Register to attend our next Buying Blue Community of Practice event, which will be held—virtually—on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m. ET. Questions related to the topics below may be submitted in advance via this form.
- Procurement Optimization Program—Tally Thrasher, assistant vice president and chief procurement officer, will provide an update on Phase 2 of the Procurement Optimization Program, a new UM-wide supplier agreement, and the payment model for local restaurants.
- Travel & expense system + booking tool changes—Karin Feher, assistant director travel & expense and business operations, will discuss enhancements to Emburse Enterprise and best practices for booking flights with Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP).
- Tariffs + expediting requests—Chip Reese, director of procurement services, will share an update on tariff impacts and how new suppliers are supporting international shipments and— in a topic unrelated to tariffs—provide tips for expediting sourcing and contracting requests.
This event will be recorded and posted on the Procurement Services website on the Buying Blue page. If you have any questions about Buying Blue or our upcoming Community of Practice event, please email us.