Purchasing Made Personal Podcast

In this episode of the Purchasing Made Personal Podcast, Michael Tucker is joined by Tom Ferrentino from TIPS Construction to discuss Energy Savings Performance Contracts, or ESPCs. Tom explains how ESPCs can help schools, municipalities, and other public agencies evaluate facility costs, improve energy efficiency, and plan for long-term building performance through smarter public procurement and...

In this episode of the Purchasing Made Personal Podcast, Michael Tucker sits down with Josh Peach to discuss the often-overlooked connection between school infrastructure and student success. From aging facilities and deferred maintenance to preventive maintenance planning, indoor air quality, and operational support, Josh shares why well-maintained learning environments matter and how public agen...

Sarah Reynolds, TIPS’ Legal Counsel/Contract Manager (CTCM), helps unravel the often-overlooked terms and conditions in cooperative contracts. In this episode, she explains what members and vendors need to know, highlights common pitfalls, and shares practical tips for ensuring compliance and protecting your organization.

In this episode, TIPS Construction’s Compliance team breaks down the TIPS JOC Contract Procurement Process, showing how it streamlines project delivery while ensuring compliance and cost transparency. Learn how TIPS members and awarded vendors can leverage JOC contracts for faster, more efficient, and defensible procurement.

TIPS is built on relationships, and our Program Managers are at the heart of it. In this episode, we sit down with Program Manager Rick Ogden to learn about his work with members and vendors in TIPS' home base: Northeast, Texas.

What happens behind the scenes of a purchase order?  Victoria Walston and Karen Walton from the TIPS PO Department joins PMPP to walk through the TIPS PO process, highlight pricing compliance, and best practices for using cooperative contracts accurately and efficiently.

Tammy Rimes, Executive Director of the National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP) and former purchasing agent, joins PMPP to discuss NCPP’s role in supporting cooperative procurement and how cooperative purchasing contracts like TIPS help procurement professionals streamline the purchasing process and maintain compliance.

Allison Ames, TIPS’ Texas Vice President of Sales, joins host Michael Tucker to explain cooperative purchasing contracts, including how cooperative contracts work, what they involve, and the benefits for nonprofit organizations and suppliers across the country.

David Fitts, Executive Director of Region 8 ESC, and Charlie Martin, COO of TIPS, discuss the vital role of TIPS’ Lead Agency: Region 8 Education Service Center. Get an inside look at how a lead agency operates and how Region 8 helps support TIPS’ mission to provide trusted cooperative purchasing solutions nationwide.

Discover how TIPS grew from a small-town idea into one of the nation’s leading purchasing cooperatives. In this episode, David Mabe, Vice President of Construction and one of TIPS' founders, shares the early challenges, key milestones, and vision that turned TIPS into a nationwide network serving schools, governments, and nonprofits across the country.

Introducing the Purchasing Made Personal Podcast (PMPP) , brought to you by TIPS-USA. We’re taking you inside cooperative purchasing through real conversations with the people who do it every day — sharing insights, experiences, and practical “tips” to make procurement simpler, faster, and more effective 🎙️ Hosted by Michael Tucker🎧 Full episodes coming soon