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

July

15

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

Camouflaged Challenges in Relational Contracting: How to Best Prepare

Join us for an insightful virtual webinar on relational contracting, where we will explore how this innovative approach can generate value beyond mere cost savings. As certified coaches, our speakers have guided numerous companies through the process of establishing successful business relationships.

During this webinar, you will:

  • Understand the common challenges and obstacles experienced during the relational contract development process. Despite its many successes, relational contracting often presents challenges that are not easily detected. These camouflaged issues, if left unaddressed, can lead to significant problems.
  • Gain awareness on how to prepare well before the start of the relational contracting development process. We will share practical insights and tangible tools to help you recognize and manage potential challenges along the way.
  • Gain insights on potential solutions to common challenges. In our speaker's recently published book, we delve into these challenges through real-life case studies and provide effective solutions.
  • Our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of relational contracting and ensure your business relationships thrive. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and enhance your approach to relational contracting.

Online
Register Now

July

17

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

Quarterly State of Risk Update

Join the executive leaders from ISM and Resilinc as they come together as part of a quarterly series to discuss the latest and emerging risks and disruptions impacting global supply chains. ISM CEO Tom Derry and Resilinc CEO Kamal Ahluwalia will also provide insights based on respective data and research from both organizations.

Online
Register Now

August

12

2025

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

ISM Member Community Speed Networking

Are you ready to expand your network and make meaningful connections? Our virtual speed networking event is the perfect opportunity to meet new people within our growing membership community. In just one hour, you'll have the chance to engage in dynamic, one-on-one conversations with fellow members, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships. Whether you're looking to collaborate, share insights, or simply make new friends, this is your networking power hour!

Don't miss out on this fun and interactive experience. Come prepared to connect, converse, and create lasting connections.

Online
Register Now
View All Education

Welcome from the President

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

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 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® and CPSD 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.

ISM-TC Presentation to St Thomas Supply Chain Club

December, 2025

Supply Management News & Reports

digital scale photo

An Introduction to Supply Chain Optimization

June 23, 2025
Articles

  • Sponsored |

    Businesses have goals related to growth, market share, profitability, sustainability, customer service, and so on. But there are limits, like how much a factory can make, how many workers and materials are available, and how much space there is in a warehouse. To figure out the best way to run the supply chain, you have to look at lots of different options and pick the one that works best for the business. Optimization is a mathematics technique that is best suited to enable businesses to meet their objectives.

Read More
View More

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

Unlock AI for Smarter Supply Chain Decisions

The AI Playbook for Supply Chain Professionals is your practical guide to using AI to drive smarter decisions. From supplier negotiations to risk management, this on-demand toolkit offers real-world examples, ready-to-use prompts, and expert strategies tailored to the profession. Learn how to apply AI confidently and effectively-no technical background required.

Access the Toolkit

Join the Report On Business®  Survey Panel

ISM®'s Manufacturing, Services, and Hospital Report On Business® gather data monthly through surveys of supply management professionals participating in the Business Survey Committee.

Participation in the survey panel provides many benefits:

  • Receive a copy of the just-released Report On Business® graphical data
  • Directly see how your contribution affects the markets each month
  • Earn Continuing Education Hours

Click the link below to submit your information and someone will reach out to connect for a quick virtual call!

Join the Survey Panel

Photo Gallery

ISM-TC Board
People sitting at conference
Picture of November 2020 PDM
Picture of Jan PDM
Slide from June 2020 PDM
Slide from May Peer Group
Slide from June 2020 PDM
Slide from March PDM
Appreciation for long time board member

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