ISM-Twin Cities, Inc.

A Chapter of the Institute for Supply Management working together to advance the profession of supply management.

Leading Supply Chain Management Professionals

Welcome to our ISM—Twin Cities website. It should be your first stop for registering for meetings and learning what we are up to!

In the Twin Cities chapter, we have around 500 sourcing professionals in our membership, and we strive to bring everyone significant value in their professional and personal development.

We offer a mix of events using both in-person and virtual approaches. Our virtual events are conducted on Zoom so you can access them from anywhere.

If you have not already done so, bookmark this site so it is handy for you when you are looking for information about ISM. Please reach out to us at info@ism-twincities.org org with any input or questions you have.

Upcoming Events

December

17

2025

Chapter Webinar

ISM-Twin Cities: Professional Development Meeting - E-Sourcing

E-Sourcing is Not Evil – Bringing Negotiation Back into Procurement

As 2026 draws near, Procurement teams are working hard to find new avenues to deliver savings and offset supplier price increases. The use of E-Sourcing tools, properly applied, can be an important element of your negotiation strategy to drive successful results.

In this session, Janice Marquardt, SVP Procurement, will talk about why e-auctions are worth considering as a way to bring negotiation back into your sourcing cycle. Expect a short presentation followed by some time to discuss the stigma and opportunity e-auctions represent along with some time for troubleshooting. Bring the categories/real-world bids giving you trouble and let’s figure out if an e-auction might get you the value you need.

Janice will be covering the following key points:

        What is an e-auction?

        E-auction math (what kind of value should you expect?)

        Myths and truths

        Buyer and supplier benefits

        Opportunities beyond price

        Building buy-in

        E-auctions and tariffs

Sponsor: 700 ISM—Twin Cities, Inc.
Online
Janice Marquardt

December

18

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

Member Orientation

This webinar provides knowledge regarding the many benefits that come with being a part of the ISM community. Join us and learn about the essential tools, vibrant community, and exceptional learning that enhances your professional development. You'll also gain insight into the array of programs, services, and resources that are available to you through your membership.

Online
Megan Hays

January

20

2026

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

2026 Procurement Agenda and Key Priorities

Join us for an exclusive webinar as we unveil the results of The Hackett Group’s 2026 Procurement Agenda and Key Issues Study. This interactive session will spotlight the top challenges, priorities, and forecasts shaping the future of procurement.

Discover what matters most to procurement professionals for 2026:

  • Essential companywide objectives, emerging risks, and strategic priorities
  • Key trends set to transform procurement over the next five years
  • Transformation plans and technology strategies, including the rise of AI-enabled solutions
  • Projected changes in workloads, staffing, budgets, and technology investments

    Gain actionable insights from industry leaders and learn how your peers are preparing for success in a rapidly evolving landscape. Don’t miss this opportunity to benchmark your organization and shape your strategy for the year ahead.

  • Welcome from the President

    On behalf of myself and the board, thank you for visiting.

    ISM—Twin Cities is a 100+ year old non-profit organization focused on advancing the practices of sourcing and supply chain professionals at all levels.  With nearly 500 local members, we are the go-to network for sourcing & supply chain professionals in the Twin Cities!  We provide real connections, relevant education, and leadership opportunities that can help our members advance their careers within their organizations.

    Our chapter has monthly professional development meetings where we discuss topics relevant topics for sourcing and supply chain professionals while allowing for great networking opportunities. We’d love to see you online or in person!

    The ISM—Twin Cities Fall Conference is a two-day in-person summit packed with fantastic speakers that provide practical strategies and ideas that attendees can take back to their workplace and apply immediately.  Held locally in Minneapolis in October of each year, it is a high value conference that is well worth the time and cost expended.

    From a certification perspective, we support ISM Global’s deployment of certifications in Supply Management and Supplier Diversity.  ISM—Twin Cities offers courses to assist participants to earn and retain CPSM®, CPSD®, and APSM® certifications. These certifications are great development tools to support skill set development and career growth aspirations.

    Not a member of ISM—Twin Cities yet? Please consider joining us. This a personal invitation from myself and the board to join us in our endeavors to advance supply management practices here in the Twin Cities as a member.  Becoming a member offers many benefits at both the local and global levels of ISM.

    If you would like more information, please e-mail info@ism-twincities.org or call 952.564.3045.

    Best Regards,
    Alan

    Alan Harrah, CPSM, CSCP
    President
    ISM—Twin Cities, Inc.

    Supply Management News & Reports

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    November 12, 2025
    Articles

    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an emerging force — as a region and as individual countries, each with their own supply chain strengths — that bridges East and West.

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    Join ISM

    Your membership in ISM will provide a powerful path to stay connected, engaged, and up-to-date with everything happening in supply management. Serious procurement and supply chain professionals are dedicated to staying in the know about their profession and staying at the top of their game. An ISM membership will provide you with that and more.

    More than 100 years of experience speaks for itself – ISM can help you succeed. It's our mission.

    Become A Member

    Member Testimonials

    I consider ISM to be an integral part of what keeps me current in today’s business world! I’ve been a member of ISM since earning my Certified Professional of Supply Management in 2014, and through that set of classes I’ve been able to broaden my understanding of supply chain issues, network with other professionals, advance my career and my earnings to a much greater extent than I could have without ISM and the CPSM credentials. The CPSM course is robust for the topics it covers and depth of coverage. Once I earned it, I became motivated to keep it with the 20-hours per year CEH requirement. With that incentive in place, I’ve learned even more to help accelerate career growth. It’s been the best professional move by far. Staying current and relevant in today’s business world takes effort of some sort, ISM makes that easy and rewarding with the ISM Twin Cities fall conference and monthly meetings. Lessons and insights learned in ISM training opportunities are immediately applicable in my job, continually providing credibility in my role.

    - Cindy Jerome
    Production Director
    Lerner Publishing

    ISM and the local chapters provide access to networking, professional development, conferences, leadership opportunities, best practice benchmarking and lifelong connections. This applies to supply management professionals who are at any stage of their career. It’s really a no-brainer for anyone who is serious about their career in supply management and would like to continue their education on a reoccurring basis.
    I’ve had the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors at ISM-Twin Cities for 5 years which has accelerated my leadership development and networking as a young professional. This active role in the organization has created excellent benchmarking opportunities which I can utilize at my existing employer and beyond. My network has drastically expanded in this short time and will continue to grow as I stay involved in ISM throughout my career.

    Corey Gustafson, CPSM
    Commodity Manager

    Entegris

    Learn More

    See What’s Ahead at ISM World 2026

    The ISM World 2026 agenda is now available, showcasing the sessions, speakers, and experiences shaping the future of the profession. Explore what’s in store and start building your ideal conference experience in Colorado. Registration is open, and Early Bird pricing is available through January 17—secure your spot today.

    See the Agenda