Technology Chair

I am basically one of those people who do not "join" organizations or groups! I tend to be very private and my personal time is extremely precious to me. Therefore belonging to and being involved with the NAPM - Central Texas chapter has been a very unusual path for me. I am telling you this because if you are also that same type of person, you will know that there really is a group that is worth hanging out with. There is the "soul mate" aspect of being with people who have work issues and concerns that are similar to your own, and there is that aspect of camaraderie that can only be felt by those who have traveled similar paths. I have also found that the types of people who find their way into (and stay in) Purchasing or Supply Management tend to be "a different breed of cat". To be really good in this field, people tend to be very self-motivated, self-reliant and have a built in curiosity about everything. And they also seem to have a good sense of humor, or at least they are tolerant of mine.

Like any group or organization that you might belong to, there is an "energy in - energy out" correlation. The more effort you put into a relationship or project, usually, the more you get out it. ISM has an "entry level" of commitment where the payoff really starts to show, and that is the monthly meetings. You can read all of the data that you want, but nothing beats the human interaction that takes place when you listen to a great speaker and interact with your fellow purchasing professionals. 10 to 12 meetings a year, is really a small amount of time to commit to, which ends up giving you some valuable "tools" to use again and again.

And lastly there is the fun that we have! I have found the monthly meetings becoming almost mini-vacations. Once a month I get to stretch my mind, learn new things, be with friends and relax. Yes, many of the people in our organization, and not just locally, have become good friends. I know that if I need help with any kind of a purchasing project, my friends will come to my aid. All I have to do is ask.

If you have read the "résumé's" and "comments" of the other officers you will begin to get a feel for the depth, and breadth, of experience that this group is infused with. As a group we represent all sizes of companies, and organizations, and guide the expenditure of billions of dollars nationwide. I find that to be pretty impressive for a group that internationally counts about 50,000 people as members.

As for the Technology position, I have tried to bring as radical a thought process as possible to the function! Many organizations ultimately die a slow death of boredom! I do not want that to happen here and therefore I have tried to really "think outside the box". The advent of the Internet has given the Technology position an entirely new way to "get the word out". Using the website as a newsletter, bulletin board, scheduler, fast reacting notification system as well as a sales tool and knowledge resource for the membership, has been an evolving goal of mine. The NAPM Central Texas website of today is very different than it was a few years ago! I hope that the ideas and changes just keep coming. The well worn rut we know might be "comfortable", but creating a new vision is far more challenging and interesting!

And to my fellow NAPM members, thank you for your time!
Dennis P. Russell