![OECM Connection](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/oecm-connection-newsletter-header-web.png)
Unlocking the Potential of Collaboration
![Welcome to the OECM Connection Newsletter - Strengthening partnerships and amplifying collaborative efforts in the Winter 2023 issue-snowflakes on three](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-welcome-message-1024x202.png)
We’re tackling those ‘winter blues’ with a fresh perspective on collaboration in this Winter 2023 issue of the OECM Connection. Read about our charitable endeavours, get to know our MarCom team – the group dedicated to delivering this comprehensive quarterly newsletter, meet OECM’s new Director of Supplier Relationship Management, and more!
Highlights
![OECM staff members pose for image while volunteering at Daily Bread Food Bank, two rows of people](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-oecm-steps-up-to-raise-money-for.png)
- Highlights
OECM Steps Up to Raise Money for Charity
OECM’s various charitable endeavours have helped us raise $22,610 for several charities in 2022. Learn more about our fundraising activities.
![oecm's marketing and communications team](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-marcom-inside-the-doors-1.png)
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Inside the Doors: Marketing & Communications Team
OECM’s Marketing and Communications (MarCom) team is the operational body that plans, designs, writes, and executes our plethora of communications, marketing collaterals, and outreach events. The people that are generally “behind the scenes” are coming to the forefront for this issue – meet our MarCom team!
![OECM's top three winners of the Darts Tournament pose for a picture-2 men-1 woman-holding trophies and plaque](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-work-hard-play-hard.png)
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Work Hard, Play Hard: Staff Tournaments, Lunchtime Pool Meetups, and More!
Did somebody say fun? At OECM, we believe that happier staff members have a higher work efficacy, so if you visit us and find yourself in the middle of a darts tournament or a pool game, it’s all part of our work hard, play hard philosophy!
![graphic illustration of three people looking at a light bulb above](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-thought-leadership-at-oecm.png)
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Thought Leadership at OECM
OECM’s leaders are sharing their expertise with industry members – learn more about what our Directors, Perry Arzumanian and Sonia Gallo, have to say about collaborative procurement in two recent Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) e-news articles.
![hands on a laptop keyboard are typing - ERP written out](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-latest-agreements-awarded.png)
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Latest Agreements Awarded | New: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
We recently launched the much-awaited Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Solutions and Related Services agreements, and the Ministry of Education (MEDU) encouraged School Boards to leverage our Math Skills Digital Tools agreement.
Since the last issue of the OECM Connection, our Marketplace has grown with the addition of 4 agreements! Here’s an overview of our latest agreements.
![hand signing on a document while another hand rests on the table](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-upcoming-agreements.png)
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Upcoming Agreements
Our Marketplace features several new agreements that broaden our list of product and service offerings. Please take a look at some of our upcoming agreements currently in the pipeline and learn about opportunities to participate in the sourcing process as a Project Advisor or Evaluator!
Corporate Updates
![headshots of oecm's two municipal members on the customer council committee, two women](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-two-new-municipal-members-for-ccc.png)
- Corporate Updates
OECM Welcomes Two Municipal Members to its Customer Council Committee
OECM’s Customer Council Committee recently welcomed two new advisory members representing the Municipal sector. Meet Sandra Zwiers and Suzanne Olimer, two highly-skilled individuals representing Ontario’s municipalities.
OECM is currently seeking two (2) Executive-Level advisory members representing the Broader Public Sector to serve on the Customer Council Committee. For more information, please reach out to sonia.gallo@oecm.ca.
Information about the Customer Council Committee is available here.
![Meet Khusen Shukurov-headshot of OECM's director of supplier relationship management](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-introducing-srms-new-director.png)
- Corporate Updates
Meet OECM’s New Director of Supplier Relationship Management
Introducing OECM’s Director of Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Khusen Shukurov – an accomplished procurement professional with experiences ranging across three continents!
![two men shake hands in an office](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-oecm-ssw-strategic-partnership.png)
- Corporate Updates
OECM and SSW Partnership
Our partnership with Shared Services West (SSW) gives our customers access to a multitude of agreements. Learn about our upcoming joint webinar with SSW on March 22 and take advantage of this partnership!
![a pair of hands clutching soil with a plant growing out of it, symbols of nature, environment, recycling](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-esg-materiality-assessment.png)
- Corporate Updates
ESG Materiality Assessment Project Update
We are developing a formal Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. We are currently in the process of creating a framework to assess our overall impact on sustainability and ethical procurement implications. Learn more about our next steps.
![computer code, warning sign, system hacked](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-municipal-marketplace-issue-3.png)
- Corporate Updates
Municipal Marketplace Issue #3
Have you read the third issue of the OECM Municipal Marketplace? Meet the Township of Strong, learn about the cyber threats that are affecting municipalities, and check out our OECM IT Marketplace flyer.
![oecm industry spotlight, insights and trends, illustration of computer screen with security lock](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-industry-spotlight-issue-2.png)
- Corporate Updates
Industry Spotlight: Cybersecurity
Our quarterly news resource, the Industry Spotlight, sheds light on current supply chain challenges and how various industries are navigating them. In this installment, we explore industry insights related to cyber attacks, security and resiliency.
Winter Events & Community
![girl writes on a piece of paper, scmao, oecm, blue banner](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-scmao-spotlight-on-ed.png)
- Winter Events & Community
Supply Chain Management Association Ontario: Spotlight on Education Sector
We collaborated with Supply Chain Management Association Ontario (SCMAO) to host our first Live Chat Event titled Spotlight on Education Sector. Our expert panelists shed light on navigating current supply chain challenges while finding value that goes beyond the metrics of the price!
![upcoming events written in a speech bubble](https://oecm.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/oecm-connection-winter-2023-upcoming-events.png)
- Winter Events & Community
Events, Webinars and Conferences
We spent this winter attending industry events and making the most of the opportunity to put OECM at the forefront as a leader in the procurement landscape. As part of our outreach strategy, we aim to host and partake in a greater number of events this year.
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