The third annual NASPO Academic Forum was hosted May 14-16, 2019, at Oregon State University. We were thrilled to take the forum to the West Coast with our partners at OSU! Although it was a bit of a trek for many of our attendees, the event was a success! This year, 70 attendees represented 25 states, 8 academic institutions, a strategic partner and even a handful of students. Academic Forum attendees, both academics and state members, support NASPO’s higher education initiatives with their passion for learning and collaboration. Read more here.
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Post-Exchange survey results
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NASPO appreciates the feedback received from those who attended the 2019 Exchange in Denver. The results are in and are very favorable. In fact, 96 percent of the more than 500 Exchange participants representing 40 states and 140 suppliers who responded to the survey indicated the conference either exceeded or met their expectations.
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From the General Sessions to the small group breakouts and One-on-One meetings, we’re glad attendees found the 2019 Exchange valuable. If you were unable to attend this year’s event, make plans now to attend the 2020 Exchange, March 24-26, in Nashville, Tennessee!
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Midwestern Regional Conference
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This week, state members in the Midwestern states are gathered together in Minneapolis for the 2019 NASPO Midwestern Regional Conference, May 21-23. Follow us on Twitter @NASPOnews for photos from the event.
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Eastern Regional Conference registration is open; Southern registration opens soon!
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Registration for the Eastern Regional Conference is now open! Join us in Portland, Maine, July 16-18, to learn new approaches to your top procurement priorities, share best practices and connect with fellow members in the Eastern Region.
The conference will take place at The Westin Portland Harborview. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to connect with your Eastern region peers! Register here before June 21, 2019 to secure your reservation!
Registration for the Southern Regional Conference will open soon. This year’s event will be held July 23-25 at the Hutton Hotel Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee.
With education and networking opportunities targeted to state procurement staff, NASPO Regional Conferences offer an excellent professional development opportunity for up to six individuals from your state. Remember, NASPO provides full registration and travel funding for your allotted participants, so don’t let this important member benefit go to waste.
Questions? Contact [email protected] for more information about the regional conferences.
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Are you interested in serving on the NASPO Board of Directors? Nominations Committee Chair Debbie Dennis of Oregon soon will be releasing the official Call for Nominations via the NASPO Network. The committee is seeking active, engaged state members willing to lead our organization’s strategies, policies and fiscal direction through service on the NASPO Board. State members who will be the primary (voting) member before the term begins on January 1, 2020, are eligible for nomination. Four Director-at-Large positions will be open, as well as the President-Elect. Elections will take place at the 2019 Annual Conference, September 8-11, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Practical guide third edition published
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NASPO has published the third edition of its flagship publication, “State and Local Government Procurement: A Practical Guide.” First published in 2008 and updated in 2015, this guide is an indispensable reference tool for both new and experienced government procurement professionals.
Keeping pace with changes in procurement trends, the third edition of the Practical Guide has several new features, including IT procurement, sustainable purchasing and the use of eProcurement systems. The latest guide also includes expanded narratives on procurement planning, source selection methods, evaluation of bids and proposals, quality assurance and contract management.
Copies of the Practical Guide soon will be available for purchase online. The cost is $65. More information coming soon!
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Everything Procurement. Anytime. Anywhere.
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Procurement U provides professional development opportunities, training, resources, publications and more specifically tailored to meet the needs of state procurement officials and procurement staff. Procurement U’s online courses are available 24/7 to meet the needs of your busy schedule.
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Interested in learning more? Check out this video or visit the Procurement U webpage to see details about enrollment fees and course offerings.
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NASPO is now accepting nominations
for the 2019 Cronin Awards!
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The George Cronin Awards Program recognizes outstanding procurement initiatives that focus on innovation, transferability, service improvement, and cost reduction as its defining principles. This program provides well-deserved appreciation to states and their procurement personnel who have accomplished projects that result in distinct benefits to their state.
If you have a project that you would like to submit, please do so by Monday, July 15th. You can find the submission guidelines and form by clicking here.
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Cronin Award Finalist Webinar Series
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Steve Berg appointed NASPO board member
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Steve Berg of South Dakota has been appointed by NASPO President Lisa Eason to serve an unexpired term on the NASPO Board of Directors. Steve fills the vacancy created when Sarah Hilderbrand, former Idaho CPO, resigned from her elected position on the NASPO Board.
Steve has 20 years of procurement experience at both the federal and state government levels. Steve currently serves as the director of the Office of Procurement Management for the State of South Dakota. In this role, he oversees South Dakota’s centralized procurement office, which is the entity responsible for procurement of all supplies, materials and equipment required by state agencies and institutions.
Congratulations, Steve!
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NASPO welcomes new CPOs,
honorary and associate members:
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Mark Hayden, New Mexico
Rick Hughes, Arizona
Kevin Doty, Nevada (Acting)
Jean Clark (extended)
Jenny Doherty
Kevin Scheirer
Challon Winer
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