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Public Procurement
Where One Choice Changes Everything.
March gives us a moment to pause and celebrate the impact you make every single day. You keep essential services moving, safeguard public trust, and shape the future with every contract, partnership, and decision. Your impact never stopsโand neither do you.
This month, we shine a brighter light on the pride you bring to this incredible profession and the strength of a community that shows up for one another.
Together, we celebrate the professionโand the peopleโwho turn commitment into lasting change.
Happy Procurement Month
City of Boca Raton, Florida
Front Row (l to r): Surendra Samlalsingh, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, Senior Buyer; Marc Wigder, Council Member; Freddy Florial, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, Senior Buyer; Yvette Drucker, Council Member; Ivelsa Guzman, MBA, NIGP-CPP, CPPB, Purchasing Manager; Scott Singer, Mayor; Vilma Pizarro, Buyer I; Fran Nachlas, Council Member; George Hershewe, CPPB โ Buyer II; Andy Thomson โ Council Member
Top Row (l to r): James Zervis, CPA, CPFO, Deputy City Manager & Chief Financial Officer; Neil Phillips, Senior Buyer; Robin Annexstein, MBA, CPPB, Buyer II; Christine Laux, Purchasing Coordinator; Elaine Zazeski, Purchasing Technician; Alexis Forbes, Buyer I; Simone Blake, Purchasing Technician; Victor Guerrier, CPPB, Buyer II; Fernando Villalobos, MBA, CPPB, Assistant Purchasing Manager.
MY FORUM
STORY
Paige McDonald
Procurement Specialist IV
City of Austin, TX
Iโve attended NIGP Forum every year since my first one in Boston, and with each Forum I feel more connectedโto the event, to NIGP, and especially to the people. At this point, Iโm pretty sure I know someone from nearly every state. Last year, I even met attendees who traveled all the way from Hawaii.
Those relationships matter long after Forum ends. Recently, I needed a connection at the Toronto airport, and within an hour someone I met at Forum sent me the perfect contact. That kind of support is invaluable.
NIGP MENTORSHIP
SPOTLIGHT
Kaylee Yinger
Director of Procurement and Business Services
Beaufort County School District, SC
Mentorship gave me the confidence to step into leadership roles at the state level and lead procurement roundtables. The more we collaborate and openly ask questions, the more effective we become as a profession.
One of my proudest moments was watching a former mentee advance into national service after overcoming major personal and professional hurdles. Seeing someone take what they learned and run with it reminds me why this work matters.
Greetings
City of Forest Park, GA
Procurement Team
From l to r: John Wiggins, Finance Director; Hector Gutierrez, Councilman โ Ward 3; Latosha Clemons, Interim City Manager; Delores Gunn, Councilwoman โ Ward 2; Talisa Adams, Procurement Manager; Yazmin Huerta, Asst. Procurement Agent; Dr. Gwendolyn Ellison, Mayor; Kimberly James, Councilwoman โ Ward 1; Latresa Akins-Wells, Councilwoman โ Ward 4; Allan Mears, Councilman โ Ward 5
COLUMBUS
EVERYONE?
NIGP Forum 2026
August 23โ26 in Columbus, Ohio, and Virtually
A new era for public procurement is taking shape in Columbus, Ohio is the perfect place to spark fresh thinking and real connection.
NIGP Forum is the one event where the entire public procurement community comes together. Itโs where you meet people who understand your challenges, celebrate your wins, and share solutions you can use the moment you get home.
You donโt just attend Forumโyou join a community that pushes the profession forward. Thereโs nothing else like it. And you wonโt want to miss whatโs coming in 2026.
UPCOMING
CHAPTER EVENTS
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS (IAPPO)
Spring Conference
APRIL 1-3 | Champaign, IL
IOWA PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ASSOCIATION
Reverse Trade Show
APRIL 8 | Des Moines, IA
MISSOURI ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC PURCHASING OFFICIALS (MAPP)
Conference & Reverse Vendor Fair
APRIL 8-10 | Branson, MO
Orange County Florida
Procurement Division
Front and center - l to r: Carrie Mathes, Ana Villalona, Corie Cummings, Jenna Allen, Melisa Vergara, Daniel Rosario, Gerson Vazquez Gonzalez, Tracy Attenasio, Michelle Fort, Geneen Graves, Alvin Borges, Rolando Melo, Patti Hauser, Megan Miller, Milli Medina, Heidee Santiago-Rullan, Louis Straffi, Alina Hernandez Fernandez, Viviana Sandoval, Kris Collora. (Does not include the entire Procurement Division).
Front Row (l to r): Robin Wilson, CPPB, Taylor Fowler, James Craig, Francisco Silva
Back Row (l to r): Griselda Rodriguez, Jimmy Sanchez and Carlos Paredes
FREE MEMBER
RESOURCES
The State of the Public Procurement Profession 2026
Trends, Insights, and Outlook
This State of the Public Procurement Profession report is written for you. Itโs not just a look backโitโs a practical reflection on the year behind us and a forwardโlooking resource to support the work ahead.
Inside, youโll find the key policy shifts, market forces, and operating realities that shaped procurement this year, along with insights to help you plan, adapt, and lead.
Drawing from NIGPโs most recent benchmarking, compensation, and retention research, as well as emerging academic work through CARE, this report offers evidence-based insight into the state of our workforce, roles, and responsibilities.
CELEBRATING
PROCUREMENT
Mark Logan, Procurement Leader & SME
Excerpt from LinkedIn
Procurement is the ultimate problem-solving profession.
Itโs about connecting the dots, bringing together, people, processes and resources to create value and drive impact.
Every project, negotiation, and challenge is unique,
which means thereโs always something new to learn...
Procurement rewards those with curiosity and an inquisitive mind, pushing you to think critically,
use professional judgement, adapt to change, and grow both personally and professionally.
Town of Queen Creek, Arizona
Procurement
Top Row (l to r): Council Member Dawn Oliphant, Council Member Leah Martineau, Vice Mayor Bryan McClure, Council Member Robin Benning, Council Member Travis Padilla
Bottom Row (l to r): Mayor Julia Wheatley, Diana Landeros, Kimberly Heldt, Melissa Bauer, Myrna Quihuis, Brett Goeringer
