OPPA ANNUAL AWARDS
OPPA presents the following awards on an annual basis:
Professional Buyer of the Year
This award shall be presented to an OPPA member from the rank and file of buyer or purchaser, as selected by the designated committee. It shall be awarded to the individual who demonstrates outstanding professionalism and has contributed significantly to the field of public purchasing during the calendar year.
Professional Purchasing Manager of the Year
This award shall be presented to an OPPA member from the rank and file of purchasing manager or supervisor, as selected by the designated committee. It shall be awarded to the individual who demonstrates outstanding professionalism and has contributed significantly to the field of public purchasing during the calendar year.
President’s Award
This award shall be presented to an OPPA member who demonstrated outstanding leadership and accomplishment in the field of professional public purchasing. The awardee shall be selected by the current OPPA President, and shall not require a specific criteria or application process. The awardee shall be honored at the Annual Spring Conference, with the name of the awardee being undisclosed until that time.
Nominations for Buyer and Manager of the Year
The Awards Committee shall accept nominations for Buyer and Manager of the Year during the first two calendar months of each year. Any member or officer may submit nominations. The current OPPA President shall appoint an Awards Committee Chair, and the Awards Committee shall consist of, at the very least, the previous year’s Buyer of the Year and Manager of the Year for their respective awards. This committee shall notify all members of the procedures and deadlines for submitting nominations.
Nomination criteria shall be consistent with NIGP guidelines for Buyer and Manager of the Year nominations. Members may submit written nominations to committee members consisting of the nominee’s name and agency. The committee will then contact the nominees and request detailed information regarding their past year’s activities based on the NIGP criteria.
Selection of Buyer and Manager of the Year
The committee will evaluate and score all nominations received and select one person for each award. The evaluation and selection shall be based on the latest NIGP scoring criteria. The Award winners will typically be announced at the NIGP board meeting at the first of March. Official announcement via the OPPA Newsletter shall be made during March, which is nationally designated as Purchasing Month.
The President shall present the Buyer and Manager of the Year awards at the Annual Spring Conference. If the President is one of the award winners, then the Vice President or other officer shall make that presentation. The award shall consist of an engraved plaque with the winners’ name and agency, and shall be consistent in quality and appearance to past awards.
National Awards
OPPA shall forward its Buyer and Manager of the Year award winners to NIGP for consideration for national recognition. Each nomination shall be submitted in a complete and professional format. Past awards winners and / or current officers shall assist each winner in the award submittal.
Recently, OPPA has contributed financially for the OPPA Buyer and Manager of the Year to attend the NIGP Annual Forum and Products Exposition. OPPA shall continue this support as long as it is financially feasible to do so. If the award winners’ agency does not pay for them to attend, OPPA shall consider contributing at least $750 in reimbursement money to each award winner. Each year, the OPPA board shall consider and rule on this financial contribution prior to the NIGP Forum.
Local Recognition
The OPPA Buyer and Manager of the Year award winners shall be recognized in the next issue of the OPPA Newsletter. The President, or their designee, shall also issue a press release to one or more local papers and include a photo if available. Normally, the Daily Journal of Commerce is notified as well as an area paper near the hometown of each award winner.
