If you missed the June 2002 DINNER MEETING,

You missed a Really fun and informative speaker!!

Speaker: Mary L Farrar

Topic: Avoiding Ethical Landmines

Known by her peers to be an accomplished and entertaining presenter, Mary's real talent is teaching. Mary has over twenty years of professional procurement and materials management experience in both private industry and government procurement. Ms. Farrar is one of a select group of purchasing practitioners promoting purchasing excellence as an instructor for Nahabit & Associates, Inc.

Mary travels the U.S. extensively presenting "Fundamentals of Negotiation," "Applied Negotiation Techniques," "Purchasing for the Newly Appointed Buyer," and "Avoiding Ethical Landmines," seminars she co-authored with Robert J. Nahabit, C.P.M. She also presents Nahabit's "Fundamentals of Purchasing" and "Applied Purchasing Techniques" as her schedule permits.

Mary is a member and former officer of the Austin Chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Management, and was a charter member and officer of Austin's National Institute of Governmental Purchasers (N.I.G.P.) . She was certified by N.I.G.P. as a Certified Professional Public Buyer early in her career. Mary brings to the classroom versatility based on in-depth experience in a wide variety of purchasing environments. She has developed and implemented purchasing organizations for municipal government and private industry, authoring purchasing policies and procedures in both arenas. Her international experience in the high-tech industry brings a global flair to her presentations.

Mary is a touring repertory actor for Capital City Mystery Players, directing and producing many of the troupe's interactive scripts. She founded her own murder mystery production company, Die Laughing, in 1995, staging performances in the Austin area and in her hometown, Abilene, Texas. She scripted and produced a benefit show in Abilene for the Noah Project, which funds women's shelters in the surrounding 22 county areas. Participating in community and professional theater brings to Mary's presentation a sense of humor and excitement seldom found in the purchasing arena. She has been appropriately dubbed the "Quip Queen of Austin" by her professional theater associates, and is an Ordained Minister.