History

ISM – Greater Grand Rapids was originally formed in March of 1919 as the Western Michigan Purchasing Association. In September 1932, the name was officially changed to Grand Rapids Association of Purchasing Agents. In 1968, the name was again changed to Grand Rapids Association of Purchasing Management. In April of 1990, the name was changed to National Association of Purchasing Management – Greater Grand Rapids to better identify the wider geographic area of our membership. Finally, in 2008 the current name was assumed to reflect the strategic focus of the profession and identify with the national organization.

Mr. Blaine Gavett, the first recorded president of our affiliate, went on to become National Association of Purchasing Agents District Vice President in 1922. The Grand Rapids association was the fourth affiliate formed in what became District IV after three other associations were established. All three – South Bend, Indianapolis, and Detroit – were founded in 1917.

The N.A.P.A. National Convention was held in Grand Rapids in 1927. Lois DeHaan served as National Director of National Affairs in 1997-99 and on the National Board of Directors in 2000-2001 and was national Volunteer Person of the Year in 2002.

NAPM-GGR's national organization, ISM, was organized in 1915 and now has approximately 40,000 members with a network of domestic and international affiliated associations.

Past Presidents

1922 Blaine Gavett	1967 John DeVries
1923 R.W. Cone	1968 Willliam Wagoner
1924 C.C. Travis	1969 David Schick
1925 H. Barron	1970 William J. Walter
1926 A.H. Wheeler	1971 Don L. Bussies
1927 H.A. Spring	1972 Edward Berry
1928 Ira Jackson	1973 Roger Bauer
1929 R.J. Mason	1974 Barry Bell
1930 William H. Culver	1975 San DeStefano
1931 William H. Culver	1976 William White
1932 E.H. Hupp	1977 Harv Meppelink
1933 E.H. Hupp	1978 Ronald Walters
1934 Frank W. Clay	1979 Lew Haeck
1935 Frank W. Clay	1980 Gordon Vandermeulen
1936 N. A. Cairns	1981 Paul Plaggemars
1937 Mayo Ziegler	1982 Stephen Liggett
1938 Mayo Ziegler	1983 Patrick Miles
1939 L.C. Wall	1984 Robert Palmitier
1940 L.C. Wall	1985 Sharon Sinke
1941 James E. Baker	1986 Patrick Miles
1942 James E. Baker	1987 Roger Palmitier
1943 George J. Rooney	1988 Tom Cole
1944 Max Hensick	1989 Clyde Eckman
1945 Max Hensick	1990 Laurie Coeling
1946 Stanley T. Cook	1991 Jan Barr
1947 R.R. McKeon	1992 Lois DeHaan
1948 R.R. McKeon	1993 Lois DeHaan
1949 Earl R. Gillette	1994 Chuck Pearson
1950 Kenneth F. Hodges	1995 Chuck Pearson
1951 Henry W. Kooistra	1996 Lois DeHaan
1952 Ted P. Koets	1997 Lois DeHaan
1953 C.J. Spoelstra	1998 Mike Murphy
1954 F.W. Mitchell	1999 Michele Tracy
1955 Gordan C. Annis	2000 Christine Miller
1956 Weldon T. Sharp	2001 Christine Miller
1957 Robert S. Thies	2002 Carole Meyers
1958 Robert S. Thies	2003 Carole Meyers
1959 Kenneth VanHeulen	2004 Nancy Johnson
1960 Homer Barber	2005 Nancy Johnson
1961 John VanderVeen	2006 Kip Smalligan
1962 Ward Heath	2007 Kip Smalligan
1963 Richard Manildi	2008 Tracy Fales
1964 James Koster	2009 Tracy Fales
1965 G. Russell Ouilhot
1966 Alvin Kraker