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Author:  John Walters, Co-founder of Periscope Holdings

Running a marathon is simple in concept: take one step, then repeat 26,993 times, give or take a few thousand based on your height. It is a daunting task, and as a former marathon coach, a fun one too. Unlike a sprint, running marathons follow an extended process that takes planning, patience, endurance, support, and even a bit of luck at times to complete. As I work with clients to bring order to their master data, e.g., suppliers, spend, catalogs, the underlying processes and the discipline required unfold to demonstrate that it is an ongoing process rather than a destination.  Read more

Author: Marcheta Gillespie, Marcheta Gillespie, FNIGP, CPPO, C.P.M., CPPB, CPM

Happy Procurement Month! March has arrived and it’s time to celebrate procurement’s impact on our agencies, chapters, communities and our profession. It’s that time of year when the spotlight shifts to procurement professionals to recognize the value that you bring, the hard work you do and the contributions you make on so many levels. It’s the well-deserved and hard-earned moment of acknowledgement that says, “you matter, you make a difference and you are appreciated”.  Read more

Author: John Walters, Co-founder of Periscope Holdings

As the United States continues to grapple with issues related to systemic racism and inclusion, government procurement finds itself center stage. Born of the 1960’s civil rights movement, government diversity programs were kickstarted in 1971 when President Nixon created the Office of Minority Business Enterprise. Read more

Author: Kirk Buffington, CPPO, CPM, CPFIM, CPM, NIGP Consultant

Procurement professionals aren’t simply buyers. They are first responders who have the best pulse on what’s happening at their agencies and in their communities and the broader marketplace thanks to their close collaboration with front-line colleagues in procurement and private sector networks they have built on the supplier side. Read more

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when stockpiles of critical supplies like personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizer and toilet tissue were quickly diminishing, and options for replenishment were growing scarcer by the day, Bruce Collins, Purchasing Director for the City of El Paso in Texas, received an unexpected phone call.  Read more

The Random House Unabridged Dictionary defines risk as, “The exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance.” In public procurement, the focus is often not on risk but keenly focused on price; the general public expects, and conventional wisdom dictates, that we find the lowest price.  Read more

According to Transportation Today, “44% of major roadways are in poor or mediocre condition” and cost the average driver $533 in repairs yearly, according to The Washington Post. Unfortunately, one in three bridges requires repair or replacement within the U.S., according to a report from the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).  Read more

Jennifer had heard it before. As a Procurement Manager at the County, she had been dealing for years with customers pushing back on working with Procurement. It was so frustrating. She didn’t understand why her customers tried to avoid her department.  Read more

2020 will long be remembered as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic.  From early warnings in January to growing concerns in February to a full-blown pandemic crisis by March, procurement officials were faced with a combination of challenges not seen in recent history.  Read more