Welcome to Cooperatively Speaking, a podcast by E&I Cooperative Services.
Each episode, we discuss the topics most important to procurement and end-users at schools and universities.
Season: 4 | Episode: 23 | Category: Student Affairs and Procurement
In this podcast, Dennis Hyde connects with Andrew Silbiger, CEO of America To Go. America To Go connects E&I members to a broad network of approved caterers and restaurants on a single customized platform. Food and catering are pricey commodities, and often cost efficiencies are not monitored well, or at all. America To Go can help higher ed institutions to centralize ordering, support local businesses, mitigate risk, and save time and cost.
Dennis Hyde
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Andrew Silbiger
CEO and Co-Founder of America To Go
Season: 4 | Episode: 22 | Category: Travel
Join Dennis Hyde, as he speaks with Enterprise Mobility about transportation and traffic on campus. This podcast explores parking, staff commuting, and electric vehicle initiatives, all issues your institution may be planning for. In this episode, we discuss innovative strategies to optimize your campus operations, such as reducing costs and liability, addressing parking challenges, and even broadening your talent pool. While you may know Enterprise and National Car Rental for their traditional business model, they are much more than just car rental.
Dennis Hyde
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Lily Hammer
Senior Strategic Account Manager: Public Sector Group Purchasing, Enterprise Mobility
Ryan Benhoff
Strategic Sales Director: Public Sector Strategic Partnerships, Enterprise Mobility
Season: 4 | Episode: 21 | Category: Procurement, HR
E&I’s Matt Levine sat down with HireRight’s Dr. Todd Simo, Chief Medical Officer and Managing Director of Transportation, and Alonzo Martinez, Associate General Counsel, to talk all things THC legalization and the hiring process. In this candid conversation, Dr. Simo and Alonzo speak about the differences in THC impairment, the evolving landscape of THC policies, and ways to protect your institutions during these dynamic times. Joint efforts by your HR and legal teams will be essential as you roll into the future.
Matt Levine
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Dr. Todd Simo
Chief Medical Officer and Managing Director of Transportation, HireRight
Alonzo Martinez
Associate General Counsel, HireRight
Season: 4 | Episode: 20 | Category: Technology and Research & Sciences
In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, Dennis Hyde interviews Dr. Jennie Wong from Slalom Consulting. He asks questions to discover why research institutions should transition research computing teams to secure cloud environments. Dr. Wong discusses how strategic principles like “speed to science” and customer-focused frameworks empower research teams, while addressing risks and objections. Transitioning researchers to secure cloud environments won’t happen overnight, but this podcast will offer some best practices.
Dennis Hyde
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Dr. Jennie Wong
Global Industry Director for Education at Slalom
Season: 4 | Episode: 19 | Category: Student Health, Procurement
Discover innovative ways to enhance student mental health with our latest podcast featuring Dr. Srikant Devaraj from Syra Health. Learn actionable, evidence-based strategies to provide effective and accessible mental health resources, especially during high-stress periods like the holidays. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the transformative role of technology and public health innovation and gain practical tips to make a meaningful impact on your institution’s approach to wellness.
Allison Lambert
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Dr. Srikant Devara
Syra Health
Season: 4 | Episode: 18 | Category: Student Health, Procurement
Explore new and effective strategies for supporting student mental health in our latest podcast episode with Nassim Bickham from E&I Cooperative’s business partner TimelyCare. Learn about practical, evidence-based strategies to help your institution provide accessible, effective mental health resources, especially during high-stress times like the holidays. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on the evolving role of technology in mental health and gain actionable tips to make a meaningful impact on your students’ well-being.
Allison Lambert
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Nassim Bickham
VP of Care Transformation
Season: 4 | Episode: 17 | Category: Procurement
Matt Levine
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Eric Frank
CEO, E&I
Season: 4 | Episode: 16 | Category: Procurement
Join Matt Levine as he dives into the dynamic partnership between E&I and GEP that earned recognition from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). In this episode, you’ll hear from key players at E&I and GEP as they share how their collaborative efforts brought groundbreaking efficiency and agility to E&I’s sourcing and solicitation processes. Learn how E&I and GEP’s teamwork continues to drive impactful solutions in procurement.
Season: 4 | Episode: 15 | Category: Procurement
In this first episode of Cooperatively Speaking’s “Frankly Speaking” series, Matt Levine and Eric Frank welcome Tammy Rimes, Executive Director for the National Cooperative Procurement Partners to discuss their recent report about the true costs of RFPs. The quick summary – RFPs can often cost more than they are worth. During the interview, Tammy Discusses the report, the data, and the findings while Eric provides insights into what this means for E&I members.
Matt Levine
Category Marketing Manager, E&I
Eric Frank
CEO, E&I
Tammy Rimes
Executive Director, NCPP
Season: 4 | Episode: 14 | Category: K-12 Procurement, ProcurementAffairs
In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, David Wheeler, Senior Director of Procurement at Orange County Public Schools, joins host Sue Peters to share insider strategies on maximizing the power of cooperative contracts. From fleet maintenance to cutting-edge IT solutions, David reveals how his team has streamlined processes and tackled challenges using cooperative purchasing. He offers a forward-looking take on trends like AI in procurement and the evolution of eProcurement platforms. David also underscores the critical role of continuous professional development, inspiring procurement professionals to innovate and grow with this dynamic field.
Tune in to hear how today’s top procurement leaders are driving efficiency and future-proofing their organizations!
Season: 4 | Episode: 13 | Category: Student Affairs
In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, Dennis Hyde as he speaks with Lee Beekman and Paul LaRoche from Oak Hall Cap and Gown. Oak Hall specializes in high-quality graduation caps, gowns, and regalia. With a rich history of 135 years, Oak Hall emphasizes the importance of providing exceptional service, so each commencement ceremony is a memorable capstone event for students and their families. They also share insights into industry trends, highlighting a significant shift toward brand identity in regalia. Oak Hall also discusses how it builds its products from sustainable materials in its home state of Virginia.
Season: 4 | Episode: 12 | Category: Facilities
In this spooky podcast, David welcomes Frank Meek from Rollins-Orkin, to discuss common misconceptions and provide the facts about some creepy, crawly insects: bed bugs, cockroaches, and kissing bugs. An entomologist, Frank teaches us all about bed bugs, how they multiply and spread, and where they like to hide inside facilities. He offers advice to help educational institutions find and eliminate populations that may reside in schools, on campuses, and in student residences.
Season: 4 | Episode: 11 | Category: Technology
Max Henderson, Assistant VP of Digital Forensics at Pondurance, exposes the growing dangers of ransomware and cyber extortion. As cybercriminals become more organized, Max highlights the urgent need for proactive security and response plans. He shares the unsettling truth that even after ransoms are paid, data often remains exposed.
Season: 4 | Episode: 10 | Category: K-12 Procurement, Procurement
In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, host Allison Lambert interviews Sue Peters from E&I Cooperative and they discuss strategies to modernize K-12 procurement. Learn how to streamline processes, overcome common challenges, and maximize savings using a ‘procure-to-pay’ approach. Perfect for anyone looking to optimize their district’s purchasing efficiency!
Season: 4 | Episode: 9 | Category: Student Affairs
Dennis Hyde
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Nicholas Russo
B&H, Business Development and Account Manager-Apple Sales
Season: 4 | Episode: 8 | Category: Travel
In this discussion with Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP), we explore the evolving role of sustainable business travel in higher education. This podcast covers the current travel sustainability landscape, tools for tracking and reducing travel emissions, and choosing an effective carbon offset provider. This podcast offers real-world examples of how institutions can align travel programs with sustainability goals.
Dennis Hyde
E&I Category Marketing Manager
Morgan Hoyt
Vice President of Business Development, Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP)
Ben Rader
Director of Business Development, Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP)
Season: 4 | Episode: 7 | Category: Procurement
In the first episode of Cooperatively Speaking’s “From the Desk of” series, Matt Levine interviews Barry Swanson, Chief Procurement Officer at the University of Kentucky. Barry shares his career journey and insights on key priorities like construction budgets, healthcare spending, and economic engagement. He also discusses the shift to a service-oriented procurement model, the role of AI, and offers advice for young professionals entering the field.
Season: 4 | Episode: 6 | Category: Procurement
In this special 90th anniversary episode, E&I CEO Eric Frank reflects on the Cooperative’s journey from its founding during the Great Depression to its current innovations. Established in 1934 by procurement officers from Colgate, Cornell, and Syracuse University, E&I has grown through collective purchasing power and strategic advancements. Eric discusses E&I’s progress in data analytics, new education resources, and its strong culture and dedicated team, highlighting how these elements drive the organization’s continued success.
David Manz
Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities & Interiors
Eric Frank
President & CEO, E&I Cooperative Services
Season: 4 | Episode: 5 | Category: Technology
Join Brian Kirk from Strata Information Group (SIG) to discuss the crucial elements of incident response planning in higher education. Discover the essentials of crafting an effective Incident Response Plan (IRP) and how compliance with GLBA requirements can protect student data. Brian also highlights the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures and the benefits of tabletop exercises in preparing your institution for potential threats.
David Manz
Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities & Interiors
Brian Kirk
Vice President, Cybersecurity Services, Strata Information Group (SIG)
Season: 4 | Episode: 4 | Category: Facilities
In part two of this series, David Manz welcomes Marc Heroux from Alert Labs, a provider available through the E&I Carrier Enterprise contract, to discuss water management problems and how to solve them. Water usage monitoring, damage prevention, remote water shutoff, and HVAC monitoring are covered. Marc explains how their products provide minute-to-minute water use analysis using AI and algorithms, and alert you of any deviations. Their platform helps find problems faster, resolve them quicker, and conserve water, which is very important.
David Manz
Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities & Interiors
Marc Heroux
Product Specialist, Alert Labs
Season: 4 | Episode: 3 | Category: Supplier Diversity
Join Reginald Layton and Ralph Moore from RGMA as we explore the nuanced differences between supplier diversity and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). Gain valuable insights into strategies for effectively integrating both supplier diversity and DEI initiatives to foster a more inclusive and equitable business environment at your institution. The conversation sheds light on the distinct yet complementary roles each plays in driving meaningful change.
Titus Martin
Executive Director, Supplier Diversity
David Manz
Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities & Interiors
Reginald Layton
Former Vice President, Supplier Diversity & Supply Chain Sustainability at Johnson Controls International Plc
Season: 4 | Episode: 2 | Category: Facilities
In part one of this series, David welcomes Keaton Henry, an industry expert at Ferguson, for an insightful discussion about industrial smart devices from an HVAC standpoint, and leak detection devices from a plumbing standpoint. Keaton covers diagnosing mechanical issues using proactive rather than reactive methods. He highlights the importance of 24/7 monitoring, receiving real-time notifications, inexpensive and risk-free ways to monitor and measure air and water quality, best practices for education, and more.
David Manz
Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities & Interiors
Keaton Henry,
Category Sales Specialist – Connected & IAQ, Ferguson
Season: 4 | Episode: 1 | Category: Supplier Diversity
In part four of our Supplier Diversity Leadership Series, Titus and David welcome Reginald Layton, a renowned expert and Supplier Diversity thought leader. Reginald provides a comprehensive guide for organizations on implementing supplier diversity best practices. He highlights the value proposition of supplier diversity for educational institutions, detailing five key reasons to adopt these practices. He also explores the strong alignment between supplier diversity and sustainability, explaining how both ecosystems support each other.
Titus Martin
Executive Director, Supplier Diversity
David Manz
Business Partnerships Manager, Facilities & Interiors
Reginald Layton
Former Vice President, Supplier Diversity & Supply Chain Sustainability at Johnson Controls International Plc
Have an idea for an upcoming episode? We want to hear from you! Contact us at podcast@eandi.org.
Starts in April
