Summer, 2012 Vol. 41 No. 1 2014 Reverse Trade FairThursday, March 6

Best Western Plus Sterling Inn 34911 Van Dyke

Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312

Registration for the 2014 MPPOA Reverse Trade Fair is open! The 2014 event will be held on Thursday, March 6 at the Best Western Sterling Inn in Sterling

Heights. Hold the date on your calendars and register today. Our member registration drives the vendor registration, and the event won’t be a success without your participation.

Five Reasons Why You Should Participate:1. The Reverse Trade Fair is MPPOA’s largest fundraiser and underwrites all of our educational scholarships and the annual conference. Without the financial support the RTF gives the organization, our scholarship program would be compromised and the conference registration rates significantly higher.

2. It is a great chance to reconnect with your fellow purchasing professionals from around the state. Relationships built at MPPOA events will prove invaluable in your career.

3. This is a great vendor outreach event. Consolidate all of your vendor appointments into a single day.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FEBRUARY 19, 2014Principles and Techniques of Problem SolvingAnn Arbor Public Library, Ann Arbor

MARCH 6, 20142014 Reverse Trade FairBest Western Plus Sterling Inn, Sterling Heights

See mppoa.net for details and to register for all events.

IN THIS ISSUE:2014 Reverse Trade Fair

President’s Message

Keri Bright – 2013 MPPOA Marvin F. Klang Award Recipient

Joyce McClane – 2013 MPPOA Buyer of the Year Award Recipient

Upcoming MPPOA Educational Opportunity

Scott N. Guzzy – 2013 MPPOA Purchasing Manager of the Year Award Recipient

Nominations for Board Positions Now Open!

Wayne County Airport Authority - 2013 MPPOA Entity of the Year

2013 MPPOA Annual Conference Recap

Volunteer Opportunties

Welcome New Members

Winter 2014 Vol. 44 No. 1

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2014 Reverse Trade Fair (continued) 4. It’s completely FREE to MPPOA members. Do you know someone in the purchasing profession who’s not a member? Invite them, and it will be free for them too.

5. It won’t be a success without YOU!

If you have any questions on the event, feel free to visit the website at www.mppoa.net or contact the business office at 517-886-2794 or email info@mppoa.net. REGISTER TODAY!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGERebecca Cook

Hello MPPOA Membership!

s civil servants, when our job is done well, it often stays completely under the radar. Those that appreciate your ef-forts the most may be your peers. Your fellow public sector

purchasing officers understand the research, hard work, delicacy and diligence that go into successful bids and contracts. Applying your professional expertise on behalf of your agency customers and tax-payers is an unsung hero’s work. Your MPPOA peers are here to com-pare best practices with you and cheer you on. Please take the time

to read the MPPOA award winners for Buyer of the Year, Manager of the Year and Agency of the Year. Have you seen the renewed interest in civil service, and the desire to make a meaningful contribution on behalf of your fellow citizens? It is refreshing and gratifying to see this shift. Innovation in government is creating a buzz, making a new circle of potential em-ployees interested in government work. Millennials are also entering the workplace, and they are looking for purpose in their careers. Civil service may be a natural fit. Is your entity preparing to embrace and unleash the energy of the next generation? Your role is a unique one – is there any other office that touches so many departments within your entity? Purchasing staff have the ability to drive efficiency, change and cus-tomer service through the organization. Take your place proudly, and make your mark.

—Rebecca Cook

A

Imagine her surprise when this year’s Marvin F. Klang Award recipient, Keri Bright, was joined by her husband, Bob at the MPPOA Awards Ceremony. Bob discreetly arranged to attend the affair to witness her accepting this prestigious recognition.

Keri’s reflections on the event are as follows:“After 20 years at SMART, of which 15 years have been in Procurement, receiving the award at the 2013 Fall Conference has been extremely rewarding. I have always loved my job, and to be acknowledged by my peers for performing my duties is an honor.

It was an emotional night for me. I had no idea that I was even nominated. At the banquet, Lisa (Cummins) and Debbie (Scully) kept me distracted and busy by greeting arrivals at the front door before sitting down for the award ceremony. But when my husband walked in the door, I knew something was afoot.

I can’t thank the committee enough for selecting me. I am grateful and honored to have received this award. I hope to continue to perform my procurement duties with the same compassion and ethics that helped me over the years. And I will continue to educate and encourage others about MPPOA. The organization is filled with a network of valuable information. It is a place where anyone in procurement can readily ask and receive assistance, knowledge, and support from their colleagues.”

Keri is the latest in a long list of well-deserved recipients. Reviewing her experience with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional

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Keri Bright – 2013 MPPOA Marvin F. Klang Award Recipient

Transportation (SMART) and service to MPPOA, Keri’s work ethic, determination, and disciplined approach to assignments have caused her to stand out wherever she has been involved.

After her first experience at an MPPOA Conference in 2000, Keri embraced

the organization, actively participating at events, including vendor trade

fairs, and taking on leadership roles throughout the years. She recognized

the organization’s value as a procurement resource and paid it forward

as a Board Member, a Professional Development Committee Chair

scheduling a diverse array of training events (2003 – 2011), and as 2009

MPPOA Awards Banquet Mistress of Ceremonies.

At SMART, Keri has honed her purchasing skills such that she can assume a

support or lead facilitator role whenever duty calls. Her latest challenges

and successes include taking over a major solicitation in progress—

SMART’s Advance Radio System (ARS). The purpose of the project is to

improve SMART’s operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, security,

marketing, and customer satisfaction through system-wide technical

enhancements. While Keri was not the agent of record during the

solicitation’s development, not missing a beat, she stepped in, facilitating

this high-priority, $6.5 million project through best and final offer to award.

Keri’s personal work plan balances routine assignments, while managing

deadlines for critical, high-profile projects, performing so efficiently that it

all looks easy. Furthermore, during her tenure, Keri has graciously been a

mentor and sounding board to any colleague in need.

Based on her aforementioned outstanding contributions to the

advancement of the public procurement profession, professional

development, SMART, MPPOA, and NIGP, Keri Bright is definitely

emblematic and well-deserving of the Marvin F. Klang Award.

Marvin F. Klang Award (continued)

As a 29-year purchasing veteran, the 2013 MPPOA Buyer of the Year Award Recipient, Joyce McClane, CPPB, has many stories from the trenches to share. Joyce rose through the ranks from Genesee County Road Commission (GCRC) Purchasing Coordinator in 1996 to currently serve as Purchasing Manager.

With the intent of the award being “to recognize individuals who have completed a unique or special project”, Joyce has several special projects from which to select. Notable procurement related projects include (but are not limited to):

•Implementinganewphonesystemthatyields$27,000annualsavings •Renegotiatingtheroadsaltcontracttherebygenerating$150,000savingsannually •Generatingadvertisingsavingsaveragingnearly$29,000annualsavings •Facilitatingconcretesavingsaveragingover$16,000savingsannually •Trafficsignsavingsaveraging$20,000annually •OnlineAuctionRevenueaveraging$151,000annually

Over a four (4) year span, through these highlighted endeavors and many more, the totalbottom-lineimpactofJoyce’seffortsapproximate$1.5million.Thesesubstantialsavings have been touted as a tangible value to internal customers when budgeting for future newer assets, as well as preserving and supporting the resources of the taxpaying community of Genesee County.

The highly successful auctions have attracted buyers locally, nationally - from as far as Texas and New York, and internationally - from Canada. Roger Hill, Retired GovDeals CSR stated, “I found working with Joyce, on her surplus, to be positive and productive. Her demeanor, attitude, and discipline added integrity to the fair and equitable process of marketing Road Commission surplus to a wide variety of interested bidders and buyers.” After all that, Joyce has even more areas for which she is researching savings and revenue potential.

Joyce McClane – 2013 MPPOA Buyer of the Year Award Recipient

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Buyer of the Year Award (continued)

Even with such an ambitious program, positive compliments were received regarding Joyce’s, work ethic, internal/external relationships, and self-established high standards. The team of nominators advocating for Joyce’s recognition, commended her dedication, responsibility, and successful efforts on behalf of the Genesee County Road Commission. Felicia Ivey, Safety Coordinator GCRC, expressed appreciation for Joyce’s willingness to give of her time and expertise to assist with any purchasing concerns, as well as introducing her to the MPPOA Reverse Trade Fair. Regarding the many wonderful qualities of our recipient, including her real passion for both her job and for helping others, Stephanie Taeger, summarized by saying, “(Joyce) is a selfless person and doesn’t do anything for glory and recognition.”

Joyce’s team of nominators included her husband, John McClane. John pointed out, “(Joyce) has been instrumental in saving jobs at the Genesee County Road Commission bysavingtheRoadCommissionnearly$1million,andgarneringanother$550,000inincremental revenue for the agency over the past five years.”

While she may not have worked for the glory, with such a diverse team behind her nomination, and extensive list of accomplishments, Joyce McClane, CPPB, Purchasing Manager, Genesee County Road Commission, is well-deserved for recognition as the 2013 MPPOA Buyer of the Year Award.

Principles and Techniques of Problem SolvingWednesday, February 19, 20148 a.m. ‐ 5 p.m.

Ann Arbor Public Library ‐ Mallets Creek Branch3090 E. Eishenhower ParkwayAnn Arbor, Michigan 48108

REGISTER NOW!To register, visit: https://www.mppoa.net

Upcoming MPPOA Educational Opportunity

Scott N. Guzzy – 2013 MPPOA Purchasing Manager of the Year Award Recipient

Peers lined up to nominate this year’s Purchasing

Manager of the Year Award Recipient, Scott N. Guzzy,

CPPO, MBA. Scott, who currently serves as Purchasing

Administrator for Oakland County Michigan, has a long

history of contributions to Oakland County, MPPOA,

NIGP, as well as his community.

At Oakland County, Scott’s ability to lead by example, create innovative cost-saving

but effective training options, and facilitate change during a potentially stressful

right-sizing merger of governmental units, have earned him respect as a strong,

knowledgeable, fair but compassionate manager. During his fifteen (15) year tenure,

after working his way up from buyer to a senior buyer in four (4) years, Scott was

promoted to Chief of Purchasing before assuming the Administrator of Purchasing

position. Scott has earned high praise from co-workers, through his ethical,

professional, knowledgeable and virtually unchallengeable procurement practices.

From managing projects, identifying legal issues and cultivating relationships with

internal and external customers, according to Joellen Shortley, Deputy Corporation

Counsel, Oakland County, “Scott is invaluable to the entire procurement process…

Scott knows how to get things done and how to fix problems.”

With MPPOA, Scott’s legacy is well documented. Since joining the association in

1998, Scott has been a steadfast promoter of the organization and the benefits

of membership while serving on the Board (beginning in 2004), serving as Board

President (2005), as well as supporting and/or participating on a multitude of

committees. Scott is dedicated to making any event, from Reverse Trade Fairs

and regional conferences to training opportunities, a success.

Scott has also actively supported the National Institute for Governmental

Purchasing (NIGP). As most are aware, earned credentials such as the Certified

Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) and Certified Public Procurement Officer

(CPPO) have become recognized measures of professional competence and

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Purchasing Manager of the Year (continued)the understanding of the body of knowledge surrounding public procurement.

During the past year, Scott has lent his expertise to the CPPB and CPPO exam question review process. In addition, he became involved in the NIGP Position Paper Community in areas such as, Emergency Preparedness, Technology in Procurement, and the National Forum 2013 - Orlando. Subsequent to his Position Paper Community activities, Scott served on the NIGP Research Committee and is currently involved with the NIGP Writing Committee.

In his home community, Scott took on the reins as President of the Jayno Heights Homeowners Association, where he is positively impacting the quality of life for the homeowners in and around Silver Lake in Waterford Township. His leadership is making it possible for the residents to upgrade the assets and amenities attached to their community. His efforts have helped sustain the quality of the community’s lifestyle.

Scott Guzzy demonstrates the qualities of a manager both professionally and in a volunteer capacity. As so many have benefited from his leadership and willingness to serve, it is logical and understandable that his efforts and achievements are recognized with the MPPOA Purchasing Manager of the Year Award.

Per MPPOA bylaws, an election meeting shall take place at the first meeting of the calendar year. Therefore, an election will occur at our general meeting during the Reverse Trade Fair, March 6, 2014.

MPPOA members should submit nominations for positions listed below to Mansfield Matthewson (mmatthew@grcc.edu), MPPOA Past President, no later than Friday, January 31, 2014.

*President Elect (one-year term, followed by President and Past President)*Treasurer (two-year term)*(2) Directors At-Large - 2014 (even year, replacing Desiree Quinney and Michelle Whitlow)

Additionally, the President may appoint (2) Directors for one-year terms. For more information on elections, please visit: https://www.mppoa.net

Please contact Mansfield with any questions. Thank you!

Nominations for Board Positions Now Open!

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Airport (DTW) is Michigan’s busiest

airport and one of the world’s leading

air transportation hubs. DTW offers

more than 1,100 flights per day to and

from nearly 150 destinations on four

continents. In 2010, DTW ranked highest

in overall customer satisfaction among

large airports in the J.D. Power and Associates North America Airport

Satisfaction Study. With two new, state-of-the-art passenger terminals, six jet

runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin hotel, DTW is among the

world’s most efficient, customer friendly, and operationally capable airports

in North America.

DTW is operated by Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), which also

operates nearby Willow Run Airport, an important corporate, cargo, and

general aviation facility. WCAA is tasked with the strategic operation

and management of two of Southeast Michigan’s most promising

assets. Together, these airports comprise one of the world’s leading air

transportation hubs with awesome potential for growth and development.

WCAA is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive any tax dollars to

support airport operations.

Throughout the last year, the Wayne County Airport Authority (Airport

Authority) Procurement Department has supported the public purchasing

community with educational support demonstrated by staff training in

pursuit of nationally recognized certifications, informational exchanges

with connections at National Institute for Governmental Purchasing (NIGP)

LinkedIn, and the Authority’s recognition of National Purchasing Month.

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Wayne County Airport Authority-2013 MPPOA Entity of the Year

The Airport Authority Procurement Department is also integral to the WCAA’s many successes, maintaining its high standards, and achieving its high ratings through its continually improving processes. A particularly unique, award-winning project was the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)’s $11 million Ground Run-up Enclosure (GRE) completed last summer. Procurement staff facilitated the solicitation; while Business Diversity staff determined and monitored the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal, and subsequent compliance for the Airport Authority’s award winning project.

The GRE project is a 90,000 square-foot, three-sided, 42 foot-tall, steel structure on the airfield, lined with more than 2,000 noise-absorbing acoustical panels that reduce noise exposure from 20 square miles to 2.2 square miles when jet engines are tested after maintenance. It is the largest jet blast deflector ever built in North America and is used an average of three times per day. This is a tremendous boon to the residential neighbors.Upon hearing that the WCAA Procurement Department’s contributions on this project were considered in the MPPOA award process, Ron M. Evans Procurement Director commented, “The recognition is well deserved. The commitment and efforts of the staff are reflective of our mission.” Deputy Director Sherita Calloway was thrilled. “I’m delighted and excited to be acknowledged for my contributions to the award winning GRE project. As the Solicitation Manager for the project, it’s great to fulfill our “Procurement mission.” Peter Hathaway, Business Diversity Coordinator was “pleased to have been a part of the team that made this project a reality.”

The Wayne County Airport Authority Department’s Procurement Mission: To acquire quality goods and services, efficiently and lawfully, to meet the goals of the Airport Authority through teamwork, while developing a more competitive, qualified, and diverse vendor base.

Overall (as evidenced by their smiling faces), receiving the MPPOA Entity of the Year Award was a crowning moment for all members of the WCAA

Procurement Department.

2013 MPPOA Entity of the Year (continued)

Our 2013 MPPOA Annual Conference was an overwhelming success. Public purchasing professionals came from around the state to network with colleagues, attend educational workshops led by subject matter experts in the field, and be motivated and inspired by nationally recognized professional speakers.

Approaching the LineThe Dark Side of Success – John Borbi John Borbi was a successful financial advisor. His job was to make money for his clients through investments. And he did. He made a lot of money for them and was compensated richly for his efforts. John was, on the surface, the quintessential American success story. Work hard, and it’ll pay off.

His business grew and that positively affected the growth of his client list elevating John’s income and his self-worth. The synergy was not lost on John. He knew that his reputation and therefore his compensation could be negatively impacted by not showing adequate profits for his clients.

A rational approachJohn’s crime was taking money from a client. He took money from one client and gave it to another to hide a loss to the second client. The first client, who unknowingly donated the money, wasn’t that interested in the account John knew;

the client was wealthy in the extreme, and this account was one that he was just keeping around. On the other hand, the second client, the guy receiving the replacement money, was interested in what happened, and the account represented a great deal more to him. A loss to the second client was a heavier hit to the second client than to the first, in John’s view.

John was after all, not taking money from his clients to directly enrich himself; it was only to avoid the second client sustaining a loss. The Robin Hood look and feel of this case didn’t require much of a spin for John. The question of “how could you?” had a ready answer and supplied the rationalization that provided John with the “why wouldn’t you?”

2013 MPPOA Annual Conference Recap

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Staying in the momentAs with all “robbing Peter to pay Paul” scenarios, a day of reckoning loomed in the future, but that day took a back seat to the considerations of the now for John. The thing about succeeding at something, once you do, you will normally gravitate to the proven method of driving the success. John was no different. He had the proven answer to the issue of client losses for the short run. Of course it had to end, and it did, but the end of the story—the jail term, the divorce, the restitution owed, the careers destroyed—is certainly a warning. However, it just may be that the dramatic consequences shouldn’t be the focus.

What’s the answer?Many of the ethical decisions we make are, in reality, already made for us by public procurement policies and procedures. Don’t go to lunch with vendors; don’t accept the tin of cookies sent to the office by a vendor during the holidays. But the Federal Trade Commission regulations are far more comprehensive than any rules and regulations imposed on public procurement. It isn’t that there are more and better regulations to keep everyone inside the lines. At some point, it has to be about understanding ourselves well enough to know what might lead us to that line in the first place.

Mr. Borbi’s contact information:johnborbi@toughlessons.comwww.toughlessons.com

More Tales from the Dark Side Procurement Fraud – Sarah JenningsSarah Jennings currently serves as a senior manager for Maner Costerisan in the firm’s audit department and leads the fraud and forensics practice. Sarah has particular specialization performing internal control assessments,

fraud risk assessments, fraud examinations, and other litigation support services for organizations across various industries.

Sarah’s presentation directed attention to trends and schemes on how to identify problem areas and implement processes to avoid, deter, and see the “red flags” of corruption.

Annual Conference Recap (continued)

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Credit Card EvolutionsVirtual Card Solution: What’s That? – Timothy Ladd, Fifth Third BankThe idea of a credit card has been around for over one hundred years, and the credit card as we know it has been around for about fifty years. Throughout that time various iterations of the credit card have come and stayed or come and gone. Timothy Ladd of Fifth Third Bank presented the next generation of payment—the Virtual Card. The presentation offered a comparison of the different types of payment methods and how they might function in the world of government contracts and why this option could be a solution for vendor payment.

FOIA It will Annoy Ya’ Freedom of Information Act – Thomas Quasarano, Assistant Attorney General, State of MichiganEvery public procurement buyer has had to be involved at some level with the Freedom of Information Act. Mr. Quasarano’s presentation was a great refresher with information that included the simplified do’s and don’t s as well as the complete Freedom of Information Act;Act442of1976.Bothdocumentsareattachedforyourreadingenjoyment.

The Gift of TimeTaming the Email Beast – Randall DeanMr. Dean’s offering was a deftly presented lesson on managing an inbox and, by extension, managing your life. The focus was on software Outlook or Google Calendar, but the concepts can be applied to any program or method. Mr.

Dean demonstrated an “e-mail infrastructure” together with strategies for keeping up with incoming work and making the inbox work for you.

Randall Dean’s contact information:Randy@randalldean.comwww.randalldean.com

Dressed for the StressHigh Stress or High Impact: The Choice is Yours – Sherene McHenryMs. McHenry gave an overview of how one can learn to say no without angst. The

Annual Conference Recap (continued)

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presentation provided examples of persons and or situations that have the potential of making unpleasant pressure and strain.

A Matter of Give and TakeNegotiation Strategies – Dr. Carol PrahinskiDr. Carol Prahinski teaches courses in procurement, sustainable development, supply chain management and operations management. She was awarded a dissertation grant from the National Association of Purchasing Management for outstanding doctoral research in the field of purchasing.

Dr. Prahinski’s presentation focused on negotiation related to successfully navigating one’s personal, social, as well as professional life. This was not just discussing strategies, but also understanding the natural progression in all negotiations which includes stalled negotiations.

Dr. Carol Prahinski’s contact information:prahinski@broad.msu.edu

Annual Conference Recap (continued)

Volunteer Opportunities

Calling all volunteers! We are looking for volunteer help

with the following:

• Set up the Reverse Trade Fair the night before the

event (usually 2 hours)

• Registration at Reverse Trade Fair (can be any length of time; registration

usually opens around 7 a.m. and has two people at the table all day)

• Marketing or social media for any of our events

• Registration at conference (usually a couple of hours the first morning, but it is

good to have someone at the registration desk at all times for information)

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Maryellen at (517) 886-2794

and email mppoa@acd.net or speak with any MPPOA Board member by

contacting https://www.mppoa.net/insidepages/contacts/.

New Members MPPOA would like to welcome the following new members to the association:

Jared Ambrosier – State of Michigan, Department of Military and Veterans AffairsBrandon Barnum – City of DearbornMichael Breen – State of Michigan, Purchasing OperationsHeather Calahan – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetPatricia Calvin – Oakland SchoolsSue Cieciwa – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetKelly Criner – City of Grand RapidsAmanda Dassance – Michigan State UniversityStephen Davis – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetKevin Dunn – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetChelsea Edgett – State of Michigan, Purchasing OperationsStephanie Epps – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetPeg Galt – Kent CountyShelley Giedrocz – Macomb County Department of RoadsRachelle Hall – Lansing Board of Water and LightPaula Hurst – State of MichiganKarolyn Jones – Genesee Health SystemsJoe Kelly – State of Michigan, Purchasing OperationsCarrie Nuffer – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetAlex Redfern – Michigan State UniversityJenni Riehle – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetBrandon Samuel – State of Michigan, Department of Management and BudgetSue Ann Wierenga – City of Grand RapidsJim Wilson – State of Michigan, Department of Management and Budget

Retiring soon and interested in a Lifetime Membership? Applications for Lifetime Memberships are available on the MPPOA website, www.mppoa.net, in the Membership tab.

Welcome New Members