Mission/Purpose:

(1) To foster and promote interchange of ideas and cooperation among its members.

(2) To promote the study, development, and application of purchasing management and materials management, including improved procurement of purchasing methods and practices and all matters related to the foregoing (hereinafter referred to as "the purchasing management and materials management profession").

(3) To collect and disseminate by all lawful means information of interest and benefit to its members, including surveys and reports of current business trends and other information of interest to the purchasing management and materials management profession.

(4) To develop and encourage by all lawful means the practice of high standards of personal and ethical conduct among persons engaged in the purchasing management and materials management profession.

(5) To develop, sponsor, promote, and encourage a professional certification program for persons engaged in the purchasing management and materials management profession.

(6) To encourage and cooperate in the institution and development of education courses, seminars, programs and materials on the subject of purchasing management and materials management and all matters related thereto.

(7) To strive by all lawful means to promote and enhance the purchasing management and materials profession.

(8) To be affiliated with the National Association of Purchasing Management, Inc. (NAPM) and other assocations or organizations of persons engaged in the purchasing management and materials management profession, as may from time to time be consistent with the NAPM Bylaws, throughout the United States and all foreign countries.

(9) To cooperate, collaborate and exchange information by lawful means with professional, trade and other associations of persons engaged in the purchasing management and materials management profession, and to advance public relations with governmental agencies and the public in general concerning the purchasing management and materials management profession.

(10) To do any other act or thing incidental to or connected with the foregoing purposes or in advancement thereof, but not for the pecuniary profit or financial gain of its members, directors or officers, except as otherwise permitted by the laws of the State of Ohio.

General Information:

NAPM-Youngstown is one of 182 affiliated associations throughout the United States dedicated to the advancement and education of purchasing professionals. NAPM was founded in 1915 in New York City and currently has over 40,000 members. "In 1947 a group of young purchasing agents decided to get together and form an association locally in Youngstown. It was suggested by a salesman to several purchasing people that a group should form an organization in which they could discuss and find solutions to common purchasing problems. It was also felt that such an organization could help improve the professional standing of those involved.

Some of the pioneers in the founding of the group were Roy Mills of General Fireproofing, C.E. Trip of Taylor Winfield, Bruce Henderson of Westinghouse Electric, William Zarbaugh of Cold Metal Products Co., Hayden Williams of Mahoning Valley Supple, Jim Sloan of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co., Bill Chill of Automatic Sprinkler Co., Lynn Ramson of Truscon and John Tenton of Lombard Corp. These are just a few who had a hand in starting the group.

Roy Mills was one of the original directors and early presidents. Roy did go on to be the 6th district Vice President of the National Purchasing group. For a number of years, the regular monthly meetings were held at the Youngstown Club, in downtown Youngstown.

In the early years, about 1948, they had their first executive night with the thought of having their company management get better acquainted with the activities and functions of purchasing.

The original golf outing starting in 1947 and has been an outstanding event ever since that time.

In the early 50's contact was made with Youngstown College to establish a course in the business college on purchasing. After several contacts the college did establish a course which was taught in the early days by volunteers from the Purchasing Association. Throughout the years purchasing training and education has been stressed. There were seminars, pre-meeting sessions, and the college course, all of which was planned to improve the purchasing performance of the members. Through these efforts, the CPM was finally established and gave the purchasing person professional standing.

It should be mentioned that in the early 50's a group of western Pennsylvania purchasing agents broke away from Youngstown and established their own group in New Castle, PA. Despite this move, the Youngstown group did continue to grow in size and stature.

The early pioneers of the association had a vision to improve their purchasing capability and to help each other to solve problems. Our organization today can enjoy some of the benefits from the early planning and implementation of good programs".

by Carl Blumenschein

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