Lexington, KY – A delegation from the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) recently returned from a productive trip to Europe focused on strengthening cooperation with European partners. The delegation included CEO Lindle Hatton, Director of International Initiatives, Bart Lemmon, Chief Strategy Officer Dan Kruger, and three Chief Procurement Officers: current NASPO President Deb Damore (Vermont), NASPO Incoming President Sherri Maxwell (Colorado), NASPO Immediate Past President Valerie Bollinger (Idaho).

The visit marked a significant step forward in fostering mutual understanding and advancing shared priorities across public procurement, procurement innovation, and sponsoring efforts to lift the public procurement profession on a global level.

During their multi-day visit, the NASPO team participated in discussions with representatives from the European Commission and national ministries from Germany, United Kingdom, and Scotland, as well as participated on a panel discussion during England’s ProcureX procurement conference, to share their knowledge and approach for talent recruitment efforts in the US. The meetings focused on sharing best practices, increasing efficiency in procurement processes, and promoting sustainable and resilient supply chains.

“This trip underscored the value of open dialogue and international engagement,” said Lindle Hatton, CEO of NASPO, “Our European colleagues offered valuable insights, and we identified concrete areas where we can work collaboratively together, streamline processes, and promote the public procurement profession on both sides of the Atlantic.”

NASPO’s international initiatives reflect the continued importance of international partnerships in today’s global landscape and reaffirm the shared commitment of NASPO and European allies to advancing the public procurement profession through ongoing collaboration.

About NASPO: The National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) is a non-profit association dedicated to advancing public procurement through leadership, excellence, and integrity. It is made up of the directors of the central purchasing offices in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of the United States. NASPO is an organization that helps its members as public procurement leaders through promotion of best practices, education, professional development, research, and innovative procurement strategies. For more information, visit www.naspo.org.

Media Contact:
Kate Davila, Creative Accounts Director
National Association of State Procurement Officials
kdavila@naspo.org