FOR RELEASE: September 7, 2006

7th Annual ISM Services Group Conference December 7-8, 2006 offers a range of services spend topics over two days.

(TEMPE, Ariz.) September 7, 2006 — Supply management professionals in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors will gather in Scottsdale, Ariz., December 7-8, 2006 for the 7th Annual Services Group Conference. The program, "Innovation and Real-World Strategies: Optimize Your Services Spend," is presented by Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM). The two-day conference will take place at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas.

Supply management professionals who are responsible for acquiring services will not want to miss the opportunity to learn how to maximize services spend in dozens of areas, including healthcare, temporary labor, legal, human capital, business services, landscaping, consulting, relocation, engineering and more. General session topics include:

• Supplier Relationship Management at Kraft Foods
• A Hybrid Approach to Services Procurement
• The Challenge of Procurement Divergence Beyond 2007
• Establishing a Best Practices Approach for Procuring Professional Services
• Organizing for and Capturing the Value of Strategic Sourcing

Topics of the three concurrent sessions include:

• Optimizing Your Corporate Travel Program
• Managing the Corporate Relocation Spend While Maintaining Employee Benefits
• Developing and Implementing a Global Services Program: Cradle to Grave
• How to Build a Business Case for Services Procurement
• Sourcing Value Chain in Marketing
• Intel Case Study: Using Your Purchasing Department as a Savings Solution for Rising Healthcare Costs

In addition, find out what's new at the Select Supplier Showcase. For complete registration information, available discounts and sponsorship/exhibit opportunities visit www.ism.ws. Media credentials to attend the 7th Annual Services Group Conference may be obtained in advance by contacting ISM Public Relations at 800/888-6276 or 480/752-6276, extension 3143.

As the oldest and largest supply management institute in the world, the mission of Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is to lead supply management. By executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of excellence, influence building and information dissemination — including the renowned monthly ISM Report On Business® — ISM continues to extend the global impact of supply management. ISM's membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals in 75 countries. Supply management professionals are responsible for trillions of dollars in the purchases of products and services annually. ISM is a member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).