The Universal Public Procurement Council has elected Airdrie's own Kathleen Muretti as its board chair. 

Muretti has been serving on the Board in a non-voting capacity since 2014 and holds both the CPPO and CPPB designations and will be the first Canadian in the organization's history to be elected to lead the certifying body. 

Muretti says she is beyond honoured. 

"A lot of emotions came up, I was honoured, humbled and excited. It was just basically a wow moment, serving the profession really is a pleasure and privilege for me. Over the past 18 years, I have served on multiple boards and panels that support public procurement."

Muretti takes over from the previous Chair Marcheta Gillespie who stepped down in June for her retirement from public service. 

"In 2000 I started with the city of Airdrie and came from private sector procurement and went looking for work in the public sector due to the differences between the two. I worked with the Canadian Public Procurement Council and was the first female in Canada to become president of that association."

It is Muretti's hope that she can continue to improve the board and continue a solid vision.

"I want to drive excellence in the public procurement profession. The characteristics and expertise in the role of a procurement special are far broader in scope and detailed in execution than ever before."

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