Schedule

Monday, April 19

6:00am - 8:00am
Pacific Concourse

Exhibitor Set-up

7:00am - 5:00pm
Grand Ballroom Foyer

NASPO Registration/Information

7:00am - 8:00am
Atrium

Breakfast

OPENING SESSION

8:00am - 8:15am
Grand Ballroom A

Welcome
NASPO President Dianne Lancaster (Oregon)
NASPO Program Chair Isaac Kervin (Alabama)

Welcome Address
Jim Butler, Chief Procurement Officer, State of California

National Anthem
Performed by Leah Tysse

8:15am - 9:30am
Grand Ballroom A

Keynote Address
We Don’t Make Widgets: Overcoming the Myths That Keep Government from Radically Improving
Presented by Ken Miller, author and founder of the Change and Innovation Agency
The pressure on government to improve has never been greater. Whether it’s to cut costs, do more with less or be more customer-focused. Compounding the problem is the phenomenal success the private sector has had meeting these same challenges. Why has business been so successful, yet government at all levels continues to struggle? Clearly we must be defective. Wrong. Rather, government managers are blinded by 3 myths that keep them from radically improving:

1. We Don’t Make Widgets - All that quality and customer satisfaction stuff is easy in manufacturing but what we do is squishy and intangible, therefore it’s hard to measure and even harder to improve.
    
2. We don’t have customers - We have hostages - they didn’t choose us, they don’t want to come back, and it doesn’t really matter if they are happy or not. Also, we have multiple customers with competing interests who can never agree on what they need much less what they want.
    
3. We’re not here to make a profit - With no bottom line there is not the incentive to improve and in fact we are often punished for being more efficient.
    

These myths feed the greatest myth of all: we’re different. Rather than learning from the improvement techniques that are transforming organizations outside government, we continually turn to the same playbook - another blue ribbon commission, a different strategic planning model, new performance appraisal form - in hopes that this time they’ll actually work. There is a better way…

We Don’t Make Widgets is a fast-paced, hands-on presentation tailored to people who are not in the business of manufacturing. Rather than glossing over the differences between manufacturing and everyone else, this workshop delves into them and presents proven techniques that lead to customer-centered results for government. In this engaging presentation, participants will learn the techniques to clear these mental hurdles allowing them to make their agencies and programs better, faster, and cheaper.

9:30am - 9:45am
Grand Ballroom Foyer

Morning Break

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

9:45am - 10:45am
Bayview B

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.

9:45am - 10:45am
Bayview A

Protecting the Public Pocketbook
Moderated by Deb Damore (Vermont)
Panelists: Carol Wilson (Connecticut), Helen McCain (Wisconsin) and Jim Miluski (Missouri)
Many states have targeted procurement as an area of opportunistic budget savings. The session will examine the challenges states are facing and provide examples of what states are doing to achieve budget savings. The session will also explore how states are handling services, contracts, and other initiatives. We will also take a look at performance-based contracts. Vendors will hear insight into how to do business with state governments within this challenging fiscal environment.

9:45am - 10:45am
Grand Ballroom A

Cooperative Contracting from a State/Vendor Perspective – Part 1
Moderator: Mike Smith (Government Sourcing Solutions)
Panelists: Terry Doumkos (Georgia), Paul Mash (Utah), Tom Bostick (Verizon Business) and Cris Hollingsworth (AutoZone, Inc.)
Cooperative contracting continues to be a growing trend in public sector procurement. The benefits to government organizations that participate in these activities have been well documented. While the benefits are undeniable, how do states and suppliers actually view cooperatives and the tremendous growth of cooperative contracting? How has this trend changed how states approach procurement? How has cooperative contracting impacted the supplier community? How have suppliers revised their business model and/or organizational design to adapt to the changing purchasing environment? From a vendor viewpoint, how can the cooperative process be improved? This session is designed to provide insight into cooperative contracting from the perspective of both state government and the vendor community. A select panel representing states and vendors will share their thoughts and opinions on this ever-expanding approach to efficient procurement. State procurement officials and vendors alike will benefit from this discussion.

Note: This session is being presented in two parts – Part 2 as a Concurrent Session will be presented on Tuesday, April 20 at 8:15 am. While each session is designed to address cooperative contracting, each will be unique in terms state/vendor perspective and will, in part, be driven by feedback from the audience.

11:00am - 1:15pm
Pacific Concourse

Green Expo Open

11:30am - 1:15pm
Pacific Concourse

Lunch in the Exhibit Hall

1:30pm - 2:00pm
Seacliff

Orientation for First-Time Corporate Attendees
Led by David 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!

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

2:15pm - 3:30pm
Seacliff

Southern and Western One-on-Ones
Always popular, because they’re so valuable! 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.

(Last interviews begin at 3:15pm)

Roundtable Discussions
This session features procurement directors and officials in an in-depth discussion of topics of particular interest in the Eastern and Midwestern regions. Take this opportunity to listen and meet the procurement officials from the states you service the most!

Bayview A - Eastern - Moderated by Monica Wilkes (New York)
Bayview B - Midwestern- Moderated by Ken Paulsen (Iowa)

3:30pm - 3:45pm
Grand Ballroom Foyer

Afternoon Break

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

3:45pm - 5:00pm
Seacliff

Eastern and Midwestern One-on-Ones
What could be more valuable? 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.

(Last interviews begin at 4:45pm)

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!

Bayview A - Southern- Moderated by Lee Johnson (Oklahoma)
Bayview B - Western - Moderated by Greg Smith (Nevada)
 

5:30pm - 7:00pm
Pacific Concourse

Reception in Exhibit Hall
(All conference attendees invited)

Tuesday, April 20

7:00am - 11:30am
Grand Ballroom Foyer

NASPO Registration/Information

7:00am - 8:00am
Atrium

Breakfast

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

8:15am- 9:15am
Bayview B

New Initiatives in State IT Procurement- The Oregon Experience
Moderator: Carol Henton (TechAmerica)
Panelists: NASPO President Dianne Lancaster (Oregon) and Bob Metzger (Attorney, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP)
IT systems and services are crucial to effective state and local governance. Changing demopgraphics and rising expectations mean more demands on state and local governments. State and local agencies want to deliver responsive and efficient services - but they need affordable new systems to get the job done. All too often, the acquisition process, and contracting techniques, frustrate the objectives of state and local governments and discourage vendor initiative or even participation. The State of Oregon, in June 2009, reached out to industry and asked it to participate in a cooperative effort to assess whether changes to IT acquisition could increase competition, improve services and reduce costs. TechAmerica coordinated the industry response. Oregon has just completed its process. As announced in March 2010, Oregon has established new, flexible procurement methods and adopted new terms and conditions which are closer to commercial norms advocated by vendors while respecting public purchaser needs. Oregon has set a new model that other state public purchasers will want to examine. Procurement officials and vendors can consider whether the Oregon process and results can be applied to other states.

8:15am- 9:15am
Bayview A

Building Sustainable Procurement
Presented by Chamonix Larsen LEED AP, Assoc. AIA
Moderated by: Paul Mash (Utah)
Energy efficient equipment, healthy interior finishes and resource-conserving products are becoming standard practice for construction projects. LEED Certification, Energy Star and other building programs have developed common methods to achieving high performance buildings. States can establish competitive pricing for sustainable products and services without the premium cost… if they know where to look. This session will explain some of the common expectations in sustainable building and how you can assist in adding value to construction projects with high performance goals. The session will conclude with an update from the NASPO Green Purchasing Work Group.

8:15am- 9:15am
Grand Ballroom A

Cooperative Contracting from a State/Vendor Perspective – Part 2
Moderator: Doug Richins (WSCA Cooperative Development Director)
Panelists: Monica Wilkes (New York), Jeff Holden (South Dakota), Deb Lee (Hewlett Packard) and Randy Lundblad (Steelcase Inc.)
A continuation of yesterday morning’s discussion, this interactive session will feature different panelists discussing various issues surrounding cooperative contracting. The two sessions will provide procurement officials and vendors with many perspectives on this multifaceted issue.

The two sessions will address such questions as:

• How do states and suppliers actually view cooperatives and the tremendous growth of cooperative contracting?
• How has this trend changed how states approach procurement?
• How has cooperative contracting impacted the supplier community?
• How have suppliers revised their business model and/or organizational design to adapt to the changing purchasing environment?
• From a vendor viewpoint, how can the cooperative process be improved?
• Any issues raised for discussion from the audience – your feedback is encouraged.

9:15am - 9:30am
Grand Ballroom Foyer

Morning Break

9:30am - 11:45am
Seacliff

One-on-Ones - ALL regions (15-Minute Interviews)
Always popular! One-on-Ones are prescheduled interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice.

(Last interviews begin at 11:30am)

11:45am - 1:15pm
Pacific Concourse

Lunch in Exhibit Hall

1:30pm - 2:45pm
Grand Ballroom A

Closing Session with Speaker
The Power Of One
Presented by Barry Wishner
Do you feel like you’re being flanked on all sides by fierce competition
trying to steal your customers? These difficult times require manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and buyers to work together to grow their business. If you’re not thinking about how you’re building alliances you’ll be left behind. New business channels have changed the relationship between you and your customer and the sales rep is the heart and soul of the channel.  Your member customers, distributors, suppliers and vendors will leave feeling special, energized and fired up, ready to work together to “hunt where the ducks are flying.” They will gain a sense of urgency and passion about how they can capitalize on each others strengths to grow their businesses.

3:00pm - 7:00pm
Pacific Concourse

Exhibit Teardown

3:00pm - 4:40pm
Seacliff

One-on-Ones - ALL regions (15-Minute Interviews)
Always popular! One-on-Ones are prescheduled interviews with state procurement representatives. Use this opportunity to speak directly with state procurement officials of your choice.

(Last interviews begin at 4:20pm)

4:40pm

NASPO Marketing Meeting Adjourns