contracts.  

Solution:  Brad Douglas, Commissioner for Georgia's Department of Administrative Services and Tim Gibney, Assistant Commissioner at the State Purchasing Division, advocates for their department, addressed the legislators about the procurement system and the need for reforms.  In 2005, the Assembly passed legislation giving state agencies more flexibility resulting in improved acquisitions. 

Training

Obstacle:  Lack of education and training.

Solution:   Education and training are necessary for the purchasing department.  Purchasers needed to feel empowered and learn how to think differently to understand how their purchases impacted the entire state of Georgia. 

Tim Gibney, Assistant Commissioner at the State Purchasing Division of the Administrative Services Department, said it best about the purchasing department, "My major goal - as Rodney Dangerfield said - has been to get some respect for the profession."

Source:  fcw.com.   This is an abbreviated version of an August 18, 2008, article by Matthew Weigelt.

Georgia's Department of Administrative Services has been a member of NIGP for almost 20 years.  NIGP congratulates the Department on their efforts and leadership initiative.

Cert Prep Central Webinar: Preparing for the CPPO Computerized Exam...

What to Expect 
Thursday, October 2
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Friday, September 26

Course Objectives:

•  Outline the format and physical setting of the CPPO
   computerized examination process
•  Provide insight as to what elements the exam will cover
•  Demonstrate examples of typical CPPO exam questions
   followed up with an answer critique analysis

                                                    Presented by:
                                          
                          William E. Hertwig Jr., CPPO, CPPB, C.P.M., A.P.P.

                                                  Register Today  


NIGP's Education team has produced an exceptional suite of products to assist candidates preparing for their CPPB and CPPO exams.  This Prep Webinar is just one of the many tools NIGP offers in Cert Prep Central.  

                                      
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Upcoming Webinar: Market Research...

A Risk Management Tool
Tuesday, October 7
1PM - 2:30PM (Eastern)
Registration Deadline:  Wednesday, October 1

Course Objectives:

•  Understand the importance of Market Research
•  View Market Research as a valuable tool applicable
   to the risk management process
•  Identify tools for conducting Market Research
•  Apply the principals of Market Research to evaluate risk
   prior to the award process and be able to monitor contract
   after award more effectively

                                                Presented By:
                                      
                                            Myra Smith, CPPB

                                               Register Today 

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Member News: Casper Joins National IPA Team

Wayne A. Casper, C.P.M., CPPO,  joins National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance (National IPA), a cooperative purchasing organization for public agencies, education, and non-profit agencies as General Manager for the West Region. 

Wayne brings the knowledge, accomplishments and experience from a thirty-five year public procurement career, including over thirty years of senior management experience in state and local government procurement. Wayne is past President of the National Purchasing Institute (NPI) and the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO).  He understands the issues that public procurement professionals face on a daily basis.

In addition to a career dedicated to public procurement, Wayne was successful in developing and marketing the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) program.  Wayne's role in the AEP program provided him the opportunity to work with public procurement associations and professionals across the country in an effort dedicated to the advancement of public procurement.

Wayne says, “I am excited about the opportunity to work with my peers in the west, as well as across the country and am proud to be part of National IPA, which is rapidly becoming the preeminent public contracting alliance.”  

Source:  September 5, 2008, National IPA Press Release by Andrea Scobie.  For more information contact andrea.scobie@nationalipa.org.

 
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Maricopa County: Deputies' Cars Go Digital

Maricopa County will spend about $2 million to upgrade technology to improve 911 response-time calls to the Sheriff's Office.

For the past eight years, the response time has been about seven minutes which is two minutes longer than the self-imposed five-minute goal to respond to Priority One calls or crimes in progress.

The computerized equipment will replace radio systems in all patrol cars and provide deputies with instant access to law-enforcement databases before approaching suspects or responding to calls.  Deputies can check outstanding warrants, run checks on license-plates, file reports and collect other information instead of radioing ahead to dispatch and wait for a response.

The system is being tested and should be in place by early June.  According to early estimates by county budget officials, the system could save more than $23 million each year in staff time.

Source:  azcentral.com.  September 4, 2008 by Yvonne Wingettand and JJ Hensley, The Arizona Republic.  For more information, visit www.azcentral.com.


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Help Us Help You: Demographic Profile Request

Each fall, NIGP assesses the organization’s demographic profile which includes information on membership, volunteer leadership and staff. This information is used to determine the overall characteristics of our membership, review trends in public purchasing and to analyze and develop customized membership services and resources.

Please review the information in your membership profile for accuracy by close of
business Friday, September 19, 2008 so that our report will accurately reflect our membership.

To help us meet our deadlines, submit your information online . 

To view/change your NIGP member profile, visit Members-Only; enter your PIN and password and depress LOGIN.

1)   Select the View/Change your Profile option under your email
2)   Update or add information directly into your profile. Select a category
      from the pull-down arrow to the right.
3)   Depress the SAVE button at the bottom of the page to save your information! 
                        

Thank you in advance for your participation—your information counts!

View last year's report at: 2007 Diversity and Demographics Report.

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Green: EcoLogo and CFPA Announce Partnership

Top North American Eco-labels Moving Toward Standardization

TerraChoice Environmental Marketing and the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) announced that CFPA is joining forces with the EcoLogo Program, demonstrating how eco-labels can harmonize and work toward a common goal.

“This partnership between EcoLogo and CFPA symbolizes a move toward standardization among eco-labels,” says Scott McDougall, President and CEO of TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, which manages the EcoLogo Program. “The harmonization of these two certifications will mean easier decision-making for purchasing professionals and greater sustainability in the working environment.”
The EcoLogo Program is expanding its presence in the United States and, with its new partnership with CFPA, will provide businesses with regional expertise in the Chicago area along with its existing office in Philadelphia.

What does this partnership mean for EcoLogo and CFPA clients? It represents additional benefits for environmental leaders, including discounted audit/verification and licensing fees for clients who seek both certifications as well as a single audit for both certifications. Both EcoLogo and CFPA currently have standards for bath, tissue and copy papers.

“This new relationship between CFPA and EcoLogo will result in cost savings to those operating in the pulp, paper, packaging and printing markets while providing added value for companies looking to promote their environmental performance under the sustainable manufacturing initiative,” says Archie Beaton, Executive Director of CFPA. “We are proud to be moving forward together while creating value and affecting positive, measurable change in the environment.”

About CFPA:
Founded in 1993, the Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA), headquartered in Algonquin, IL, is an internationally recognized not-for-profit standards and accreditation association dedicated to sustainability and environmental concerns. CFPA is a leader in acknowledging the need for third party chain of custody for raw materials, audits of process and working toward certified sustainable manufacturing processes and products. For more information, visit www.chlorinefreeproducts.org.

About EcoLogoCM:
EcoLogo is a third-party eco-labeling program and the only standard approved by the Global Eco-Labeling Network, an international association of eco-labeling programs, as meeting the ISO 14024 environmental marketing standard. EcoLogo was established in 1988 and today is one of the most recognizable ecolabels in North America. For more information, visit www.ecologo.org.

About TerraChoice:
TerraChoice Environmental Marketing manages, certifies and delivers the EcoLogo Program.
A science-based marketing firm, we help clients convert genuine environmental leadership into winning strategy, communications and positioning. TerraChoice, North America’s premiere environmental marketing agency, helps grow the world’s most sustainable companies. For more information, visit www.terrachoice.com.


Source:  September 4, 2008, News Release by Kate Rusnak, TerraChoice Environmental Marketing.  For more information, contact krusnak@terrachoice.com.

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Welcome New Members: August 2008

Agency Members

AltoLakes Water Sanitation
David Edington
Alto, NM

Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center
Henry Thompson, CPPO, CPPB, FACHE, C.P.M.
Brooklyn, NY

Cabarrus Health Alliance
Carol Rodgers
Kannapolis, NC

City of Charlotte, Engineering Department
Edward Mobley
Charlotte, NC

City of Marietta - Marietta Power
Robin Priest
Marietta, GA

City of Tampa Water Department Production Division
Robert Kelin
Tampa, FL

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Lynn Deegen
Perkinston, MS

New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Parmod Tripathi, CPPB
New York, NY

Northern Lights Health Region
G. Cameron Donald
Ft. McMurray, AB
Canada

Onondaga County
Patricia Mosley
Syracuse, NY

Orange County Social Services
Georgetta Vlad
Santa Anna, CA

Ouachita Parish Police Jury
Frances Hunter
Monroe, LA

Peidmont Technical College
Thomasine Lybrand, CPPB
Greenwood, SC

Pittsburgh Public Schools Minority/Women Business Dept.
Paula Castleberry
Pittsburgh, PA

Prince George's County Memorial Library
Gabrielle Tibbs
Hyattsville, MD

Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Brenda Harker
Tacoma, WA

San Antonio Water System Contracting
David Gonzales, CPM
San Antonio, TX

State of Connecticut Judicial MMU
Cortez Whtie
Hartford, CT

Tallahassee Community College
Charles Riley
Tallahassee, FL


Individual Members

Monica Bonner
Pearl, MS

Shawna Carter, CPPB
Salem, OR

Sharon Hall-Frey, CPPB
New York, NY

Hugh Hines
Memphis, TN

Cathryn Horner
Decatur, GA

Anthony Ilesanmi
Elmhurst, NY

Pamela Lange, C.P.M.
Las Vegas, NV

Marci McCollum
Jackson, MS

Zalina Rahman
New York, NY

Rebecca Ricard
Lexington, SC

Diane Seaton, CPPB
Portland, OR

Melissa Torres
New York, NY


Retired Members

Glorai Spann, CPPB
Silver Spring, MD


Student Members

Maureen McNichol
Coconut,Creek, FL

Denise Ramos
Boynton Beach, FL

Deanna Taylor
Columbus, OH

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UPPCC Certifications: August 2008

Congratulations to the following individuals for successfully completing the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC) certification requirements!

New CPPOs   

 

Florida
Donna L. Levengood, CPPO, CPPB
Assistant Purchasing Manager
City of West Palm Beach

Ohio
Maureen P. McGuire, CPPO, CPPB
Procurement Manager
State of Ohio


New CPPBs 

Florida
Carrie F. Woodell, CPPB, CFCM, C.P.M., FCCN
Purchasing Manager
City of Winter Park

Maine
Janet M. Atkinson, CPPB
Purchasing Agent
City of Westbrook

Nevada
Cynthia L. White, CPPB, C.P.M.
Contracts Specialist
City of Las Vegas

Texas
Joan C. Finkes, CPPB, C.P.M.
Purchasing Manager
City of Bryan

All certified and recertified CPPO and CPPB professionals may be found at uppcc.org. 



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