Contact: Allison Matthews
Photo by: submitted
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University's director of procurement and contracts is being recognized today [May 27] by Gov. Phil Bryant for dedicated public service with excellence, innovation and integrity in his areas of expertise.
Don Buffum received the Excellence in Local and District Government Award at a Jackson ceremony. The Mississippi Development Authority's Disaster Recovery Division also was recognized.
"I'm extremely proud of the recognition that Don Buffum brings to Mississippi State as an institution that conducts the people's business in the proper manner," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum, who nominated Buffum for the award. "Don exemplifies professionalism, ethical conduct and a dedication to safeguarding public resources in everything he does. He has helped build a culture of fiscal responsibility on our campus and for that, he is most deserving of this award. We appreciate the State Personnel Board and Gov. Bryant for providing this recognition."
Since 2007, Buffum has directed and supervised all procurement and contract activity for the land-grant university which enrolls more than 20,000 students and has approximately 4,500 faculty and staff. He also oversees the offices of accounts payable, travel, property and receiving, mail services and fleet management.
The Mississippi State Personnel Board was authorized by the Mississippi Legislature to establish the Excellence in Government Awards program, and the inaugural award was given in 2012 to encourage the development of innovative systems of public administration.
Deanne Mosley, executive director of the personnel board, said Buffum "demonstrated a commitment to innovation, efficiency and financial accountability."
Since joining the university eight years ago, Buffum has initiated several projects to provide more value to taxpayers and MSU students, including the development of a strategic procurement philosophy, increased use of the procurement cards for efficiency, and the standardization of service contracts and contract processes, among others. With 35 years of service to the State of Mississippi, Buffum also is president of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing: The Institute for Public Procurement.
Buffum said his role as NIGP president allows him to travel across the U.S. and Canada to speak about the value of professional public procurement. He emphasized that government dollars are being spent across the country and around the world. Spending that is managed by a professional public procurement official is more likely to adhere to a high ethical standard of transparency and be used effectively to have a positive impact on society, he said.
Buffum also is a member of the National Association of State Purchasing Officials, National Association of Education Procurement, and Mississippi Association of Governmental Purchasing and Property Agents.
MSU is Mississippi's flagship research university, available online at www.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.