march 2015 waves of opportunities, oceans of success g€¦ · advertising expressed in this...
TRANSCRIPT
InsIde ThIs Issue From the Desk of the President .......................................2Professional Development (ProD) Committee ......................3March Madness aka Purchasing Month ..............................3 Forecasting Problems ........................................................4Education: Get it Done .....................................................5Participation ........................................................................6New CPPOs and CPPBs ...................................................6
Preventing Brain Drain in Public Procurement .................7Legislative Committee ........................................................7Public Relations at the Spring Conference ..........................8A Clean Sweep: Save Space in Advance .......................9Textbook Buyers Network ............................................10Mike Bevis to Teach at ODU ...............................................11Volunteer of the Year Award ...........................................11VAGP Fall Symposium ....................................................12Member Spotlight ..............................................................13
By Lorie Newton, CPPBConference Advisory Committee Chair
Your 2015 Conference Advisory Committee is hard at work putting the final touches on the VAGP Spring Conference being held March 25-27 at the Virginia Beach Hilton
and Conference Center. In conjunction with NAPM-SEVA, VAGP anticipates attendance at this conference to be the largest ever! Come join us for an exciting lineup focusing on our theme “Waves of Opportunity, Oceans of Success.” The conference will kick off with opening words from the Honorable Nancy Rodrigues, Secretary of Administration, and be followed by a whole list of dynamic speakers from across the Country all of which offer amazing educational opportunities for the procurement professional. The vendor expo is filling up and we have a whole list of first timers participating in the expo this year! Thursday night’s special event will be packed with fun and entertainment beginning with the presidential reception and followed by a wonderfully prepared dinner, a live auction, and music by “The Janitors.” Thursday evening will be an opportunity to network with your peers, relax from the day’s classes, and enjoy lots of fun and laughter. Come dressed in your casual attire with a hint of “Aloha!”
As we strive to help others, please support our fundraising events with proceeds going to the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. This year the Conference
Advisory Committee will be doing a “Live Auction” and all auction proceeds will support this charity. The Committee is also taking donations for the Live Auction in hand-crafted items made by VAGP members and friends of VAGP. Even if you cannot attend the Spring Conference but have something you would like to contribute, PLEASE contact Ginger Gordon at (703) 257-8327 or [email protected] and arrangements will be made to get your donation there!
Don’t wait any longer, get registered and join us in closing out Purchasing Month by attending the Spring Conference in beautiful Virginia Beach! For more information or to register please visit the VAGP website at www.vagp.org/events/spring.html.
Published for Members of the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
March 2015
& News Views
Waves of Opportunities, Oceans of Successg Spring Conference & Vendor Expo
March 25-27, 2015Hosted by the Conference Advisory Committee
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
Board of dirECtorSOfficers
PresidentStephanie Suter, CPPO CPPB
President-ElectChristopher Cheney, CPPB
TreasurerEtta Henry, CPPB, VCCO, VCO
SecretarySharita Bryant, CPPB, VCO, VCA
First Past PresidentJan Giffin, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
Second Past PresidentBill Lindsey, CPPO, C.P.M.
First At–Large MemberRoxanne Ehardt, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
Second At–Large MemberBrad Quann, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
Committee Chairpersons
ConferenceLorie Newton, CPPB
DiversityJerry E. Stokes, CPPB, C.P.M., VCO
EducationCindy Davis Smith, CPPB
MembershipJavier Iturralde, CPPB
Professional DevelopmentStephanie Brown
Public RelationsGinger Gordon, CPPB
TechnologyDoug Crenshaw, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
LegislativePatti Innocenti, CPPB
Executive DirectorEric Hecker
News & Views
EditorLeeAnne Beatty Smith, VCA
Layout, Design & AdvertisingKim Breeding-Mercer
News & Views is published quarterly and was designed and created for the members of the Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc. (VAGP), by Organization Management Group, Inc. Views and advertising expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of, or endorsed by, VAGP. Send correspondence to 638 Independence Parkway, Suite 100, Chesapeake VA 23320; (757) 609-3696; [email protected]. Subscriptions are included in the annual dues paid by members. Advertising rates and policies may be obtained by calling (757) 609-3696.
Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
From the Desk of the PresidentBy Stephanie Suter, CPPO CPPB
First, thank you all for the opportunity to serve as your President. It is an honor and a privilege, and I pledge to do my best to work with each of you, the Board, and our partners to continue to grow our
association and add value to your membership.
This year, each Board Member and Committee Chair will be working towards achieving the following five primary strategic goals: • Advocate best practices in public procurement;• Build a robust technology framework in order to enhance member services and de-
liver them more effectively;• Increase and retain an engaged membership;• Enhance productivity and professionalism through leadership; and• Develop and deliver professional development opportunities to reach members in all
regions at all levels of experience and expertise.
We are off to a great start, and the 2015 calendar of events is packed with networking and professional development opportunities. The details for the Spring Conference in Virginia Beach are finalized, and plans for the Fall Symposium and Reverse Trade Show in Charlottesville are well under way. The Education and Professional Development Committees both have a full schedule planned with a wide variety of classes. There is something for everyone! You can find more details on these opportunities throughout this edition of the News & Views and on the VAPG website (www.vagp.org).
A special thanks to those Committee Chairs who graciously agreed to continue their service this year and an enthusiastic welcome to newly appointed Committee Chairs:• Stephanie Brown, Professional Development;• Doug Crenshaw, Technology;• Javier Iturralde, Membership;• Vin Kamatchi, Ad-Hoc Committee for Student Initiatives; and• Donnie Legg, Ad-Hoc Committee for CAC Events and Guide
Also new to the Board are Brad Quann, your newly elected Second At-Large member, and in her new role in an elected position, Sharita Bryant, your 2015 Secretary.
There are so many new ideas and creative solutions being brought to the table; it is an exciting time to be involved in VAGP. Every contribution, whether big or small, is important to VAGP’s success, so if you have an interest in volunteering or becoming a leader in the association, please contact me or any member of the Board for more information. If you are unable to volunteer, please take the time to engage in some capacity and enjoy all VAGP has to offer.
Call for nominations!NIGP National Awards
All nominations must be received by April 1, 2015.www.nigp.org/eweb/StartPage.aspx?Site=NIGP&webcode=abt_aw_aa
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
March Madness aka Purchasing Month By Amy Upson, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
Yes, March is Purchasing Month, so be sure to reach out to your colleagues and in some way, either individually or as a group, honor the profession with an additional activity. Some examples include writing a purchasing related article, taking a class, or making plans to sponsor a class. For those working on certification, make it your goal to achieve this in 2015. If you have been putting off meeting with an end user who needs extra help- make that a priority.
The VAGP would love to hear about how you and your colleagues celebrated Purchasing Month! Please send pictures and information on any Purchasing Month activities to Amy Upson at [email protected]. We hope to share some of the Purchasing Month activities in the June issue of the News & Views!
And now, a poem to commemorate the event:
Attention managers and buyers,Take a break from putting out fires,And take a moment to reflect,How did someone come to select,A month to honor our career,That comes at the same time of year,As an event called March Madness?So with some ironic gladness,Enjoy March & the spring while it lasts,Because June 30th is coming up fast!
By Stephanie BrownProD Committee Chair
As the 2015 Chair of the VAGP Professional Development Committee, I am excited that we are already off to a great start. These seminars are a great value and taught by first-class procurement veterans and subject matter experts. Below is a list of upcoming classes:
SEMINAR TITLE DATE LOCATION Ethics in Procurement New Instructor, New Material! April 10 ChesterfieldVPPA May 14 ChesapeakeCompetitive Sealed Bidding vs. Competitive Negotiation May 15 ManassasDeveloping a Basic Understanding of Construction June 10 Manassas& How to Reduce Construction RISKS For Your Municipality New!
If you are interested in attending any of the above seminars or need information about future seminars, information can be found at www.vagp.org/education/lowfee.html.
Would you like to join the Professional Development Committee? Serving on the Pro-D Committee is a great way to network with others in the procurement profession, earn points towards recertification, andserve the membership by offering educational opportunities to other professionals in Virginia. We hope to hear from you!
Pro d CoMMittEE MEMBErSStephanie Brown, Chair 804-751-4480 [email protected] Enders, VCO 804-786-4068 [email protected] Kimberly Mitchell, CPPB 804-748-1701 [email protected] Walker 434-296-5854 [email protected]
Professional Development (ProD) Committee
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
By Bill Lindsey, CPPO, C.P.M2nd Past President & NIGP Board of Directors Member
I think I’ve mentioned to my colleagues in the past that during my long career in public procurement, I’ve bought everything from A
to Z. To define it further, I explain it as buying everything from ‘airplanes’ to ‘xylophones’. Hmm, guess that’s A to X.
In doing so, I seem to always learn the hard way as it comes to fine tuning my procurements in order to reduce risk. Of course, most importantly, one of the risks that I surely want to reduce is the chance of receiving a protest or claim for an award decision. Therefore, I believe you could consider this as an ability to forecast problems in the purchasing process.
Unquestionably, a formal protest is surely a supplier’s right to initiate if they believe your procurement is arbitrary and/or capricious. However, rather than establishing a ‘fortress mentality’ where you believe your views are impervious, have you looked at your solicitation at the issue stage with an eye towards forecasting problems? For example, take a look to see if you have two words in your solicitation that can invite challenges. They are NO SUBSTITUTE. Surely it is the public body’s right to make this decision, but if you have a client that is simply not open to comparable or like items, this is not a sound reason to establish a NO SUBSTITUTE procurement. Forecasting ahead, you will be the point of contact trying to justify a fairness complaint.
The most obvious qualifiers that appear to invite protests is between simple words such as shall, should, must, required, favorable and desired. Take a look at your solicitation. How many ways are these various words sprinkled throughout your document? Make sure you have a clear understanding as to
what these words mean in your solicitation and how you will enforce them towards an award decision. Most importantly, if you say shall, it is an irrevocable requirement of the contract.
Another forecast of a problem ahead can involve your evaluation criteria related to the competitive negotiation process. Does it really make sense to have a qualifier
that requires an offeror to be within a short distance from your office or establishing an unreasonably short period of time to respond to your needs? With all of the tech stuff that everyone carries around with them these days, responses are generally very rapid, so is a mileage criteria a reasonable requirement? A forecast of this problem may not involve a protest, but it may lend itself to limited competition and higher prices.
Finally, as you forecast ahead searching for potential problems with your procurement, is it smart to let claims, disagreements, and questions of fairness get to the protest stage? I can never remember an instance where a protest made things better! As the procurement official, you reserve the right to void an award decision if you believe there is any question regarding the award decision.
Yes, you may need to eat some crow on this decision, but forecasting ahead, your problems will likely be less than proceeding through the protest and legal actions applications of the procurement act.
Give it some thought—I’m sure you can forecast procurement problems much better than the weather reporters can forecast our weather!
Forecasting Problems
If you say shall, it
is an irrevocable
requirement of the
contract.
Register now for the 2015 NIGP ForumKansas City, MO - August 1 - 5
Early Bird rates are in effect! Go to http://nsite.nigp.org/forum15
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
NIGP SEMINARS
NIGP seminars are taught by NIGP approved instructors and can assist those aspiring to achieve their CPPB and/or CPPO certifications. These are the standard training courses for entry-level to experienced purchasing professionals. Please visit www.VAGP.org for a list of all 2014 courses offered.
SEMINAR TITLE DATES LOCATION REGISTER BYIntroduction to Public Procurement Mar. 4-6 Loudoun --
Developing and Managing Requests for Proposals in the Public Sector Mar. 4-6 Norfolk --
Effective Decision Making Mar. 31 Christiansburg --
Strategic Procurement Planning Apr. 1-3 Falls Church Mar. 2
Effective Decision Making Apr. 14 Washington DC Mar. 13
Get What You Need Through Successful Negotiation Strategies Apr. 16-17 Chesapeake Mar. 16
CPPB PREP Apr. 20-21 Norfolk Mar. 20
Introduction to Public Procurement May 4-6 Richmond Apr. 3
Contract Administration in the Public Sector May 6-8 Norfolk Apr. 6
Adding Value to the Procurement Process May 5-6 Christiansburg Apr. 6
NIGP-Online Course: www.nigp.org/eweb/StartPage.aspx?Site=NIGP&webcode=pd-ep-ot UPPUC-Certification Exam Dates: www.uppcc.orgGet it Done: 35 Habits of the Most Productive People: www.entrepreneur.com/article/230392 Daily Motivator: www.greatday.com
By Cindy Davis SmithEducation Committee Chair
“Get It Done” is the mantra of my favorite afternoon drive DJ. These are very simple words with powerful implications. Imagine
what it would feel like if you had a check mark on every single item on your To-Do list. That’s a dream for most of us simply because our check list is often too long and complicated. What if you narrowed your list down to three meaningful tasks that you could complete over a reasonable time period? The probability of you completing three tasks is much greater when the tasks are broken down to simple single steps. Not only will you accomplish the tasks, you will reap the “happy” benefit of accomplishing a goal. This “happy” benefit is the endorphins that propel you to accomplishing more and more. That’s the true power of accomplishing a task.
What have prevented you from “Getting It Done” in the past? How can you “Get it Done” this year? If you are looking to invest in your professional development or to take the CPPB/CPPO certification exams this year, the Education Committee stands ready to assist you. If you are a seasoned professional and have completed your recertification, when was the last time that you tried something new or shared your knowledge/experience about a particular procurement issue with a junior member of your organization? Our profession needs seasoned leaders to groom the next generation of procurement professionals. Below are a few classes to help you Get It Done in 2015!
Education: Get it Done
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
New CPPOs and CPPBsCongratulations to VAGP members of the fall UPPCC class of October 2014, who are newly Certified Public Procure-ment Officers and Certified Professional Public Buyers. They Got it Done!
CERTIFIED PuBLIC PROCuREMENT OFFICERS (CPPO) Name Agency City Etta A. Henry Old Dominion University Norfolk
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PuBLIC BuYERS (CPPB) Name Agency City Michael Graham, CPPB Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Leila Sultan, CPPB Fairfax County Public Schools Falls Church Diane Culpepper, CPPB City of Portsmouth Portsmouth Debbie C. Dove Radford University Radford Dennis Donahue, CPPB, C.P.M, VCO VA Department of General Services Richmond Charity L. Hooper, CPPB, VCO VA Department of Alcoholic Beverages Control Richmond
By Roxanne Ehardt, CPPO, CPPB, VCO1st Member At-Large
The value of participating in committees, board membership, conference planning events, educational training and planning, legislation activities, and any events
that support an organization brings added value to YOU. Involvement brings knowledge which allows you to grow and expand in your field of professionalism which offers you more opportunities.
Participation – 1. an act or instance of participating; 2. the fact of taking part, as in some action or attempt: participation in a celebration; 3. a sharing, as in benefits or profits: participation in a pension plan; 4. of or relating to a venture characterized by more than one person, bank, or company participating in risk or profit: a participation loan.
Your participation can be a new venture into expanding your career path and joining with other procurement professionals in providing goods and services to the members of this
organization. The benefits of participating can range from a variety of areas such as: monetary assistance, involvement and contribution on conference events, steering the organization, and aligning with your procurement partners. Define your future and get involved.
To participate in a committee, please go to www.vagp.org/_docs/about/volunteer.pdf and follow the directions.Areas of Opportunity:• Conference Advisory Committee• Diversity Committee• Education Committee• Legislative Committee• Membership Committee• Professional Development Committee• Public Relations Committee• Technology Committee• Mentor/Protégé Program• Board of Directors (Nominated position)
Participation
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
By Patti Innocenti, CPPBLegislative Committee Chair
We approached the 2015 General Assembly session confident that the consensus recommendations of the Virginia Public Procurement Act work groups would be
introduced as bills. The work product of the work groups was not represented in the bills as expected. Consequently, the Legislative Committee and our lobbyists are working to defend our existing authority and professional practices. We have called upon you periodically to assist us in this effort and we are so grateful for your impactful response. The representation our lobbyist provides is important; however,
the members of the General Assembly are responsive to the volume of outreach they receive from constituents (email and phone calls).
Join us at the Spring Conference for a legislative update on March 25. We will keep you informed as the General Session progresses and a list of all bills will be posted on the Legislative webpage by April.
Legislative Committee
By Chris Cheney, CPPBPresident-Elect
Three months ago I participated in a panel discussion to educate students at George Mason University about local government
career opportunities and challenges. Three of the attendees approached me to ask, “What is procurement?” Undergraduate and graduate students aspiring to become public servants at one of the largest research universities in the Commonwealth of Virginia should already know about the role of procurement in the public sector. We can make it happen!
Many of us, including myself, “fell into” procurement. While there is the lofty goal of preventing this line of work from being something people fall into, there will continue to be an immediate need to attract young people to the state, local governments, educational institutions, and special authorities that we support every day. The tough work begins in-house where procurement agencies can use succession planning and intern programs to reach students and other recruits. If this happens, consequently, public entities and the profession itself will thrive.
Most baby boomers will be eligible for retirement in 15 years. The Great Recession delayed the onset of these retirements,
but as we slowly recover the timing could be detrimental. The exodus of the seasoned public procurement professionals that made great strides for our occupation could result in human capital flight with negative impacts—it is dependent
upon our action.
NIGP, VAGP, and other organizations aim to help. Our current VAGP President, Stephanie Suter, established an ad-hoc committee for initiatives to educate and market to students what we do. NIGP created a Young Professionals Council and held two Annual Leadership Symposiums for incoming chapter leaders to transfer knowledge and network. There are also procurement-related programs at higher learning institutions throughout the
country. A framework has been built to sustain the growth of our occupation.
Please do not hesitate to let me ([email protected]) or any other member of the Board of Directors know if you have ideas that will help us to promote public procurement in Virginia!
Preventing Brain Drain in Public Procurement
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
INTERESTED INJOINING A COMMITTEE?
VAGP has eight committees that you can be a part of. The Association relies on you, the member, to grow and look toward the future of VAGP and the industry. Have a voice in your association! VAGP is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers with fresh ideas to help on the various association committees.
Your efforts are essential to moving VAGP into the future.
Learn more at www.vagp.org/about/committees.html
By Ginger Gordon, CPPBPublic Relations Chair
CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND SHAREJoin us, follow us, Tweet and share in your excitement and experiences through Facebook and Twitter during the
upcoming 2015 VAGP Spring Conference that is being held at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront in beautiful Virginia Beach, VA. We are encouraging our Members to post to the VAGP Facebook page or tweet about the conference on Twitter. When you are posting be sure to tag your post with #wavesofopportunities15. Like a speaker? Learn a great new tip? If so, Tweet about it!
Look, it’s PiCard! Who is PiCard you ask? He is VAGP’s mascot. Now, if you see PiCard flying around any time during the Conference snap a picture or take a selfie and share on Facebook and Twitter with #vagppicard. So keep a look out because PiCard could be in many places and in many different
disguises. Remember to tag your posts with the hashtags (#) throughout the Conference—it may help you win a prize.
Also, if you are unable to attend the conference you can stay connected as well. Make sure you like VAGP’s Facebook www.facebook.com/VAGPofNIGP and follow us on Twitter
@VAGPofNIGP to see what is happening with VAGP during the 2015 Spring Conference; we welcome you to like, share and comment.
GET READY, MORE EXCITING NEWS…Are you ready? Well, VAGP Public Relations has been hard at work and is excited to announce that VAGP has some new promotional items in the works and the unveiling of these items will be at the upcoming 2015 Spring Conference. VAGP Public Relations and Membership Committees will have a table set up during the vendor expo so please stop by to see our table and what new items we have for sale!
…BuT WAIT, THERE IS MORE! Get ready to bring out those VAGP shirts. Once again we have designated the last day of the Conference, Friday, March 27, as “VAGP Day.” So show your pride and wear your VAGP shirt! Also, by wearing your shirt your name will be entered into a drawing for a prize!
Hope to see you at the Conference and if you have any questions about the Public Relations Committee, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].
Public Relations at the Spring Conference
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
By Sharita L. Bryant, CPPB, VCO, VCASecretary
I recently had the pleasure of moving; downsizing to be more accurate. I’d lived in my home for the last seven years and
needless to say I maximized the space of my old home in every aspect of my life. If you really know me, you probably know that I love fashion, which includes shoes, clothes, handbags, accessories, and at times HAIR. While all of these things are nice and variety is great, space is very important and the hassle of relocating these items can be a nightmare!
I learned a valuable lesson in space and organization in the last few weeks. I now find myself hesitating or feeling restricted to purchase items just because it is an unbeatable savings or simply because it would be nice to have. How and why did I learn this? I “simply” do not have the space. In our procurement lives we frequently hear the words “document, document, document.” As stewards of the public’s funds, we are bound to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s laws, and the policies and procedures in our respective entities. One of the main reasons we are taught to document our day to day job communications and transactions is because of the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA) and the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act).
The VPPA states, “that all procurement procedures be conducted in a fair and impartial manner with avoidance of any impropriety or appearance of impropriety, that all qualified vendors have access to public business and that no offeror be arbitrarily or capriciously excluded” and “that procurement procedures involve openness and administrative efficiency, that individual public bodies enjoy broad flexibility in fashioning details of such competition, that the rules governing contract awards be made clear in advance of the competition, that specifications reflect the procurement needs of the purchasing body rather than being drawn to favor a particular vendor, and that the
purchaser and vendor freely exchange information concerning what is sought to be procured and what is offered.”
The Virginia FOIA allows citizens of the Commonwealth, representatives of newspapers and magazines with circulation in the Commonwealth, and representatives of radio and television stations broadcasting in or into the Commonwealth
to request public records. I am not sure about you but I believe both Acts are reason enough to document your files. We all know that a procurement file can range in size and weight tremendously based on the approval process, dollar value, and length of the contract. The document, document, document process can become extremely wasteful when printing copies of requisitions, approval process trail, emails, purchase orders, contracts, and contract administration documents. I am guilty because I know that I have in the past stored an over abundance of unnecessary paper. I am also guilty of storing redundant email messages and in turn eventually receiving the out of network storage message on my work PC and frantically archiving or deleting non-public record messages in order to free electronic space.
The purpose of my message is to encourage you to start your “clean sweep” at the beginning of the procurement cycle. Encourage your
entity and end users to utilize electronic data exchange. In today’s reduce, recycle, and reuse society we should all utilize electronic storage as much as possible. Electronic storage not only frees physical storage but also saves time, trees, and in the case of moving, ENERGY!
A Clean Sweep: Save Space in Advance
Encourage your
entity and end users
to utilize electronic
data exchange.
For more information on FOIA, visit www.foiacouncil.dls.virginia.gov and for more information on record retention in the Commonwealth, visit www.lva.virginia.gov.
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
TCPN cuts costs and saves you time.
The Cooperative Purchasing Network (TCPN) helps simplify your
steps and reduce your costs. TCPN’s contracts leverage the purchasing
power of over 37,000 actively engaged government entities. All contracts
are competitively bid and awarded by a single governmental entity –
Region 4 Education Service Center. TCPN monitors contracts through
third-party compliance reviews to ensure vendor accountability. You can
rely on TCPN’s lead agency’s ISO certifi ed processes, 100+ combined
years of government purchasing experience and 50+ combined years of
auditing experience.
Contract Categories Include: Athletic • Automotive Parts • Equipment
Rental • Facilities • Fleet Maintenance • Flooring • Food Equipment •
Furniture • Grounds Keeping and Irrigation • HVAC • Janitorial •
Maintenance & Operations • Managed Print • Offi ce Supplies • Oracle •
Playground Equipment • Roofi ng • School Supplies • Technology
Registration is fast and free. Sign up at www.tcpn.org.
TCPN-0551_March Ad Resize - VAGP.indd 1 2/2/15 4:04 PM
Attention all textbook buyers for school systems! As you know, there is a list published by Virginia’s Department of Education with textbooks that they have approved, and if a school system purchases a textbook from that list and from the publisher noted, then you are not required to send out a solicitation. However, you have probably also noticed that there are subject areas, especially related to electives and AP classes that the textbooks are not included on the Department of Education’s list. If any of you would be interested in forming a Textbook Buyers Network, please email Amy Upson at [email protected].
Virginia Beach Schools recently awarded contracts for AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1 & 2, and AP Physics C. The contracts were the result of an RFP and did include cooperative language, so if other school systems adopt the same titles, they could also reference the same RFP. The AP Science contracts are just one example of contracts that could be shared, and other school systems probably also have contracts that could be shared with other purchasing offices throughout Virginia.
If you are a textbook buyer, and would like to either share information or receive information on contracts that have been awarded for textbooks that are not included on the Department of Education’s list, please contact Amy Upson.
Textbook Buyers Network
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
By Brad Quann, CPPO, CPPB, VCOAt-Large Member
I would like to thank the VAGP membership for electing me as the VAGP 2nd At-Large
Member. It was an honor to be nominated as a candidate and to gain your support and confidence to serve you in this capacity. My role in this position will be to work alongside the President and fellow Board members to achieve the goals of the organization.
The first task I have accepted is to promote and enhance the VAGP Volunteer of the Year Award established by the VAGP Board of Directors. The Volunteer of the Year Award was created to recognize a member or members displaying
substantial volunteerism to the organization. The award was last presented in 2012 so I would love to see as many volunteers recognized for their service as possible at the Fall Symposium this year! Stay tuned for more information about the award program in the next edition of the News & Views and how you can nominate yourself or someone you know.
Again, thank you for your vote! Please feel free to contact me with any recommendations, ideas or concerns for VAGP! I can be reached at (540) 507-7596 or [email protected]. I look forward to seeing everyone at the Spring Conference in March!
Volunteer of the Year Award
By Stephen Gordon, PhD, FNIGP, CPPOProgram Director, Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement and Contract Management
Michael E. (Mike) Bevis, JD, CPPO, CPSM, C.P.M., PMP, Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Naperville, Illinois, and a native Virginian, will teach ODU’s new course PPCM 727 Public Procurement and Project Management online this summer. An experienced and highly respected public procurement practitioner, project manager, and instructor, Mike will bring this very relevant and timely course to life with his expertise, presentation style, and passion for our profession.
The public procurement and project management course will begin May 18 and end August 7. Mike will teach the course in an asynchronous format, which means that students will be able to complete their coursework on their own time. Of course, even with that flexibility as to when coursework can be done, students will still have to meet deadlines for completing assignments.
If you know Mike, you know that he will go out of his way to help you master the material and complete your assignments successfully. For more information about this new course, please contact VAGP’s own Dr. Steve Gordon by email at [email protected] or on his cell phone at (615) 268-9468.
Other online public procurement classes to be offered by ODU during the same time frame this summer include PPCM
726 Introduction to Public Procurement (to be taught by Dr. Gordon), PPCM 728 Public Sector Procurement Planning and Contract Formation (to be taught by UPPCC governing board chair David Gragan), PPCM 718 Public Sector Contract Administration, and PPCM 731 Public Sector Procurement Law and Ethics. All ODU courses are taught only by experienced public procurement practitioners who possess the required academic credentials.
For those of you who prefer to take classes in the classroom, the Introduction to Public Procurement course will be taught “live” in the classroom (as opposed to online) by Dr. Gordon in Hampton Roads, beginning in May.
For more information regarding the above, please send your request to [email protected].
The website for the Graduate Certificate in Public Procurement and Contract Management can be found at dl.odu.edu/programs/public-procurement-contract-management.
NIGP Governing Board Member Mike Bevis to Teach ODu’s Public Procurement and Project Management
Online Course in Summer 2015
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
VAGP Fall SymposiumSeptember 28-29, 2015
at The Boar’s Head,200 Ednam Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22903
SaVEthe
DATE!
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Virginia Association of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.
By Amy Upson, CPPO, CPPB, VCO
This quarter we feature one of the newer members of VAGP, Brenda Cornett, VCO, VCA, Buyer for the Albemarle County Purchasing Department.
Brenda has been working in the procurement field for approximately 13 years and, like many of us, there have been a few twists and turns in the path that brought her to become a buyer for Albemarle County. Brenda started in the procurement field in the private sector. For approximately three years she worked for a company in Virginia Beach that provided parts and some installation to Navy ships. In this position she had the opportunity to work on both sides of the purchasing equation, she had to provide quotes to the Navy, but, in order to do this she had to obtain quotes herself from her suppliers.
Brenda later moved to the Charlottesville area, and she started working for Albemarle County Public Schools Building Services Department doing a little bit of everything related to bookkeeping. About one year ago, she was promoted to the local government side of Albemarle County to become a Buyer I in the Purchasing Department. Brenda earned her VCA certification in January 2014 and her VCO certification in September 2014. Brenda
became a member of VAGP a little over a year ago and attended her first VAGP conference last spring at George Mason University. Her favorite parts of the conference were learning from classes and meeting new people.
Brenda’s family includes her husband, Chris; daughter, Elizabeth; son, Joseph; and her four
year old grandson, Cameron. But the children currently residing with Brenda and Chris are four-legged and include a Westie named Turbo who is almost five years old, a mixed breed dog named Daisy who is eight years old, and a small box turtle named Earleen. Turbo and Daisy are wonderful playmates and have you ever seen a turtle with a better habitat than Earleen?
When Brenda is not at home or in the office, she enjoys being a roadie for the band, ‘Rattlebag.’ Her husband, Chris, is the drummer for the band. But when you see that beautiful picture that Brenda took from the end of her road (Lover’s Lane, and that is the real name), there must be many days that it is hard to tear herself away from her home, even when it is to go to work or follow her husband’s band.
We want your news and views!This is your Association and your publication—make your voice heard! All VAGP members are encouraged to send articles, press releases and photos. Published articles on purchasing related topics may help members earn recertification points. For eligibility requirements, please verify directly with the certifying agency. Suppliers and contractors are also encouraged to submit purchasing-related articles for publication. Limited opportunities are available and offered at no cost!Submit your contributions to LeeAnne Beatty Smith at [email protected].
Production Schedule 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th QuarterDeadline May 8 Aug. 7 Nov. 4Available Jun. 1 Sep. 3 Dec. 1
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Member Spotlight - Brenda Cornett, VCO, VCA