Thank You for Supporting the 18th Annual Reverse Trade Show
James Walters | Published on 5/18/2026
Dear CGCC NIGP Members, Vendors, Sponsors, and Guests,
On behalf of the Central Gulf Coast Chapter of NIGP, thank you for supporting and participating in our 18th Annual Reverse Trade Show in Panama City. This year’s event was a tremendous success by every measure, and we are excited to share that we even broke several attendance and participation records along the way!
The energy, networking, and collaboration throughout the event truly reflected the spirit of our chapter and the strength of the public procurement community across the Gulf Coast region. We are especially grateful to the vendors, sponsors, and agency representatives who invested their time to connect, learn, and build lasting professional relationships. We look forward to continuing our procurement journey together and reconnecting with many of our new contacts throughout the year ahead.
Those who attended the “How to Do Business with Government Entities” workshop and our Meet & Greet Reception were able to experience an even deeper level of engagement and professional connection. These opportunities are an important part of our mission to educate, encourage, and strengthen relationships between public agencies and the vendor community.
At its core, the Reverse Trade Show is about more than just one event. It supports the CGCC NIGP mission of advancing public procurement through education, professional development, ethical practices, and meaningful partnerships. The event also helps fund continuous learning opportunities, scholarships, and chapter programs that benefit procurement professionals throughout our region.
This year, we were especially honored that a portion of our efforts also supported our local charity of choice, Habitat for Humanity of Bay County Florida, helping extend the positive impact of this event into our local community.
To our sponsors, participating vendors, and chapter members who warmly welcomed and hosted our guests — thank you. Your support, enthusiasm, and commitment are what make this event special year after year.
We are grateful for each of you and look forward to seeing where the journey takes us next.
With appreciation,
James Walters
President, Central Gulf Coast Chapter of NIGP
Director, Procurement Services
City of Niceville