East Texas Purchasing Officials Form Local Group

EAST TEXAS – Purchasing officials for Smith and Gregg counties are working together to form a local chapter of the National Procurement Institute. Smith County Purchasing Director Kim Gould and Gregg County Purchasing Agent Kelli Davis were recently selected to serve as directors for the national organization and hope to get area purchasing officials involved. According to a Smith County news release, Davis will serve as president, and Gould will serve as vice president of the local chapter.

As quoted in the news release, Davis says a lot can be accomplished when officials “work together with a common goal of saving taxpayer money.” Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt says in the news release that Gregg County officials are “extremely pleased with Mrs. Davis’s performance and the co-leadership role she is playing in this project with Kim Gould.” Smith County Judge Joel Baker says forming a local purchasing group will be beneficial for the entire region.

Nine officials from several counties attended an initial meeting in November in Gregg County. They are hoping to spread the word to get more participation at their second meeting, planned for 1:30 p.m. on December 17 in the Smith County Commissioners Courtroom. All purchasing officials who work for nonprofit and governmental entities, including school districts, colleges and universities, are invited to attend. Davis and Gould are inviting all purchasing professionals within a 13-county region — including Anderson, Camp, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Marion, Panola, Rains, Rusk, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties — to become involved in the local association.