Two Missourians to Help Lead National Government Procurement Association

Columbia, Mo., April 17, 2008 — Two members of the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (MO PTAC) have been selected officers of the national Association of PTAC (APTAC) counselors at the group's 23rd annual conference last week in Lexington, Ky.

Morris Hudson, state director of MO PTAC and based at the program's headquarters in Columbia, became president of APTAC. Bill Stuby, MO PTAC central region director with the University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UCIE) at the University of Missouri's College of Engineering, was elected secretary of APTAC. Both officials began their terms April 9.

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 15 years.

Stuby has been with MO PTAC—part of MU Extension's business development program—for more than seven 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 immediate past president. Bernie Franks, Heartland PTAC procurement counselor, started the second year of a two-year term as director of APTAC's 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 western region director based in Kansas City, and Rich Fyke, MO PTAC eastern region director in the St. Louis area. Leonard co-chairs the board, which reviews PTAC counselor' applications for professional certification by APTAC.

This story was featured in the May 2008 newsletter