Chapter Overview

ISM—Buffalo, Inc., the oldest Purchasing Association in America, was established in 1904 to exchange ideas and help resolve related problems in procurement.

Spanning over 100 years, our association was first known as the Niagara Frontier Purchasing Agents Association. In 1916, we agreed to national affiliation and formed a new association, Purchasing Agents Association of Buffalo. On October 24, 1994, the chapter changed their name to NAPM—Buffalo, Inc. and kept that name until June 2014, when we rebranded to ISM—Buffalo, Inc. to stay consistent with the direction of our profession and with the ISM Global's brand recognition.

Today, ISM—Buffalo, Inc. is proud of the education, personal growth, interpersonal activities, and participation opportunities made available to our members throughout the Western New York community. We are a chapter of the Institute for Supply Management® (ISM®), a network of over 50,000 professionals and over 65 chapters worldwide which offers its members the latest in professional development, career resources, and research.

As a not-for-profit professional educational association, we continue to provide an environment for us to draw upon each other’s experience through attractive, informative professional education, meetings, and camaraderie. We are committed to quality, ethics, and providing organizational value to our members and profession. ISM—Buffalo, Inc. was honored with Affiliate of Excellence Award in 2018 and 2019. ISM's Affiliate Excellence Award is for those chapters that meet or surpass core competencies.

ISM—Buffalo, Inc. is your first resource for enhancing your professional knowledge.

BUFFALO MEMBER HONORED AS ONE OF ISM’S 30 UNDER 30 RISING SUPPLY CHAIN STARS

Heather Titanic, MBA, 28 Buyer

Seal and Design, Inc. | Clarence, New York

Heather Titanic, MBA, started her career at Seal and Design, Inc. in purchasing and logistics, and in her three years there has quickly contributed to the company’s growth as one of western New York’s fastest growing companies. Her accomplishments include stabilizing the intercompany purchase process, consolidating billing to accounting and reducing the number of transactions and bringing efficiency to the process. Titanic was key in reworking Seal and Design’s procurement of supplies during COVID-19, managing an annual spend of US$45 million. She has also been instrumental in improving supplier on-time delivery to greater than 92 percent. “Heather has become a key team member in a very short period of time and was promoted from her expeditor role to purchasing and logistics coordinator,” said Rhonda Augustine, the company’s global supply chain manager. While earning an MBA degree at Niagara University, Titanic worked at Buffalo-based Independent Health on various strategic projects, where she increased operational efficiency by 50 percent by drafting and implementing departmental standard operating procedures. Titanic serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Institute for Supply Management®’s ISM—Buffalo chapter.

ISM's 30 Under 30 Supply Chain Stars

A Recognition Program for Emerging Supply Management Professionals

The ISM 30 Under 30 Supply Chain Stars is a recognition program that acknowledges young procurement/supply chain management professionals. These individuals are exemplary examples of supply management professionals.

30 Under 30 recognizes and applauds them for their passion, creativity and contributions to supply chain. Now, in its eighth year, the program selects 30 amazing professionals annually, including a megawatt winner. Recipients were recognized at the ISM Conference in May 2022 in Orlando.

Find the full program description and winner write-ups below.

30 Under 30 Details

Our Vision:

We will provide an environment for us to draw upon each other’s experience through attractive, informative professional education, meetings, and camaraderie. We are committed to quality, ethics, and providing organizational value to our members and profession.

ISM—Buffalo, Inc. is your first resource for enhancing your professional knowledge.

Our Values:

ISM—Buffalo, Inc. members maintain high professional standards of competency and ethics as supply chain professionals.