Public Purchasing Educational Forum

Rutgers University, Center for Government Services, is pleased to announce vendor opportunities for the 56th Annual Educational Forum at Resorts, Atlantic City. This two-day conference will run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 29th, and 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Thursday, April 30th, giving vendors the opportunity to display their goods and explain their services to more than 250 purchasing agents from municipal and county governments, state and county colleges, school districts, as well as public authorities and utilities.

Vendor space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Credit cards and e-checks are accepted. Registration deadline is April 1, 2026.

VENDOR REGISTRATION - $1,000

Event set-up details will be provided to registered vendors two weeks before the event.

Vendor registration includes:

• Registration for two company representatives (breakfast and lunch included for both days)
• One six-foot skirted table with two chairs
• Standard electrical outlet
• Wastebasket
• Entrance to all conference sessions and events
• Various sponsorship opportunities are available

Questions? Contact Debbie Steinert at dsteiner@docs.rutgers.edu

Rutgers Center for Government Services is pleased to announce a Valenti/Stanton Scholarship for the new QPAs!

Joseph Valenti and Mary Lou Stanton were outstanding instructors in the Public Purchasing program at Rutgers CGS. They educated and supported thousands of public purchasing professionals in the state of New Jersey.

The principal aim of this scholarship is to offer financial support to the recently certified QPAs to attend the Annual Rutgers University Public Purchasing Educational Forum. The scholarship will cover the cost of the forum and hotel accommodation for the winning applicant. It is the applicant’s responsibility to receive approval from the supervisor to attend the Forum.

The application is due at the end of business on March 27th, 2026. 

Scholarship Application Form

Resorts Casino Hotel

1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 0840

Room Rate of $69.00 per night, $7 tourism/occupancy fees, per room per night, and $29.43 resort fee per night.

Total of $105.43 per room, per night.

ONLINE RESERVATION is now open.

Call In Instructions:

Reservations Number: (609) 340-6760

Group Code: VPPEF26 (Guests must give the Group Code to the agent to locate your group's discounted rates)

Group name: Rutgers Public Purchasing Educational Forum 2026

Payment by Purchase Order:

Resorts Casino Hotel is happy to accept purchase orders for pre-payment of guest rooms using the following procedures:

1.    Call our Reservations Department at (609) 340-6760 and mention your group code (VPPEF26) or utilize the URL booking link for ONLINE RESERVATION to receive the discounted group rate. All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card upon booking.

2.    Email purchase order to the Hotel Sales Department (salespo@resortsac.com). It will be promptly returned, requesting payment in full. To ensure correct processing, please include the following information:

• Names of guests and dates to be paid by purchase order.
• Room Rate of $69.00 per night, $7 tourism/occupancy fees, per room per night, and $29.43 resort fee per night, Total of $105.43 per room, per night.
• Group or conference name (Rutgers Public Purchasing Educational Forum 2026)

3.    Check payable to Resorts Casino Hotel for full payment must be received at least one week prior to arrival. If payment is not received prior to arrival, guests will be responsible for paying their own charges. 

*NO REFUNDS AFTER April 16th, 2026.

Please note that the hotel does not accept purchase orders on a “Direct Bill” basis. Purchase orders cannot be accepted by the Front Desk upon arrival.

Purchase orders and payments should be MAILED/EMAILED to:

Resorts Casino Hotel
Attn: Hotel Sales Department
1133 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
salespo@resortsac.com 
 

Cut-off date: You must book by APRIL 20, 2026, 5 PM EST to receive the discounted rates.

Conference Floor Map

CONFERENCE PROGRAM 

PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR

 AI & Ethics: Navigating Responsibility in a Digital Age

Jennifer Roselle, PEM Law LLP

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

3:00 pm-6:00 pm, Horizon Ballroom

Separate registration is required. To register, please use the class code PP-2220-SP26-2. Cost: $113

 This three-hour session, is designed to equip New Jersey government professionals with a practical understanding of the ethical considerations surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector.    

Continuing education credits awarded to the forum sessions. 

Coming Soon!

Michele Bado -Purchasing Agent, Hamilton Township

Gordon H. Ball, Jr., RPPO, CPPO, QPA - Executive Director, Southern New Jersey Chapter NIGP

David Brown, Township Manager, Township of Ocean

Madeline Caterinicchio, Director of Purchasing and Inventory, Middlesex Couty College

Olga Chaban, Ed.D. - Sr. Program Coordinator, Center for Government Services, Rutgers University

Joseph Clark, QPA, RPPO, CPPB - Purchasing Manager, Ocean City 

Isabel Garcia, GPANJ President, QPA, City of Trenton

Melissa Kosenski, RPPO, QPA, Purchasing Agent, County of Somerset

Mary “Trish” Mooney, QPA, RPPO - Purchasing Agent, Atlantic City (Retired)

Nicola Reid, QPA, RPPO - Purchasing Agent, Stafford Township

Gerald Reiner, Rutgers CGS Instrcutor

Apryl Roach, QPA, RPPS, Administrative Manager, Franklin Township Sewerage Authority

Laura M. Scutari, MPA, QPA, CCPO, RPPO - Director of Purchasing, Union County

Rick Thomas, Purchasing Agent, Atlantic County Utilities Authority

You can download the Forum 2025 handouts here. If a session has no handouts, we have not received them from the presenter.

Forum 2026 handouts are coming soon!