April-June 2009 (Quarterly Newsletter)
The 11th Annual Procurement Fair is coming! |
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March 18th marked the graduation of the participants in the 2008-2009 Business of Construction courses. |
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The first annual Procurement Recycling Competition was held in the department. “COMPETITIVE” means more to us than competition in our bid process! See the related article and pics. |
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Local Purchasing Chapter Marks 25th Anniversary!
The Copper Chapter is Southern Arizona's local chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). A strong local presence, the chapter is comprised of members from 19 different member agencies throughout Southern Arizona, including counties, cities, towns, universities, colleges, school districts, and fire districts, who come together to promote ethical, efficient and cost-effective public purchasing policies and practices, provide educational programs, products, and services for public purchasing personnel, and exchange useful information about policies, practices, procedures, products, and services of common interest.
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Design & Construction's Sue Aegerter (Copper Chapter Secretary, 2007-2008) meets Kirk Buffington, National NIGP President. Next to Sue is her sister Cindy Jansen (retired City of Tucson Procurement Contracts Administrator). |
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December of 2008 marked the 25th Anniversary of the Copper Chapter of NIGP. In honor of this landmark occasion, the chapter hosted a celebratory event on March, 10, 2009. Pima County Procurement attendees, paying their own costs to attend the event, included Copper Chapter Officers Melissa Hala'ufia (Chapter President), Hazel Houston (Chapter Vice President Education), and Mary Jo Furphy (Chapter Treasurer). Several other members of procurement attended the event including Terri Spencer, Sue Aegerter, Maria Julia Canizales, and Nancy Page. Coming out of retirement to note the occasion were former Pima County employees Jan Wojdyla, Judith Weisenborn (charter member of the chapter), and Ms. Virginia Houston, former Pima County Procurement Director.
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Melissa Hala'ufia, President of the Copper Chapter, with Kirk Buffington, National NIGP President, and Clarence Boykins, 2nd President of the Copper Chapter, receiving the commemoration plaque marking the Copper Chapter's 25th Anniversary. |
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Kirk Buffington, NIGP's National President, joined a host of others from member agencies in acknowledging the accomplishments of the chapter, which is a three time National Small Chapter of the Year recipient, and member contributions at the local, regional and national level. One attendee remarked, “It was great to celebrate 25 years of delivering on our mission in Southern Arizona ”.
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From left: Marcheta Gillespie (NIGP Region XI Representative),
Hazel Houston (Vice President of Education), Mary Jo Furphy (Treasurer), Kirk Buffington, Cherie Odeski (Past President of the Copper Chapter) and
Dan Longanecker (Vice President of Membership) |
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Department Training
“Procurement Basics” is a new departmental training session developed by Chris Barnhill of the Design and Construction division. This one on one informal sharing of information is designed to strengthen the relationship between departments and Procurement by addressing some of the most frequently asked questions about Procurement, including initiating the work with procurement, procurement types, and the procurement vs. purchasing cycle. It also serves as a mechanism where departments and their design and construction procurement representative can openly discuss problems as well as provide feedback. In celebration of Purchasing Month, Chris kicked off the first of these trainings with the Department of Transportation on March 2 nd . Look for “Procurement Basics” being offered to your department soon!
by Melissa Hala'ufia