The National Association of Purchasing & Payables (NAPP) is holding its annual conference February 8-11, 2004 at the Marco Island Hilton in Marco Island, Fla.

NAPP is an organization dedicated to providing purchasing and payables professionals and their technical colleagues with new and innovative ideas for improving both the PO (purchase order) and AP (accounts payable) functions. It's the only national organization that focuses on the entire requisition to payment to reconciliation process.

At the 2004 conference, attendees will have opportunity to help write the job description of the new e-professional during an interactive workshop, "The Emergence of the New PO/AP Professional". Denise Kronau, president & CEO, Siemens Shared Services, LLC. will give the keynote address "Why the Purchase to Pay Cycle is Fundamental to Adding Value in a Shared Services Environment."

Conference sessions will be led by purchasing and AP professionals. Those led by purchasing pros on the agenda for NAPP 2004 include:

• "The Strategic Sourcing Model at Nextel" by Kathy Hinton, director, strategic sourcing, Nextel.
• "UL's Procurement Transformation" by Patrick McNally, purchasing manager, Underwriters Laboratories.
• "Creating Breakthrough Purchasing and Payables Processes" by Jason Magidson, director, procurement systems & processes, GlaxoSmithKline.

Other speakers include representatives from such companies as Deloitte Consulting, PeopleSoft, The Hackett Group, US Bank, American Express, ICG Commerce, PurchasingNet, Merck & Co., ProcureStaff and Visa.

Hot topic forums will be held on the following topics: "Share Your Imaging & Workflow Solutions for Procure to Pay," "Issues with the Convergence of Purchasing & Payables," and "What T&E Solution Works for Your Company."

Separate forums for purchasing and accounts payables managers will provide opportunities for attendees to network with their peers.

A Procure to Pay Technology & Solutions Fair will feature representatives of companies that offer goods and services of interest to purchasing and payables professionals.

For more information, go to www.nappconference.com or contact NAPP Chairman Dave Elko at 609-263-1170 or davidelko@comcast.net.