Take advantage of the unique opportunities for continued education, professional growth, certifications, and a network of colleagues and friends that a NPI membership can provide.
Mark Neihart currently serves as the Director of Procurement for the City of Tucson, Arizona. Mark has over 20 years of government procurement experience at the City of Tucson and the State of Arizona. Prior to this, he held professional positions at Motorola, Ernst & Young and Bank of America. Mark is a Certified Purchasing Manager, a Certified Professional Public Buyer, a Certified Public Manager, and holds degrees from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. Mark has served multiple years as a Director for the National Purchasing Institute, as well as on the Finance, Membership and Nominating Committees. In his personal life, he has been married for 23 years to Susan, has two children ages 16 and 13, is a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and enjoys riding his motorcycles, alpine skiing and fitness training.
NPI First Vice President
Christine Green
Christine Green , C.P.M.
Christine Green, C.P.M., is the Purchasing Agent for the City of University Park, Texas, a residential suburb of Dallas and home to Southern Methodist University (SMU). Christine joined the University Park City Manager’s Office in 1992 as a University of Kansas Master of Public Administration intern. She was named the City’s Purchasing Agent in 1996. The City has received NPI’s Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award each year since 2001. Christine has served on the NPI Board of Directors since 2002, and has served as Conference Attendance Chair, Membership Co-Chair, and First Time Attendees Chair.
Christine has been married to Jim Green for 11 years, and they have two children, Andy (8) and Camille (4).
NPI Second Vice President
Michele Brand
Michele Brand
Michele Brand is the Manager of Purchasing and Telecommunications for the City of Mesquite, Texas. She began her career in the City Manager’s Office in 1993. She was named Assistant Purchasing Coordinator in 1995 and Manager of Purchasing and Telecommunications in 2000. Michele has a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration. Prior to working at the City of Mesquite, Michele was a full-time Mom. Michele became a member of NPI in 1996. She has served on the Board of Directors for the past three years in various capacities.
Michele has been married to Tom for 33 years and has two daughters ages 31 and 26.
NPI Treasurer
Melissa Lee
Melissa Lee, C.P.M., A.P.P.
Melissa Lee is a Senior Contracts Administrator for Tarrant County in Fort Worth, Texas. Melissa has been with Tarrant County since 1996. Melissa has served on the NPI Board of Directors for 2 terms as Membership and Marketing Chair. Melissa is currently the President of the Public Purchasing Association of North Central Texas. Melissa is a graduate of Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama. Melissa is a Accredited Purchasing Practitioner and Certified Purchasing Manager.
Melissa is married to Greg Lee they have three children, DeChaun 17, Crystal 15 and Justin 10.
NPI Immediate Past President
Dave Seward
Dave Seward, C.P.M., CPPO
Dave Seward is a thirty year veteran in private and public sector purchasing and materials management. He is currently the Procurement Director for Cochise County in Bisbee, Arizona. Dave began his career working for Intel Corporation spending 13 years in various materials management positions with emphasis in Traffic and Transportation Management and Purchasing. Since 1989, he has worked in various public sector agencies including community college, university and county government. Dave has been a member of the National Purchasing Institute since 1992 and has served on the Board of Directors for nine years.
Received BS degree in Purchasing and Materials Management in 2002.
Received his original Certified Purchasing Manager Certification in 1995 and Lifetime C.P.M. Certification in 2000.
Member of ISM since 1992. Prior membership in the California Association of Public Purchasing Officers (CAPPO) and the National Association of Educational Buyers (NAEB).
Currently serves as Past President of the National Purchasing Institute.
Member of NIGP since 2002
Board Members
Kathleen Bender
Kathleen Bender, C.P.M., CPPB
Kathleen Bender has worked in public procurement for over 11 years with the City of Tucson, AZ. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona in 1995. She received her Certified Purchasing Manager designation from ISM in 2002 and her Certified Professional Public Buyer designation from the UPPCC in 2006. Kathleen is currently the Contract Administrator over the Design, Construction and Services Contracting Division for the City of Tucson. She is serving her second term on the Board of Directors for the National Purchasing Institute (NPI) and is a member of the evaluation committee for the Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) award.
January Cook
January Cook, CPPB
January Cook is the Purchasing Agent for the Town of Flower Mound, Texas. She has eighteen years experience in government purchasing to include municipal government, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Navy. January started her career in municipal government as a temporary Buyer for the City of Corpus Christi, Texas. From 2000 to 2008 she was a Senior Buyer for the City of Plano, Texas, and was named as the Purchasing Agent for the Town of Flower Mound in March 2008.
January has served on the NPI Board of Directors since 2006 as Research & Development Chair, Website Team Chair, and First Time Attendee Chair. This is January’s second consecutive term as a Director for NPI. January is currently the Vice-President for the Public Purchasing Association of North Central Texas. January is a Certified Professional Public Buyer.
January has two sons, Derek (15) and Ryan (11).
Harold Good
Harold Good, CPPO
Harold (Hal) Good, CPPO has been Director of Purchasing for Frederick County, Maryland for the past four years. Prior to that, he was Director of Procurement and Contracting for the city of Palm Springs, California and Palm Springs International Airport (21 years). Hal held various materials management related positions at New York University Medical Center in New York City prior to moving to Palm Springs
Hal lists among his accomplishments having served as president of the Airport Purchasing Group, an affiliate of NPI.(2004-2005) as well as serving twice as president of the California Chapter of NIGP. He was awarded NIGP's national Distinguished Service Award in 2002 and has served on its national board of directors. He, his wife Jaye and son, Ryan live in Frederick.
Penny Marchell
Penny Marchell, C.P.M.
Penny has been employed with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and in the purchasing profession for over 19 years. Originally, from a small town in North Dakota, Penny attained her Associates Degree in Business at the North Dakota State College of Science and is a Certified Purchasing Manager (C.P.M.), which is the most recognized designation for supply management professionals globally.
Throughout her career, she has served on several purchasing committees and is a member of:
Regional Business Development Advisory Council (RBDAC)
Nevada Public Purchasing Study Commission – Legislative Counsel Bureau
Institute for Supply Management
National Purchasing Institute
National Contract Management Association
Asian Chamber of Commerce
Urban Chamber of Commerce
Latin Chamber of Commerce
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce
Penny currently serves on the NPI Board in the capacity of Chairperson of Communications Team (Website and Newsletter).
During her tenure in the capacity of Director of Purchasing, her department has won the “Achievement of Excellence Award in Procurement” for the thirteenth consecutive year. Her excellent leadership skills are recognized throughout the LVCVA as she goes above and beyond in all that she does. As a dedicated employee, she firmly believes in promoting the highest level of excellent customer service in all aspects of her job. Purchasing staff agrees that one of the most commendable attributes about her is that she believes in promoting “FUN” within the workplace environment!
Edward McMullen
Edward McMullen
Edward (Ed) McMullen currently serves as the Director of Purchasing for Birmingham City Schools. Edward has over 33 years of educational procurement experience at Birmingham City Schools and Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Edward was appointed to serve as a member of the City of Birmingham’s Mayor Minority Business Opportunity Advisory/Steering Committee in 2001.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama.
Ron Williamson
Ron Williamson, CPPB
Ron Williamson is a thirteen year employee of the Houston Galveston Area Council and the HGACBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program. A thirty-five year veteran of the procurement profession, both private and public, twenty years of which has been in the public sector as a buyer, purchasing agent and purchasing manager in municipal government as well as federal agencies. He is a member of both the National Purchasing Institute and the National Institute of Government Purchasing. A veteran of the US Air Force, Ron earned a BS degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston and became certified as a public procurement buyer (CPPB) in August of 2007 Ron is happily married and the proud father of five children and the grandfather of three beautiful girls.
