By Michelle Palmer, City of Owen Sound
The things I appreciate the most about being a member of the Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) are the variety of professional development that is offered and being able to network with over 1000 public procurement professionals across the province, but I also appreciate that OPBA is a chapter of NIGP, the Institute for Public Procurement, which provides additional opportunities for education and over 18000 folks to connect with!
As one of your NIGP chapter ambassadors, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight a few of the many offerings from NIGP.
New On-Demand Practice Assessment Tools
The NIGP-CPP certification is a strong way to formalize your expertise and advance your career in public procurement. It is an industry-recognized credential that validates strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to manage complex procurement challenges. NIGP has a growing community of certified individuals, and these new assessment tools offer another practical way to prepare for the NIGP-CPP and CPPB exams.
If you are not yet ready to pursue certification—or if you are already certified and want to deepen your expertise in specific areas—NIGP’s certificate programs are worth exploring. Two newer options include Foundations of Interpersonal Relationship Management and Foundations of Implementation and Organizational Progress. These programs offer focused learning in practical, high-value skill areas.
Free Webinars Offered Continually
NIGP offers numerous free webinars each month. Current June topics include the NIGP-CPP designation, negotiation, data and reporting, as well as elevating the role of procurement. If you miss a session, webinar recordings are available so you can watch at a time that works for you.
I can’t say enough good things about this! This free service helps you build an individualized learning plan tailored to your career goals. It is a valuable resource if you are unsure which courses to take next, and it can also support leaders who want to create development plans for their teams.
Similar to OPBA MemberConnect, NSite gives you access to topic-based communities where you can post questions, gather feedback, and connect with procurement professionals from across North America.
Want to know more? Check out the NIGP Blog, where Debbie Trueblood, CEO of NIGP, shares regular updates on what is happening across the organization.
Still not sure if you should be a NIGP member as well as an OPBA member or have a question on an NIGP offering? Reach out to a chapter ambassador! Amanda Greer, Amy Monroe and I are ambassadors for Area 3, which includes Ontario and would be happy to chat with you and provide any guidance we can #bettertogether
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| Michelle Palmer, NIGP-CPP, PMP, CPPB, CSCMP
City of Owen Sound, Ontario |
Amanda Greer, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
Kentucky Division of Engineering and Contract Administration |
Amy Monroe, CPPB
Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, Office of Procurement Services |