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May 21, 2025
It might not seem like my current role as Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Transportation is directly tied to procurement, but I can assure you that it is. In fact, I like to say that procurement is embedded in every organization–it’s not something you can run away from. There’s a fallacy that says you must have a job where your title says “procurement” to be in the field, and that’s just false.
I am actively working to change this narrative. I know most people sort of “fall into” procurement, but it doesn’t have to be that way. I have been on a mission to challenge that narrative and am looking for ways to make people think of procurement as a profession to aspire to. This mission is a big part of what led to my volunteer journey and my involvement with NIGP, including attending NIGP Forum.
My Introduction to NIGP
My procurement journey started in 2008 when I joined the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program at the Illinois Department of Transportation, where we certified and promoted subcontracting opportunities for disadvantaged businesses.
In 2010, the state of Illinois did a complete procurement overhaul, and I took a job with the Chief Procurement Office of General Services. I needed to get certified, so I started taking classes. I also attended a conference for the Illinois chapter, which I didn’t know was connected to NIGP.
Long story short, from there, I served on the board of my local chapter and was formally introduced to NIGP. I attended what was then called the Leadership Symposium (now called Academy as part of Leadership Summit) where I was introduced to Russ Pankey, who encouraged me to attend NIGP Forum and become more involved at the national level.
My First NIGP Forum
I attended my first Forum on a scholarship in 2016. I still remember the first opening session, which was led by Jack Adger, the chair of NIGP. When I saw him on stage, I knew I wanted to be like him someday. He really motivated procurement professionals to get the most out of the training sessions and take back our learning to our agencies to disperse the knowledge to people within our local communities. I knew I wanted to do the same thing.
With guidance from Russ, I started volunteering for NIGP. I also brought back the knowledge to my local chapter and worked on finding ways to bring more people into our chapter. When I started, we had 265 members, and currently, we have 485 members. We send four board members to NIGP Forum every year instead of two, which shows the impact that attending just one Forum can have on a chapter.
Growing My Relationships and Connections with NIGP
My next Forum was in 2018 in Nashville, and that’s when I got onto an NIGP council as a volunteer leader. I started developing relationships with people all over the country which made attending Forum even more valuable. Every year, I learned something new and met new people. I made connections that would help me in the future when I had a complex procurement question. I had so many people to call on during the pandemic, and people also called on me. We were able to coordinate efforts during that challenging time which was invaluable.
When Forum returned to an in-person event in 2021, it was like having a family reunion. I realized then that Forum has become a part of me. I started to present sessions which led to other chapters asking me to come present to their membership. I never thought of myself as a teacher, and I still don’t, but I really enjoy giving back and helping the procurement community.
Advice for First Timers
Here’s my advice for anyone attending NIGP Forum for the first time.
Be Open-Minded
You’ll learn so many new things at Forum, but I can’t tell you exactly what. There’s always something new happening. Be open to learning new things and meeting new people.
Say Hi
Everyone at Forum wants to grow the procurement community, so don’t be afraid to say hi to someone you don’t know.
Get Outside Your Comfort Zone
Forum is a good place to do something scary because it’s as close as you are going to get to a judgment-free zone. This is the place to branch out and do some trial and error, whether it’s meeting new people, speaking on stage, or finding a mentor.
If you’re attending Forum this year, I’d love to meet you! But I’ll warn you—if you talk to me, there’s a very good chance I’m going to talk you into getting more involved with NIGP.
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My Forum Story - Valerie Scott
Valerie Scott
