TxPPA History

In November 2006, the Texas County Purchasing Association and the Texas Purchasing Management Association agreed to merge. A foundation committee was formed consisting of representatives from cities, counties, schools, special districts, state agencies and higher education, and the resulting association was the Texas Public Purchasing Association (TxPPA), the first statewide, multi-agency public purchasing group in Texas.

The first president of TxPPA was Tarrant County’s Jack Beacham, C.P.M. who served during calendar years 2008 and 2009. Jack’s tenure was followed by that of Cheryl Turney who served in 2010.

Development Timeline

March 2006

  • Interest resurfaced to create a statewide, multi-agency public purchasing association

April 2006

  • TCPA/TPMA held a joint meeting to explore the possibility of merging

June 2006

  • Ad hoc Group (approximately 15) gathered at the 2006 Momentum Conference in South Padre and endorsed a new statewide, multi-agency public purchasing association

August 2006

  • TPMA Board voted to proceed with soliciting a vote from the TPMA membership to merge TCPA and TPMA
  • CPA Board voted to proceed with soliciting a vote from the TCPA membership to merge TCPA and TPMA
  • TCPA/TPMA held a joint board meeting and established the TxPPA Foundation Committee

September 2006

  • Foundation Committee meeting

October 2006

  • TCPA business meeting - updated TCPA membership on status of merge
  • TPMA business meeting - updated TPMA membership on status of merger

November 2006

  • Ballot for merger sent to TCPA and TPMA

December 2006

  • Foundation Committee meeting

February 2007

  • TCPA newsletter updating TCPA membership on status of merger
  • Foundation Committee meeting

March 2007

  • Ballot for name sent to TCPA and TPMA

April 2007

  • Foundation Committee meeting
  • TCPA business meeting - updated TCPA membership on status of new association
  • Foundation Committee conference call

May 2007

  • Ballots due from TCPA and TPMA for proposed constitution & bylaws

June 2007

  • Foundation Committee meeting at South Padre Momentum Conference

Representing Cities and TPMA:
Carol Cooper, C.P.M., City of Garland
Cheryl Turney, C.P.M., City of College Station
Victor Kilman, City of Lubbock (advisor)

Representing Counties and TCPA:
Jack Beacham, C.P.M., Tarrant County
Frank Ybarbo, Collin County
Sandy Bradley, City of Burleson (advisor)

Representing Higher Education:
Narita Holmes, C.P.A., University of Texas, Permian Basin

Representing School Districts:
Adrian Garcia, San Benito Independent School District
Gary Kerbow, Carrollton/Farmers Branch Independent School District

Representing Special Districts:
Kay Foster, C.P.M., Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Representing State Agencies: Christy Havel, Texas Building and Procurement Commission