| Sunday, October 5th |
| Morning |
Optional Recreational Activities [Golf, Pickleball, Etc. (on your own)] |
| 10:00 am |
Registration Opens
Location: Panzacola Registration Desk |
|
1:00 - 4:15 pm
|
Pre-Conference Educational Sessions:
AI in Procurement Bootcamp
Center for Procurement Excellence
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Specification Writing Workshop
Carrie Roberts, Pasco County, FL
Room: Suwannee 18/19
|
| 4:30 - 5:15 pm |
First Time Attendees Event
Room: Suwannee 20/21 |
| 6 - 8 pm |
Welcome Reception
Welcome reception for attendees and partners
(with special recognition of AEP evaluators)
** Sponsored by 1GPA **
Room: Lake Toho Room Deck
Menu: Stone Fired Pizza, Charcuterie Display,
Assorted Desserts, and Cash Bar
|
| Monday, October 6th |
| 6:30 am |
Registration Opens
Location: Panzacola Registration Desk |
| 7:30 am |
Continental Breakfast
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3 |
| 8:00 - 8:30 am |
Opening Ceremony - AEP Recognition & Celebration
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
|
8:30 - 9:45 am
|
Keynote:
Mastering the Art of Leadership Communication
Ric Keller
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 9:45 - 10:00 am |
Networking Break
(Coffee and Tea Station)
|
| 10:00 am - 1:45 pm |
Partner Connect Exhibitor Event
Room: Panzacola G |
| Noon - 1:30 pm |
Lunch with Partners
Room: Panzacola G
Menu: Shingle Creek Farmhouse Lunch Buffet
and mini desserts
|
| 2:00 - 3:00 pm |
General Session:
Let's Get Cooking with Cooperative Procurement
Tammy Rimes, NCPP
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 3:00 - 3:15 pm |
Networking Break
(Coffee and Tea Station) |
| 3:15 - 4:15 pm |
Breakout Sessions:
Networking for Introverts
Ric Keller
Room: Panzacola F4
Beyond Price: Why Trust is the Most Important Currency
Center for Procurement Excellence
Room: Suwannee 13/14
CPPO and CPPB Certifications
Derrick Strand, UPPCC
Room: Suwannee 18/19
Compliance Isn’t a Four-Letter Word
Spencer Lord, Georgia DOT
Room: Suwannee 20/21
|
| 4:30 - 5:30 pm |
Breakout Sessions:
From Team Members to Innovative Leaders:
Cultivating Leaders from Within Procurement
Maria Lacy Roux, Georgia DOT
Room: Suwannee 18/19
The Workforce Shift: What Gen Z means for Public Procurement
Center for Procurement Excellence
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Maintaining Ethics in a Digital World
Brooke Green, Lee County, FL
Room: Suwannee 20/21
Strategies for Tail Spend, Check Reduction
and Electronic Payments
Cory Harms, Iowa State University
Gerardo Mateo, Glass
Room: Panzacola F4
|
| Evening |
Networking and Social Activities (On Your Own) |
| Tuesday, October 7th |
| 7:30 am |
Continental Breakfast
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 8:00 - 9:00 am |
General Session:
The Value of an Intentional Leadership System
Jeremy Schwartz, Sourcewell
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 9:00 - 9:15 am |
AEP Recognition & Celebration
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 9:15 - 10:30 am |
General Session:
Surely We Can Trust the Boss: Can’t We?
David E. Nash
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
** Updated 10/3/25 **
|
| 10:30 - 10:45 am |
Networking Break
(Coffee and Tea Station)
|
| 10:45 - 11:45 am |
Breakout Sessions:
From Seed to Harvest: Growing your card program (and rebate!)
Kerri Reece, University of Memphis
Room: Suwannee 20/21
Job Order Contracting – An Innovative Solution
Joe Benjamin, Pinellas County Schools
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Getting Started: Taking a Strategic Program Approach
to Sustainable Procurement
Katie Saha, Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council
Room: Suwannee 18/19
Agile Procurement: Growing Innovation and Strategic Value
Jeannette Bruno, SOVRA
Room: Panzacola F4
|
| Noon - 1:00 pm |
AEP Celebration Luncheon
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
Menu: Farmer's Salad, All-Natural Chicken, and Key Lime Pie
|
| 1:05 pm |
AEP Recipient Group Photo
Rotunda Stairs
|
| 1:15 - 2:15 pm |
Breakout Sessions:
Building Trust and Advancing Communities: The Power of
Strategic Partnerships between Procurement and Elected Officials
Kate Rotella, Eastern Connecticut State University
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Uncovering AI Potential for Procurement
Brie Matier, University of South Florida
Room: Panzacola F4
Developing an Effective Procurement Manual
Dean Mealy, Town of Palm Beach, FL
Room: Suwannee 18/19
Top 5 Reasons Suppliers Aren’t Responding to your Solicitations
Bobby Williams, OpenGov
Room: Suwannee 20/21
|
| 2:30 - 3:30 pm |
Breakout Sessions:
Navigating the Selection of an ERP Solution:
the Finance and Procurement Perspective
Dean Mealy, Town of Palm Beach, FL
Bob Miracle, Town of Palm Beach, FL
Room: Suwannee 18/19
Customer-Driven Performance Measurement and Intelligence:
Towards Effective Procurement Management
François Emond, CPPC CCMP
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Communication Strategies for Building Cohesive Teams
James Trudeau, First Responder Network Authority
Room: Panzacola F4
Strengthening Strategic Partnerships Through Uncertainty
Mike Bullock and Alan Oxendine, Grainger
Room: Suwannee 20/21
|
| 3:30 - 3:45 pm |
Networking Break
Snack & Beverage: Avocado Toast, Cookies and Cake,
Cappuccino & Espresso
Location: Suwannee Foyer
|
| 3:45 - 5:00 pm |
Breakout Sessions:
AI-Powered Procurement: Transforming the Purchasing Process
Kenny Howe, PlanetBids
Alex Tanck, PlanetBids
Room: Panzacola F4
Get in Focus: Leveraging Internal Stakeholder Surveys
& Focus Groups to Improve Your Procurement Processes
Procurement Excellence Network, Partners for Public Good
Room: Suwannee 18/19
Picture-Perfect Procurement
Rick Grimm, NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement
Room: Suwannee 13/14
|
| Evening |
Networking and Social Activities (On Your Own) |
| Wednesday, October 8th |
| 7:30 am |
Continental Breakfast - Officer Installation
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 8:15 - 9:30 am |
General Session:
Modernizing the State and Local Model Procurement Code:
Town Hall Feedback Session
Procurement Excellence Network, Partners for Public Good
Room: Panzacola F1/2/3
|
| 9:30 - 9:45 am |
Networking Break
(Coffee and Tea Station)
|
| 9:45 - 10:45 am |
Breakout Sessions:
The Purpose of Inspector General Oversight
John Carey, Palm Beach County, FL
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Understanding your Communication Style and its Impact
James Trudeau, First Responder Network Authority
Room: Suwannee 18/19
I Would if I Could, I Can't, So I Won't:
Navigating Customer Service with Procurement Ethics
Maria Lacy Roux, Georgia DOT
Room: Suwannee 20/21
|
| 11:00 am - Noon |
Breakout Sessions:
Tariffs, Trade, and Procurement, Oh My!
Spencer Lord, Georgia DOT
Room: Suwannee 13/14
Procurement Excellence Network Resource Showcase
Procurement Excellence Network, Partners for Public Good
Room: Suwannee 20/21
Charting the Course for the Continued Pursuit of Excellence
(AEP Criteria 18)
Carrie Mathes, Orange County Government, FL
Shawn Willett, Austin, TX
Room: Suwannee 18/19
|
| Noon |
Adjourn |
