Mission/Purpose:

The purpose of NAPM - St. Louis, Inc. is to offer many opportunities in the purchasing profession where thoughts, ideas and solutions to problems many be exchanged. The regular events planned by the association allows our members to gain invaluable contacts within the St. Louis business community and helps them to keep abreast of local and national industry changes and commodity trends. We are an association for purchasing professionals, managed by purchasing professionals.

General Information:

"To promote the study, development and application of purchasing methods and practices."


NAPM - St. Louis, Inc. is a professional association of individuals employed in the purchasing and materials management fields. We are comprised of buyers, senior buyers, purchasing specialists, purchasing managers, procurement coordinators, materials managers, Directors of Purchasing and Vice Presidents of Purchasing.

From participation in our monthly meetings, seminars and workshops and with the constant communication of our monthly newsletter, Buylines, NAPM - St. Louis, Inc. provides a forum for the exchange of purchasing information.

NAPM - St. Louis, Inc. has over 500 members in the greater St. Louis area. Our membership represents all areas of business and industry. Within the manufacturing sector our members work in areas such as communications, defense contracting, auto production, electronics, agriculture and chemicals to name a few. Other members represent the service industries such as banking, government, education, health care, engineering and more.

NAPM - St. Louis, Inc., formerly the Purchasing Management Association of St. Louis, was founded in 1916 by F.W. Russe of Mallinckrodt Chemical Company and A. Sherwood of Morton Salt Company. It was originally called the Purchasing Agents’ Association of St. Louis. The first Board of Directors consisted of: R.E. Cowan, President; C.H. Curry, Vice President; A. Sherwood, Secretary and C.R. Cary, Treasurer; with V.W. Bergentel, F.W. Russe and G.D. Wittaker as Directors. It affiliated with the National Association of Purchasing Agents in 1917.

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