ASU Procurement Services personnel earn certification credentials
JONESBORO, Ark. — Carol Barnhill, director of Procurement and Travel Services, and Lola Langley, assistant director of Procurement and Travel Services at Arkansas State University were recently notified that both have earned recognition from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council (UPPCC) by receiving the Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) credential.
Barnhill and Langley were among 84 professionals who successfully completed the CPPO examination in October. Established in 1964, this prestigious certification is an outstanding honor for individuals employed in the public procurement profession and is an asset to their specific division of governmental administration.
“Public purchasing professionals at the federal, state and local levels are responsible for the appropriate expenditure of over $4.85 trillion in public funds or 38.5 percent of the United States Gross Domestic Product,” said Norma Hall, chair of the UPPCC Governing Board. “It is critical that public buyers and managers demonstrate to stakeholders their integrity, credibility, knowledge and the skills necessary to carry out the job they have been entrusted to do.
“Public procurement certification offered through the UPPCC demonstrates that individuals obtaining either the CPPB or CPPO certification posses the knowledge, skills and abilities required to promote public trust. Nationally and internationally, employers understand the value in requiring certification of their procurement personnel and many are making it a condition of employment. Certification demonstrates to all a desire for excellence in public procurement.”
To date, 2,209 procurement professionals have achieved this accomplished status. To become certified as a CPPO, candidates must demonstrate through an application process that they meet specific requisites established by the UPPCC, including formal education, procurement related coursework/training, public purchasing experience and functional management experience.
A comprehensive written examination is required to confirm the candidate’s mastery of the body of knowledge for public procurement professionals. The CPPO certification recognizes only those professionals who have fulfilled these prescribed standards of competency in public procurement.
For a complete listing of CPPO certified individuals and additional information on qualifications, visit the website, www.uppcc.org.
