Sourcewell Recognizes Industry Leaders at Annual Forum

On the heels of launching a new name and brand - Sourcewell (formerly known as National Joint Powers Alliance) recognized several leaders in its industry as part of its 11^th annual H2O Vendor Forum on June 6 at Madden's on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minn.

The City of Toronto, five individuals, and Grainger were honored at Sourcewell's annual event for exemplifying extraordinary leadership, business innovation, and exemplary service to Sourcewell members.

The Gold Star Award recognizes a city or state entity with visionary leadership that develops and embraces innovative business concepts while striving for maximum efficiency and overall excellence in business practices. This award honors the purchasing/contracting department's commitment, persistence, and willingness to be an example of business innovation.

As the City of Toronto Purchasing Services division explored compliant options for utilizing Sourcewell competitively awarded contracts, the city's Fleet Services Division was busy researching the customization, agility, and overall value they could leverage through Sourcewell competitively awarded contracts. These efforts culminated in Toronto's first formal adoption of a Sourcewell competitively awarded contract in May 2017. Since that time, the city has continued to explore additional opportunities to leverage Sourcewell competitively awarded contracts for the betterment of services provided and enhanced stewardship of public resources. The city has also become a supporter of the value cooperative purchasing can provide Canadian public entities as a component of a strategic sourcing plan. Through this journey, Toronto has exemplified the attributes of the Gold Star Award.

The Pioneer Award recognizes a Sourcewell-awarded vendor representative that demonstrates commitment, persistence, and influence. Recipients are pioneers in developing cooperative purchasing presentations and sales messaging while guiding the rationale surrounding the required changes in the transaction process for government and education agencies.

The following were recognized as Pioneers:

• MJ DuBois, President at Atlantic Machinery
• Tammie Hinds, Managing Director at UPS
• Mike Sampson, Senior Government Sales Manager at Grainger
• Tom Staves, Large Account Sales Manager at Johnson Controls

The Legendary Leadership Award recognizes the level of individual leadership and influence required to lead multiple channels of a respective company to the full embracement of the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing way of business. The recipient demonstrates keen business instincts, commitment and innovation in developing and presenting justifications and business process validation that redirects a well-established internal company-wide business culture through the challenges of the national cooperative purchasing approach to business.

Steve Perlstein, President of Mohawk Lifts, is a leader in his industry and is driven to make contracts for government run just like they do in the business sector. He is constantly working to find creative ways to utilize and market his Sourcewell contract. Combined with stellar leadership, innovative ideas, and well-thought out strategies; Steve has the ability to establish relationships and incorporate them into his work. He is an innovative leader in every definition of this award.

The Legacy Award recognizes a Sourcewell-awarded vendor that demonstrates commitment, business innovation, and persistence to advance cooperative purchasing strategies and approach to government and education business. It recognizes the visionary leadership and instincts it takes to forge unchartered sales concepts and the overall Sourcewell way of business, while facing the internal and external risks and resistance involved with changing the way the standard game of business is played.

Grainger's adaptive and supportive style, along with its unwavering commitment to Sourcewell and driving value to members, makes it an extremely valuable partner. Grainger understands members' needs and is committed to “exceeding their customer expectations” which coincides with Sourcewell's mission to exceed member expectations. According to Sourcewell Manager of Contract Administration Tom Perttula, “Grainger goes above and beyond for our members by offering additional growth incentives beyond the contract pricing. They have brought on and developed large customers such as Chicago Public Schools and Duke University. This vendor demonstrates their value every day by providing world-class service and cost-saving solutions for thousands of members.”