Radio NIGP

Introducing Radio NIGP - Our First-Ever Radio Show! 

We are incredibly excited to introduce RADIO NIGP. A talented team of procurement colleagues created our first-ever radio program. Radio NIGP gives a new vibe and a new twist to the world of procurement. Get ready to listen, learn and be entertained!

What's Ahead

Radio NIGP will be produced monthly with segments that include "Legally Speaking", "Word of the Day", "Tech Tip" as well as guest commentaries, interviews and compelling news that will keep you connected and engaged with NIGP and the procurement community. Look for more enhancements as we grow this innovative radio program.

Send Us Your Comments & Questions

radio@nigp.org

June 2022 Broadcast – Improving Your Effectiveness

The topic for this month centers around improving the effectiveness of our relationships and decision-making support.  As Public Procurement Professionals, supplier and stakeholders support is critical to the service delivery that we provide for our customers. We’ll share some tips and tools that will help you become more effective by refreshing your relationships.

Hot Topic - Internal Relationships and the hard ten percent

Legally Speaking – Key perspectives on establishing or improving your working relationship with legal. Do we share the same view about fundamental responsibilities?  Two new contributors join the team as they unpack some considerations when working with counsel.

Chapter Updates – An interview with Jennifer Steffan, Chapter Relations Manager for NIGP

Way To Grow – How NIGP Mentorships can develop and grow personal and professional relationships

Procurement Pioneers - An interview with the 2008 NIGP Albert H. Hall Memorial Award Recipient, E. Ray (Ray) Burnett

Because I Don’t Look Good in Orange - An embezzlement case involving two procurement officers at Coahoma Community College and why there should be multi-level checks in place to prevent p-card fraud

Commentary - Building relationships with our stakeholders including our end users and our suppliers is critical to the success of any project.  How those relationships are built can take several different forms, but networking is an excellent tool to help grow and develop your personal and professional relationships.  In this segment we will explore times when who you know helps what you know, and relationships always matter.

May 2022 Broadcast - The Forum Edition

This month's segment focuses on the Forum experience. Hear what your colleagues have to say about Forum - the memories they share, the advice they offer and the support that's shared by all. It's where procurement professionals come together to connect, learn new innovative ways to perform tasks and grow personally as well as professionally. 

Whether you are planning to attend in-person or virtually you can expect a unique and unforgettable conference that's designed around you. Here are highlights from Radio NIGP:

A Day in the Life of a Forum Attendee: We discuss how we create our schedules; our favorite part of Forum; and how we visit the trade show.

Moments with NIGP - An interview with Carrie Winter, NIGP Director of Events on what you can expect in Boston and virtually.

Legally Speaking: A preview of upcoming Forum sessions that have a particular legal slant and offer useful, compelling content.

Visionary Views – An interview with Kara Daniel, NIGP Chapter Ambassador and Manager I – Purchasing with the School District of Springfield R-12 (Missouri).  Kara provides a roadmap from Local to National NIGP and speaks about the journey from being a member to officer with MAPP, a volunteer with NIGP, and how Forum enhanced her leadership with MAPP - a full circle moment.

Way to Grow - A special panel discussion on what advice you would give to your mentee regarding the benefits of attending Forum.  Panel discussion members include:

  • Denise Badillo, Director of Procurement, City of North Charleston, South Carolina
  • Juan Corral, Procurement and Contract Services Division Manager at the County of Orange Health Care Agency in California.
  • Victoria (Vickey) Cortinas, Senior Procurement Specialist, Tucson Electric Power Company.
  • Lisa Mehalko, Director of Procurement, Georgia Technology Authority.

Tech Talk – Discusses the Technology and Innovation track offered at Forum

Chapter Updates - Seven chapters provide input on how they promote participation at Forum for their members

Good in Orange - Forum behavior and how attendees should think about the ethical implications of their after-hour actions.

April 2022 Broadcast - Staffing: Hire for Passion, Train for Competence!

Many professional industries have experienced a mass exodus from the workforce since the pandemic. This exodus has caused a knowledge gap within many public procurement agencies.  Join us as we provide our listeners with tips and tools for filing those vacancies.  The broadcast also features the Word of the Day, updates from NIGP Chapters, and this month's commentary.

  • Hot Topics - Procurement staffing – the world is changing FAST…are we ready?
  • Legally Speaking - Legally Speaking surveys some of the legal issues surrounding employees working remotely, providing a checklist you can use to assess your own entity’s preparedness
  • Visionary Views - Interview with Jenn Myers, Procurement Manager, City of Tucson, AZ on What Public Procurement process looks like two years after the Covid pandemic: 
    • Fully staffed with new hires onboarding
    • Strategic Plan refocus
    • Internal training first with new software launch
  • Tech Talk - Staffing challenges with discussions on the importance of cross-training, checklists, collaboration with end users and Leadership support
  • Way To Grow - An interview with Nathan Daou, Procurement Administrator, City of Tucson, AZ on Mentorship And Succession Planning.
  • Good in Orange - What can go wrong when managers hire procurement officers under duress.

March 2022 Broadcast - Procurement Month

It’s the one-year anniversary of Radio NIGP and we’re celebrating Procurement!

The show kicks off with a greeting from NIGP CEO Rick Grimm followed by great information in this month’s segments:

  • Greeting from NIGP CEO Rick Grimm
  • Moments with NIGP: NIGP Membership Council members Jody Jacoby and Zulay Millan discuss the upcoming elections and why member participation is so important.
  • I Don’t Look Good in Orange: PPE fraud during the pandemic and how it presented opportunities for Procurement professionals to shine.
  • Tech Talk: Celebrating YOU and technology!
  • Visionary Views: An interview with Gord and Emma Sears
  • Way to Grow: The Experiences of a Successful Mentee with Mentors – and interview with Tracy Attenasio
  • Commentary: As we celebrate YOU and the job that you do during Procurement Month, we also share tips on how to add value and be recognized all year long. Hmmmm…is such a thing possible? 

February 2022 - Softening the "No"

No one likes to hear “No” especially from the Purchasing Office. Radio NIGP takes a hard look at how you can soften the 'No' and still achieve your entity's goals. In our profession, we have to help stakeholders understand the potential outcomes of their decisions which is not always what they want to hear. 

  • Hot Topics – softening and even removing from your lexicon, the “No” at work
  • Legally Speaking - When and Why Lawyers Say No
  • Tech talk – Ways to avoid the “no” in negotiation technology procurements that could comprise data and increase threats when facing a short deadline
  • NEW SEGMENT:  Moments with NIGP – Highlights on NIGP with this month’s segment focusing on Global Best Practices
  • Way to Grow - Explore the show’s theme "softening the no," in relation to thought leaders and mentors interacting with others.  What happens when they say "NO?" 
  • Procurement Pioneers – An interview with Kenneth Koester, NIGP 2010-2011 Past Presidents/Governing Board Chair, NIGP Distinguished Service Award in 2013 and 2020 recipient of the Albert H. Hall Memorial Award
  • I don’t look good in Orange - The case of Richland County Council Woman Dahli Meyers, who was indicted on 24 counts, including making fraudulent charges on her Pcard.
  • Commentary - No one likes being told “no” but everyone likes to know their options.  In our profession, we have to help our stakeholders understand the potential outcomes of their decisions, and that is not always what they want to hear.  In this segment, we explore the concept that you may not like me now, but you’ll love me later.

January 2022 Broadcast – “Renew”

As we start a new year, we often think about things we would like to change or renew. If you are looking for some new ideas about things to renew, our friends at Radio NIGP have lots of suggestions:

  • Hot Topic: It’s a new year; a time of renewal; and the Hot Topics crew has suggestions for things to consider in the coming months.
  • Procurement Pioneers: An interview with author and NIGP 2009 Distinguished Service Award recipient Dr. Clifford McCue
  • Chapter Updates: Newly elected Chapter Presidents share their plans for 2022
  • Tech Talk:  Reviews major technology issues in 2021 and how these are setting the trend for Technology changes in 2022.
  • I Don’t Look Good in Orange: A case of PCard fraud at Georgia Tech and the steps an administrator must take to bounce back from a problematic program.
  • Way to Grow: What is the Mentorship Committee looking to accomplish in 2022.
  • Commentary: When considering the renewal of an old goal or the starting of a new one, it is important to consider ways to ensure success rather than increase frustration.  In this segment we will introduce a methodology that will help keep the momentum of renewal going long term.

Episodes of Radio NIGP

2021

  • December 2021 - Procurement Pioneers

    As a bonus, in our Stocking Stuffer video, you’ll meet the Radio NIGP staff, view the interview with the Jack Pitzer and receive a Legally Speaking-approved greeting.

    For this month’s show, legends from the world of procurement are interviewed and asked about changes they’ve seen in procurement over the years, lessons learned (including what you wish you knew when you started), and if they could do it all over again would they.

    Procurement Pioneers include recipients of the Albert H. Hall Memorial Award, Anne Deatherage Meritorious Service Award, and the Distinguished Service Award, former National and Chapter NIGP Presidents, Master Instructors, NIGP Leap textbook authors, columnists, and NIGP chapter founders:

    • Carol Hodes
    • Dick & Lynda Cummings
    • Fred Marks
    • Jack Pitzer
    • Jane Ogle
    • Jeannie Readey
    • Kirk Buffington
    • Paul Brennan

    The show is book-ended with season greetings in the Word of the Day and concludes with a commentary on gratitude.

    View each interview in its entirety

  • November 2021 - When is the emergency over?

    Word of the Day

    Many procurement professionals face emergency situations on a regular basis. Unfortunately, emergencies occur during the everyday functions of the procurement department. The way emergencies are handled will vary from entity to entity. Based on the process used by the entity to handle the emergency, we discuss during this segment, “what happens after the emergency is over”?

    Hot Topics

    • The team addresses the question “When is the emergency over?” with their answer “It depends!”

    Legally Speaking

    • Legal views about when an emergency ends from both procurement and federal fund reimbursement perspectives.

    Commentary

    • When your end users or suppliers have an emergency, who do they call? As procurement professionals, we will explore the role we typically play in emergencies.

    Way to Grow

    • Longtime Government Procurement magazine columnist Fred Marks is interviewed and discusses what happens after the emergency.

    Visionary Views

    • Visionary Enna Bachelor discusses how a “team of one” can serve an entity with success.
  • October 2021 - Prices Rising

    In this month’s show, Radio NIGP addresses what steps public procurement professionals can take when facing price adjustment requests from suppliers when market prices for goods are extremely volatile and unpredictable.  

    Here's what waiting for you this month:

    • Word of the Day - "Price Increase"
    • Managing requests for price increases from suppliers is occurring across the country. How do we as procurement professionals manage the increases as we try to maintain our already established budgets? How do we negotiate the increase?  Can we negotiate the increase request? Get answers to these relevant questions and learn how your colleagues are managing these requests.
    • Hot Topics
      Suppliers can’t or won’t hold their prices, what do we do now?
    • Legally Speaking
      What are the legal aspects of modifications affecting price and schedule?
    • Tech Talk
      We discuss price increases and longer wait times due to the chip shortage with suggestions about what entities can do to protect themselves against these and other issues.  
    • Chapter Updates
      We recognize the 2021 Outstanding Chapter Award Recipients and learn how Chapters are handling rising costs.
    • Interviews
      Hear what some inspiring public procurement professionals in Way to Grow and Visionary Views have to say.

    And don't forget watch for some "Things That Make You Go Hmm" in this month's Commentary.

  • September 2021 - What doesn't kill me made me stronger

    Here's what waiting for you this month:

    • Word of the Day
      We can all think of incidents during the past when we could not see how a given situation would end. We have guests during our show that will share experiences that made them stronger individuals.
    • Interviews with Public Procurement Professionals that have faced difficult situations and came out Stronger
      Lourdes Coss - Shares her experiences in highly charged workplaces.
      Kristy Varda -  “Voting with your feet” when/how to move to a better work environment.
      Chris Boss - How the instructions of the RFP saved the day after declaring multiple proposers non-responsive on a half-billion-dollar procurement
    • Chapter Updates
      How three Tennessee chapter Presidents have strengthened their bonds after a failed merger attempt
      An excerpt from the new Chesapeake Bay Procurement Association at their chartering ceremony from Chair Tonya Joyner
    • Way to Grow
      Mentee Tracy Garcia is interviewed
    • Visionary Views
      Interview with NIGP’s 2021 Buyer of the Year - Stephanie Dion
    • In Orange
      Part II - Ted Wachter story with the outcome of workplace harassment and discrimination suit from 2005
  • August 2021 - Work/Life Balance

    In this month’s show, Radio NIGP addresses the transition back to the office by looking at how working people manage time spent at and outside of work.  We also get a preview of NIGP’s Leadership Summit and two new segments are coming your way!

    Here's what waiting for you this month:

    • Word of the Day
      Provides a definition of work life balance through an example of how a procurement professional can find balance in their job.
    • Hot Topics
      What does Supplier Training have to do with Work/Life Balance?
    • Interviews with NIGP 
      Carrie Rawn discusses the upcoming NIGP Leadership Summit.
    • NEW - Way to Grow
      Immediate past Mentorship Committee Chair Keith Glatz provides an introduction to the new NIGP Mentorship Program and explains how you can get involved.
    • Legally Speaking
    • NEW - Visionary Views
      Interview with Denise Finn, Procurement Manager with the City of Fort Myers, Florida
    • In Orange
      A story about workplace harassment and discussion about how similar experiences can impact the employee’s work/life balance
    • Commentary
  • July 2021 - NIGP Forum 2021

    NIGP Virtual Forum can only mean one thing - an expanded Forum addition for this month's Radio NIGP show.

    Here's what waiting for you this month:

    • Word of the Day (0:10)
      The question of the day asks some questions to get viewers thinking about attending Forum.  As you listen to others throughout the broadcast discussing this topic, it will answer some of the questions you may not otherwise have considered
    • Interviews with NIGP (1:10)
      Advice for first time attendees, how to choose what to sessions to attend, and the importance of networking
    • Chapter Updates (17:30)
      How NIGP Chapters are supporting their members attending Forum
    • Hot Topics (22:30)
      Virtual Forum is fast approaching and there are dozens of presentations from which to choose. This month the Hot Topics trio discusses how they make their choices and offers some of their exciting recommendations
    • Tech Tips (49:05)
      Highlighting Forum’s Technology track
    • Legally Speaking (51:00)
      Introduces the Forum Legal Aspects track segments and the Procurement in the Courtroom case; and why they are important to procurement practitioners
    • Commentary (1:03:25)
      Registration alone does not mean you are attending Forum.  HHMMM…  In this commentary we discuss the importance of truly attending ourselves, supporting others as they attend, and seeking knowledge and perspectives from others that are attending
  • June 2021 - Returning to Work

    What can we expect? What are the various perspectives? What kind of support can we provide? How does this topic resonate with you and your entity? 

    Topics covered include:

    • Word (or in this case) Words of the Day
    • Chapter Updates
    • Tech Talk - Topic: Ransomware
    • Hot Topics 
    • Commentary on the effect on staff of returning to work. 
  • May 2021 - Resilience

    "Resilience” and it's meaning based on experiences, specifically during the past year with COVID19.

    Topics covered include:

    • Legally Speaking: Discusses how to make new ideas “stick” instead of reverting to business as usual, and thoughts about whether laws may need to change to implement your ideas.
    • Good in Orange: Examines P-Card fraud and misuse at an institution of Higher Education; and how they bounced back from it.
    • Commentary: Mothers (and fathers) are a perfect picture of resiliency and are worthy of being celebrated every day!
    • Hot Topics: the age old question of when to use an RFP is discussed, with a bit of an emphasis on gaining the best value for our clients.
    • Chapter Updates: Chapter members and Ambassadors speak about NIGP’s Chapter Academy, an annual leadership development experience offered to existing and rising chapter leaders.
  • April 2021 - ReImagine

    Procurement's creativity in performing their role during this past year under COVID.

    Topics covered include:

    • Legally Speaking: Discusses the legality of electronic signatures and approvals in the Procurement process
    • Procurement Ethics: Examines lessons learned from the “Fajita Bandit”
    • Commentary: What does it take for others to see the value of Procurement?
    • Chapter Updates: Three NIGP Chapters share their successes in  innovation during COVID
  • March 2021 - Premiere Episode