InIncreased demand for procurement and supply chain services has led to several exciting developments at Procurement Services Associates (PSA) and Material and Contract Services (MACS).

We have established a new Midwest office in Crystal Lake, Illinois under the management of Mr. Gary Gross, Vice President/General Manager. Gary may be reached at (815) 277-6338 or Midwest@MACServices.us. Gary is a procurement, contracts and materials management professional with a C.P.M. and an MBA. He is highly experienced in the management of supplies and services contracts in nearly every major expense category and in raw materials. Gary has an extensive supply chain management background including logistics, warehousing, inventory management, production planning, customer service, shipping and receiving.

Another newly established affiliate office is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) status. This status expands our opportunities with federal, state and municipal governments, as well as private industry. Mr. Ed Blomstrand manages this office and can be reached at (623) 476-7942.

We have also established an affiliation with Ramin Group, an Iraqi-owned business based in Kuwait and represented by Mr. Danny Benjamin in the United States. Our venture with Ramin Group will further expand our activities in the Persian Gulf area.

Our Cooperative Consortium Purchasing program is starting to roll out offering best value contracts for indirect spend items. We have identified 12 categories for which we are negotiating contracts. Details will be gladly provided upon request. We are in negotiations for the acquisition of an E-Procurement system for our Co-op Consortium program.

Our featured article, Rethinking Supply Chain Performance Measurement, is courtesy of Robert Kanze and follows this introduction. Below the article you will find commodity updates.

It is with deep sorrow that I announce the passing of Mr. Peter Chamberlin who was our Accounting Manager for 10 years. Peter passed away on September 6th after a long battle with cancer. We will remember Peter's friendly, insightful and cheerful personality and how he was always available to help our clients and employees. In memory of Peter's unquenchable spirit, PSA has made a donation to a charity he tirelessly supported.

Best regards,
Dan Plute
President
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