The Airport Purchasing Group (APG) -

Welcome to the Airport Purchasing Group (APG) Web Site
The Airport Purchasing Group (APG) is a valuable resource for airport purchasing offices to use in improving processes and solving problems.

If you are involved in some aspect of purchasing for an airport, whether as a member of an airport purchasing office, as an individual with assigned purchasing responsibilities, or as a member of a city, county, or other entity purchasing office, then APG can benefit you.

Mission
The APG exists as a group to "Enhance the effectiveness of airport purchasing by sharing knowledge, collaborating on purchases and purchasing issues where feasible, and developing a broad knowledge base of best practices and methods." The APG provides a valuable resource for airport purchasing offices to use in improving processes and solving problems.

A Message from our President
If your airport is like most airports, funding for travel has either been reduced or eliminated. However, I would like to point out some of the benefits of attending a conference where the interchange of cost saving information could help your airport save money during these tight economic times or find other uses for the dollars being saved through your efforts.

Next year, the APG annual conference will again partner with the NIGP Forum being held in National Harbor, MD just outside Washington D.C in August 2011. Please consider this your first invitation to point out some of the benefits of attending you will find at least one money-saving idea that will more than pay for your efforts.

The 2010 APG Conference held in conjunction with the NIGP Forum was a smashing success. Seventeen members were able to make the Conference with many of them staying for the entire NIGP conference. Garry Cullinane with Southwest Airlines was a riveting speaker who spoke about the changes that Southwest has incorporated over the years. Southwest has centralized their procurement and have formed long term partnerships with many of their suppliers. When we found out that most of the employees wear shorts and t-shirts to work, the hands went up to find out if there were any job openings! Did you know that Airports are eligible to get surplus property from the FAA (digital cameras, computers, even a snow plow)? Kendall Ball from the FAA updated us on that information, as well as what information is required when bidding out items funded by the FAA. Ken’s PowerPoint is posted as a separate item on the APG site. The entire group also got the “insider” tour of the San Antonio Airport and had many opportunities to network with their peers and exchange information and business cards. All in all, it was an informative two days well spent.

The following people were elected to two-year positions on the board:

Denise Schneider, Greater Orlando Airport Authority, Public Relations Chair
Jack Dale, City of Fort Worth, Co-operative Purchasing Chair
Karen Hatten, Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, Web-site Chair
Michel Durden, Broward County Aviation Department, Membership Chair

I know I can speak on the behalf of the Board of Directors that each and every one of us are more than happy to share ideas or information on any topic relating to the Airport Industry. Try us. We’re here for you.

Look around our web site. Feel free to contact our membership chair, Michel Durden or myself. You can find our contact information under Board & Committees. We’ll be glad to chat with you and share our experience as members of the APG. For $50 per agency you’ll never find a better bargain.