Page 14 - The Edge - Spring 2016

VENDOR/BUYER CONFERENCE

BY DON HARRIS

Getting to Know the Apples and

Oranges of Purchasing

Describing the apples and oranges of procurement, Terry Now, he oversees security, HVAC, custodial, maintenance and
Worcester, Director of Facilities and Operations for Scottsdale grounds. “ ankfully, transportation is now o my plate,” Worcester
Uni ed School District, told how important it is to be speci c when said. “I also oversee strategic planning and development.”
making a major purchase. e title of his presentation, e Apples and Oranges of Facilities
Mistakes can cost your school district a lot of money, whereas and Operations, touched on the di erence between purchasing
careful planning and asking the right questions usually result to the goods and purchasing services, and he said he separates how he
right decision. In a breakout session at the Vendor/Buyer Conference serves vendors and sta internally. “ ere is a very bright line
on Jan. 26, Worcester, an architect by profession, said he gave up between services and goods,” he said, “and if you don’t understand
his private practice ve years ago and joined Mesa Public Schools, the legal context, particularly in education, they blend together.”
and about a year ago switched to SUSD, bringing with him a unique Services are controlled by statute, while goods technically are
sense of humor. managed by the Uniform Commercial Code. “What happens when
“When you walk into an administrative facilities position, you apples and oranges come together?” he asked.
have no idea what you’re getting into,” Worcester said. “I oversee For example, he told of having a phone he called his code
ve areas, six including transportation for a short time, which I was blue phone. “Every time it rings, something needs my attention,”
not quali ed for. I was in a garage bay looking up at a yellow bus and Worcester said, adding that a chiller in a high school was not
the mechanic handed me a big greasy part and said we needed ten functioning. “We had a catastrophic chiller failure. We had to shut
more of them. I tried to learn how to adapt real quickly.”

Keeping Arizona Schools, Students,

Staff and Budgets Healthy

Custodial Lighting Heating & Renewable Controls Water Landscape
Cooling Energy Conservation & Turf

Budgetary challenges impacting your
school’s educational needs?

Join the + million sq. . of Arizona school buildings cleaned and maintained by ABM.
We provide customized solutions that address your critical facility needs and help you:
• Convert energy and operating savings into long-term capital programs
• Create general fund relief
Find out more at abm.com/K _ AZ or call . .
. ©ƒ„ † ABM Industries Inc.

THE EDGE | SPRING 2016
14 THE EDGE