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July 16, 2025
When I started my first procurement job, I thought I’d be managing projects in the traditional sense. My job title was “Management Analyst,” which sounded like a good fit for my background. But once I got into the role, I realized it was more about grant administration and procurement oversight for public transportation agencies throughout Ohio. Most of these were smaller agencies without the staff or experience to handle procurements in line with FTA guidelines.
I quickly became the go-to expert on FTA procurement regulations. My job was to help these agencies use their grant funding appropriately, whether for purchasing capital assets, contracting services, or maintaining compliance. This role set the tone for the rest of my career. I moved on to a similar position in Illinois, then had a brief stint in the private sector before landing at Cincinnati Metro, where I currently serve.
Early in my career, NIGP was more of a name I’d heard in passing than an organization I was involved with. That changed in 2019 when I attended my first NIGP Forum.
How I Ended Up at Forum
I owe my introduction to NIGP and Forum to a contract specialist on my team. She had introduced me to NIGP resources and best practices that we used to improve our department. Although I wasn’t new to procurement, I was new to NIGP, and I wanted to learn more. I had already seen the value of the tools and best practices NIGP offers and I wanted to experience the community firsthand at an in-person event.
I’d been to several public transportation conferences in the past, so I had an idea of how the different tracks would operate. Looking through the Forum schedule, I saw a lot of content that genuinely excited me. I also appreciated the location of Austin, Texas—a dream for someone like me who plays music on the side and loves the city’s creative energy.
Expectations vs. Reality
Having attended many transit-related conferences over the years, I had certain expectations. I figured Forum would be similar—familiar faces, repetitive content, and tight-knit circles that are hard to break into. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Forum was a completely different experience. Of course, there were longtime attendees and recognizable names, but instead of being exclusive, they were incredibly welcoming. When I mentioned challenges I was facing in procurement, people didn’t just listen—they shared their own stories and were happy to start talking about possible solutions. It wasn’t just a venting session; it was collaborative and solutions oriented.
I walked away from that first Forum with actionable ideas that I could bring back to my department immediately. One of the first things I did after returning home was dive into Nsite, NIGP’s online community. I had heard about it before but hadn’t really taken the time to explore it. After Forum, I signed up for all kinds of communities. That was a great way to be involved in conversations that have led to many positive changes in my department.
From Attendee to Presenter
Attending Forum inspired me to become a speaker. I won’t be speaking this year, but I co-presented last year to a crowd of about 220 people. My co-presenter and I have been invited to speak at three different statewide chapter conferences because of that presentation, which is opening up more opportunities for us to have conversations with other procurement professionals in our state.
Advice for First-Time Forum Attendees
I hope you’re excited about attending NIGP Forum for the first time. Here are a few pieces of advice.
Take time to observe: I attended my first Forum solo, so I spent some time just observing the room to get a feel for how things went. If I hadn’t had that opportunity to quietly observe what was happening, I don’t think I would have recognized how easy it was just to go talk to anybody and how friendly everyone was. So, take a moment just to observe and see how things work and how people behave to rev up your courage.
Don’t be shy: Once you’re ready, go ahead and talk to anybody and everybody. People are very open to talking and chatting. You can approach a complete and total stranger and talk to them about procurement, and they’ll be actively listening and engaged in the conversation.
Give feedback: You’ll be asked to give comments after hearing a presenter. Take your time to give critical feedback. We found the feedback incredibly useful for polishing and refining our presentation so it’s even more impactful to future audiences.
NIGP Forum is a great event for anyone looking to connect with other procurement professionals to get fresh perspectives on what’s happening in the industry. Feel free to say hi if you see me there this year!
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My Forum Story - Valerie Scott
Valerie Scott
