Two of our very own Macon-Bibb County Procurement Officers have been working hard to make sure our County is spending taxpayer dollars effectively. Nan Tharpe and Charles Wimberly recent earned the Georgia Certified Purchasing Associate Certificate, a state certification aimed to enhance skills and knowledge on the state procurement process, rules, and available resources. 

“Things change so often, so we should always make sure we have the current information,” said Tharpe. “Especially in this type of industry, we need to make sure we are always current. This ensures that we are spending the money correctly and benefitting the public.” 

Tharpe has been working in the Procurement Department for 12 years. Prior to this, she was at the 911 Dispatch Center. She works alongside Charles Wimberly, who also received the certification. Wimberly has been with the Department for four years and says this course will be very helpful for day-to-day operations. 

“This particular certification tells you about the different types of requisitions, what’s allowed to be purchased through RFQ, RFP,” said Wimberly. “I learned a lot about how the state level does bids, what qualifies for a bid, state-wide contracts, cooperative agreements. It was very interesting.”  

The Procurement Department provides a centralized purchasing system that ensures integrity and fairness, with responsibility for oversight of solicitation, vendor selection, negotiation, award, contract administration, reporting, disposal of surplus property, and emergency logistical support in order to ensure the best interests of Macon-Bibb County. 

Congratulations Nan and Charles! We are proud to have you on Team Macon-Bibb!