EP 84: Procurement Power: How SoCal’s Alliance Is Changing the Game

In this episode of ChamberTalk, Andrew sits down with Nicole Swain, the Senior Procurement Contracts Manager for the County of Orange, to trace a practical, human story behind government purchasing. From pandemic-era urgencies to a bold rebrand as the SoCal Procurement Alliance, Nicole reveals how collaboration, empathy, and grit turned fragmented buying into a shared solution that saves taxpayers money and opens doors for small businesses.

Listeners follow the evolution of the annual Supplier Outreach event, born under a tent, now filling convention halls—and learn the secrets of contract sharing, matchmaking sessions, and simple steps businesses can take to win municipal work.

The conversation culminates in an invitation: come to the Anaheim Convention Center, meet the decision-makers, and discover how doing business with public agencies can be simpler, fairer, and more rewarding than you think.