Spotlight on Volunteers By Stephen "Skip" Kay, C.P.M. Board Director and Communications Chair
This Months Interview - Beatrice Wiest, C.P.M.

This month’s “Spotlight on Volunteers” features Beatrice Wiest, C.P.M. Beatrice is the Vice Chair of the Educational Resources Committee. She also served on the Web Committee as Chairperson. If you haven’t seen the web site yet, I strongly suggest you check it out. It’s quite impressive and is still in its infancy. Born and raised in Argentina, South America of British Parents, Beatrice’s upbringing is quite continental. She has two children who live in Orange County and with whom she is very close. She also has three grandchildren, that according to Beatrice are an absolute delight.

Spotlight: Can you describe the efforts of the Educational Resources Committee and its purpose?
Beatrice: The committee is responsible for all the Educational presentations, Satellite Seminars, Dinner Speakers, Supplier Night that was held at the January Dinner Meeting, and C.P.M. Workshops. It is our goal to present learning opportunities to the members at a reduced cost so it can be affordable for personal development, as not all of us have companies underwriting our educational endeavors.

Spotlight: Would you care to discuss the new and improved Web site?
Beatrice: Gladly. The web site committee grew out of my interest in “electronic communication.” I had an opportunity to get very personally involved in another NAPM web site from the member’s point of view, and after seeing the offerings others had, wanted to develop our web site to become an interactive communication tool. The web committee volunteers and I went fact-finding and reviewed existing sites. We interviewed web masters on plane trips, by referral and by searching the web and I am quite pleased with our selection of Steve Riis, our new Web Master. Steve has managed to implement many of the committee’s “wouldn’t it be nice if we had...” into reality, and bring our web site into a viable and current information scene.

Spotlight: What are some future plans for the Web site?
Beatrice: Future plans for the web site includes the maintenance and archiving of all future Spotlights and to post them on the web, which will greatly reduce our affiliate’s cost for printing and mailing. The Membership Directory will be maintained on the web, plus any other enhancements that both technology and our association growth will allow us to implement. Our next project is to develop a “Members Only” section whereby members will be able to maintain their own personal data, such as address and their company’s name. The advantage of the “members only” section is that NAPM-OC will create a “firewall” which will allow us to offer to our membership some possible features such as job listings, paying dues on line, registering for workshops and seminars on line and confirming dinner meeting reservations (which is a capability that is already in effect!)

Spotlight: What company are you employed by?
Beatrice: I am currently employed by MGE UPS. We make Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) to safeguard your data as a result of “rolling blackouts” — our systems allow time for shutting down and the saving all your data after the power is interrupted!

Spotlight: How long have you been in Purchasing and why did you select Purchasing as your profession?
Beatrice: I started about 33 years ago when I answered an ad for a Purchasing Clerk, I did not even know what purchasing was within a company. Purchasing chose me by default, and I found it so interesting that I was hooked for life.

Spotlight: How long have you been a volunteer and what committees have you served?
Beatrice: I’ve been a Member for 25 years and a Volunteer with NAPM-OC at least 15 or more of those years. I have served on the Board of Directors in two separate cycles, once as a Board Member, and the second time as Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President. I’ve worked on the Educational Resources Committee, which I now co-chair. I’ve served as Chairperson on the Finance Committee, the Web Committee and Greeting Committee. I have worked on or been involved with countless other committees.

Spotlight: Will you be running for the Board again?
Beatrice: Yes, I feel that I have been well trained to serve on the board by the various positions I have held in the past and I would like to be able to continue to contribute to the association that has allowed me to grow so much professionally.

Spotlight: What was you most interesting experience in Purchasing?
Beatrice: Working for the R&D community. It was all buy, get, touch, feel, and then decide that it was not everything it was expected to be and then started the cycle all over again.

Spotlight: What is your most rewarding experience as a Volunteer?
Beatrice: Being able to share the mentoring I received and to watch people grow through volunteerism.

Spotlight: Who is/was your mentor and how did they help guide you?
Beatrice: Sara Arhlen would be my number one mentor. Years ago, I mentioned to her that I felt I should give back to the association for all it had given me, and she has continually encouraged me to volunteer to enhance my gifts. My two other mentors that I most appreciate, are Bobbie Ascarate, for her professionalism and caring, and Judy Smith, for her help and guidance.

Spotlight: Do you have a favorite web site?
Beatrice: For Global News, it would be ITN.co.uk—it keeps me in touch with the world. And for professional growth, NAPM, of course!