The Pulse podcast talks with Russell Porter, a senior executive for the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), and Dugan Petty, former NASPO and National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) President. They delve into the relationship between NCSC and NASPO, what's unique about government IT, the risks facing digital government, and how CPOs and their staff can mitigate some of these threats. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subs...
Nov 29, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 14
We talk to McCall Ginsberg, Deputy General Counsel for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services. We discuss lawyers' relationship to the procurement office, best practices to follow when working with a new procurement specialist, what the procurement office can do to engage attorneys better, and more! Special guest Megan Smyth, NASPO General Counsel, tells us about NASPO Annual Law Institute. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on N...
Nov 01, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Alaska's procurement office has been going through a centralization process for the past few years, so we asked Thor Vue, Chief Procurement Officer for the great State of Alaska, to discuss some of the challenges his office has faced thus far during the process. We'll talk to Thor about Alaska's new Centers of Procurement Excellence, and we play a new game called the Key takeaways game, where Josh and Kevin each present A key takeaway from the interview. Hold on to your hats! Click here to view ...
Oct 18, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 12
We keep the fun going Live from NASPO's 2021 annual conference in Austin, TX! Dan May, Deputy Director of Operations, in the great State of Florida, walks us through rating two vendors: Wise Guys Office Furniture and MODSolution Furnishing. We give you the Q&A from procurement officials and the infamous takeaway game! Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Oct 07, 2021•24 min
Coming to you Live from NASPO's 2021 annual conference in Austin, TX! We talk with Dan May, Deputy Director of Operations, in the great State of Florida, about their Vendor Performance Tracking (VPT) system. Dan provides us with an overview of the improvements and evolution of vendor evaluation. We discuss how performance data provided by vendor rating systems can increase transparency and accountability throughout the contract life cycle. Our speakers will share their experience implementing an...
Sep 29, 2021•26 min•Season 2Ep. 11
We welcome Josh Descoteaux, Procurement Content Manager for NASPO, and the Pulse's new cohost! Josh and Kevin interview Brandi Ann Willard, NASPO Academic Affairs Manager, about why it's important to offer procurement/supply chain management courses at the collegiate level and how states can take advantage of NASPO's academic affairs program and get involved. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Y...
Aug 20, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 10
We discuss ways of implementing change in an organization. Whether it be training needs, providing staff support, or retention issues, the concept of change management draws on many different theories from psychology, behavioral science, etc. Victoria Steeger, Chief Learning Officer of Maryland, and David Gragan, Chief Learning Officer, for DC’s Office of Contracting and Procurement explain the responsibilities of a CLO, and how they work to introduce and manage change in their offices. Click he...
Jun 28, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Kelly and Andrew take us on their journey over the last few years of acquiring an eProcurement system. We'll talk about the unique Kaizen events they held with state agencies, why Kelly calls this an agency-driven solution, the concept of “competitive dialog,” and so much more! Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Jun 14, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Today we're talking cybersecurity with Meredith Ward, Director of Policy & Research at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). We examine NASCIO and NASPO's new joint publication, “Buyer Be Aware…Integrating Cybersecurity into the Acquisition Process," which addresses steps state governments should take to ensure cybersecurity is an integral part of the acquisition process. Meredith, Amanda, and I briefly examine NASCIO and NASPOs relationship, the relationship...
Jun 01, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 6
We talk with Rachel Dougherty, Enterprise Contracts Counsel, who manages the Professional/Technical Contracts team for the Minnesota Office of State Procurement. Rachel and her team partnered with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to come up with an innovative RFP. Based on NASPS's new case study, "Minnesota Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Challenge" (link below), we discuss early interagency collaboration between MDOT and MN OSP and look at some of the challenges the team initial...
May 17, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Dr. Robert Handfield of North Carolina State University and Dr. Zhaohui Wu or Oregon State University walk us through their work on NASPO's Research report Assessing State PPE Procurement During COVID-19. We discuss PPE shortages that occurred throughout the United States in 2020 and examine the structural influence of state procurement offices on the ability to respond in an agile and effective manner. Download the report here! Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subsc...
May 03, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 4
We talk with Leah McGrath, the Executive Director of StateRAMP. Leah explains what StateRAMP is, the role StateRAMP plays in educating state officials about cybersecurity, and how states can participate in this project. Important Links: Stateramp.org Events: stateramp.org/events Documentation: stateramp.org/documents Leadership: stateramp.org/leadership Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube...
Apr 20, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 3
We're talking with Matt Oyer, the acting Chief Learning Officer for NASPO. We discuss his roles and responsibilities at NASPO. He shares his thoughts on the importance of professional development in an association, Procurement U's recent IACET accreditation, the new Pro U Gives Back program, and future projects that we can look forward to. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Apr 05, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this special edition episode for our upcoming 2021 NASPO virtual Exchange, April 13th–15th, we talk to Bart Lemmon. Bart is NASPO ValuePoint's Director of Supplier Development and Global Initiatives. We examine ValuePoint's Emerging Markets Initiative and how the initiative aims to benefit state procurement officials. Bart also gives helpful advice to potential Exchange attendees. Register for the 2021 Exchange here or by visiting 2021exchange.naspoevents.org/registration/ Click here to view ...
Feb 22, 2021•28 min0
In part III of our interview with NASPO CLO Dianne Lancaster, we conclude the conversation on the importance of teaching public procurement at the college level. We get Dianne's take on the matter of experience, as well as certification. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Nov 03, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In part II of our conversation with NASPO CLO Dianne Lancaster, we discuss a Chief Learning Officer's responsibilities and the importance of building relationships with academia. Dianne reflects on NASPOS's higher education initiatives, drives home the significance of continuous education. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Nov 03, 2020•29 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In the first part of this three-part series, we talk with NASPO Chief Learning Officer Dianne Lancaster. In part one, we discuss Dianne’s career, how she got into public service, and the history and evolution of the procurement profession. Be on the lookout for part two and three of Dianne’s interview coming November 3rd. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Oct 20, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 16
We talk with Erica MacKellar, Program Principle for the National Conference of State Legislatures & Shelby Kerns, Executive Director of the National Association of State Budget Officers. We discuss tools and strategies states may be looking at for fiscal recovery, the fiscal year 2020 projects both pre and post COVID-19, the role the Central Procurement Office plays in state budgets, and more! Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO...
Oct 06, 2020•26 min•Season 1Ep. 15
We talk with Meghan Holmlund, Chief Procurement Officer for the state of Montana. We discuss her office's efforts to maximize statewide eProcurement utilization and functionality and training and certification programs. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Sep 22, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 14
We're talking with Dr. Kevin Snyder. Dr. Snyder is (among other things) a motivational speaker who is delivering the keynote presentations at NASPO's 2020 Annual Conference. We discuss organizing your thought process amidst uncertainty and avoiding "head trash." Dr. Snyder gives us a sneak peek into what he'll be talking about during his presentation! Dr. Snyders Website: www.kevincsnyder.com/ Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! na...
Sep 01, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 13
We talk with Dr. Howell, Associate Professor of Government and Public Administration about practical approaches for implementing mandatory changes to policy and procedures from executive or legislative action, managing relationships with elected officials, and advocating for your office. CLICK HERE to view the webinar: Four Strategies for Effecting Change in Government Agencies. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse...
Aug 18, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Jesse Marks, Procurement Bureau Chief of Goods and Services for the State of Florida, explains Market Analysis and Procurement Strategy or MAPS. We discuss how MAPS can help to ensure historical mapping of your procurement, reduces the chance of losing institutional knowledge, and sets a defensible position for selecting the method of purchasing. Click here to watch a recording of the Market Research Panel Webinar: Utilizing Analysis Tools to Acquire Best Value featuring Jesse. Click here to vie...
Aug 04, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 11
As NASPO's first-ever virtual conference draws near, we speak with Laurie Brown of Laurie Brown Communications. Laurie has been doing speaking and training for over 20 years. She is a CSP (certified speaking professional), as well as a certified virtual presenter. We ask Laurie for some best practices for virtual training attendees. We also try to gain insight for those of you who have recently attempted to design an online resource. Laurie's website: https://lauriebrown.com/ Click here to view ...
Jul 21, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 10
We check in with Sarah Hilderbrand, Chief Operations Officer, for NASPO ValuePoint. We take a look at how their lead state model benefits government purchasing, and the work NVP has been doing to support states during the pandemic. We also discuss lessons learned and the ongoing communications between public and private entities, academic partners, and other agencies that are a part of the supply chain council. Click here to view a transcript of this episode. Follow & subscribe to stay up-to...
Jul 07, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, we discuss the importance of partnership and communication with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Director, Tim Blute. We ask Tim about the role of the CPO and how Governors can support them through the pandemic. Got a comment? An idea for an episode? Email podcast@naspo.org , we would love to hear from you! Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Jun 23, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 8
We discuss eProcurement with NASPO's Chief Information Officer, Bob Sievert. Bob talks about eProcurement then, and now, how COVID-19 has affected states' desires to implement a system, and how NASPO can assist states who want to understand eProcurement better. Make sure to check out Bob's webinar, eProcurement: What It Is & What It Isn't, Tuesday, June 10th at 3:00 pm ET. Register for that HERE . Got a comment? We would love to hear from you—email podcast@naspo.org . Follow & subscribe ...
Jun 08, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 7
We discuss fraud with Deputy Assistant Director John Jimenez of the FBI. During the coronavirus pandemic, chief procurement officials and their staff have been at the forefront in finding PPE and other critical items for their states. Unfortunately, due to the high demand and quick turnaround, fraud is at an all-time high. In this episode, we discuss the role state procurement has played in collecting PPE, fraud risk, mitigation techniques, the importance of reporting, and more! Welcome special ...
May 26, 2020•38 min•Season 1Ep. 6
We talk with Dr. Zhaohui Wu, a professor of supply chain and operations management at Oregon State University. We discuss strategy, priority, building compacity for regional networks of supply chains, and the current dialogue between states and the private sector. Want to share your thoughts? Email podcast@naspo.org , we’d love to hear from you. Resources: NASPO Blog : https://pulse.naspo.org/ Forward-facing COVID-19 related information: https://www.naspo.org/covid-19-resources For NASPO Members...
May 08, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5
We interview the current Chair of the Board of Directors (Kathleen Muretti) and the Executive Director (Ann Peshoff) of the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC). We discuss the history of UPPCC, why receiving and maintaining certification is a vital part of the procurement profession, and the importance of the 2020 jobs analysis survey. Click here to take the UPPCC Job Analysis Survey Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Yo...
Apr 24, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Part 2 of our interview with Jaime Schorr, CPO for the state of Maine. We discuss her role on the NASPO Board of Directors, research resources, why a podcast for procurement professionals is valuable, and her take on the future of public procurement. Click here to download the 2020 Top 10 Priorities for State Procurement Follow & subscribe to stay up-to-date on NASPO! naspo.org | Pulse Blog | LinkedIn | Youtube | Facebook...
Apr 24, 2020•17 min•Season 1Ep. 3
