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July 23, 2025
When I first got out of the military, I thought I was going to be a law enforcement officer. However, after a car accident, I went back to school and got a finance degree. After getting my degree, I interviewed with investment firms to sell securities but soon discovered that wasn’t the right career for me either. After working at a semiconductor company, then in general manufacturing, and in contract manufacturing, I discovered the world of public procurement with my first public position with the City of Hillsboro. That role helped me to build towards my current position as State Chief Procurement Officer for the State of Oregon.
I had a great manager at the City of Hillsboro who was very active in NIGP. She advocated for all of us attending NIGP learning events and regional conferences. I joined our local board and became the chair of the Diversity Committee and later took on a board position as Secretary which led to the role of President.
From Local Chapter to NIGP Forum
I attended my first Forum in 2022. I didn’t hesitate to step in when one of my employees asked me to fill in for him, giving a presentation on how to use LinkedIn for procurement professionals. The presentation was well received, and we were asked to do it again the following year.
It was refreshing to be in a community of practitioners who saw some of the same problems that I was seeing. NIGP Forum is a great place for people to get together who share the same pains and have walked a similar path. Our profession is very important because we support many things. But people don’t realize what goes on behind the scenes until something goes wrong. And then, there’s a lot of blame to be placed, but not a whole lot of praise comes through to the folks who are doing the hard work—day-in and day out. NIGP Forum offers a space to find those people and give them the recognition they absolutely deserve but may not receive.
Networking Done Right
As an agency, we try to send at least four to five people to NIGP Forum every year, which is an excellent way for us all to connect and meet other people. I’m a hardline introvert, so I make a point to push myself outside of my comfort zone and sit with people that I don’t know. I’ll sit at a table full of strangers instead of finding comfort with people from my agency, and I encourage my team to do the same thing.
It’s not just meeting people that matters but finding ways to keep in touch after Forum is over. I’ve met people from all over the country—Arkansas, Florida, and Mississippi. I make sure to capture their information so I can email them later to stay connected.
Advice for First-Timers
Attending Forum for the first time can be a little intimidating, especially if you’re an introvert like me. But there are a lot of things you can do to make it fun for yourself. Here are my tips.
Start Conversations
Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with the stranger sitting next to you. People are more open than you think. You’ll find that people share the same challenges as you, and you can start to find ways to deal with them from different perspectives.
Add Value as a Speaker
I ended up speaking at my first Forum, and it was a great experience. If you’re nervous about speaking, just make sure you are adding value to your audience. Think about what your audience will be asking and thinking as they watch you to ensure you can make a real impact and have a positive effect on them.
Plan Ahead
Whether you’re going alone or with others, take a good look at the schedule and decide which sessions will be most valuable to you or your agency. Also, something that you may not normally think about, but map out where you’re going to eat – the places closest to the venue book up fast, so make reservations if you really want to go somewhere specific.
NIGP Forum has introduced me to a lot of great people in procurement who have helped me, and I have been happy to help others as much as I can. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow with NIGP and helping others do the same.
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My Forum Story - Valerie Scott
Valerie Scott
