Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials

04/03/2026

Huge thank you to Fisher Scientific for partnering with Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials to support local youth through STEM.

Together we put together STEM goodie bags for the Boys & Girls Clubs. Our IAPPO members jumped in and stuffed every bag.

This partnership is a great example of what can happen when we work together. It helps bring hands on learning opportunities to kids, supports future careers in STEM, and connects our profession to the communities we serve in a real way.

We appreciate Fisher Scientific for being willing to partner and invest in something bigger than a transaction. This is the kind of work that makes a lasting impact.

04/02/2026

Great to see Illinois procurement professionals coming together at the IAPPO Spring Conference 2026! Opportunities like this to share ideas, tackle challenges, and learn from one another makes our procurement community stronger.

03/25/2026

We are just days away from the IAPPO Spring Conference 2026 in Bloomington-Normal! 🎉

We’re thrilled to welcome you to three days of professional growth, connection, and inspiration centered around our theme: “Procurement with Purpose and Presence.”

Final Schedule has been emailed out! Highlights include:

✨ Self-Leadership Mastery
Join T. Suzette Moore for our opening session: “Know Thyself – Grow Thyself – A Continuous Journey.”

💼 Elevating Our Field
Gain “Street Cred for the Back Office” with Carrie Mathes
....and MORE!

🤝 Networking & Innovation
Don’t miss the Supplier Trade Show on Thursday afternoon in the Pre-Function area.

🎯 Targeted Insights
Engage in Roundtable Breakout Sessions on Wednesday afternoon tailored to City, County, K-12, and State procurement professionals.

🕺 Throwback Thursday: Decades Style Social Event! 🎸 Get ready to party through the ages!

📅 Thursday, April 2 | ⏰ 6:00–10:00 PM | 📍 Redbird C & D

Theme: Throwback Thursday — Decades Style

Attire: Rock your favorite decade (70s disco, 80s neon, 90s grunge, and beyond!)

Vibe: Music, networking, and unforgettable fun with your procurement community

We can’t wait to see you there! 🙌

03/17/2026

✨ We’re excited to invite you to the IAPPO Spring Conference 2026, happening April 1–3, 2026 at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. This is your opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired alongside colleagues from across the profession.
⏰ Final call! TODAY (March 17) is the LAST day to book within the hotel room block. If you haven’t reserved your room yet, don’t wait—rooms and discounted rates will no longer be guaranteed after today!
🎓 Scholarships are still available—contact [email protected] today for more information.
You won’t want to miss this! 🎉 We can’t wait to see you there!
https://iappo.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=472400&item_id=2750581&actr=3

03/10/2026

✨ Step into your power with us this spring! ✨

We’re excited to invite you to the IAPPO Spring Conference 2026, happening April 1–3, 2026 at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. This is your opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired alongside colleagues from across the profession.

⏰ Good news! The hotel room block deadline has been extended to March 17, 2026, so there’s still time to reserve your room—but don’t wait!

Be sure to check out the conference flyer for details about the Thursday Night Social theme. You won’t want to miss it! 🎉

We can’t wait to see you there!

https://iappo.org/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=472400&item_id=2750581&actr=3

03/09/2026

March is Procurement Month, a time to recognize the professionals who keep things moving behind the scenes by writing specifications, managing contracts, solving problems, and making sure public dollars are spent wisely.

Procurement is also a career built on learning from others.

In the comments, give a shout out to someone who helped you in your procurement career. It could be a mentor, colleague, or leader who made a difference for you.

Let’s celebrate the people who make this profession strong!

03/03/2026

March is Procurement Month — and it’s official!

The Governor’s Office has issued a proclamation declaring March as Public Procurement Month in the State of Illinois, recognizing the essential work procurement professionals do every day.

To the people who read the fine print, ask the tough questions, and get genuinely excited about spreadsheets, this month is for you.

Procurement is not just “buying stuff.” It is:
✔️ Protecting taxpayer dollars
✔️ Making sure the rules are followed
✔️ Keeping projects moving
✔️ Managing risk before anyone else sees it
✔️ Explaining (again) why we can’t just “sole source it”

We live for clear specifications, clean evaluations, and contracts that can survive an audit. We believe in competition, transparency, and documentation that actually makes sense six months later.

To my fellow procurement professionals: thank you for the late nights, the negotiations that save real money, and the patience it takes to explain a process with a smile.

Happy Procurement Month, Illinois!

02/26/2026

Hey IAPPO Members!

Looking to strengthen your procurement knowledge while earning valuable professional development time? Join the M.L. Coss, LLC Monthly Lunch & Learn Webinar Series — designed specifically for public procurement professionals who want to grow, advance, and prepare for certification success.

📅 Next Webinar: Thursday, March 5th

💡 Why Attend?
✔ Stay current on industry best practices
✔ Build confidence for certification exams
✔ Earn professional development hours
✔ Connect with fellow procurement professionals
✔ Invest in your career — at no cost as a member!

This exclusive benefit is available FREE to all IAPPO Organization members.

🔗 Check out the Events Calendar on the IAPPO website for additional details and registration information. https://www.iappo.org/

Grow your knowledge. Strengthen your skills. Advance your career — one lunch break at a time! 🍽️📈

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02/25/2026

It’s time to step into your power! We are thrilled to invite you to the IAPPO Spring Conference 2026, held from April 1–3, 2026, at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.

This year’s theme, "Procurement with Purpose and Presence," is designed to help you sharpen your leadership skills, expand your professional network, and bring a renewed sense of intentionality to your role.

https://iappo.org/content.aspx?page_id=4091&club_id=472400&item_id=2750581

02/25/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/misty-shafer-nigp-cpp-cppb-27437113b_its-time-to-step-into-your-power-we-are-activity-7432447631337062400-0vRc?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAACSHQ6gBAr0s6728_3Dai7yHcvkpffNBfgI

It’s time to step into your power! We are thrilled to invite you to the IAPPO Spring Conference 2026, held from April 1–3, 2026, at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. This year’s theme, "Procurement with Purpose and Presence," is designed to help you sharpen your leader...

10/09/2025

IAPPO is excited to welcome Illinois's own Debbie Trueblood, the next CEO of NIGP, to help us kick off day 2 of a great conference. 🎉🤝