55th Annual Rutgers University
Public Purchasing Educational Forum
April 29, 30, May 1, 2025
Resorts, Atlantic City
Co-sponsored by:
Rutgers Center for Government Services
Northern New Jersey Chapter of NIGP
Southern New Jersey of NIGP
Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey
New Jersey Association of County Purchasing Officials
Registration Information - REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
The 55th Rutgers Public Purchasing Educational Forum is scheduled for April 29-May 1, 2025, at Resorts, Atlantic City. We also offer a pre-Forum ‘Green Purchasing” seminar on April 29, 2025, at the same location. As always, the Forum will provide the latest and most relevant information for the purchasing professionals and an opportunity to earn up to 10 CEUs and network with peers.
There are two ways to register for the conference:
- Purchase orders/vouchers and registration forms must be sent together and e-mailed to cgs@docs.rutgers.edu. A check or voucher must accompany the registration form, made payable to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
- Online registrations (with credit card or e-check only) are also currently accepted. Click on the “Register Online” button in the left column.
You can register for 2-day or 1-day Forum participation, as well as for the pre-Forum “Ethics” seminar. For registration, please use the following codes:
| Code | Event | Fee |
| PP-2250-SP25-1 | 2-day Forum, 4/30 & 5/1 | $450 |
| PP-2250-SP25-2 | 1-day Forum, 4/30 | $245 |
| PP-2250-SP25-3 | 1-day Forum, 5/1 | $245 |
| PP-2227-SP25-2 | Green Purchasing 1/2-day, 4/29 | $113 |
Before a student is officially enrolled in a course, payment must be authorized or secured. A student with a delinquent account with CGS will not be permitted to enroll in any additional courses or events offered by the Center until the delinquency is resolved. Withdrawal requests must be submitted in writing at least 3 business days before the Forum and will incur a $25 processing fee. Withdrawals will be refunded, minus the $25 fee. Failure to notify CGS within the time frame will result in forfeiture of all fees. There is a $25 fee for returned checks.
All registrations for the conference must be received NO LATER than three business days before the conference begins. Conference registration will be closed on April 24th, 2025. Late registrations will not be accepted.
To obtain credit for a session, you must be present throughout the entire duration of the session and check in through a QR code at the end of the session.
For DOE Waiver, please click on DOE Waiver.
Rutgers University, Center for Government Services is pleased to announce vendor opportunities for the 55th Annual Educational Forum at the Resorts, Atlantic City. This two-day conference will run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Wednesday, April 30th, and 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Thursday, May 1st 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 8, 2025.
VENDOR REGISTRATION is now open.
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
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.
How to apply: the applicant must fill in the scholarship application form with the deadline of 30 days before the conference date. The applicant should satisfy the following conditions: receive the QPA certification within 2 years before the conference date and be employed in the public sector (local, state, federal) with purchasing-related job responsibilities.
The submission deadline for the 2025 Forum is March 28th, 2025.
Scholarship Application Form
Resorts Casino Hotel
1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Room Rate of $74.00 per night, $7 tourism/occupancy fees, per room per night, and $28.55 resort fee per night.
Total of $109.55 per room, per night.
Call In Instructions:
Reservations Number: 1.609.340.6760
Group Code: VPPEF25 (Guests Must give Group Code to agent to locate your group discounted rates)
Group name: Rutgers Public Purchasing Educational Forum 2025
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 (VPPEF25) 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, 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 $74.00 per night, $7 tourism/occupancy fees, per room per night, and $28.55 resort fee per night, a Total of $109.55 per room, per night.
- Group or conference name
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 22nd, 2025, 4PM*
Please note that the hotel does not accept purchase orders on a “Direct Bill” basis. The Front Desk cannot accept Purchase orders upon arrival.
Purchase orders and payments should be MAILED/EMAILED to:
Resorts Casino Hotel
Hotel Sales Department
1133 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
salespo@resortsac.com
Cut-off date: You must book by APRIL 21, 2025, to receive the discounted rates.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
TUESDAY, APRIL 29
3:00 – 6:00 PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR
GREEN PURCHASING: THE PURCHASING PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY
Tracey Wood, Energy Program Manager, Sustainable Jersey
Kaitlyn Vollmer, Grants Program Manager, Sustainable Jersey
Joe Grillo, Ombudsman, NJBPU
6:00 – 7:00 WELCOME RECEPTION
Meet your NJ Purchasing Associations:
- Northern New Jersey Chapter of NIGP
- Southern New Jersey of NIGP
- Governmental Purchasing Association of New Jersey
- New Jersey Association of County Purchasing Officials
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30
7:30 – 8:30 REGISTRATION/BREAKFAST/EXHIBITS
8:30 – 8:45 WELCOME
8:45 – 9:45 KEYNOTE
FROM PURCHASING TO PROCUREMENT: THE STRATEGIC JOURNEY
Sean Carroll, Founder, A Posteriori, LLC
9:50 – 11:00 CONCURRENT SESSIONS I
BREAKOUT NETWORKING SESSIONS
- SMALL MUNICIPALITIES
- LARGE MUNICIPALITIES
- COUNTIES
- SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES
- UTILITIES AUTHORITIES
11:00 – 11:30 BREAK/VISIT EXHIBITS
11:30 - 12:30 CONCURRENT SESSIONS II
PROCUREMENT SOLICITATIONS AS PROJECTS
Sean Carroll, Founder, A Posteriori, LLC
CDBG MONEY
Isabel Garcia, QPA, Trenton
Donna King, Senior Project Manager, M&L Associates,
AI IN ACTION: OPTIMIZING PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT
Marc Pfeiffer, Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
12:30 – 1:45 LUNCHEON/VISIT EXHIBITS
1:45 – 2:45 REPEATED CONCURRENT SESSIONS II
2:45 - 3:45 CONCURRENT SESSIONS III (not repeated)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
David Brown, Township Manager, Township of Ocean
Lori Buckelew, Assistant Executive Director, NJLM
PUBLIC SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES PURCHASING
James Shoop, BA/PA, Passaic Board of Education (ret)
Madeline Caterinicchio, Director of Purchasing and Inventory, Middlesex Couty College
4:30-6:30 NETWORKING RECEPTION: “ROARING 20s”
THURSDAY, MAY 1
7:00 – 8:30 REGISTRATION/BREAKFAST/EXHIBITS
8:30 – 9:30 PLENARY SESSION
IMPROVING TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Donna Conrad MS, SPHR, Human Resources Consultant
9:45 – 10:45 CONCURRENT SESSION IV
NJSTART - NEW FEATURES, RESOURCES AND FUNCTIONALITY
Trevor Day, General Manager, NJSTART, SOVRA
Bill Hnatiuk, Local Government Manager NJSTART, SOVRA
P-CARD (not repeated, offered only at 9:45 – 10:45)
Joseph Clark, Purchasing Manager, Ocean City
Michael Rossbach JR, Assistant Purchasing Agent, Ocean City
Ryan Calloway, U.S. Bank
NATIONAL COOPS (not repeated, offered only at 11:00 – 12:00)
Rick Thomas, Purchasing Manager, Atlantic County Utilities Authority
Michele Bado, Purchasing Agent, Hamilton Township
10:45 – 11:00 BREAK/VISIT EXHIBITS
11:00 – 12:00 REPEATED CONCURRENT SESSIONS IV
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH/VISIT EXHIBITS
1:00-2:00 PLENARY SESSION
DLGS AND YELLOW BOOK UPDATE
Marc Pfeiffer, Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Michele Meade, Deputy Director, Division of Local Government Services
Aniyyah Maney, Procurement Specialist, Division of Local Government Services
2:00- 3:00 PLENARY SESSION
DOL UPDATE
Joseph Kostecki, Public Entity Liaison, Wage, Hour & Contract Compliance,
Dominic Lipira, Sr. Investigator, Wage, Hour & Contract Compliance,
Julius Bailey, Assistant Director, Office of Strategic Enforcement and Compliance,
NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development
PRE-CONFERENCE SEMINAR
GREEN PURCHASING: THE PURCHASING PROFESSIONAL'S GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY
The seminar will cover purchasing resources for a wide-array of sustainable projects and services including green purchasing of supplies, procurement of clean energy projects and energy-saving building upgrades, and electrifying fleet vehicles. Featured resources include the NJ BPU’s Community Energy Planning grant program and the new Sustainable Jersey Purchasing Resource Center. The seminar will also include an overview of financing and grant programs from State and utility sources.
Presenters: Tracey Wood, Energy Program Manager, Kaitlyn Vollmer, Grants Program Manager, Sustainable Jersey, Joe Grillo, Ombudsman, NJBPU
Resorts, Atlantic City, Horizon Ballroom
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
3:00 pm -6:00 pm
Course number: PP-2227-SP25-2
Separate registration fee: $113
For continuing education credits awarded to the forum sessions,
please click on the CEUs LIST.
Isabel Garcia, GPANJ President, QPA, City of Trenton
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
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.