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.
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). University Park 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, working as Conference Attendance Chair, Membership Co-Chair, First Time Attendees Chair, Program Chair, Treasurer, and First Vice President. She has 20 years experience in local government, beginning with an internship in the City of San Antonio City Attorney’s Office.
Christine has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas.
She enjoys running and is training to run a half marathon in December. Christine has been married to Jim Green for 13 years and has two children, Andy (9) and Camille (5).
NPI First Vice President
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 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
January Cook
January Cook, CPPO, CPPB
January Cook is the Purchasing Agent for the Town of Flower Mound, Texas. She has nineteen 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, First Time Attendee Chair, Membership and Marketing Chair, and two years as a Director. January is currently the President for the Public Purchasing Association of North Central Texas.
January has two sons, Derek (16) and Ryan (12).
NPI Immediate Past President
Mark Neihart
Mark Neihart, C.P.M.
Mark Neihart currently serves as the Director of Procurement for the City of Tucson, Arizona. Tucson has been a recipient of the Achievement of Excellence in procurement since the Award's inception 14 years ago.
Mark has over 20 years of government procurement experience. Prior to his public sector experience, he held professional positions at Motorola, Bank of America and Ernst & Young. Mark is a Lifetime Certified Purchasing Manager, a Certified Professional Public Buyer, a Certified Public Manager and a Lifetime Accredited Purchasing Practitioner. He has degrees from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. In his most recent service to NPI, Mark served as the 2008-2009 President.
Mark has been married to Susan for 25 years and has two children, Kimberly (18) and Ryan (15).
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.
Carol Fletcher
Carol Fletcher, A.P.P.
Carol Fletcher, A.P.P. is currently a Purchasing Analyst with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. She has previously worked for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and has worked in the purchasing field for over 14 years.
Carol has held several positions with ISM – Nevada during her Purchasing career. She has held membership, and special event chairs and was Assistant Golf Chair several years in charge of donations. She has been the Secretary, Treasurer several times, and currently attends all Board meetings and assists with the monthly meeting locations and speakers. Carol was the National Public Relations Chair for the ISM International Conference in Las Vegas, NV in 2007.
Carol has one son, William.
Brian Garrity
Brian Garrity, C.P.M., CPPB
Procurement Administrator, Town of Oro Valley Arizona.
Brian was hired in 2007 as the Town of Oro Valley’s first Procurement official. Oro Valley is located in northern Pima County, Arizona approximately six miles north of the Tucson city limits. He previously worked for City of Tucson where he spent over 8 years in municipal procurement serving in multiple roles.
Brian holds professional designations of Certified Purchasing Manager and Certified Professional Public Buyer. Brian and the Town have received the 13th and 14th Annual Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award from NPI.
Brian has lived in Arizona his entire life. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona where we was a Dean’s List scholar and member of the Uof A Rugby Team.
This is Brian’s first year serving on the Board of Directors.
Harold Good
Harold (Hal) 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.
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.
