Purchasing department keeping campus supplied, entertained

by MICHAEL CALDWELL
reporter

The purchasing department at Marshall does many things behind-the-scenes to help the university run smoothly.

Over the years, the department has made progress and they are optimistic about the future, William J. Shondel, director of purchasing and materials management, said.

"The [departmental] Purchase card and the Banner computer system has made our job easier," Shondel said. "Everybody in the department does a first-class job."

"We've gone from a totally paper-driven system to one that is almost totally computerized," he said.

The purchasing department buys many things for the university. A recent purchase was for 100 special jerseys for the football team's MAC Championship game versus Toledo Nov. 30.

The jerseys were purchased from Nike for $104 each and they have the official MAC Championship patch, Stephanie C. Smith, purchasing agent, said.

"I enjoy working for Marshall and acquiring things they need on a timely basis," Smith said. "And especially working with the vendors and knowing it is helping the economy because many of them are within the state."

Another important aspect of the department is emergency purchases. A recent purchase was for a hot water heater that needed replaced in Holderby Hall, Shondel said.

Shondel, who has been at the university for 25 years, has been the director of purchasing and material management since the office was centralized into Old Main in 1985.

The department employs 15 people, including the central receiving office and the separate receiving office at the medical school. Central receiving processes more than 5,000 boxes per month, he said.

A primary goal of the department and its purchasing agents is "to establish a bond of trust and understanding with customers and vendors," Shondel said.

A lot of work also goes into the contracts and bids for many of the financial issues concerning Marshall and making sure the terms and conditions meet state codes, Shondel said.

Many of these bids are for computer software, scientific equipment, construction projects such as the parking garage and even the contracts for the Marshall Artists' Series.

Purchasing agents negotiated the contract of $110,000 contract to bring Bill Cosby to Huntington to be a part of the series, Shondel said.

They also continue to develop contracts with companies that allow the university to save money. Contracts with American Express, Enterprise Rental and John W. Clark Oil allow for various savings, he said.

The university saves six cents per gallon of gas purchased at particular Clark owned BP stations.

"We try to make the departments aware of these contracts and teach them how the requisition process works," Shondel said.

The ultimate goal in the next three to five years is to move to a 100 percent computerized system but they are happy with the progress being made, he said.

Smith, who has been at the university for 13 years, agrees that the purchasing department is a good atmosphere to work in.

"We are team-oriented department and we all work together to accomplish our goals," Smith said. "There is a lot of unity."