National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) Concludes Annual Conference by Recognizing 2023 Giulio Mazzone Distinguished Service Award Winner 

 The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) concluded its Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA the evening of September 20 with an awards dinner and celebration. The final award presented was the Giulio Mazzone Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes service on a continuing exemplary basis to the public procurement profession.

Deb Damore, Director of the Vermont Office of Purchasing and Contracting, and former NASPO president, was awarded the 2023 Mazzone Award for her outstanding contributions to NASPO and public procurement. Damore was instrumental in the development and launch of NASPO’s successful Procurement University that is filling a gap in state procurement training, while helping to create an education career path in public procurement.

Monica Wilkes, former New York Deputy Director, and previous Mazzone Award recipient, presented NASPO’s highest and most coveted award, and described Damore as “a humble leader dedicated to NASPO and public procurement with an unrelenting passion for the profession.”

The Mazzone Task force, which is comprised of former recipients of the award, selects an awardee only when it determines that a candidate meets specific criteria, which includes dedication to lawful and sound procurement principles, significant contributions to the mission of NASPO and/or the field of procurement, advancement of professionalism in procurement activities, personal and professional integrity in procurement practices, active mentoring or support of peers in the procurement profession, and commitment to continual improvement in procurement practices. It is not mandatory to present the award annually. Nominations are open to anyone who meets the criteria, including, but not limited to those who have held office within NASPO, and who are current or past members.

About NASPO: NASPO is a non–profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members achieve success as public procurement leaders through the promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. www.naspo.org

Media Contact:  

Kate Davila
Director of Marketing and Communications, NASPO
[email protected]