Cooperatively Speaking

Colleges and universities face unique relocation challenges when moving faculty, staff, and coaches to campus. Budget constraints are an obvious challenge, but unlike businesses relocating employees, school relocation packages are usually managed at the department level, leaving employees unaware of the resources that are available. In this podcast, industry leader Sirva shares best practices and...

Interested in exploring smarter, cleaner, and more strategic air filtration for the places that keep our campuses running? In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, Starla Ford from E&I speaks with Tim Deleon from Filtration Concepts regarding one of the most referenced but least understood standards in our world, ASHRAE 52.2, and what it really means for campus facilities. Tune in for an inc...

Listen as Allison Lambert is joined by Sarah Wood from Workplace Options to discuss why child and family wellbeing has become a critical priority for K–12 schools and higher education institutions. Tackling this growing challenge, Sarah shares insights on rising mental health needs, caregiver burnout, and the increasing complexity of support systems, while highlighting how integrated wellbeing ser...

In higher ed, international travel safety is crucial. With studies abroad, research collaborations, global partnerships, and athletics, managing risk and protecting people is crucial. But many travel programs have not kept up with need, and schools are left with more exposure to risk than they may know. 280,000 students study abroad each year, and many institutions don’t know where all their trave...

Transforming Labs Through Ergonomics: Healthier Spaces for Better Science Join Allison Lambert, Category Marketing Manager at E&I Cooperative Services, as she hosts Mark Scelfo, U.S. Managing Director at Bimos —an E&I business partner through LabRepCo —for an insightful discussion on how ergonomics is transforming laboratory environments. From preventing injuries to enhancing researcher we...

NOTE: This episode of Cooperatively Speaking features David Wheeler, of Orange County Public Schools, whose recent passing has deeply saddened all who knew him. We share this recording in honor of his legacy, leadership, and the insights he generously offered. With the support of his colleagues and community, E&I Cooperative remembers David with utmost respect and gratitude. E&I Host:   Su...

Join Matt Levine, Category Marketing Manager from E&I, as he hosts Sheila Lehker, President of Cizek Associates to talk about the true costs associated with filling roles with interim hires. As retirements mount and people begin leaving the workforce, higher education has turned to interim staff members to help fill vacancies. Whether this is a strategic move to intentionally fill the role or...

What happens when shared values meet shared vision? In this conversation with Rick Herrmann, VP/GM of Public Sector at Staples Business, we explore the origins of Staples’ sponsorship of E&Is EdPro NextGen Leadership Program and why leadership development in education matters now more than ever. From investing in people, not just products, to preparing future-ready procurement leaders, Rick sh...

In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking , Matt Levine is joined by Scott Nostaja from Segal to talk about the current state of higher education finances and the need for universities to determine how to better align their spending during this evolving climate. Tackling this tough conversation, Scott shares insights on common inefficiencies, legacy costs, and external pressures shaping campus bud...

In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking Allison Lambert speaks with Grant Wicks , Director of Sales at Patterson Veterinary Supply , about how institutions can simplify procurement and elevate veterinary care. From AI tools that deliver radiograph results in minutes to strategic sourcing that reduces administrative burden, Grant reveals how Patterson's partnership with E&I makes it easi...

As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, supplier inclusion is facing new scrutiny - and new urgency. In this insightful episode of Cooperatively Speaking , Titus Martin sits down with three  respected voices in the field—Reginald Layton, Ralph Moore, and Jesse Moore—for a candid and actionable discussion on advancing supplier diversity in higher education and beyond. Together, they explor...

What if the biggest variable in your cell culture experiment isn't what your cells are doing, but what they’re sensing? In this eye-opening episode of Cooperatively Speaking , host Allison Lambert sits down with Dr. Krista Rantanen of Baker to explore a commonly overlooked, but critical, factor in biomedical research: oxygen. They discuss how most human tissues operate at much lower oxygen le...

In the final episode of our three-part “Unlocking AI in Education” series, host Matt Levine reconnects with Microsoft’s Carlos Fernandez to explore how Copilot is transforming everyday productivity. From drafting emails in Outlook to analyzing data in Excel, Carlos walks us through the practical ways Copilot integrates with Microsoft 365 to make faculty and staff more efficient. Hear tips, real-wo...

In the first episode of our three-part series on Microsoft Copilot, host Matt Levine sits down with Carlos Fernandez, Director Specialist at Microsoft, to explore Copilot Chat - a transformative AI tool reshaping how students and educators engage with content. Carlos shares real-world examples of how institutions are using Copilot to boost student outcomes and enhance teaching strategies. From sim...

In Part 2 of our “Unlocking AI in Education” series, host Matt Levine and Microsoft’s Carlos Fernandez explore the next frontier in AI-enabled transformation: Copilot Agents. Unlike traditional chatbots, these intelligent agents are designed to automate complex, repetitive processes—freeing up time for both students and faculty. Carlos discusses real-world applications, from streamlining course re...

What does it take to build a resilient cybersecurity strategy in higher education - especially with limited resources and rising threats? Tobey Coffman, Chief Information Security Officer at Ball State University, and Ron Pelletier, founder of Pondurance, share how their partnership grew from a single pen test into a fully managed, 24/7 detection and response program. Together, they break down the...

In this episode, Dennis Hyde sits down with legal counsel from the Higher Education Practice Group at Church Church Hittle + Antrim (CCHA) to discuss the legal landscape surrounding federal regulations aimed at preventing sex-based discrimination on college campuses. A key focus of the discussion is the growing impact of pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions in higher education settings.   In...

AI is transforming higher education, but at what cost to student privacy? In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking , Matt Levine speaks with Chris Uthe, Chief Product Officer at BlackBeltHelp, about how colleges and universities can harness the power of artificial intelligence without compromising the trust at the heart of the student experience. With campuses storing vast amounts of sensitive da...

E&I Host: Dennis Hyde, Category Marketing Manager, E&I Cooperative Services Guest: Adrienne Meador Murray, VP for Equity, Compliance, and Civil Rights Services at D. Stafford & Associates  This podcast explores the sweeping changes in Title IX and Title VI enforcement under the new Trump administration, and what those changes mean for higher ed institutions across the country. From lan...

E&I Host: David Manz, Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities Guests: Michelle Vincent, National Color & Design Manager, The Pittsburgh Paints Company In this episode, David Manz welcomes Michelle Vincent, a National Color and Design Manager with the Pittsburgh Paints Company, to discuss how color impacts learning in schools and on campus. Color psychology, color theory, primary colors,...

E&I Host: Sue Peters, E&I Vice President K-12 Engagement Guests: Rick Gay, Executive Director of Business Services, Fort Bend ISD and Emily Rosenberg, PaymentWorks Regional Director Payment fraud is an increasing threat to school district budgets—but it doesn’t have to be. In our latest episode of Cooperatively Speaking , we’re joined by Emily Rosenberg of PaymentWorks and Rick Gay of Fort...

E&I Host: Dennis Hyde, E&I Category Marketing Manager Guest: Erol Bal,  HP Sales Navigator at B&H In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking , E&I’s Dennis Hyde is joined by Erol Bal from B&H. B&H sells tens of thousands of computers and laptops to students and schools annually. Erol answers questions about the new Windows 11 upgrade, and points out that Windows 10 will stil...

E&I Host: Dennis Hyde, E&I Category Marketing Manager Guest: Jeff Hunt, Partner at Legend Labs In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking , E&I’s Dennis Hyde is joined by Jeff Hunt, founder of Legend Labs and author of Brand Under Fire: A New Playbook for Crisis Management in the Digital Age . Legend Labs specializes in branding and campus crisis assessments and management. Jeff discuss...

E&I Host: Eric Frank, E&I CEO Guest: Greg Shabram, Chief Procurement Officer, University of Oregon With financial pressures mounting on educational institutions, how can procurement teams navigate today’s challenges? In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking , Eric Frank, CEO of E&I, is joined by Greg Shabram, Chief Procurement Officer at the University of Oregon, to explore the trends...

E&I Host: Matt Levine, E&I Category Marketing Manager Guest: Casey Laurienzo, E&I Vice President of Community Engagement & Education For over 90 years, E&I has championed the power of its membership, ensuring institutions have the resources they need to succeed. As the only member-owned sourcing cooperative dedicated to education, we’re deepening our investment in the field by...