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September 24, 2025
I spent ten years teaching middle and high school math before transitioning into a role in local government. The pandemic was a turning point. With a newborn at home and schools closing, I made the difficult decision to step away from teaching. After moving to Oregon, I found myself in a unique role at a small city, handling everything from right-of-way licensing to procurement and grant management. Suddenly, I was responsible for drafting procurement policies and managing contracts, despite having very little prior experience.
NIGP became my lifeline. My colleague recommended joining the organization, and I quickly realized the value of its resources. I read their emails regularly, so when I saw an email advertising the upcoming Edge program at the Leadership Summit, I jumped at the chance. I saw a chance to develop the skills I desperately needed. It wasn’t just about technical procurement knowledge, but the soft skills that would be crucial for navigating complex organizational dynamics.
The Importance of a Personal Plan
Convincing my department that I needed to attend Edge was pleasantly easy. We had already talked about what I needed to succeed in my role and identified a need for training in change management. The NIGP Leadership Summit program seemed perfect. The fact that the city didn't have to invest much beyond travel costs made it an easy sell.
I was excited about the Summit, but I was also more than a little nervous. Most participants were supervisors with years of procurement experience, while I was just getting my procurement feet wet. Imposter syndrome set in, but our program leader helped me recognize the unique value I brought to the table.
The program's real magic was in its cohort model. I was placed in a small group of four professionals who quickly became more than just colleagues; they became a support system. We started meeting every week to discuss our challenges, celebrate our victories, and share support, resources, and perspectives with each other. Even though Edge is over, we meet regularly so we can keep cheering each other on and continue to develop our friendships.
My Big Takeaways
The DISC assessment we did at the beginning of Edge made me feel seen. It helped me understand my communication style and how to interact more effectively with my peers. From this assessment, I learned to approach challenges with more confidence and insight.
One of the most significant outcomes was my improvement in goal setting. The program helped me create achievable objectives that have dramatically accelerated my professional development. In just a year and a half, I've been able to accomplish tasks that typically take three to five years of experience. And it’s not that I’ve been working twice as hard–it’s that I have set concrete, measurable goals and created a plan to achieve them.
My biggest piece of advice for others in similar positions is not to be afraid of taking your seat at the table. Do you feel like you haven’t earned it? Take it anyway! You never know who you'll meet or what insights you'll gain, and nobody else is going to question if you are entitled to be at the table. During the conference, I sat next to CPOs and CFOs from large agencies. I gained perspectives and had conversations I would have never had if I had sat around waiting for someone to invite me to the table.
The investment in attending Edge has already paid off. I recently passed the basic procurement certification in Oregon, and my department celebrated the achievement. We're now working on streamlining our procurement processes, building resources with our new city attorney, and creating a procurement manual that we hope other small municipalities can use as well.
If you’re feeling uncertain about your place in procurement, know that you’re not alone. I encourage you to take the risk and see what happens. Expand your network, seek out opportunities, and don't be afraid to stretch yourself. You might just surprise yourself with how far you can go.
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