Speaker: Kenneth Jones
Speaker Designation: Procurement Specialist
Everyone in procurement or who is engaged with the selection of vendors needs to know how to mitigate risk when dealing with vendors. This program on vendor assessment will guide participants through the process of setting up a vendor responsibility review program.
Attendees will be given tools they can use to review vendors on various key risk factors. Besides drafting a vendor questionnaire, they will learn ways to evaluate and confirm the vendor information provided using a vendor assessment verification form. This program will provide guidance in establishing vendors that are responsible and responsive to the needs of the company or organization.
Ken Jones has been working in the public and non-profit procurement field for 30 years. He worked for the New York State Office of Taxation and Finance as a Purchasing Assistant from 1985-87 and left there to work for the University at Albany, SUNY where he served as a Purchasing Agent and in 1999 was the Assistant Director supervising and providing training for the Office of Purchasing and Contracts. This included proving training for both State procurement and The Research Foundation for SUNY procurement rules and regulations. His previous purchasing experience included procuring commodities, services, and construction for the departments on campus. A past Director of the SUNY Purchasing Association, Ken retired from the position of Assistant Director in January of 2014. However, he was requested to continue to assist the office through the end of 2014 and is again doing so. Until 2020, Ken worked part-time for the SUNY Center for International Development as a Procurement Specialist assisting primarily with training and reviewing the work of procurement staff in Nairobi, Kenya with the AHADI program in Kenya, Africa. Ken has trained many University staff on procurement rules and regulations. He established online ordering processes with vendors ranging from Office supplies to Lab chemicals and continues to provide training in his current position. Ken has presented on various procurement topics both in person and on the Web.
