The Best Practices Xchange ("BPX") (www.BestPracticesXchange.com) met on Friday, November 16, 2007 for a one day summit attended by a "Who's Who" of top Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, and Supply Chain Executives. The focus of this session was "Strategic Sourcing/Supply Chain Performance: Metrics and Marketing" and was held at the beautiful Chicago Botanic Gardens.
Anne Kohler, EVP and Founding Partner of The Mpower Group, who facilitates the BPX sessions, participated in a recent panel discussion at Northwestern University on November 6, 2007 addressing the "Future Survival of Non-profit Groups".
"Corporations have a lot of money, not-for-profits have to have a way to get to them," said Anne, "There needs to be more accountability in the corporate sector".
Another panelist, the President and Chief Operating Officer of a consulting firm catering to non-profits, agreed that the accountability needs to be two-fold. "The buck stops here," the COO stated. "How much is enough profit? Let's start doing the right thing, not the easy thing. Only about 4 percent of the $209 billion given annually to non-profits in the United States is from corporations. The majority of the money, 84 percent, comes from individual donors, and 11 to 12 percent is from foundations."
"For nonprofits, finding the support is not always possible because organizations might not have the skills to get funding and could fall under the radar", Kohler commented. "It's a constant struggle to try to find professionals to come and work. (Corporations) have a responsibility to do both, they have an obligation to educate the public, but they have to put their money where their mouth is."
BPX is going to put its "money where their mouth is" by contributing one-half of the BPX membership dues to support a charity designated by the membership. Some of the past charities that have been supported by this group include: the Ronald McDonald House Charities; a School for destitute children in India; the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund; various Chicago-area Domestic Violence Prevention Agencies; and the CS Foundation (India). The recipient of this quarters' altruism is the United Way of greater Chicago.
About BPX:
The Best Practice Xchange ("BPX") is a by-invitation-only, peer-to-peer group with a charter to provide thought leadership, advanced solutions, and networking opportunities to group members. The group meets four times a year and the meetings are facilitated by the globally recognized and award-winning Oak Brook, IL based Sourcing, Procurement, and Supply Chain consultancy - The Mpower Group.
BPX addresses major Global Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, and Supply Chain Management challenges such as:
- Building world-class Sourcing and Supply Chain Management Organizations
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and Governance
- Outcome Based Process Improvement
- Integration of 6 Sigma and Strategic Sourcing
- Managing IT Outsourcing Arrangements
A short list of the membership and attendees of the 9Th Best Practices Xchange Symposium includes the following companies:
VP Corporate Purchasing, Volvo Construction Equipment
SVP & Chief Supply Office, Exelon
Director, Global Purchasing, Caterpillar, Inc.
Director of National Purchasing, Discover Financial Services
VP Supply Chain & Administrative Services, WE Energies
VP Administrative Services - Purchasing and Distribution, State Farm Insurance
Director of Procurement, Sidley Austin LLP
Senior Director - Global Technology Sourcing, McDonald's Corporation
CIO & Chief Procurement Officer, FMC Technologies
VP & Chief Procurement Officer, Health Care Services Corporation
VP Enterprise Procurement Group, CNA Insurance
VP Supply Services, Ameren
Director Supply Chain, Invensys Corp.
VP Purchasing, John Deere
About The Mpower Group:
The Mpower Group ("TMG"), a State of Illinois certified minority supplier with offices in Oak Brook, IL, assists Fortune 500 organizations globally, solving complex issues related to their Supply Chain and Strategic Sourcing operations including outsourcing and off-shoring. TMG emphasizes world-class business practices related to strategy, process, and technology that truly drive superior financial results for our clients.
The mission of The Mpower Group is to Mpower client organizations to become self-reliant as quickly as possible by actively transferring skill and knowledge, while holistically integrating consulting disciplines with change management techniques. We are recognized thought leaders in Strategic Sourcing and authorities on change management, with large, complex organization experience. TMG brings focused, skilled teams to each engagement, which have a strong bias for actionable results.
Contact Information:
Pete Iacullo
Director of Sales and Marketing
The Mpower Group
2021 Midwest Road, Suite 105
Oak Brook, IL 60523
1-888-5-Mpower (toll-free USA)
(+001) 630.268.8963 (International)
www.TheMpowerGroup.com