Reaching new heights at the NIGP Forum

The 67th annual NIGP Forum and Products Exposition takes place Aug. 18-22 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing hosts the event, which is themed “Reaching New Heights.”

The Forum and Products Expo offers public purchasing professionals an opportunity to share new ideas, learn about innovative techniques and network with peers to find out what they are doing to meet the demands placed on them by their customers and constituencies. Educational workshops and speaker sessions are designed to provide a learning environment for best practices, resources and skills to improve job performance and provide professional development.

The forum brings together more than 800 public procurement professionals from federal, provincial, state and local government agencies in the U.S. and Canada. Attendees can choose from more than 60 educational workshops as well as plenary sessions with speakers.

The event also introduces the public procurement community to suppliers who showcase products and services available to the government, including:

· Office furniture/equipment

· Finance solutions

· Procurement solutions

· Training programs/services

· Construction equipment

· Automotive sales/service

· Recreation facilities/materials

· Disaster relief/recovery

· Building materials

· Security solutions

· Bidding software

· Communications

· Computer hardware/software

· Maintenance

Forum activities run from Saturday, Aug. 18 through Wednesday, Aug. 22. Pre-forum courses start Friday, Aug. 17. Pre-forum courses can be taken to earn points toward Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) certification and re-certification.

The forum closes Wednesday, Aug. 22, with the President’s Farewell Reception.

Opening ceremony and plenary session

Keynote speaker: Joel Cherkis

Sunday, Aug. 19, 8-10 a.m.

Keynote speaker Joel Cherkis, general manager, government and security, Microsoft Corp. Worldwide Public Sector, delivers the opening keynote address. The topic: “High-Performance Government: The Next Generation of Computing.”

During his keynote speech, Cherkis will discuss how governments at all levels are rethinking how they serve their citizens.

Closing general session

Speaker: Robyn Benincasa

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 3:15-4:45 p.m.

The topic of Benincasa’s presentation is “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Result: The 8 Essential Elements of Human Synergy.”

Benincasa has competed in close to 40 expedition-length events, including multiday, multisport events such as Primal Quest and Eco-Challenge — and won world-championship titles along the way. In her spare time, she is a full-time firefighter in San Diego, on the nation’s first all-female crew.

In her keynote session, Benincasa imparts the attitude and mindset that allows groups of ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things together.

President’s Farewell Reception

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. – 12 a.m.

The “ultimate 1980s cover band,” the Spazmatics, provides entertainment for the last evening of the conference and expo.

Go here for more information.