Public Purchasers Head to Hartford To Insure Procurement Success

The National Institute of Governmental Purchasing offers a premium,
information-packed agenda, slated for August 4 to 8, 2007, in Hartford, CT

By Kristin M. Atwater, Managing Editor

Located on the banks of the sparkling Connecticut River, Hartford is often called the “Insurance Capital of the World.” The headquarters of many, major insurance companies are located within the city, which blends a sizzling night life, historical landmarks, and the charms of New England.

This summer, Hartford will host the 62nd Annual Forum and Products Exposition of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP). The event will be held from August 4 to 8, 2007, at the Connecticut Convention Center in downtown Hartford.

In keeping with the city’s insurance acclaim, this year’s show sports the theme, “Insure your success in New England’s rising star.” More than 1,100 delegates, ranging from seasoned procurement professionals to practitioners, are expected to attend the four-day event, which is the largest national conference devoted to public purchasers.

Pre-Forum seminars, scheduled on Thursday, August 2, and Friday, August 3, offer review sessions for
delegates planning to pursue pro-fessional certifications at the show. Choose from one-day seminars to finalize preparations for taking the Certified Professional Public Officer (CPPO) or Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) examinations, which are offered on Saturday, August 4.

The show then kicks into high gear, offering a full slate of educational workshops, seminars, and general sessions to help delegates enhance their professional and personal development. Throughout the show, attendees can network with purchasing peers from across the United States and Canada to gain new ideas and share solutions.

To present the newest products and services for public entities, the show’s Products Exposition will showcase the wares of an estimated 165 exhibitors.

Representatives from GovPro Media, which includes Government PROcurement Journal and Govern-
ment Product News, will also be there. Stop by Booth No. 231 to say hello.

The Exhibit Hall will be open:
Sunday, August 5­—1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
(Reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Monday, August 6—9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Expanding on Education

Show attendees can select from 42 workshops and seminars, which focus on a range of issues faced by procurement professionals in the public sector. Workshop tracks are divided into two tracks: Knowledge Network or Skills Stations, and some sessions offer a learning lab.

Various workshops will cover environmental programs and earth-friendly products that are more readily renewable than traditional commodities. Public- and private-sector representatives will present proven methodologies for reducing environmentally damaging byproducts and power consumption. To support this theme, sessions include:

• Purchasing Green Cooperatively. Hear best practices and case studies from local government officials who use a program from U.S. Communities to advance green purchasing goals.

• Health, Safety, and Environmentally Conscious Purchasing. Discover how public purchasers can develop and maintain parks, sports fields, and community landscapes, while reducing risks to one’s health, safety, or the environment.

Discussions of financial tools, business solutions, and management strategies also take center stage, with workshop such as:

• Total Cost of Ownership—Take the Guesswork Out of Budgeting. Learn how Life Cycle Costing (LCC) can improve long-term budgeting for purchases involving fleets or capital equipment.

• Strategic Sourcing—Stop Shopping—Start Thinking. Find out how to consult market research findings and identify source selection strategies for long-term acquisition success.

To help ensure disaster preparedness among public purchasers and communities, sessions will include:

• FEMA—Are You Ready? Prepare yourself for an overview of resources provided to state and local governments by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

• NIMS National Incident Management System (NIMS). Learn how this system can provide local communities with assistance from neighboring jurisdictions and the federal government.

Advances in technology will be emphasized in sessions such as:

• P-Card Basics. For those considering implementing a purchasing card program, this workshop presents tools to help entities develop, launch, and market card programs

• E-Procurement System—Using Technology to Your Advantage. Explore the questions and answers that should be addressed when selecting an electronic procurement platform.

Additional workshops cover everything from The Evolving Role of Procurement Leadership to Federal Buying Power.
In addition, a Contract Administration Seminar will offer 24 hours of classroom time, over the course of the Forum schedule. This seminar is sponsored in conjunction with NIGP’s LEAP (Learning and Education to Advance Procurement) program.

Sign Up for Social Festivities and More

To encourage networking among attendees, the NIGP Forum offers a variety of social activities. The agenda includes a golf tournament on Friday, August 3; opening kickoff dinner on Saturday, August 4; a New England clam bake on Sunday, August 5; and a gala Presidential Banquet and Dance, held on Wednesday, August 8.
Optional tours of city sites are also offered for attendees and their guests.

For more information about the NIGP Forum and Exposition, as well as online links to registration forms, visit www.nigp.org.