I have been active in the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) for over 15-years, beginning when I was the division director for IT and Professional Services within the State of Michigan Procurement Office.  Over the years, I have been honored to serve on various boards and both participated and moderate panel discussions, at the annual convention.  Recently, I had the honor of being named a Life Member to NASPO, but that does not mean that my service within the association stops.

NASPO is a national organization consisting of state procurement officials from all fifty-states and U.S. territories.  It provides training to its members, as well as opportunities for vendors to take part in the Annual NASPO Exchange conference. In addition, it provides contract opportunities through NASPO ValuePoint, a contracting vehicle developed by the association.

Being an active member in an organization like NASPO has allowed me to meet procurement professionals from across the country, with various backgrounds and challenges of their own. I have been able to serve with other Life Members, using our experience to help the next generation of procurement professionals.  Over the years I interacted with vendors with unique backgrounds and services, some I did not know existed.  From these relationships I have developed mentors and friends who have guided me through the years, not only with my own professional development, but my personal development as well.

This year, I am serving on the Annual Conference Planning Committee.  The upcoming conference will be special as it marks the 75^th anniversary of the association. With that comes a lot of opportunities to look at the past, but also the future of procurement, and NASPO as an organization.  I look forward to participating as a mentor and guide for this event and meeting new people and developing new and improved skills.

I highly recommend getting involved with organizations relevant to your industry. While the connections are valuable, even more valuable is the professional development that you can gain from your fellow members.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.