Rosey Murton - NAEP President 2017-2018
Chief Procurement Officer
Wake Forest University

Recently, I was in a discussion with a colleague about developing a new business process. The brainstorming required generating and implementing new and innovative ideas to capture efficiencies across campus. The session was a reminder that, while it can be easy to get caught up in the daily operational responsibilities we each have, a differentiator of an effective leader is someone who can set aside the time to develop great ideas and build an environment that encourages innovation and collaboration. Noted author Steven Johnson, who has written and lectured extensively on innovation, points to the “collision of smaller hunches/ideas” through collaboration as essential to innovation. So, what does this mean for us as procurement professionals? How often are we tapping into our network both on campus and across our other NAEP colleagues? A successful idea on one campus may need some tweaking to be successful on another, but by reaching out and discussing, each of us can build on the great ideas that already exist to make them even better. We encourage you to continue to reach out—whether it is posting on the NAEP Forum, attending regional meetings, or investing in professional development opportunities such as the forthcoming Negotiations Institute—December 11-12, 2017 in Hanover, Maryland—which will offer some new ideas to consider. Whatever you decide, please remember to engage!