What AEP Award Winners are Saying

"Receiving the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for the first time is a tremendous honor and a testament to the commitment and hard work of our entire team. This award signifies not only our dedication to upholding high standards in procurement but also our focus on continuous improvement and innovation. It validates our efforts to foster transparency, efficiency, and collaboration, which are key to supporting the success of our organization and serving our community. We are incredibly proud of this milestone and excited to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence in procurement practices."

-Colette Brown, Purchasing Manager, University of Utah Purchasing

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"This award isn’t just about reaching a milestone—it’s about recognizing that we continuously strive to be better. We are always evolving, learning from one another, and pushing forward to meet the highest standards in the industry.  We are here because we love what we do. Our passion for our work, our commitment to excellence, and our shared purpose of serving Tacoma's schools are what drive us forward every day. This award is a reflection of that shared dedication."

-Cheri Estrada, Director of Purchasing, Tacoma School District

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"For the past twenty years, the Cobb County School District has been honored to receive the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award.  This award highlights the dedication and hard work of our entire procurement team.  Obtaining this award helps us focus on ongoing improvements and stay current with best procurement practices.  This award inspires us to be better, set higher standards, and foster a culture of excellence in all our procurement endeavors."

-Barbara Bates, Director of Procurement Services, Cobb County School District

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"As we reflect on the past year and look forward to the 2025 AEP, the single greatest takeaway was that we were and are on track with best procurement practices! There have been so many moments for several of us on the team where we go to conferences or classes, and we listen to what others are doing and we ask ourselves “are we doing that” or “do we have that as a best practice?”.  Applying for the AEP helped us document these best practices and gave us insight on how to continuously improve our department. The journey to submit for the first time was stressful and exciting but the amount of pride our team felt was amazing!  Finding out we received the AEP award just added to the pride we already felt and is now a great way to show others that we are an award-winning department!"

-Teresa Chapman, Tucson Unified School District Purchasing Department

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“The City of Vaughan’s Procurement team is honored to receive the recognition. This recognition not only reflects the team’s hard work, but also their unwavering commitment to improving processes, strategically aligning to the corporation, and providing the best services across the City. Throughout the past year, each team member played a crucial role in optimizing our processes and building stronger relationships with our stakeholders, which continues to enhance our efficiency and effectiveness.  The award is a testament to our collective effort and dedication. Together we continue to set standards for procurement that we will continue to uphold and exceed in the future!”

-Pooja Nagra, Director of Procurement Services, City of Vaughan

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"Receiving the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award is a tremendous honor for our team and a proud milestone in our commitment to procurement excellence. This award not only acknowledges the hard work, dedication, and integrity of our team but also highlights our continuous efforts to drive efficiency, transparency, and innovation within our organization. Being recognized by the National Procurement Institute as a first-time recipient validates the principles, we uphold every day in our procurement practices and fuels our passion for ongoing improvement. It serves as an affirmation of our team’s dedication to serving our organization and community through procurement best practices, ensuring the highest standards of service and accountability. This recognition inspires us to continue setting new benchmarks in procurement and serves as a reminder of the positive impact our efforts have within our community and beyond. We look forward to building on this momentum and setting even higher standards in the years ahead."

-Kevin Citalan, Procurement Representative, Ontario International Airport

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