Happy New Year Chapter Members!
It has been an honor to serve you as the 2022 – 2025 President. Together we have achieved so much. Our Chapter was an award finalist in 2022 for two (2) NIGP Outstanding Chapter Award Categories Advocacy and Outreach & Pro-D and won NIGP Outstanding Chapter Awards in 2023 for Pro-D, 2024 for Pro-D, and 2025 for Membership! We maintained our NIGP Platinum Seal. New ideas and programs were implemented including hybrid meetings, Award Pro-D Opportunities Program, Committee Bootcamp, and Board reorganization which takes place January 2026! In 2024, our Reverse Trade Show venue was upgraded to a hotel and we initiated our 1st Reverse Trade Show and Trade Show (for vendors)! We also continued our robust Scholarship Participation program, educational presentations and workshops, community outreach at local universities, and member special events. We also experienced unanticipated rescheduling of our 2022 Reverse Trade Show from November to December due to Hurricane Nicole and rescheduling of our 2024 September Workshop to December due to Hurricane Helene. Thank you to my Board team (Chris Coghill, Luis Aviles, Nick Canjar, Sean Hynes, Damaris Nazario, and Carrie Mathes), our committee volunteers, Chapter members, and NIGP (national) that have made my tenure unforgettable!
2026 Chapter Membership Meeting: Register for the Friday, January 23, 2026, Chapter Membership Meeting and presentation. Chapter meeting is in person and virtual. January 23, 2026 Membership Meeting - Events - Central Florida Chapter of NIGP. Your new Board of Directors for 2026-2027 will be inducted! Price is $15 in person, including lunch, and $0.00 virtual attendance. The Chapter Membership Meeting and presentation is 12:00 PM (lunch in-person), 12:30 PM meeting, and Presentation at 1PM.
2026 Committee Boot Camp: The 3rd Chapter Committee Boot Camp on Friday, January 23, 2026, 10 AM, at the Renaissance Senior Center before the Chapter meeting (In-Person Event). Elevate your leadership! Join our Committee Leadership Bootcamp for impactful insights, growth, and collaborative excellence. Register for the Committee Boot Camp and attend the Chapter meeting in person and lunch is FREE! Call or email me to schedule you for the meeting after you register for the Committee Boot Camp. Committee Bootcamp 2026 - Events - Central Florida Chapter of NIGP.
2025 Scholarship Application. The 2025 Scholarship Application is available on our website at Scholarships - Central Florida Chapter of NIGP Log in on the website. Go to Member Resources, select Scholarships, select the 2025 Scholarship Application. Download the application. Note: BACKUP DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED with the Scholarship Application. All scholarship applications and backup documentation must be submitted by January 31st annually in accordance with the application form.
Buyer/Manager of the Year Application. Do you have an amazing team member that you would like to acknowledge? Do you appreciate your work? This is your chance to nominate a team member or yourself for recognition! The Buyer of the Year and Manager of the Year Application is available on our website under Documents, Folder Member Awards, Document Library - Central Florida Chapter of NIGP. (Remember to log in to the website first.) This Award recognizes contributions to the entity, profession, and Chapter during the period of January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2025. It is a self-nomination or peer-nomination application. The due date is January 26, 2026 to president@cfcnigp.org.
NEW 1st Timers Scholarships. NIGP FORUM In-Person 1st Timers: a) for Under 40 years old & b) 40+ years old, $3,000 value. One Chapter Member for each opportunity will be selected. Please sign up for opportunities through the Survey section of our website. Remember to sign in to your account first! Surveys - Central Florida Chapter of NIGP.
Pro-D Opportunities Scholarships. The 2026 schedule is below. Please sign up for opportunities through the Survey section of our website. Remember to sign in to your account first! Surveys - Central Florida Chapter of NIGP.
2026 Membership Registration: The new membership year begins in 2026. Please add a “save the date” to your calendar to pay for your membership in January 2026. The cost is $40 for Full and Associate Members.
2026 Meeting Location: We are pleased to announce, the 2026 meetings will be held virtually and in-person at the Renaissance Senior Center at South Econ Community Park, 3800 S Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32829.
Engagement. I want to encourage members to evaluate talents and strengths and identify if there are any committees or task forces opportunities that you would be willing to volunteer for in 2026/2027. Committee chair, member, and RTS positions are available. We have a lot of work to do as a chapter this year and we can benefit from having active volunteers. Please do not hesitate to contact me or one of the other board members with any questions you might have. Let’s make this year a fantastic year for your Chapter!
Thank you!
Tabatha Freedman, MBA, NIGP-CPP, CPPO, CPPB
2022-2025 President
president@cfcnigp.org