Who Does That?

Buying period-specific wallpaper for a 130-year-old building, locating truck parts for the automotive fleet and procuring the latest proven computer technology are just a day’s work for the buyers at the University of Oregon.

The small but mighty team works in Finance and Administration Shared Services under the Office of the Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration. Paul Blancher is winding down his career at the UO while Lance Lindsey started two years ago. A third buyer and their supervisor round out the department.

Blancher practically grew up on campus because his mother worked here. He is finishing his 30 years and looking forward to his next chapter.

Lindsey said buyers stay involved throughout the entire purchasing process, from initial quote until the warranty period ends, noting it as “cradle to the grave.” They deftly make use of limited budgets to keep the old buildings and machinery in working condition while acquiring new or more efficient products as warranted.

They buy supplies for painting, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, transportation, information technology, the police department and the president’s house, among the many departments in the finance and administration portfolio.

Working under the authority of the Business Affairs Office and Purchasing and Contracting Services, they also maintain contracts, warranties, serial numbers, returns and damages, performing duties quickly and efficiently.

Blancher says buying is a symbiotic relationship and behind every order is a person with a problem to solve. The human element is his favorite part. All buyers work with their campus customers and spend a fair amount of time on the phone following up with vendors until the order is completed to satisfaction. If an employee is looking for a specific item, the team looks at all approved vendors to find the best deal. It is much more than simply pushing the “add to cart” and “purchase” buttons on a website.

Next time you plan to place an order or service request, you’ll now know all the nuances that have gone into that process.

—Jennifer Archer, University Communications