ISM-Pittsburgh, Inc.

A Chapter of the Institute for Supply Management working together to advance the profession of supply management.

Pittsburgh's Leading Supply Chain Management Organization

Welcome to ISM—Pittsburgh!  With approximately 750 members in the chapter, we remain true to our mission to serve "the education, certification, communication and networking needs of supply management professionals in the Greater Pittsburgh area. We will do this to enhance the supply management profession, its image and ethical standards to maximize membership value".  

We are excited to offer over 20 professional development and social events, awarding over 40 CEH's and offering topics on AI & Procurement, Business Intelligence & Analytics, Leadership & Influence, Total Cost of Ownership, The Importance of Manufacturing, and site visits at distribution centers, service centers, and the best breweries in the 'Burgh!  These various events will be offered both virtually and in-person.   

The 2025 -2026 program year  is well underway!  We are so pleased to have offered a number of events in different formats and at different venues, and with spring weather finally here, we are happy to be meeting in-person over the next few months! 

Next up, ISM-Pittsburgh will host a Site Visit/Tour on March 19 at 3:00 p.m. at PITT OHIO facilities, located on Rich Hill Rd, Cheswick, PA  Join us to learn more about PITT OHIO's state-of-the-art facilities.  1.5 CEH's will be awarded.  Register below.

Following March's event, we will host a Site Visit/Tour on April 23 at 4:00 p.m., at AHN's Distribution Center, located at 4050 Jackson Pointe Court, Zelienople, PA. 2.0 CEH's will be awarded.  Register below.

On May 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., we will host a six-hour seminar on "Effective Contracting: Professional Development for Contract Managers".  This seminar will be held at Duquesne University's Rockwell Hall, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  This course develops the competencies required for effective contracting: risk identification, agreement structuring, negotiation strategy, and professional judgment. It also addresses how AI tools can support contract managers when applied appropriately and validated properly.  6 CEH's will be awarded.  Register below.

On June 19, 2026, we will close out our program year with our 9th Annual Sporting Clays Event, which will be held at Highlands Sporting Clays, located at 199 Teal Drive, Champion, PA 15622.  Proceeds from this event benefit the ISM-Pittsburgh Scholarship Program Case Competitions and support its professional development offerings. This day is filled with comradery, great weather, networking, and lots of prizes!  You do not need to have experience to participate. Don't wait, and register now!  Contact Lisa Romango at lisaromango9104@comcast.net for detailed registration and sponsorship information.

 

Below is a recap of programs offered to-date:   

On September 30, ISM—Pittsburgh supported Pittsburgh's Chemical Day at The Sheraton Station Square.  Thomas W. Derry, ISM CEO, was a participant, facilitator, and keynote speaker at Pittsburgh Chemical Day!  https://www.pittchemday.com/  Six CEH's were awarded.

On October 17 from 9:00a – 12:00p, ISM-Pittsburgh & Duquesne University  hosted a collaborative seminar on "The Fundamentals of AI in Supply Chain" with Mike Hruska, President & CEO, Problem Solutions.  The seminar was held at Rockwell Hall on Duquesne's Campus, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA. Three CEH's were awarded.  
 
On October 21 from 4:00p - 6:00p, we conducted a site visit at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive, Champion, PA  (if enough interest, a bus will be provided to transport registrants)  
 
On November 7 from 9:00a - 3:00p, ISM—Pittsburgh hosted the 7th Annual Women Who Lead Conference, which was held at the Fred Rogers Center, located on St. Vincent's Campus, 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe, PA.   ISM—Pittsburgh co-hosted the Conference with St. Vincent College, and co-sponsor the event with the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University.  Seven CEH's were awarded.
  
On November 18  from 12:00p – 1:00p, we hosted a webinar on "Stop Playing Contract Catch-Up: How AI Makes Review Fast, Accurate, and Aligned" with Julie Prex, Vice President Marketing, LegalSifter and Tom Henson, Senior Vice President, Products & Marketing, LegalSifter. One CEH was awarded.
 
On January 21 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  the topic of the Lunch & Learn was "The Total Cost of Ownership".  Mr. John Russo, Director Duquesne University Center of Supply Chain Excellence.  1.5 CEH's were awarded.
 

ISM—Pittsburgh works diligently to offer numerous opportunities to earn continuing education hours, which may be applied toward your certification requirements. Continue to visit the website for the latest information on offerings and opportunities. Please contact Lisa Romango, Executive Director. 

Upcoming Events

April

16

2026

MEMBER WEBINAR
Member Only

Cost Beats Spend: How Procurement Leads — Instead of Reacts

A practical guide to cost intelligence for volatile markets

Procurement leaders are under more pressure than ever — from executives demanding cost justification, from suppliers pushing through price increases, and from a volatile market where tariffs, labor shifts, and input cost swings can change overnight. The expectation is clear: procurement should protect margins, manage risk, and advise the business with confidence.

Most teams are still working with two imperfect tools. Spend analytics show where money went. Commodity indexes show what's happening in the market. But neither explains why the cost of the specific products you buy is changing — and neither gives you the data to push back on a supplier, protect a margin commitment, or brief your CFO with confidence.

That gap is where procurement shifts from reactive to strategic.

Cost intelligence closes it. By modeling the actual cost drivers behind the products you buy — materials, labor, energy, manufacturing inputs, tariffs — procurement teams can understand in real time what a product should cost, why a price changed, and whether a supplier increase is justified or inflated. That's not a report. That's a defensible position

In this webinar, Daniela Osio, CEO and Co-Founder of Dalinea, will show how leading procurement organizations are using cost intelligence to:

  • Protect margins — identify where you're overpaying before a contract renewal, not after.
  • Manage risk — understand your exposure to raw material volatility, tariff shifts, and single-source dependencies before they become P&L problems.
  • Lead supplier negotiations — challenge price increase requests with cost-level data instead of market benchma.
  • Advise finance with confidence — bring a forward-looking cost view to the business, not just historical spend summaries.
  • Move procurement from a cost center to a strategic function — with the data to anticipate cost changes, not just explain them

Attendees will walk away with a framework for understanding where cost intelligence fits in their current stack, what it unlocks that spend analytics and benchmarks cannot, and how to use industry-level cost insights to become the most informed voice in the room when supply chain decisions are being made.

Learning Objectives:

  • How to use product-level cost modeling to challenge supplier narratives and protect negotiating power
  • Lead supplier negotiations — challenge price increase requests with cost-level data instead of market benchma.
  • What "proactive cost management" looks like in practice — real examples from procurement teams managing direct materials volatility
  • How to use cost intelligence to brief finance and the C-suite with credibility
  • How industry cost insights can transform procurement into a strategic advisory function
  • Online

    April

    16

    2026

    MEMBER WEBINAR
    Member Only

    Member Orientation

    This webinar provides knowledge regarding the many benefits that come with being a part of the ISM community. Join us and learn about the essential tools, vibrant community, and exceptional learning that enhances your professional development. You'll also gain insight into the array of programs, services, and resources that are available to you through your membership.

    Online
    Megan Hays

    April

    23

    2026

    Chapter Meeting

    ISM-Pittsburgh: AHN Distribution Center Tour

    Join ISM-Pittsburgh for a tour of the AHN Distribution Center for Medical/Surgical Products. There will be a presentation by members of Operations Leadership for AHN Supply Chain, followed by a Q&A session.

    Sponsor: 510 ISM—Pittsburgh, Inc.
    AHN Distribution Center

    Supply Management News & Reports

    ‘Ascend’ to New Heights in Strategic Supply Chain Management

    March 10, 2026
    Articles


    Sessions on trending topics like AI deployment, application and governance as well as networking opportunities and a keynote by Kara Swisher highlight ISM World 2026 in Denver.

    Read More

    Join ISM

    Your membership in ISM will provide a powerful path to stay connected, engaged, and up-to-date with everything happening in supply management. Serious procurement and supply chain professionals are dedicated to staying in the know about their profession and staying at the top of their game. An ISM membership will provide you with that and more.

    More than 100 years of experience speaks for itself – ISM can help you succeed. It's our mission.

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    See What’s Ahead at ISM World 2026

    The ISM World 2026 agenda is now available, showcasing the sessions, speakers, and experiences shaping the future of the profession. Explore what’s in store and start building your ideal conference experience in Colorado. Registration is open—secure your spot today.

    See the Agenda