Here are just several of the benefits of my NAEP Membership:

• The opportunity to serve beyond just my institution
• Exchanging ideas and experiences about best practices in Higher Ed Procurement
• Making new and lasting friendships with people from all across the United States (and the world)
• Increasing and solidifying my professional knowledge and capabilities
• Traveling to new and exciting places
• Enhancing my status and reputation at my institution through recognition received for service to NAEP
• Collecting new ideas regarding training and professional development for my Purchasing staff
• The opportunity to be a nationally published author via the NAEP Journal

Byron Burr Millsap
Associate Vice President, Administration & Finance (Purchasing)
University of Oklahoma

“Having been in the procurement field for many years, I will be the only face of purchasing that some members of my campus community ever see. With visibility comes responsibility. My NAEP membership provides me with the tools needed to better support my end users. The list serve, webinars, RFP library and meetings are just a number of resources available to me that provide the expertise to expand my knowledge base. Being better versed in procurement allows me to better meet the needs of my customers.”

Judith A. Rees, C.P.M, A.P.P.
Director, Procurement Services
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

“The professional development opportunities that are offered through NAEP are endless. Personally, I have gained valuable knowledge from attending the annual/regional meetings as well as the Procurement Academy.”

Missty C. Kennedy
Manager, Procurement Services
Auburn University

“The single biggest benefit to NAEP is a defined peer group that is easily accessible and available for the solicitation of information and feedback on our respective solicitations, initiatives, organization and experiences. This listserv is the most obvious example of this but it goes beyond that. Most any of the members are immediately accessible to answer questions or provide opinions on any manner of inquiry or topics. That is the biggest single differentiating characteristic between NAEP and all other professional associations with which I am involved (NIGP, NACUBO, ISM, etc.).”

Rob Parker, C.P.M., C.P.I.M.
Director of Purchasing
Louisiana State University HSM

“NAEP membership is invaluable and priceless because it allows for a timely and an open exchange of information among procurement professionals. One of the best ways to exchange information timely is via the NAEP list serve. Have a procurement question and want to know how others approached it? Submit it to the NAEP list serve and be ready for the responses to come in. Because Procurement is an ever changing profession, the list serve is a great way to keep up on best practices, new initiatives, and anything procurement related.

Another great way to stay up to date and put your membership to work for you is by attending a Regional, District or Annual Meeting. The sessions are always new, fresh and of course educational. I always leave the meetings with exciting new ideas for my University. In addition to attending educational sessions at a Regional, District or Annual meeting, you will have the opportunity to network. Networking can help many universities immensely because knowledge is at the touch of a button.

It may be difficult to understand why a membership with NAEP is a must-have when there are other professional associations out there, but all you have to do is give it a try and you will be sold. NAEP is the only Association dedicated to the procurement profession in higher education. Gone are the days of tactical procurement. We have now entered a new day in procurement…strategic procurement. What is on the procurement horizon next? Be a member of NAEP and have access to over 1,500 members’ knowledge to approach what is next.”

Farrah Bustamante, CPPB
Strategic Sourcing Specialist
Colorado State University
Procurement Services

Your 2012-2013 NAEP Membership Committee:

• Co-chair Brian Burkeimer, Iowa State University
• Co-chair Missty Kennedy, Auburn University
• Travis Ball, Texas A&M University – Commerce
• Farrah Bustamante, Colorado State University
• Bruce Cherrin, University of New Mexico – Main Campus
• Amanda Echterling, James Madison University
• Nicolle Gaillard, Wake Forest University
• Burr Millsap, University of Oklahoma
• Rob Parker, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
• Judy Rees, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Bert White, Texas A&M University - Commerce