Compass Points – News for the Public Purchasers Association of Northern Ohio 1

Compass Points News for the Public Purchasers Association of Northern Ohio

Volume Two • Issue Seven • June 9, 2016

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” ~Albert Einstein I think it has been crazy up in here for quite some time already… our Cleveland Cavaliers are in a do-or-die struggle with the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the most anticipated REMATCH in a long time and you must sense the importance of it, both from an economical and sporting level. Our own Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, the minor league affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL, posted a 14-2 record in route to the Calder Cup Championship series against the Hershey Bears, and as of this printing hold a 3-0 advantage with game 4 in Cleveland on Saturday night and in one short month, from July 18-21, an estimated 50,000 delegates, media and visitors will assemble in Cleveland, at the same venue that the Cavs and Monsters riled up the Cleveland populace, Quicken Loans Arena, more affectionately called “the Q” , for the 2016 Republican National Convention. In addition to the prestige of holding such an event, it is expected to generate in excess of $400 million to the local economy and, who knows what might happen with Mr. Trump leading the charge as the presumptive nominee for the Republican Party for President of the United States. Tell me something, Northern Ohio Public Procurement professional… what have you been doing lately?? You can bet that Public Procurement folks in Northern Ohio are feeling the pressure to secure and plan and provide the necessary goods, supplies and services to stroke an eager, boisterous crowd that will be converging on Northern Ohio, in the eyes of the world, to be part of the history that is about to unfold. To say that “it is about to get crazy up in here” is an understatement… it’s already CRAZY. This has historical relevance. Tell me something, Northern Ohio Public Procurement professional… how have you prepared?? Likewise, here at PPANO, we are at the homestretch of our second year as a Chapter and our own President, Mark Evangelista, is leading the charge to finish his historic term as our Leader just as successfully as he has done the first one AND all the years as a Branch leading up to our formation as a Chapter. Next in line is another original member of the leadership team, Charlie Rosol, and, you can expect the same razzle-dazzle that Mark has given this Chapter under Charlie’s leadership. Tell me something, Northern Ohio Public Procurement professional… who is going to step up to the plate?? We have been fortunate to have a strong foundation laid for this Chapter with the team who has led us this far… so much so, that we have the distinction of having our first two Presidents recognized and serving at the National level for NIGP. Now it’s time for all of that inspiration and leadership by example to pay dividends and PPANO’s membership needs to take center stage and take those positions to continue the charge… beginning this fall, with the selection of a new Vice President to work with Charlie Rosol for 2017-2018 and then become President in 2019-2020. Is that you?? Start thinking about it… and, let’s keep moving forward as a Chapter and as Procurement Professionals. ~Steve Sammons

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MEETING SCHEDULE Thursday, June 16, 2016 GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING 9AM Independence – Cuyahoga County Library 6361 Selig Drive Independence, OH 44131 EVENTS SCHEDULE August 21 – August 24, 2016 2016 Annual NIGP National Forum National Harbor, MD *Phone Conference Call Friday, September 16, 2016 (Date subject to change) PPANO 3rd Annual Golf Outing 7AM to 3:30PM Cleveland Metroparks Big Met Golf Course 48111 Valley Parkway Fairview Park, Ohio 44126 BE SURE TO CHECK THE PPANO WEBSITE OUT FOR “Member Connect Services”, the latest value added benefit of your PPANO Membership. Member Connect Services is a list serv that automatically forwards email from you to members who have subscribed to the service. Replies are sent to the individual who originated the message. This is a great way to find specifications or inquiries for tasks you are working on, share ideas or a challenging situation you are addressing. As a member of PPANO, you are automatically signed into this benefit… take advantage of the resource!! PLEASE JOIN US AT OUR NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING!!

CHAPTER OFFICERS

Mark Evangelista, MBA, CPPO, C.P.M. President Cleveland Metroparks mevangelista@ppano.org

Charlie Rosol, CPPO, CPPB Vice President Cleveland Metroparks crosol@ppano.org

April Locker Secretary Cuyahoga County Public Library alocker@ppano.org

Antwane Brooks, MBA Treasurer Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District abrooks@ppano.org

Gus Katsas, CPPO Member-at-Large City of Independence gkatsas@ppano.org

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment… take the moment and make it perfect.” ~Zoey Sayward

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PPANO General Membership Meeting Thursday, June 16th, 2016

Independence – Cuyahoga County Library 6361 Selig Drive

Independence, OH 44131 9AM

CALL TO ORDER – Mark Evangelista – President APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM March 24th MEETING REPORTS FROM OFFICERS President – Mark Evangelista Vice President – Charlie Rosol Secretary – April Locker Treasurer – Antwane Brooks Member At Large – Gus Katsas REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES Awards & Scholarships – Garey Burt Budget & Finance – Charlie Rosol Education –Tiffany White & Jacqueline Williams Membership – Jim Hardy Special Events – Recap of the Reverse Trade Show Golf Outing Report - Mark Evangelista Rules – John Highman Nominating – Gus Katsas Guest Speaker: Kay Hurley Performing Effective Market Research Using GSA Acquisition eTools Effective market research is the cornerstone of acquisition excellence. Come to this advanced session designed by Contracting Officers for Contracting Officers and experienced purchasing agents to find out how using GSA Advantage, eBuy and GSA eLibrary in conjunction with each other leads to truly effective market research. This fast-paced, robust class promises detailed demonstrations of a new synergistic approach that will strengthen your agency's acquisitions while increasing compliance and reducing resources spent per acquisition. Bio: U.S. General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service Thirty-five years of experience with government acquisition. NOTE: PPANO members will not be allowed in the building before 9 am. ADJOURN

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Northern Ohio has some of the greatest outlets for finding something FUN to do ANY TIME of the year. Here’s something I ran across at www.northernohiotourism.com which might be a great road trip… This one is “THE ALL ABOUT FOOD ONE-DAY TRIP”… enjoy all that is Northern Ohio: Stop 1: (Summit County) Gardner Pies, 191 Logan Pkwy, Akron, OH http://www.gardnerpie.com/ Stop 2: (Stark County) (From Gardner Pies – Drive time 15 minutes) Harry London's Chocolate Factory, 5353 Lauby Road, North Canton, OH 44720 www.fanniemay.com Stop 3: (Stark County) (From Harry London’s - Drive time 34 minutes) Shearer's Potato Chip Factory, 692 Wabash, Brewster, OH www.shearers.com/the-outlet-store Stop 4: (Holmes County) (From Harry London's - Drive time 40 minutes) Berlin Farmstead Restaurant, 4757 Township Rd 366, Millersburg, OH 44654 Stop 5: (Wayne County) (From Berlin - Drive time 15 minutes) Ashrey Country Store, 8922 OH-241, Fredericksburg, OH 44627 www.asherycountrystore.com/ Stop 6: (Wayne County) (From Ashreys - Drive time 16 minutes) Shisler's Cheese House, U.S. Rte. 30 and Kidron Rd., Orrville, OH 44667 www.cheesehouse.com/ Stop 7: (Wayne County) (From Shisler's - Drive time 3 minutes) The J.M. Smucker Company Store and Café, 333 Wadsworth Rd. Orrville, OH 44667 www.smuckers.com Stop 8: (Wayne County) (From Smuckers - Drive time 18 minutes) Rittman Orchards, 133548 Mt. Eaton Rd N., Doylestown, OH 44230 www.rittmanorchards.com Stop 9: (Wayne County) Silver Run Vineyard & Winery, 376 Eastern Rd. Doylestown, OH 44230 www.silverrunwinery.com

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The Annual Forum is the largest North American educational conference exclusively for individuals in

public procurement. This is a once a year opportunity to engage in professional development and network with

others in public procurement and the supplier community.

Our products exposition provides an opportunity to discover the latest products and services available to the government from a vast array of suppliers. The educational component of the conference covers the latest hot topics, best practices, resources and skills to

help improve job performance and provide professional development.

National Harbor is a 300-acre waterfront development on the shores of the Potomac River in Prince George’s County, MD, just south of Washington, D.C. The Gaylord National Convention Center is the home for the 2016 Annual Forum, a venue that hosted

the 2011 National Forum.

For anyone who has experienced all that there is to give and take from FORUM, you know that it’s more than just a week off from the workplace. It’s about the networking and interaction with colleagues from around the world… it’s about taking control of your professional development with practical learning experiences… it’s about the dynamic speakers who always send you away with a

different perspective than when you came and a new energy to celebrate your profession… and it’s about the chance to enjoy another place in our great Nation where you might not ever have been.

The FORUM is just around the corner… GET READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

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TO CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OHIO who is celebrating 35 years as a member of the NIGP Family.

AND, speaking of CUYAHOGA COUNTY, our own April Locker from the Cuyahoga County Library was interviewed by NIGP for their new Website Feature Column; “Awesomeness” feature… read her debut under “Chapter Awesomeness” on June 1st.

Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's phenomenal musical success, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, will come to Cleveland as part of a brand new North American Tour from June 15-30.

•29th Annual Strawberry Festival & Craft Bazaar at the Historic 19th Century Jefferson Depot Village

June 17-18 in Ashtabula County

Enjoy strawberry shortcake, original crafts nestled amidst historic buildings, quilt & doll show, live entertainment, free kid's corner games, prizes, food, historic guided tours.

June 23-26 in Cuyahoga County

Tri-C JazzFest – Playhouse Square, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH Tri-C JazzFest Cleveland is a three-day summer music festival that takes place in the theaters of Playhouse Square and outdoors on U.S. Bank Plaza.

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UPCOMING WEBINAR SCHEDULE (complimentary for Members)

Is There an RFP in Your Future? Dates: Wednesday, June 22, 2016 Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm EST Instructor: Mr. David Nash, CPPO, CPPB If First You Don't Succeed, Try Doing it Differently Dates: Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm EST Instructor: Amy Flack, CPPO, CPPB

Alligator Presentations: How to have a tough skin…big smile…in front of a tough audience. Dates: Wednesday, July 13, 2016 Time: 2:00pm – 3:30pm EST Instructor: Tammy Rimes, MPA NEWS •NIGP's 2014-2015 Board President Donald Buffum receives an Excellence in Government Award from the State of Mississippi.

• NIGP Launches Industry-first Accreditation Program for Public Sector Purchasing Cooperatives

• Governing Board Volunteer Opportunity Now accepting applications to serve as a volunteer leader on NIGP’s Governing Board. Do you have what it takes? The deadline for submissions is June 24, 2016.

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HELP WANTED!!

What does the month of October mean to you? To me it means what Ernest Hemmingway wrote when he eulogized Gene Van Guilder, a publicist who had been killed in a tragic bird-hunting accident. Hemmingway stated that Van Guilder “Best of all loved the fall”. While I love the hot summer days I too love the fall the best of all the seasons. To me it means a true changing of the current year with the trees turning colors.

We have two very important events planned For PPANO this fall. First, we have a major event planned with our Golf Outing. Over the past two years it has been very successful and a great time is had by all who attend. Secondly, we have elections of PPANO officers. PPANO will be changing this fall. I will be stepping down as President and Charlie Rosol will become the second President in PPANO History. Our treasurer, member at large, secretary, and vice president all need to be elected by you. I believe this election to be a very important step in the history of PPANO. If PPANO is to grow, we need your help. It is a simple request to please consider running for an office in PPANO. Our membership stands at 90 members and just today we received two more memberships from the City Cleveland. We are still growing, but the current leadership cannot continue to lead without your help. Becoming involved as an officer, committee member, or leader is not hard or really even time consuming. What you get out of being part of the leadership team is the satisfaction of knowing that you are continuing to build upon a great chapter. So please, take the next step and run for an office in PPANO. ~Mark Evangelista, M.B.A., CPPO, C.P.M. President, PPANO

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ” ~Edward Everett Hale, American Author

Contract Trainer Perspective…

Of course, this is my favorite class to instruct! The participants will step back and view procurement from a wider perspective. The most common reaction I have seen participants exhibit, is thinking, thinking, thinking and sharing with their colleagues. They seem to enjoy looking at their work as part of the complete administration of their organization, which they may have not done for years (if at all.)

Several times, I had the pleasure of instructing an entire procurement office taking the class together! The class becomes a living laboratory for communication and improvements. The first day is largely about revisiting the complete organization. Participants get the opportunity to really discover and interpret their organization’s mission, vision, values and objectives. Longtime employees often take the opportunity to share the stories of what made their management make some of the decisions that affect all employees’ work. I am very interested in learning those key stories! I can understand where the organization is going, if I understand where they come from, as far as decisions made. The participants become a “learning community” during this time, and it enhances all of the learning to follow!

In classes where the participants are from different organizations, this community building effect takes a bit longer to occur, but when the participants share their experiences, they receive excellent feedback from colleagues that are neutral third parties. The participants benchmark with each other, and offer advice from both an experienced and newbie perspective. Again, I am interested in those key stories.

Ultimately, I can better pick the activities and order of instruction to maximize the experience for the participants. The first day is a very important part of every class and it sets the tone for the rest of the learning.

In later instruction, participants learn about budgeting and begin to see it more as a strategic activity. With examples and sharing the timing, participants understand the connections between the organization’s objectives and the implementation of those objectives. The participant will also learn that getting involved in budgeting, even as just an observer, would give them a better idea of what is going to eventually come their way in the form of a procurement engagement.

Most participants are very interested in the strategic sourcing material. Procurement professionals can make a big impact on the bottom line of the resources their organization needs, if they can master the classification of their needs. Using concepts like risk and cost, and knowing the market of available suppliers, the participants learn, are keys to success in their daily outcomes. In this area, some organizations are very effective and those participants typically share success stories with their classmates.

The concluding portion of the class instruction involves takeaways to implement organizational procurement planning. These include succession planning, talent management and defining/measuring client satisfaction. While this is a lot of information to digest, I see participants getting motivated to try a least one idea they learned in class.

That is why I provide instruction – it is very rewarding to learn about one improvement at a time, moving our profession and our colleague professionals closer to excellence!

~Barbara Johnson, CPPO, CPPB, M.B.A.

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“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference.” ~Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971)

The Serenity Prayer, is the common name for a prayer authored by American Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who wrote the prayer as part of a sermon he delivered at Heath Evangelical Church in Heath, Massachusetts. The prayer was widely repeated, both, in his sermons and through church groups in the 1930’s and 1940’s and was later adopted and popularized by Alcoholics Anonymous and other twelve-step programs. In its very essence, it teaches us to live one day at a time, taking every chance we get and every hardship we endure as a pathway to freedom and victorious living. What a great lesson for us all as we move into the last five months of a pivotal time of historical significance in our country.

This month, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to Doug Machles, CPPB, CPPO, Sourcing Analyst for The Ohio Lottery Commission, for whom he has worked for 22 years. In that capacity, he has held many titles, but, in his current role as Sourcing Analyst, he has been afforded the opportunity to participate in the full gamut of procurement activities including the purchase of 10 new lottery drawing machines several years ago, and, all the transparency and security that goes with that activity. He considers himself a quiet man and gravitates to the simple life, enjoying reading and spending quality time with his family.

Doug and his wife Debbie have been married for 40 years and reside in Westlake, Ohio. Their daughter Heather lives nearby. I asked Doug what or who inspires him the most and he responded, “As I have grown older, my father has been a real inspiration to me. He will be 90 in August and still lives independently in his own home.”

Doug has been an avid supporter of PPANO, since its early beginnings as a Branch of CO-OPP, participating in Membership Meetings and the Reverse Trade Shows. In 2013, Doug was one of five (5) recipients of the 2013 Spirit of CO-OPP Award for Knowledge, an award given to those students who participated in the most number of classes for CO-OPP. By the looks of his laurels as both a CPPB and a CPPO, it apparently paid off and Doug is utilizing his learning experiences, giving back to his agency with the wealth of his dedication to professional development.

Doug hopes to see the NIGP Annual Forum come to Cleveland one day, a goal many of us in PPANO share and as long as our President sits on the Forum Committee for National, a goal that is not too far of a reach. I closed out my questionnaire by asking Doug if he could go anywhere in the world and cost was not a factor, where would he go and why, and, he responded: “I would love to travel to Europe and Australia. My wife’s family is from Ireland, and, we’ve always wanted to go there… and, Australia seems like a fascinating place.”

It would seem only fitting to close this with an Irish Blessing, “May the dreams you hold dearest, be those which come true… and, the kindness you spread keep returning to you!”

Doug Machles is someone you should know.

DOUG MACHLES, CPPB, CPPO Sourcing Analyst

Ohio Lottery Commission