www.vagp.org FEBRUARY 2018

NEWS & VIEWSPubl ished for Members of the Virg in ia Associat ion of Governmental Purchasing, Inc.

IN THIS ISSUE . . .VAGP 2018 Spring Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3President Elect’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Ambassadors Are Seeking Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5Meeting The Newly Appointed Public Relations Chair . . . . . . . . . .6Mentor-Protégé Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7How Bills Become Law In Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Upcoming VAGP Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9New CPPOS and CPPBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Intro to Public Procurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Spring To Prep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Join The Diversity Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

VAGP 2018 SPRING CONFERENCE& VENDOR EXPOMarch 5-7th, 2018

Hilton Richmond Downtown60 thAnniversary

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FEBRUARY 2018

BOARD OF DIRECTORSOFFICERSPresident

Sharita Bryant, CPPB, VCO, VCA

President-ElectLorie Newton, CPPO, CPPB

TreasurerJay Smigielski, CPPO

SecretaryCindy Davis Smith, CPPB

First Past PresidentEtta Henry, CPPB, VCCO, VCO

Second Past PresidentStephanie Suter, CPPO, CPPB

First At–Large MemberKristy Varda, CPPO, CPPB

Second At–Large MemberStephanie Brown, CPPB

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONSConferenceVacant

DiversityLawrence Shaw, VCO

EducationAmy Bevins, CPPB

MembershipBeth Dooley, CPPO, CPPB

Professional DevelopmentTomek Kruszec

Public RelationsDyanna McMullen, VCO

TechnologyKelly Gill, CPPB, VCO

LegislativePatti Innocenti, CPPB

Executive DirectorChris Ruditys

NEWS & VIEWSEditor

LeeAnne Beatty Smith, CPPB, VCA,CUPO

Layout & Design Leslie Wright

News & Views is published quarterly and wasdesigned and created for the members of theVirginia Association of GovernmentalPurchasing, Inc. (VAGP), by WisconsinAssociation Management. Views andadvertising expressed in this newsletter are notnecessarily those of, or endorsed by, VAGP.Send correspondence to VAGP, 11801 W.Silver Spring Dr., Milwaukee, WI 532257 5 7 - 6 0 9 - 3 6 9 6 ; i n f o @ VA G P. o r g .Subscriptions are included in the annual duespaid by members. Advertising rates and poli-cies may be obtained by calling 757-609-3696.

VAGP NEWS & VIEWS

VAGP 2018 SPRING CONFERENCE& VENDOR EXPOBill Lindsey, CPPO, C.P.M.NIGP Member Council

With a theme of ‘Honoring the Past, Valuing the Present,and Shaping the Future’, VAGP is returning to Richmondon March 5-7 and offering one of its largest and mostcomprehensive conferences featuring a multitude ofprocurement training and learning activities. This upbeatand exhilarating occasion will allow participants to availthemselves of hearing some of the most captivating and

knowledgeable speakers, both nationally and internationally, and tounderstanding how they are empowered as leaders in deliveringworld-class procurement services to their clients.

New to VAGP, most of the workshops will be conducted in the anchorhotel, the Hilton Richmond Downtown, but the Greater RichmondConvention Center has also been reserved for a tremendous Vendor Expoand continuing learning opportunities for one of the days.

Special emphasis will also be noted as VAGP will celebrate 60 years ofprocurement excellence with recognitions from NIGP executive leadershipand a special guest that will open the conference.

As presently planned, participants may avail themselves of 14 trainingopportunities in addition to a huge expo during the conference. As anexample of the diversity associated with the various learning opportuni-ties, an international speaker will open the conference describing howTransforming the Purchasing Office can be a tremendous Path toPerformance. The conference will then culminate with a two-partpresentation by a Special Agent of the Miami FBI, which will keep youriveted to your seats.

Colloquially, I have worked to pattern this conference for everybody. Nomatter what your experience level is in the purchasing office, you are sureto gain insights that you can take back with you and that will immediatelyenhance your skills.

This conference will be a fast-paced and fully engaging program that willmove quickly and pack a big punch. Because of this, I implore you toregister early by visiting the VAGP website and reserving your space. Ifyou have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at(804) 693-1210, or you can call Sharita Bryant at (804) 786-3897.

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGESharita Bryant, CPPB, VCM, VCO, VCAVAGP President

Happy Diamond Anniversary! The diamond, a traditional symbol to celebrate a 60thanniversary is derived from the Greek word adamas, meaning enduring. Since1958, VAGP has served the purpose of providing “a good, sound way of spreadinginformation about public procurement”- Albert Hall. VAGP is a nationally recognizedleader in advancing the profession and has repeatedly received recognition andawards for our efforts. While commemorating moments of education, advocacy, andsupplier relations, we convey that our mission not only serves our members but

assists in overall achievements of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is with extreme gratitude that Ihave been entrusted to serve as your 2018 President!

Triennially, your VAGP Board of Directors participates in a Strategic Planning Session. During thesession, the board collectively discusses ideas to enhance member benefits. Our most recentsession produced the 2018-2020 VAGP Strategic Plan. This plan strategizes the who, what, when,where, and why for VAGP’s actions, events, and services for the next 3 years. When developingthe plan, our vision was to develop goals, missions, and objectives to best serve you. It is proventhat public procurement strategies add value to the entities they serve. VAGP wants yourmembership to prove as your best professional value!

Our primary goals through 2020:

• Constitute effective business channels to cultivate future professional relationships and practices

• Increase membership engagement by enhancing or promoting membership benefits

• Enhance educational offerings and opportunities for membership and partners

• Increase knowledge and information exchange with internal/external stakeholders

• Enhance technical services and resources for membership

I am excited! Our upcoming Spring Conference’s theme, “Honoring the past, Valuing the Presentand Shaping the Future” is who we are. For over 60 years, VAGP has nationally provided value andservice to our profession. I sincerely hope you are able to join us at the Richmond Hilton Downtownin March. Our keynote speaker will discuss various techniques to transform and bring aboutpositive change. By registering for the conference, you will receive procurement value so pleasejoin us as we celebrate our history!

AMBASSADORS ARE SEEKING INPUT!!Kristy Varda, CPPO, CPPBFirst-At-Large Member

Our Ambassador program has gotten off to a GREAT start! We have ambassadors for all buttwo of our nine Zones.

An ambassadors’ work is pretty straight forward, however they need your help! Feedback is amajor key to make this program successful. In order to provide you with the best offerings ofclasses and opportunities, the ambassadors need to hear from you, the membership, on whatyou would like to see offered in your Zone. Would you be willing to host a multi-day class or

a half day seminar? Is there something you think will benefit all the members (and some non-members) togrow our profession in the Commonwealth? Please take the time to reach out to your Zone ambassador andlet them know! For Zones 4 and 9, let me know and I will be happy to work with you!

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PRESIDENT-ELECT’S MESSAGELorie W. Newton, CPPO, CPPBVAGP President-Elect

As we embark on a new year, it is my distinct honor and privilege to serve as your President-Elect for the 2018 year. I am excited to be working alongside a very talented and innovativeBoard and am expecting great things for VAGP in the upcoming year. As we are preparing forthe upcoming Spring Conference in Richmond, it is exciting to see the program unfold and themany memories relived as we celebrate our 60th anniversary. The host committee has a greatprogram planned and we will be coming together at the Greater Richmond Convention Centerwhere our vendors will have the opportunity to network with our membership from across the

Commonwealth. This is a great opportunity for vendors to meet with a mix of procurement officials from stategovernment, local government, authorities, schools and universities, and community service boards in orderto network, grow their business and start conversations that will lead to contractual opportunities. Vendorrelationships is a key component of our organization and the very reason we are able to give back to our mem-bership. It is important to take the time to participate in the expo and thank those businesses for supportingVAGP. As the vendor registration for the expo has taken off, it is exciting to see a wide array of vendorsregistered, some for the very first time. Serving as the expo chair for this conference, I have had theopportunity to speak with and educate many potential business partners on the benefits of VAGP and theirparticipation in our annual conference expo. I am very fortunate to have a very talented committee to plan andorganize the expo and thankful to Kimberly Mitchell and Roberta Jardine for their hard work on this event.

The growth of our organization has been amazing and I am proud to have been a part of VAGP for more than25 years. I look forward to serving our membership on the Board and welcome any suggestions orrecommendations you may have to help our Board better serve you. Please feel free to reach out to me atNewtonL@chesterfield.gov if you have questions, ideas or just want to network. I was elected to the Boardthrough your vote and confidence in me and I continue to look for opportunities to engage the membership inthe growth and success of VAGP.

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AMBASSADORS ARE SEEKING INPUT!! continuedWe are still seeking ambassadors for Zones 4 and 9 as well as someone who is willing to co-chair this programas it becomes a standard offering for participating in VAGP. If you would like more information on how you canparticipate you can reach me at vardak@fcpsk12.net or 540-662-3889 x 88237.

Want to know who your Ambassador is? Check it out below!

Zone 1: Ambassador is Andrea Philyaw!! (Loudoun, Fairfax, Fairfax City, City of Herndon, Town of Leesburg,Manassas, Manassas Park, Fauquier, Prince William , Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington)Zone 2: Ambassador is Nicole Robertson!! (Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, Rockingham,Harrisonburg, Augusta, Highland, Bath Staunton, Waynesboro)Zone 3: Ambassador is Jennifer Stieffenhoefer!! (Rappahannock, Culpeper, Madison, Greene, Orange,Charlottesville, Albemarle, Louisa, Fluvanna) Zone 4: Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, King George, Caroline, Westmoreland, Essex, Richmond County,North Umberland, Lancaster, King and QueenZone 5: Ambassador is Cassandra Smith!! (Accomack, Northampton, Mathews, Middlesex, Gloucester, JamesCity Work, Williamsburg, Surry, Poquoson, Hampton, Portsmouth Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isleof Wright, Franklin, Southampton, Greensville, Emporia, Sussex, Newport News)Zone 6: Ambassador is Kristina L. Williams!! (King William, New Kent, Charles City, Prince George, Dinwiddie,Petersburg, Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Lunenburg, Nottoway, Amelia, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Chesterfield,Henrico, Richmond, Powhatan, Goochland, Hanover)Zone 7: Ambassador is Melissa Tillman!! (Nelson, Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Halifax,Danville, Pittsylvania, Campbell, Appomattox, Lynchburg, Amherst)Zone 8: Ambassador is Simone Knowles!! (Rockbridge, Buena Vista, Lexington, Bedford, Franklin, Henry,Martinsville, Patrick, Galax, Carroll, Floyd, Pulaski, Radford, Giles, Montgomery, Roanoke, Salem, Roanoke City,Craig, Botetourt, Alleghany, Covington)Zone 9: Bland, Wythe, Grayson, Smyth, Washington, Bristol, Scott, Lee, Wise, Norton, Dickenson, Buchanan,Russell, Tazewell

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MEET THE NEWLY APPOINTEDPUBLIC RELATIONS CHAIRDyanna McMullen is currently a Contract Specialist with Fairfax County. Her extensive higher education careerspans 13 years. Dyanna holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Master’s degree in management andhas her VCO. Dyanna joined the Fairfax County Department of Procurement and Materials Management teamin December 2017. Dyanna was first introduced to procurement during her work as the eVA/ SPCCAdministrator for Norfolk State University in April 2014 and has hit the ground running ever since. Dyanna hasbeen a member of VAGP since 2014. Dyanna is actively taking classes offered through VAGP and NIGP.

“VAGP has been an incredible source in helping me to increase my professionaldevelopment. I have had the pleasure of being a workshop presenter at the spring2015 VAGP conference. The workshop was entitled “The Future of Procurement.”The workshop focused on the challenge of obtaining millennial talent and keepingthis talent pool engaged in the field. I feel uniquely experienced, and I considermyself ready for the challenge of the Chair of the Public Relations Committee.I am honored to represent VAGP in this capacity and accept the charge. To join thepublic relations committee please contact me at 703-324-3287 or emaildyanna.mcmullen@fairfaxcounty.gov. -Dyanna

MENTOR-PROTéGé PROGRAMKatie MarklePR Committee Member

I am not really sure where to start with this essay as VAGP is such a wonderful learningnetwork and there are too many things I could write about. I have met many people from manybackgrounds through the mentor-protégé program. I’ll begin with where I started and where Iam today with some lessons learned I picked up along the way.

When I first started the mentor-protégé program through VAGP, I was new to procurement.I fell into procurement just as many others have. I was an intern in ODU’s Procurement

Department and from there I became the office manager. My supervisor in that position was very involved inVAGP and highly encouraged all employees to be as well. I helped with the planning of the 2014 springconference and that is where my interest in VAGP really grew. I was thrown into the conference planningcommittee and gladly volunteered for projects left and right. I wanted exposure and networking opportunities,and that is exactly what I received.

At that spring conference I was heavily involved with social media and the contests they were going on, and Iactually won a prize for it. From there Ginger Gordon recruited me to join her PR committee, and I did sowithout hesitation. After attending a few other conferences some lovely ladies that I had met through theconference planning committee convinced me that I was already doing so much with VAGP that I should gothrough the mentor-protégé program. I hesitated because I was already doing some much with work and gradschool that I didn’t think I would have time; but, I did it any ways!

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FEBRUARY 2018VAGP NEWS & VIEWS

MENTOR-PROTéGé PROGRAM continuedJennifer Stieffenhofer from the City of Charlottesville wasassigned as my mentor and has been great! I came from abackground in higher education and she gave me some insideknowledge on ways other purchasing entities conduct procure-ment. Jennifer also saw that since I was a student in the PublicProcurement program at ODU, I could be an asset to theMembership Committee, so I decided to join the membershipcommittee as well. When Jennifer saw that I was struggling in my position at ODU (no way to gain moreprocurement experience) she gave me some ideas of what to look for and where to apply. Ultimately I accepteda new job with HRSD as a Procurement Coordinator. This new position has given me a great deal of practicalprocurement experience.

Throughout the whole program I have met and networked with many people. I have learned so much not onlyabout best practices, but about the people that make up VAGP. Through writing the News & Views articles,which I may say was not my favorite part, I learned quite a bit. My last article was “Paving the way for YoungProcurement Professionals,” where I conducted interviews with young procurement professionals on thedifficulties of gaining enough experience to obtain a position in Procurement. My main take-away fromconducting those interviews is that VAGP has been instrumental to all of us in our continuing education andnetworking. If it weren’t for our connections made through VAGP, none of us would be where we are now. Ihighly encourage those that have been in procurement (no matter how long) to get more involved, it’s amazinghow much you will learn from others.

The board meetings always interested me because I knew there had to be more to VAGP than just themembership and conferences. Listening in on the Board conference calls and even attending one in personreally opened my eye to the “behind the scenes” of VAGP. I now understand more of what makes VAGP runand how they can keep it all up for the betterment of the procurement field. I learned more about the costs ofrunning the conferences, the reporting, the legislation side, and the management company and the process ofcreating the RFP for a new one.

As one of my outreach and volunteer projects, I hosted twolow-fee seminars -- Ethics in Procurement and VPPA. I neededthese classes as a new employee at HRSD, so I took thisopportunity to kill two birds with one stone. This was challengingas they ended up being a week apart. The amount of organizationand planning was underestimated on my end, but they went offwithout a hitch. I was able to meet two great instructors and learn

more not only about VAGP but their history with VAGP and how the times have changed. The classesthemselves were great and I have been using what I learned quite a bit.

I have learned about VAGP’s history, goals, mission, and more through the mentor-protégé program. Justbecause I have completed the program definitely does not mean I am done with VAGP any time soon. I am notsure if I will run for any of the board positions quite yet since I am so new to procurement and I am trying tofinish my graduate degree, but it is something I am interested in for my future. I am truly pleased I took on thisjourney; I met so many amazing individuals and can’t wait to meet many more in the future.

HOW BILLS BECOME LAWS IN VIRGINIAPatti Innocenti, CPPOLegislative Committee Chair

The Virginia General Assembly convenes in mid-January each yearfor each a short session on odd years (45 days) or a long session oneven years (60 days). Here’s a summary of the process on how a billbecomes a law in Virginia:

• A member of the General Assembly (Senate or House of Delegates) originates a concept fora bill and vets the proposal through the Division of Legislative Services (for constitutionality andreview of existing law). The bill is drafted by the Division of Legislative Services and then

submitted to the Clerk (of the Senate or House of Delegates).

• The Clerk refers the bill to the appropriate standing committee (the Senate has 11 standing committees andthe House of Delegates has 14 standing committees). Most procurement-related bills are referred to the GeneralLaws committee/subcommittee.

• The Virginia Constitution requires that every bill have three readings on three calendar days. At the firstreading, the bill is printed in the Calendar or is read by the Clerk. On the next scheduled committee meeting(second reading) the bill is amendable and by voice vote the bill is engrossed and passed to its third reading.The engrossed bill appears on the Calendar on third reading. By a recorded vote, the bill is passed ordefeated.

• When passed, the bill is sent to the other house for its consideration. A similar process of referral to a standingcommittee for three readings before passage by a constitutional majority is conducted.

• If there are differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill, a Committee of Conference is cre-ated to resolve them.

• After the bill is passed by both houses of the General Assembly it is sent to the Governor for approval. TheGovernor may 1) sign the bill into law; 2) amend the bill and return it to the General Assembly for approval; 3)veto the bill and return it to the General Assembly where the House of Delegates and the Senate may overridethe veto by a two-thirds vote of both houses; or, 4) take no action and the bill becomes law without theGovernor’s signature.

If you are interested in learning more about the VAGP legislative committee, please reach out to a member! Patricia Innocenti, CPPO, Committee Chair, Patricia.Innocenti@fairfaxcounty.gov Lisa Cummings, CPPO, lisa.cummings@nn.k12.va.usJay Smigielski, CPPO, jsmigielski@suffolkva.usKisha Allen, CPPB, CPPO, Kisha.Allen@cpschools.comBeth Dooley, CPPO, CPPB, edooley@fairfaxwater.org Kathy Elgin, CPPO, CPPB kelgin@purcellvilleva.govDarryl Jackson, CPPB, darryl.jackson@alexandriava.govKristen Hylton, CPPO, kristen.hylton@uosa.orgMelva Kishpaugh, VCO, CUPO, mkishpau@umw.eduBill Lindsey, CPPO, CPM, blindsey@gloucesterva.infoSusan Monaco, CPPO, CPPB, susan.monaco@fauquiercounty.govHarry Smithson, CPPO, VCO, VCCO, hrsmiths@odu.eduGary Via, CPPO, CPPB, viajg@danvilleva.gov

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UPCOMING VAGP SPONSORED NIGP CLASSES

Please visit https://www.vagp.org/insidepages/meetings/ for more information. If you are interested in joining thiscommittee or want to schedule a class at your location, please reach out to one of the Education Committee mem-bers!Amy Bevins, CPPB, Education Chair abevins@loudounwater.orgJacque Comuzzi, CPPB, Jacquelyn.Comuzzi@vdot.virginia.govKristen Hylton, CPPO, Kristen.hylton@uosa.orgKevin McDowell, dkmcdowel@radford.eduNancy Pressing, CPPB, npressing@ssc.vccs.eduRoxanne Ehardt, CPPO, Roxanne.ehardt@vdh.virginia.govCarla Smith, CPPB, carla.smith@vbschools.comCindy D. Smith, CPPB, cdsmith1@wmata.com

UPCOMING VAGP LOW-FEE PRO-D CLASSES

Please visit https://www.vagp.org/insidepages/meetings/ for more information. If you are interested in joining thiscommittee or want to schedule a class at your location, please reach out to one of the Professional DevelopmentCommittee members!Tomek Kruszec, Pro-D Chair tomek.kruszec@lynchburgva.govTonia Darrisaw, VCO, VCA, VCCO, CUPO, tonia.darrisaw@dgs.virginia.govSheila Farmer, CPPB, farmersd@pwcs.eduLynn Enders, CPPO, VCO, VCA, llenders@fredericksburgva.govSteve Pierson steve.pierson@fairfaxcounty.govElizabeth Russell elizabeth.russell@dgs.virginia.gov

Legal Aspects March 26-28 Virginia Tech Kevin McDowelldkmcdowel@radford.edu

CPPB Review Class April 5-6 Richmond Roxanne Ehardtroxanne.ehardt@vdh.virginia.gov

Contracting for PublicSector Services April 23-24 Washington DC MWCOG Cindy Davis Smith

cdsmith1@wmata.com

Practical Specification Writing May 7 Centreville Kristen HyltonKristen.hylton@uosa.org

Legal Aspects May 21-23 Chesterfield Lisa RussellRussellL@chesterfield.gov

Intro to Public Procurement June 25-27 Daleville Nancy Pressingnpressing@ssc.vccs.edu

Developing & Managing RFPs July 23-25 Loudoun Amy BevinsABevins@loudounwater.org

Virginia PublicProcurement Act March 23 Arlington

Public PurchasingBasics March 28 Harrisonburg

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NEW CPPOS AND CPPBS

CONGRATULATIONS! VAGP wants to take this opportunity to congratulate the VAGP members whosuccessfully passed the UPPCC CPPB/CPPO certification examinations administered October 16-28,2017. Your hard work and dedication paid off. We are very proud of your accomplishment!

CERTIFIED PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OFFICERS (CPPO)

Name Agency CityShawn Brooks Arlington County ArlingtonRebecca Kee Arlington County ArlingtonKristen Hylton Upper Occoquan Service Auth. CentrevilleJason Stanley Fairfax County FairfaxNeil Cutler Old Dominion Univ. NorfolkKristy Varda Frederick County Public Schools Winchester

CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC BUYERS (CPPB)

Name Agency CityIgor Scherbakov Arlington County ArlingtonLiza Grimshaw Chesapeake Public Schools ChesapeakeKelly Anne McClurg Chesterfield County ChesterfieldYong Kon Kim Fairfax County FairfaxSharon Ratcliff City of Virginia Beach Virginia Beach

Upcoming Application Deadlines for Fall 2018 Testinghttp://www.uppcc.org/

Exam Dates: Apply by: Apply by: Scheduleexam by:

Oct 15-27, 2018 July 30, 2018 Aug 13, 2018 Sept 20, 2018

INTRO TO PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN AN ERATHAT HONORS THE PAST, VALUES THE PRESENT,AND SHAPES THE FUTURE

Tonya JoynerVirginia Beach Public Schools

March is National Procurement Month, and we are about to celebrate the 60th anniversary of theVAGP. There is an old proverb that states March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb. Justlike the fluctuations of March’s temperament, the public procurement field experiences transitionalphases. Those of us who are new to the procurement profession are in a role that will uphold the

historical foundations, champion the values of the present, and transform the future.

As a new procurement professional, I recently completed the Intro to Public Procurement class that gave an overviewof the evolution of public procurement. While generations of public procurement stewards before us have beenordering, warehousing, and redistributing goods and services, they were not regulated by the same set of laws,regulations, policies, or procedures as we are today. As quickly as the March winds shift, procurement was fraughtwith the possibilities of fraud and excessive costs. Over the decades, other professionals before us laid the founda-tion of such guiding legislation. The result of such legislation is leading the profession as a strategic componentadding value to the organization.

The Intro to Public Procurement class also gave an overview of the values and guiding principles of publicprocurement. Many of you know these to be: accountability, ethics, impartiality, professionalism, service, andtransparency. In this era of transparency, we are held accountable to the public, taxpayers, friends and othercolleagues to act in a manner true to these values in order to ensure the public’s trust. We are now the professionalstewards responsible for providing balance to diverse public interests. It is our time to march forward and shape thefuture.

The book used in the Intro to Public Procurement class ended its final chapter with future developments in publicprocurement. It covered technology and globalization, but the final section was about workforce evolution. In keepingwith the theme of this year’s conference we will reflect and celebrate 60 years of our organization, but we will alsobear witness to a shift in the workforce with a loss of institutional knowledge as our colleagues retire. We need toprepare. We need to challenge ourselves by being innovative and seek new or more substantive responsibilities. Weneed to refine our skills. We need to show the public that we are a proactive group protecting their interests, and notmeant to be obstacles. We are essential to the changing winds of tomorrow.

To my fellow procurement professionals, the torch is being passed to us to transform our profession, but we must notlose sight of where we are and what makes our foundation strong. Glean wisdom and knowledge from those who willretire soon. Value the shifts within your organization, and be the architecture of innovation. One thing remains clear,through any cycle, the procurement professional’s role will continue to evolve whether it is with a quiet, bleating soundor a resounding roar.

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SPRING TO PREPDyanna McMullen, VCO PR Committee Chair

“Every experience, good or bad, is an opportunity to learn,” are the senti-ments expressed by Robin Campbell Wyatt. This year marks the 60thAnniversary of VAGP and the spring conference has a fresh idea added tothe agenda. The attendees will have the opportunity to attend a CPPBpreparation class which is included in the conference registration.Registrants attending this seminar can expect to plant a seed in theirknowledge through preparation and review. “There will be nothing dis-cussed in this seminar that you should not already know.” However, theremight have been a few things that you have forgotten along the way. Attendees will be able to nurture their practicalexperiences in processes such as IFB’s, RFP’s, evaluations, and contract administration, according to Wyatt.

After she took her VCO and CPPB exams Robin found her passion for helping students to learn and pass exams.Robin is currently working for a community service board. One of her most unique situations while in procurementinvolved a wasp infestation. Thousands of wasps decided to make the roof of a clinical building their new home.Robin had to secure a pest control company that could handle the magnitude of the infestation. Procurementcontinues to keep Robin interested because every day is different, every interaction with clients affords an opportunityto learn.

Robin’s advice to anyone that may be hesitant to take the exam “You have absolutely nothing to lose; but so, so muchto gain. The exam is not easy, but that is why you prepare, if at first you don’t succeed…try again!”

MARCH IS PURCHASING MONTH! Attention Procurement Professionals!March is Governmental 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 aclass. For those working on certification, make it your goal to achieve this in 2018. If you have been puttingoff meeting with an end user who needs extra help, make that a priority. VAGP would love to hear abouthow you and your colleagues celebrated Purchasing Month! Please send pictures and information on anyPurchasing Month activities to LeeAnne Beatty Smith at smith2LB@jmu.edu. We hope to share some ofthe Purchasing Month activities in the June issue of News & Views!

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JOIN THE DIVERSITY COMMITTEELawrence Shaw, MPA, VCODiversity Committee Chair

Greetings VAGP,Your Diversity Committee is seeking motivated procurement professionals!

Who is the VAGP Diversity Committee and why does the committee exist?

We are committed to recognizing diversity as a core strength of the organization and to honor,respect, and value those differences.

Below I’ve identified KEY areas of focus for 2018 and beyond. The word DIVERSITY is singular;however, it provides a BIG IMPACT. As we grow our committee, there will be subcommittee opportunities that offerdirect areas of expertise or desired focus.

1. Committee Member Recruitment (2018 and beyond)a. continuous recruitment plan/develop recruitment materials b. recruitment campaign

2. Sub-Committeesa. VAGP Young Professionals (BOD Initiative)

i. Engagement during the conference (community service awareness, charity games, fundraising,membership games/interaction)

ii. Possible podium time at conference/symposium and/or news and views b. Student

i. Career fairs c. Supplier Relations

i. Conference Advisory liaison (Action Plan-supplier session)d. VAGP Demographics

i. Work with CAC, PRO-D/Ambassadors to ensure member benefits are offered and recognized statewide. Include session developing and instructor recruitment.

Please reach out to me with any questions or to find out more about joining the VAGP Diversity CommitteeLawrence.shaw@dgs.virginia.gov

Industry News• Best Practices• Photo• Book Reviews• Education Opportunities• Event Recaps• New Certifications• Tips and tricks

This is your Association and your publication—make your voice heard! All VAGPmembers are encouraged to send articles, press releases and photos. Published articleson purchasing related topics may help members earn recertification points. For eligibilityrequirements, please verify directly with the certifying agency. Suppliers and contractorsare also encouraged to submit purchasing-related articles for publication. Limited oppor-tunities are available and offered at no cost!

Submit your contributions to LeeAnne Beatty Smith at smith2LB@jmu.edu.

Production Schedule 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th QuarterDeadline for Submissions May 4 Aug 10 Nov 2Publish Date June 1 Sept 14 Dec 7

NEWS & VIEWSWe want your news and views in 2018!