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About ISM-Milwaukee

Mission

The Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee is dedicated to the professional development, education and certification of our membership, and the advancement of our profession.

Education programs range from “Basics for Buyers” to C.P.M. review courses and supply management related topics. Supply management professionals benefit from excellent seminars and dinner meetings available through ISM-Milwaukee to upgrade knowledge, provide essential contacts, and assist in finding the skills needed to succeed in this changing field.

Leadership

Click here for a current list of our Board of Directors.

Each year a Nominating Committee is selected by our membership at the February Dinner Meeting. The Nominating Committee performs the important task of selecting new members for the Board of Directors and directing the succession of existing members. The Nominating Committee presents their findings to the membership at the April Dinner Meeting, where a final election takes place.

History

90 Years of Purchasing and Supply Management

In 1918, Charles E. Stone and Floyd E. Francis saw the need in the Milwaukee area for a division of the National Association of Purchasing Agents. Our association today owes its history, and future, to the dedication of these two men. Following is a brief timeline of only a few of the milestones our association has seen in the last eight decades.

1918	Milwaukee Association of Purchasing Agents formed. It was 29 members strong.
1925	10th International Association of Purchasing Agents Convention and Inform-a-Show held in Milwaukee. Hotel rates were $1.50-$3.00/room.
1935	First purchasing course, sponsored with Marquette University, offered one evening per week, 2 hours each session. This semester-long course was in Industrial Purchasing.
1943	25th anniversary held at the Pfister Hotel. The Association is now 222 members strong.
1948-49	Inception of the Special Educational Subjects Committee. This committee was formed to utilize the skills of the co-workers for providing foucused educational programs for those in the purchasing profession.
1957	First purchasing conference offered by the Milwaukee Association. With a total of 178 registrants, it was opened to statewide participation for those interested in bettering their knowledge of the purchasing profession.
1958	Fellowship programs started. Fellowships were offered to qualified teachers to serve, in the purchasing department of an industrial firm during the summer months. This fellowship was to further the understanding of academics in the overall field of purchasing.
1968	Named changed from the Milwaukee Association of Purchasing Agents to the Milwaukee Association of Purchasing Management.
1974	Professional certification program adopted by the entire membership of NAPM.
1978	More than 5,000 member of NAPM (National) are Certified Purchasing Managers. Of that number 115 were members of the Milwaukee Association.
1997	Name changed again from the Milwaukee Association of Purchasing Management to the National Association of Purchasing Management-Milwaukee, Inc.
1997	Membership in NAPM-Milwaukee is now 864 strong, representing 350 companies. Of the 864 members, 266 hold a C.P.M. designation.
2001	Membership has exceeded 1,000 members for the first time in its history. Professional Development seminars reach all time highs with 16 separate seminars offered to its members.
2002	A post 9/11 econonmic decline adversely affects membership retention as many local supply management positions are eliminated. Membership drops dramatically.
2005	NAPM - Milwaukee hires Wisconsin Association Management to assist in association management, including membership recruitment and retention.
2007	Change name from NAPM-Milwaukee to ISM-Milwaukee (Institute for Supply Management). Earn coveted Affiliate Excelence Award for year 2006. Current membership is approximately 650 and showing a positive growth trend.

About ISM (formerly NAPM)

ISM is a not-for-profit association that provides opportunities for the promotion of the profession and the expansion of professional skills and knowledge. Founded in 1915, Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) is the largest supply management association in the world as well as one of the most respected. ISM's mission is to lead the supply management profession by means of its standards of excellence, research, promotional activities, and education. The ISM membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals, as well as a network of domestic and international affiliated associations.