STATE OF HAWAII STATE PROCUREMENT OFFICE

side includes the entire acquisition life cycle so that was definitely a new idea that I was able to bring in .” Her instinct , budgets aside , was not to pursue a crash technology transformation program . The relationship came first . She felt she had to make her people realize their true worth . “ In Hawaii relationships are started when you ‘ talk story ’. At my first meeting with the staff I shared a story about the ‘ tree of procurement ’, its roots representing the statutes and the rules , the trunk the Governor ’ s policies , the branches the departments and agencies and the leaves , all the transactions .”

The people themselves were represented by the Pueo owl , unique to Hawaii and inhabiting the tree . The owl now appears on everything from T-shirts to PowerPoint presentations . “ They really connected with that idea ,” enthuses Allen . It conveyed they were not just clerks but professionals . “ We need to elevate procurement specialists in their own minds , and their communities and their leaders too .”

So , there was indeed a transformation over her first four-year term . It has involved training , and Allen has been working hard to improve compensation levels : “ They are now aware that their role is customer service , which is not how they used to see it . And right from day one when I told the story I told them it ’ s really important that we have fun in this job .” For example , sharing food plays a big part in the daily life of the department .

Another thing Allen introduced was a certification program to recognize achievement . Twice a year Pueo certificates are awarded , and the annual procurement conference SPOCON that she created two

118 June 2018