Can I be honest with you? As an introvert I have been a bit intimidated to attend any in-person trainings without my team (aka my security blanket). But this year I won a scholarship from RMGPA so I was invited to attend FORUM in person. I was excited, but very nervous because my teammates could only attend online. The last time I attended NIGP Forum in person was in 2012 (Seattle); luckily my Director could also attend and we had a great time.
In concept, I was intimated to attend FORUM on my own this year in Denver. I haven’t been to Denver very often (even though I live in Colorado) so I’d be in unknow territory (so to speak) where I knew there would be tons of people and so many learning sessions. I thought that my energy levels would be very low after just a few sessions and I’d miss out on the opportunity to meet people, discuss ideas, and learn from sharing experiences. But I was wrong! I had a fantastic time at FORUM!
The learning sessions were uplifting and gave me new perspective to situations. A lot of the sessions included sharing with other people at our table(s) which helped prompt personal interaction. Outside of the sessions, at meals, and at breaks, everyone was so friendly! I met procurement professionals from all over the country and found out that we share similar work and personal experiences that affect how we perform our jobs.
I especially enjoyed the Trade Show for Forum 2025; so many vendors and cooperative agreement agencies participated. It was great to meet people that I’ve talked to on the phone or by email many times, but now we could have real in person conversations.
The learning sessions I attended were highly focused on Leadership. After 20+ years in procurement, I mistakenly thought I knew quite a bit (not everything, but a lot). These sessions offered me new insight and solutions to situations that come up on a daily basis. Leadership is not just how we lead our team, it’s how we interact on a daily basis with everyone in our lives (teammates, internal customers, vendors, family, etc.). We can all be influences to make the work go smoother, the communications more meaningful, and the overall outlook more positive.
Thank you to RMGPA for allowing me to attend FORUM 2025. I absorbed a lot of information to help with my continuing career in procurement; and I learned a lot about myself! I may be an introvert, but I love my job in procurement and I truly appreciate all the professionals that we work with in this industry.
Teresa May Burns
City of Pueblo Purchasing Department