"This department is going to take a customer-focused approach."

-Tony Mejido

Image isn't always everything, but Tony Mejido knows it's a good place to start, so he's out to change the image of the Purchasing Department to that of a customer-centered office.

The new director, who brings to the position 28 years' experience in procurement, contract administration and civil engineering, is taking a proactive approach to improving the University's purchasing procedures. Mejido recently discussed his plans, the roles his two new assistant directors will play, and several new initiatives, including the Purchasing Diversity Incentive Program to increase the use of minority and women vendors on campus.

Q. What aspect of the position most attracted you to Montclair State?
A. This is the only university in the state that has capital procurement under Purchasing, and that's where I can bring the most expertise. I especially enjoy that aspect of the job, watching the campus grow in terms of building and infrastructure.

Q. What are some new initiatives?
A. We'll be introducing a purchasing card program that will streamline the process, allowing staff and faculty to buy small-dollar goods and services using a P-Card. These are typically purchases at $1,000 or less. Similar to a credit card, the P-Card will allow faculty and staff to purchase goods and services directly from the vendor, and those purchases will be charged back to their departments.

We eventually will jump from the P-Card to electronic commerce, with online catalogs in a Web-based system that faculty and staff can access and buy direct from the catalogs. This will benefit our customers because they will have access to the latest specifications and products with current pricing. We'll set up spending limits according to already-established spending patterns by each department, and then we'll establish a profile for each individual assigned a P-Card. We can also set up cards at different levels to cover individual and monthly transactions.

Q. How do you account for the University's shortfall in conducting business with minority- and women-owned businesses?
A. It's common not only throughout state and federal agencies, but in private industry as well. There's a gap out there between what end users need and the supplies and services minority and women businesses can provide, so we have to make end users aware that those suppliers are a valuable resource. In the past, end users have become accustomed to working with a certain group of suppliers, migrating to those suppliers, without even being aware that these other businesses exist. The challenge is to let end users know that there is a whole group of vendors under the minority umbrella who can supply them with the goods and services they need. So communication is the catalyst to make it happen.

Q. Tell us about the Purchasing Diversity Incentive Program.
A. This initiative is designed to heighten awareness in the University's need to increase the business it conducts with minority- and women-owned companies. We've created a database that tells us where the gaps are, and with that information we can drive improvements to close those gaps.

Purchasing will sponsor a Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Vendor Fair on Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Student Center Ballrooms to give fiscal agents an opportunity to meet with minority vendors on campus. We hope the event will jumpstart an increase in minority awareness.

Q. How will the two newly created assistant director positions serve the Purchasing Department?
A. Christine Palma, the first of the two assistant directors, came on board last month. She will be coordinating the P-Card program and other new initiatives. She's also analyzing spending across campus to aggregate volume and source suppliers that can provide best-value pricing. The other assistant director, who has not yet been hired, will work with me on the capital projects, which include all new construction and upgrades to the infrastructure. Because we're in a growth period this position requires a high level of expertise. We'll be placing a strong emphasis on updating policies and procedures, and strengthening all our contracts in terms and conditions. My aim is to bring someone onboard before the end of the year.

Q. How do you plan to garner a reputation as a customer advocate?
A. I don't want Purchasing to come across as a barrier to faculty and staff needs, but we do have to work within state contract law. One of my key objectives is that 80 percent of what we buy should be under some kind of pricing structure to drive the best value to the University. This department is going to take a customer-focused approach.

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