Fast, Fair, and Future-Ready: Procurement at the Breaking Point

Friday, October 02, 2026 | 9:15AM–10:00AM MT | Mile High Ballroom 4AB, Lower Level
Session Type: Breakout Session
Delivery Format: Panel Session
Rising costs, supply chain disruption, and accelerating technology adoption are reshaping procurement in higher education and forcing institutions of all types to rethink how purchasing decisions get made. Moderated by Debb Atnip of CDW, this session draws on system-level and collaborative procurement experience to examine how institutions are navigating today's supplier landscape, evaluating emerging technologies including AI, and balancing the urgency to move faster with the realities of compliance, governance, and public accountability. Join this seasoned panel featuring Jen March-Wackers, Executive Director, Purchasing Group, Inter-University Council of Ohio; Ryan Balber, Director, Virginia Higher Education Procurement Consortium; and others representing multi-institution purchasing and procurement consortia as they explore how procurement strategy directly influences cost control, risk exposure, and institutional trust. Designed for IT leaders, procurement professionals, and campus administrators alike, this session offers practical insights into why procurement decisions increasingly shape financial sustainability and operational resilience across campus.

Presenters

  • Debb Atnip

    Manager, Education Capture + Growth, CDW

  • Nori Barajas

    Principal Strategist - Higher Education, CDW

  • Jen March-Wackers

    Executive Director, IUC Purchasing Group, Ohio State University

  • Roshni Pratap

    Executive Director- Category Management, Sourcing Operations and Partnerships, University of California, Office of the President