- Corporate Express-A Staples Company: All existing Corporate Express/AEPA contracts will be honored by Staples. 40% of a school buildings' budgets goes to art supplies, according to market research by Corporate Express.
- Corporate Express has a line of "green" cleaning products for schools. These products are comparable in price to non-green products.
- Konica Minolta: 90% of their 60 Midwest dealers are using AEPA contracts. AEPA is their largest contract in the U.S. Their security systems sets them apart from the competition.
- Robert Cohen: Have both indoor athletic flooring and running tracks. They offer Mondo, Fisher Tracks, and Aacer Flooring. Kiefer Flooring serves Midwest; Ron DeMeyer is Kansas' representative. Brent Davidson is the Aacer representative for Midwest.
- Tremco: Plan is to work with Dave Adams, Tremco, to develop a customized marketing brochure for Kansas or the Midwest. Their Asset Management program has much potential for Kansas school districts.
August 21, 2008
Midwest Regional Procurement Meeting Day 2
AEPA vendors will present their products/services to the group today.
August 20, 2008
Midwest Regional Procurement Meeting Day 1
Wednesday began with presentations from vendors on natural gas consortia and fuel hedging.
States present include: Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania.
An interesting side note...Cooperating School Districts (CSD) partners with a local school district and the St. Louis Science Center to provide the Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis. The center uses a space theme (Voyage to Mars mission) and simulations as a teaching tool for both students instruction and team building, www.challenger.org. The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis may be a good contact as Greenbush moves toward a Mission to Mars program at Abernathy Science Education Center.
Each state present was given the opportunity to address the group in regard to their organization and how they apprise the school districts they serve of AEPA:
States present include: Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Pennsylvania.
An interesting side note...Cooperating School Districts (CSD) partners with a local school district and the St. Louis Science Center to provide the Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis. The center uses a space theme (Voyage to Mars mission) and simulations as a teaching tool for both students instruction and team building, www.challenger.org. The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis may be a good contact as Greenbush moves toward a Mission to Mars program at Abernathy Science Education Center.
Each state present was given the opportunity to address the group in regard to their organization and how they apprise the school districts they serve of AEPA:
- Indiana: They have a unique e-procurement model for their members to use.
- Kansas: Dave Adams, Tremco, suggested capitalizing on our name "Greenbush" to align with the current "green" movement.
- Kentucky: They have a great one page, folded flier that outlines all AEPA vendors, including their current bid number. Kentucky hosts a vendor fair each spring at which they create a venue for their school district personnel and vendors to network.
- California: Facilitates a "Best Purchasing Practices Workshop."
- Pennsylvania: Host January/February vendor roadshows with keynote speaker.
August 18, 2008
Kansas School Finance Debate Heats Up
The current state of the economy has sparked new debate in regard to school finance in Kansas. We foresee more debate on school finance in Kansas in the upcoming months. Check out this link from the Topeka Capital Journal Online for a more comprehensive column on Kansas school finance: www.cjonline.com/stories/081808/kan_319878557.shtml
What I really want to emphasize to all Greenbush business partners and Kansas AEPA vendors is that now is when the schools we serve need you most. Your ability to save money for school districts is even more important now. Collaboration between Greenbush, the business sector, and school districts is critical now. Please continue to work diligently to provide valuable educational resources to our school districts at cost effective prices.
What I really want to emphasize to all Greenbush business partners and Kansas AEPA vendors is that now is when the schools we serve need you most. Your ability to save money for school districts is even more important now. Collaboration between Greenbush, the business sector, and school districts is critical now. Please continue to work diligently to provide valuable educational resources to our school districts at cost effective prices.
August 6, 2008
Back to School
Folks, schools in Kansas will be back in session beginning the week of August 11! An exciting time as always!
Following are a few tips for marketing your products and services to school districts in Kansas during this challenging time of year:
PS: The new Star Wars movie "The Clone Wars" will be in theaters on August 15 so go check it out. May The Force be with you!
Following are a few tips for marketing your products and services to school districts in Kansas during this challenging time of year:
- the month of August is busy for school administrators...DON'T BUG THEM!
- start sending marketing materials after Labor Day
- fall sports will be in full swing soon so any partner with products related to sports should be communicating with school administrators, athletic directors, and coaches
- if a partner representative is in a school in Kansas please refer school personnel to www.greenbush.org as a link to a wide array of educational resources
PS: The new Star Wars movie "The Clone Wars" will be in theaters on August 15 so go check it out. May The Force be with you!
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