Earlier this month, U-M welcomed procurement leaders from the 18-member Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) to Ann Arbor for a four-day conference. The event, which ran from October 6 to 9, included representatives from new BTAA members Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington, formerly of the Pac-12 Conference.
“The conference was invaluable in a number of ways,” said Tally Thrasher, assistant vice president and chief procurement officer at U-M. “It allowed, for example, everyone from across the Big Ten to collaborate and interact with colleagues in an in-person setting, which was extremely beneficial. We were able to have a variety of compelling and substantial discussions about procurement in higher ed and, more specifically, the Big Ten. And it was particularly nice to meet our new colleagues from the west coast and hear their perspectives on procurement.”
The topics covered during the conference included, among other things, the evolution of procurement practices, advancements in procure-to-pay tools, category management strategies, succession planning, best practices, and the use of group purchasing organizations.
“Every BTAA institution is unique and has its own set of strengths and, of course, challenges. That’s another reason this conference was so helpful to all of the attendees,” said Tally. “While we may be different, all of the procurement leaders are singularly focused on providing a suite of purchasing services that support their university’s mission. And by sharing information and different perspectives, we can all help each other achieve that goal and, more globally, have a significant impact on the higher-ed procurement landscape.”
A highlight of the conference was a campus bus tour led by Sue Gott, associate director for planning and communication in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction, which highlighted the university’s ongoing development of its facilities. The tour included stops at the College of Engineering’s Ford Robotics Building and the Biological Sciences Building. It also offered a glimpse into Campus Plan 2050 and the integral role that Procurement Services has in this UM-wide initiative.
While the agenda for the conference largely focused on business-related activities, including various breakout sessions and presentations, the group did find time to visit many iconic U-M sites such as the U-M Museum of Art, Matthaei Botanical Gardens, and Michigan Stadium (where attendees visited the field and could throw a football or kick a field goal!).
“The conference was a perfect blend of business sessions and relationship-building opportunities,” said Mark Fehlberg, assistant vice president of procurement and payments at the University of Chicago (an affiliate member of the BTAA). “The enriching conversations, paired with U-M’s welcoming hospitality and stunning campus, created the ideal environment for meaningful collaboration.”