Oren R. Thomas, IV - CPM, MAS, QPA
Rick has over twenty-two years of public purchasing experience throughout the state of New Jersey covering municipal, county, utility, and state entities. Currently he is serving as Procurement and Contracts Manager for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority and Purchasing Agent for the Ocean County Board of Health. He is a Qualified Purchasing Agent (“QPA”) through the New Jersey Department of Local Government Services, a Registered Public Purchasing Official (“RPPO”) through Rutgers University, and a Certified Public Manager (“CPM”) through the New Jersey Department of Labor. Rick is an instructor for various Public Purchasing classes through Rutgers University’s Center for Government Services and as Immediate Past President of the Southern New Jersey Chapter of NIGP is involved with planning of the annual Rutgers/ NIGP Public Purchasing Forum in New Jersey. A new Chapter Ambassador for NIGP in 2024, Rick is also a member of the NIGP Content Management Committee. Rick has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from William Paterson College where he was a four-year letter winner in soccer (and still occasionally tries to relive past glories by playing in various men’s leagues), and a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Farleigh Dickinson University. In his spare time when he is not chasing around his son Oren V, Rick is an avid golfer, skier and snowmobiler, and loves traveling to the red half of Manchester to support his favorite football club. GGMU!