Two Central Missouri Procurement Tech Specialists to Help Lead National Group

Columbia, Mo., April 4, 2007 — Two members of the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) have been elected officers of the national Association of PTAC (APTAC) counselors at the group's 22nd annual conference last week in Detroit, Mich.

Morris Hudson, director of MO PTAC and based at the statewide program's administrative office in Columbia, was chosen president-elect of APTAC. Bill Stuby, MO PTAC counselor with the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UCIE) at the University of Missouri's College of Engineering, was re-elected treasurer of APTAC, a position he held during the past year. Both officials began their year-long terms March 28.

As officers with APTAC, Hudson and Stuby will be instrumental in developing, implementing and managing the organization's professional development mission. APTAC represents more than 500 procurement counselors at 92 PTAC offices throughout the country.

"The national conference provides PTAC professionals with an opportunity to train and update their skills on the latest governmental procedures to help business clients interested in obtaining contracts with government offices," says Hudson, who has directed MO PTAC for more than 14 years.

Stuby has been with MO PTAC – part of MU Extension's business development program – for more than six years and serves as a counselor for business clients seeking to bid on business contracts from federal, state and local government agencies. He covers a 34-county territory in central and northeast Missouri.

In addition, two other Missourians were elected to national or regional offices with APTAC. Terri Bennett, Joplin-based program manager with the Heartland PTAC (covering Southwest Missouri and all of Kansas) is APTAC's new president. Bernie Franks, Heartland PTAC procurement counselor, was re-elected director of APTAC Region VII, which comprises Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Serving on APTAC's professional review board are Donna Leonard, MO PTAC counselor based in Kansas City, and Rich Fyke, MO PTAC counselor in the St. Louis area. Leonard co-chairs the board, which reviews PTAC counselor's applications for professional certification by APTAC.

MO PTAC counselors are located in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Rolla and West Plains. They assist Missouri businesses in identifying government contracting opportunities for products or services associated with each company. Counselors also help client firms complete government forms, understand regulations, and fulfill necessary registrations and certifications. MO PTAC specialists also work to develop product-specific databases to help clients pinpoint timely bid leads.

To contact the MO PTAC counselor nearest you, go to www.missouribusiness.net or call 1-573-882-8058. In addition to MO PTAC, the University of Missouri Extension's business development programs include the Missouri Small Business Development Centers (MO SBDC) and the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Centers (MO SBTDC).

For more information, contact:
Contact: Morris Hudson, 200 Engineering Building North,
University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. 65211
Phone: 573-882-8058
E-mail: HudsonM@missouri.edu