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SUNDAY, MARCH 22

10:00am – 5:00pm
Grand Ballroom Foyer
NASPO Registration/Information

11:00am – 11:30am
Columbus GH
Orientation for First-Time State Attendees
Led by Greg Smith (Nevada)

11:30am – 12:30pm
Lunch (on your own)

12:30pm – 3:30pm
Columbus GH
Emerald and Gold Sponsor One-on-Ones

One–on-Ones are prescheduled, fifteen-minute interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice.

3:30pm – 4:00pm
Columbus GH
Orientation for First-Time Corporate Attendees
Led by Dave Gragan (District of Columbia)

This informal session will cover the basic structure and objectives of the conference as well as the one-on-one sessions.  Make the most of your attendance!

3:30pm – 7:00pm
Riverside West/North 
Exhibitor Set-up
 
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Sponsors’ Reception and Dinner
(Off-site)

(This is an invitation-only event for conference sponsors, state members and special guests)

 

MONDAY, MARCH 23 

6:00am – 9:00am
Riverside West/North  
Exhibitor Set-up

7:00am – 5:00pm
Grand Ballroom Foyer
NASPO Registration/Information

7:00am – 8:00am
Grand Ballroom EF
Breakfast

OPENING SESSION
8:00am – 8:15am
Grand Ballroom AB
Welcome
NASPO President Vern Jones (Alaska)
NASPO Program Chair Helen McCain (Wisconsin)
NASPO Host State Chair Rick Hughes (Illinois)

Welcome Address
Honorable Pat Quinn, Governor of the State of Illinois

National Anthem
Performed by Roy Cunha

8:15am – 9:15am
Grand Ballroom AB
Keynote Address
"From Here to Sustainability: The Profit (and Pitfalls) of Environmentally Responsible Business"
Presented by Joel Makower, Expert in Sustainable Business, Clean Technology, and the Green Marketplace

Joel Makower has nearly 20 years of experience in corporate environmental practices and green technology. The Associated Press has called him "the guru of green business practices." The founder of Greenbiz.com, Makower provides information on environmental business issues and creative ideas for promoting marketplace sustainability.

9:15am – 9:30am
Grand Ballroom Foyer
Morning Break
    
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
9:30am – 10:45am
Grand Ballroom CD
“Building a Better Procurement: A Vendor’s Perspective”
Moderated by Elise Lancaster (Michigan) and Mike Smith (Government Sourcing Solutions)
Panelists: Paul Campbell (United Healthcare), Michael Flaherty (Pitney Bowes), Debra Lee (Hewlett Packard) and Andrew Guzzon (Grainger)

You can gain valuable information in this session, as the tables are turned a bit and vendors are given the stage. A select panel of vendors will share their experience in responding to solicitations and offer some recommendations to improve the process.  This session will encourage audience participation.   Better communication between state procurement officials and suppliers will lead to better procurements, better solutions — and reduced costs.  Valuable dialogue in this unique session will benefit procurement officials and vendors alike. 

9:30am – 10:45pm
Grand Ballroom AB
How to Distinguish Your Business in a Sea of Green: Tips to Effective Green Marketing
Presented by Scot Case (Executive Director of the EcoLogo Program) 
  
Green is becoming the color of choice for buyers and the new business standard for companies looking to sell to those customers.  Firms large and small are striving to offer an exciting selection of green products and services as they develop a sexy, sustainable corporate profile.  They want to create an image that will position them at the front of the line and allow them to stand out as a preferred green supplier. Get the very latest in marketing strategy, learn to leverage your outreach efforts and offer simple, credible — and extremely valuable — solutions to greening your communications and messaging practices.

Special thanks to Marcia Deegler (Massachusetts) for helping in the development of this session.

9:30am – 10:45am
Grand Ballroom EF
Procurement 101
Presented by Jim Miluski (Missouri)

If you’re new to the procurement process in government, you won’t want to miss this informative session! Topics include the most common procurement methods utilized, bid evaluations and awards as well as tips for winning state contracts.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS
11:00am – 12:30pm
Columbus GH
Southern and Western One-on-Ones
Always popular, because they’re so valuable! One–on-Ones are prescheduled, 10-minute interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice. This session will begin with a brief orientation and review for both new and returning corporate attendees to go over the basic structure and objectives of the conference as well as the format of the One-on-One sessions.  
 
Roundtable Discussions
This session features procurement directors and officials in an in-depth discussion of topics of particular interest in the Eastern and Midwest regions.  Take this opportunity to listen and meet the procurement officials from the states you service the most!

Eastern
Moderated by Ellen Phillips (Massachusetts)
Grand Ballroom CD

Midwest
Moderated by Ken Paulsen (Iowa)
Grand Ballroom EF

12:30pm – 3:00pm
Riverside West/North 
Green Expo Open
 
12:30pm – 1:30pm
Riverside West/North
Luncheon

3:00pm – 3:15pm
Afternoon Break
Grand Ballroom Foyer

CONCURRENT SESSIONS
3:15pm – 4:30pm
Columbus GH
Eastern and Midwestern One-on-Ones
What could be more valuable?  One–on-Ones are prescheduled, 10-minute interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice. This session will begin with a brief orientation and review for both new and returning corporate attendees to go over the basic structure and objectives of the conference as well as the format of the One-on-One sessions.
  
Roundtable Discussions
This session features procurement directors and officials discussing topics of particular interest in the Western and Southern regions.  Take this opportunity to listen and meet the procurement officials from the states you service the most!

Western
Moderated by Greg Smith (Nevada)
Grand Ballroom CD  

Southern
Moderated by Voight Shealy (South Carolina)
Grand Ballroom EF  

5:00pm – 7:00pm
Riverside West/North
Reception in Exhibit Hall
(All conference attendees invited)

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 24
 
7:00am – 9:00am
Grand Ballroom Foyer
NASPO Registration/Information

7:00am – 8:00am
Grand Ballroom EF
Breakfast

8:15am – 9:15am
Grand Ballroom AB
Keynote Address
No Barriers, Only Solutions!
Presented by Neal Petersen, Award Winning Author and Adventurer
 
Seemingly the most unlikely of men to compete in the elite sport of world-class yacht racing, Neal Petersen has lived a modern-day adventure that affirms one can overcome adversity with determination and hard work. Neal Petersen’s dream was to sail in an around-the-world race in a boat built with his own hands. Such a journey is an unparalleled adventure - 27,000 miles and 9 months at sea - alone! He is proof that the harshest lessons learned at sea apply to all aspects of life and that even the wildest dreams are attainable. In sharing his high-impact, unique and extraordinary adventure, Neal delivers a powerful message that "In life there are no barriers - only solutions!"

9:30am – 11:00am
Columbus GH
One-on-Ones – ALL regions

Always popular! One–on-Ones are prescheduled, ten-minute interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice.

11:00am – 1:15pm
Riverside West/North  
Green Expo Open

Noon – 1:15pm
Lunch in Exhibit Hall

CONCURRENT SESSIONS
1:30pm – 2:45pm
Grand Ballroom EF 
Building Better IT Procurements
Moderated by Dianne Lancaster (Oregon)
Presented by Richard Rector (DLA Piper)
Panelists: Dave Gragan (District of Columbia), Justin Kaufman (Minnesota) and John Utterback (Colorado)
Handouts: Reforming Contract Terms and Conditions; White Paper

What are the recurring challenges for IT procurements conducted by state and local governments? What terms and conditions are most important in these procurements? And how should contractors and public entities fairly allocate risk? Hear industry perspective on how to build successful IT contracts, as well as commentary from public officials charged with implementing these contracts."

1:30pm – 2:45am
Grand Ballroom AB
Profile of an Ideal “Green” Company
Moderated by Greg Hopkins (Oregon)
Panelists: Jeff Mendelsohn (New Leaf Paper) and Mike Muscara (Waxie Sanitary Supply)
Handouts: Guidelines for Green Products; Score Sheet; Responding to the Emerging Needs of Government

Is your company positioned to be an ideal “green” supplier? Purchasers from state and local governments compiled a wish list of what they want companies to do to help them attain sustainable purchasing goals. In this session you can rate your company’s progress in these areas, and take back a powerful tool that you can use to establish targets and realize goals. A moderated discussion will follow, sure to produce great ideas!

Special thanks to Chris O’Brien (Responsible Purchasing Network) for helping in the development of this session.

1:30pm – 2:45pm
Grand Ballroom CD
“Getting into the Game – Opportunities for Small Business”
Moderated by Elise Lancaster (Michigan) and Mike Smith (Government Sourcing Solutions)
Panelists: Brian Diver (SDI), Christine Rice (VisionIT), Kathy Carrier (Briljent)

Want to learn how to achieve more positive results in the world of state procurement?   If so, this may be the session for you and your small business.  A panel of selected small business owners will share their experiences with the audience.  How did they become successful sub-contractors? How did they overcome barriers when bidding on state business?  How did they successfully introduce a product or service to government? And how do these issues apply to your business? This session will foster an open a dialogue among small business, large business and state procurement officials with the intent of creating great new opportunities for small business growth.

2:45pm – 3:00pm
Grand Ballroom Foyer
Afternoon Break
 
3:00pm – 4:30pm
Columbus GH
One-on-Ones – ALL regions

Always popular! One–on-Ones are prescheduled, ten-minute interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice.

4:30pm
NASPO Marketing Meeting Adjourns