CollegeBuys Fall Forums Connect and Empower Community College Professionals
In a successful collaboration with the hosting colleges, CollegeBuys organized two eventful Fall Forums. The first forum took place in the Southern region at Coast Community College District (Coast CCD) on October 3, and the second forum occurred in the Northern region at Napa Valley College (NVC) on October 17. These events brought together community college professionals in purchasing, technology, and facilities through engaging sessions designed to educate and foster collaboration.
Highlights from the Southern Regional Fall Forum:
At Coast CCD, the Southern Regional Fall Forum provided a comprehensive program of informative sessions designed to educate and inspire attendees, including:
- “Critical Benchmarks of Effective Technology Procurement: Unlocking Community College Purchasing Power” by Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, LLP (F3 Law)
- “Achieving Decarbonization Goals with Technology and Incentives” by Trane
- “Stories About College Enrollment Success and How They Did It” by Motimatic
- “Bringing Visibility to your Assets” by CDW-G and Freshworks
- “From Buzzwords to Action: Chaffey College’s Journey with AI for Enhanced Student Engagement in a Connected Campus – A Fireside Chat” by Ocelot
- Legislative Update by Kyle Hyland from School Services of California Inc.
The forum commenced with welcoming remarks from Marlene Drinkwine, Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administrative Services. The event, which drew 31 attendees from 15 districts, was further enhanced by catering provided by Orange Coast College’s culinary team. The Southern California Community College Purchasing Association (SCCCPA) meeting followed the forum, offering additional opportunities for collaboration. Our Southern Forum was made possible with the support of our sponsors—CDW-G, F3 Law, Motimatic, Ocelot, and Trane.
Highlights from the Northern Regional Fall Forum:
The Northern Regional Fall Forum, held at NVC, mirrored the Southern event’s focus on education and community, featuring presentations on:
- “Critical Benchmarks of Effective Technology Procurement: Unlocking Community College Purchasing Power” by Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, LLP (F3 Law)
- “Enhancing Cybersecurity to Combat Financial Aid Fraud in California Community Colleges” by SHI and Threathunter.ai
- “Temple of Knowledge: The Transformation and Future of the College Library” by KI
- “Enhancing Student Outcomes: Insights from a Virtual Care Partner” by TimelyCare
- “Achieving Community Engagement & Simplified Procurement Excellence with Business Giving” by Amazon Business
- Legislative Update by Rebekah Kallen from the Community College Facility Coalition (CCFC)
The Northern Fall Forum, sponsored by Amazon Business, F3Law, KI, SHI, and TimelyCare, demonstrated strong industry support for community college initiatives. The event, attended by 33 individuals from 12 districts, was welcomed by Jim Reeves, Assistant Superintendent and Vice President of Administrative Services. To bookend the event, attendees were invited to tour River Trail Village, NVC’s newly completed $114M student housing project. This state-of-the-art facility, capable of housing up to 580 students, showcased the college’s commitment to providing comprehensive student support.
Both forums exemplified the dedication of CollegeBuys and the host colleges to fostering education, collaboration, and unity among community college professionals. The resounding success of these events signals a promising future for continued engagement and shared learning within the community college sector.
