National Association of State Procurement Officials

The 2024 NASPO Annual Conference is officially underway with a celebratory ribbon cutting by NASPO CEO Lindle Hatton and the 2024 NASPO Board of Directors. We’re looking forward to a week of discussing key topics, strategies, and success stories that elevate the procurement profession! #NASPOAnnual2024 #PublicProcurement

We recently wrapped up the NASPO’s Partnerships Session Top 10 Priority Carousel Activity—an engaging and interactive activity that explored the 2024 NASPO Top 10 Priorities for Public Procurement! Here’s What Happened: Dynamic Rotations: Participants moved through various stations, each focused on a key priority. They discussed, brainstormed, and developed actionable strategies, all under the guidance of NASPO experts. Hands-On Learning: Attendees delved into real-world case studies, tackled challenges, and shared their unique insights. MVP Moments: Standout group members earned MVP cards, sharing key takeaways during our large group reflection. Thanks to everyone who joined us and made it such a success! #NASPOAnnual2024 #PublicProcurement #AcademicPartners #StrategicPartners

This week, we welcome members and partners to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2024 NASPO Annual Conference. Get ready for exciting educational sessions and networking opportunities as we celebrate procurement achievements and unite our profession! See you soon! Follow the hashtag #NASPOAnnual2024 for more conference updates this week! #PublicProcurement

Get ready for an exciting addition to this year’s Annual Awards Night! We’re thrilled to introduce the inaugural Procurement Impact Award – a groundbreaking honor created in collaboration with our Award Partners. Partnering with the National Governors Association and the National Association of State Chief Administrators, this recognition shines a spotlight on innovative procurement initiatives that have fostered meaningful collaboration between state procurement offices and other state agencies We thank the nine states that submitted for this year’s recognition, and we look forward to announcing the winner next week! State Submissions: California - Generative Artificial Intelligence in Procurement Operations Project Idaho - Idaho LAUNCH Grant Program Indiana - Personal Protective Equipment for Volunteer Firefighters Montana -The Procurement Modernization Initiative Nebraska- Strategic Policy and Procedure Changes for Procurement Reform North Carolina - The North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) Ohio - OhioBuys Electronic Procurement System Tennessee -Go-DBE Initiatives Advancing Inclusivity Washington -Restructuring the ITPS Statewide Contract

We’re thrilled to announce that next week we will present the inaugural Academic Collaboration Recognition! This new award celebrates the impactful partnerships between state central procurement offices and local colleges or universities. These collaborations are essential for advancing the profession and inspiring the next generation of procurement professionals. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner, coming after our Annual Awards Night!

The NASPO Partnerships Team is excited to announce a new collaboration between the State of New Jersey and Rutgers University School of Business, supported by the NASPO Academic Agreement Expansion Program. This partnership aims to empower students with essential knowledge, connections, and opportunities while fostering the development of a skilled workforce for the public sector. Read the full press release here: https://hubs.ly/Q02NJKxF0

Ready to stay ahead of the curve in procurement? Join us at the 2025 NASPO Exchange, where industry experts will guide you through: -Targeted sessions on trends, best practices, and strategies -Mastering NASPO ValuePoint’s resources to amplify your success -Insights into the new Procurement Professionals Alliance (PPA) and its cooperative, RFxPremier -How NASPO, NASPO ValuePoint, PPA, and RFxPremier are elevating procurement through education, advocacy, and complementary cooperative contract portfolios Register today to join the conversations that will support your future success!

We are thrilled to recognize outstanding leaders at the 2024 NASPO Annual Conference with our Emerging Leader Award! This award honors individuals with 2-5 years of experience as leaders or managers who consistently inspire their teams to excel and improve processes. Please join us in congratulating our 2024 Emerging Leader Award finalists and stay tuned for the announcement of the winner following the Awards Night! To learn more about the Emerging Leader Award, please visit the NASPO website: https://hubs.ly/Q02NHjCC0 2024 Emerging Leader Finalists: Barbara Musick, Procurement Program Team Manager, Colorado Catherine Sanders, Purchasing Analyst Supervisor, Florida

Next week at the 2024 NASPO Annual Conference, we will honor exceptional individuals with the Rising Star Award! This award recognizes those with 1-5 years of experience in public procurement who are champions of the profession and show the qualities of future leaders and managers. Please join us in congratulating our 2024 Rising Star Award finalists and stay tuned for the announcement of the winner after the Awards Night! To learn more about the Rising Star Award, please visit the NASPO website: https://hubs.ly/Q02NH0sF0 2024 Rising Star Finalists: Julie Aalberg, IT Management Analyst, Washington Thomas Wilson, Procurement Instructional Designer, Colorado

Please join us in congratulating our finalists for the 2024 George Cronin Awards for Procurement Excellence. We look forward to hearing these presentations at the Annual Conference and naming our gold, silver, and bronze winners. These presentations will also be available during our Cronin Webinar Series! Be on the lookout in early 2025 for the schedule of dates and times. To learn more about the Cronin Awards, please visit the NASPO website: https://hubs.ly/Q02NFBfD0 2024 Cronin Awards for Procurement Excellence Finalists: Colorado - Whose Contract Is It Anyway? Improving Outcomes Through Contract Management Training for Program Staff Presented by Thomas Wilson, CO Massachusetts - Decarbonizing Massachusetts’ Vendors: An Integration of Climate Consideration into Public Procurement Supply Chain Presented by Zazy Atallah, MA Michigan - Cloudy with a Chance of Savings: Infrastructure as a Service Presented by Simon Baldwin, MI Michigan - Enhancing Vendor Compliance Through RMIS Integration Presented by Stephanie Epps-Guzek, MI Missouri - Operational Improvement Through Turnaround Time Management Presented by Karen Boeger, Brent Dixon, and Michael Stroud, MO #NASPOAnnual2024 #PublicProcurement #ProcurementExcellence