How to Market to State Governments Meeting is now
NASPO Exchange
New name, same great conference for learning,
partnering and networking
Join the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) on March 12-14 in St. Louis, Missouri to learn, partner and network at the 2017 NASPO Exchange. Formerly known as the How to Market to State Governments meeting, the familiar opportunities to build relationships among the community of state procurement professionals remain, but with a renewed focus on the core values of the conference. 
 
Attendees will:
 
Learn through dedicated and targeted education on current trends in state procurement. 
 
Partner with state government representatives on public procurements that are effective, efficient, transparent and fair.
 
Network throughout the conference in one-on-one meetings, roundtables and collaborative projects.
 
Registration will open later this fall on NASPO.org. Please watch for more information about how to maximize your experience and schedule one-on-one appointments at the 2017 NASPO Exchange. You can also check out the 2016 How to Market to State Governments website to get a better understanding of this unique opportunity to connect with suppliers and other procurement officials. For additional questions about the 2017 NASPO Exchange, please contact Molly Marsh at [email protected] or 859-514-9216.  
2017 NASPO Exchange Committee - Call for Committee Interest
NASPO is seeking interested and committed members to join the planning committee for the 2017 NASPO Exchange. Formerly the How to Market to State Governments Meeting, shifting to the name "Exchange" reflects the highly relational conference atmosphere and the core purpose of networking, learning and partnering between members of the state procurement and supplier communities.

The Exchange Committee is responsible for planning the educational components of the conference, including session topics, speakers and networking initiatives. In order to support an even more effective program for 2017, the committee will begin meeting in September. Click here for more information about committee activities, expectations and to sign up to participate.  Committee appointments will be made in late August, please respond no later than August 25. 

Register Now for the 2016 Annual Conference!
"Explore the Possibilities" for the future of state procurement at the 2016 NASPO Annual Conference. Registration is open through August 26; you can uncover more information about the conference program at naspo.org/explore2016.
 
Remember, NASPO funds two participants from each member state. Make sure you take full advantage of the resources, education and networking available at the event!

Engagement and Learning at the Midwestern Regional Conference
Participants from all twelve states in the Midwestern Region enjoyed excellent education, networking and engagement at the 2016 Midwestern Regional Conference, July 17-19.  The agenda included sessions and speakers on effective communication and customer service, transforming the understanding of procurement to be performance focused and how to decode data from cooperative contracts to learn more about industry trends. 
 
It was evident that the 2016 Top Ten Priorities were certainly on the minds of all participants. As attendees introduced themselves, they also noted their biggest procurement challenges and opportunities. Some familiar themes emerged including staffing challenges, IT and technology procurement, modernization of procurement practices and service to users and stakeholders. These topics were explored in more depth through sessions, networking events and great peer-to-peer conversation throughout the event.

Procurement U's Negotiation Strategies training concluded the conference and participants got the chance to practice some creativity and strategy in planning for negotiations. Look for more education and professional development opportunities at NASPO's upcoming Conferences








Spring Examinations Fall Examinations
Application Submission Deadline
January 30, 2017
July 18, 2016
Application Submission Late Deadline February 13, 2017
August 1, 2016
Exam Registration Deadline
March 27, 2017
September 12, 2016
Testing Dates
May 1-13, 2017
October 17-29, 2016

For more information on the examination process visit http://www.uppcc.org/ .


To see the Procurement U courses available visit here:   http://www.naspo.org/Procurement-University/Course-Catalog .


 


We are excited to share a very informative online resource on procurement reform. This topic was ranked as Priority #1 for NASPO for 2016.
This resource produced by the Best Practices Committee's Procurement Reform Work Group highlights recent state procurement reform efforts and attempts to create a framework for defining some of the key concepts and drivers for change.
This online guide is just a first step in a collective effort to understand procurement reform and reengineering. We've included some final questions for state central procurement officials as an opportunity to build on this resource and continue the conversation about procurement reform.
Click   HERE   to access the Procurement Reform Guide.
Contact Elena Moreland, NASPO Senior Policy Analyst, at  [email protected]   or (859) 514-9169 if you have any questions about this publication.
New Horizons of Impact - 2016 NASPO Leadership Academy
New and emerging leaders from twenty-six states came together August 4-5 to collaborate on strategies for reaching "New Horizons of Impact" for state procurement. The 2016 Leadership Academy, hosted at Harvard University's Faculty Club by the Center for Leadership in a Networked World, provided a unique balance of engaging education, peer to peer connection and introduction of new perspectives on what state procurement can be.
 
The program hit on some of the most salient challenges for procurement leaders and directors. Whether it was in helping a fellow state strategize solutions to workforce development issues, reviewing case studies to look for organizational and service improvement opportunities or challenging one another to adopt entrepreneurial thinking in state government, participants soaked up two packed days of education and idea-sharing.
 
Look for the Leadership Academy program summary to be shared later this month and begin thinking about who from your state should attend in 2017!

Attention Directors/CPOs: Did You Know?
Did you know that NASPO uses the information provided to us through the Survey of State Procurement Practices almost daily?

The information we collect is the foundation of our research efforts, and is how we are able to respond to numerous inquiries from states, members, stakeholders, and even outside organizations. The survey results directly fuel our ability to help the states reach their full potential.

We have made significant changes to improve the survey experience and ease the burden on all of you, by dramatically shortening the survey, asking more intuitive questions, and using a new cloud-based tool with advanced logic and functionality.

Directors and CPOs should have received an email from Jordan Henson on August 3, with your unique link to the survey and instructions to complete the survey. Please email him at [email protected] if you have not received your survey link.

We hope you will be able to participate. The deadline is August 31, 2016. Please help us achieve a 100% response rate!

NASPO's mission is to help our members achieve success as public procurement leaders in their states through promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies.