PROVIDER SESSION: Industry providers showcase their products, technology and innovations in sessions that are often restricted to end-users only.
HOT TOPIC: Open discussions dedicated to a particular topic or sector. Come prepared to add your voice.
A One-Two Punch: How Integrating P-Cards and Punch-Out Contracts Creates Procurement Power In this session, we will discuss how to streamline the procurement and payment processes using punchout contracts with P-Cards within Workday ERP. Come see how accessing a supplier’s customized catalog can help efficiently manage procurement while ensuring compliance and how paying with a P-Card is a win-win for your organization and the supplier!
A/P Meet A/R: How to Talk With Suppliers About Card and Payables In this session, we will explore the changing landscape around supplier acceptance of Commercial Cards, and best practices around what you as a buyer can do to facilitate an optimal supplier enablement process and strategy.
Key topics will include:
understanding the economics of not only a card transaction but also the other forms of potential payments like check and ACH
looking at current fraud statistics across payment methods
best practices for a sales pitch to your vendors, including overcoming common objections around topics like surcharging
who should “own” a supplier campaign
developing an internal payment strategy that can be easily communicated to your vendors
ALLIANCE PARTNER SPONSOR Session Type:Partner Sponsor Educational Speaker Mark Silverman, Vice President – Payables and Commercial Cards, UMB Bank
Beyond the Rubber Stamp: Training Approvers to Protect Dollars Approvers are more than gatekeepers—they’re essential to the success of any P-Card or Travel Card program. This session explores how to strengthen approver engagement, training, and accountability to enhance compliance and protect funds.
Key topics will include:
Why approver training matters and how to secure buy-in
What approvers should look for during transaction reviews
Practical strategies to engage approvers and clarify responsibilities
Real-world examples of effective oversight and internal control
Tools, messaging, and training techniques that move approvers beyond “rubber stamping”
Sustainable approaches for consistent, thoughtful review and fiscal stewardship
Session Type:Educational Speakers IOCP
Government/K-12 Advisory Team Panel: Phil Caldarella, Business Services Coordinator, Fort Osage R-1 School District Amanda Crowell, CPPB, Finance/Procurement and Contracting Services Purchaser, City of Round Rock Michelle
Upchurch, Procurement Card Administrator, Lucas County Commissioners, Facilitator
Are you new to Commercial Cards or brushing up on your fundamental understanding of Commercial Cards? If so, attend this session (Part I of a two-part Commercial Card Basics series offered during the conference) to learn about card variations, their business case for usage, as well as a high-level review of best practices for implementation and optimization.
Key topics will include
understanding the different types of Commercial Card programs (e.g., Corporate vs. Purchasing Cards vs. Virtual) and their unique process and business case
defining the opportunity for your organization and gaining management buy-in
understanding roles internally and externally
leveraging program data
navigating and facilitating integration of your program organizationally
high-level overview of program implementation and optimization best practices
Session Type:Educational Speaker Katie
Beatty, Commercial Payments Professional
Are you new to Commercial Cards or brushing up on your fundamental understanding of Commercial Cards? If so, attend this session (Part II of a two-part Commercial Card Basics series offered during the conference) for a high-level overview of program design and ongoing management.
Key topics will include
identifying cardholders and program management team
establishing policies and controls
essential cardholder training and ongoing communications
program monitoring and auditing
establishing and communicating program metrics and leveraging data
establishing and measuring goals
high-level overview of program implementation and optimization best practices
Session Type:Educational Speaker Katie
Beatty, Commercial Payments Professional
In this session, we will discuss the development of an exception policy for departments and programs in your organization that have a legitimate business need to make traditionally unauthorized purchases. Attendees will gain insight into developing a framework for creating policies for such purchases and document compliance with applicable laws and policies and procedures.
Key topics will include
understanding what an approved out-of-policy purchase is and why it’s important in the P-Card program
addressing common compliance challenges that our departments that are running client-centered diversion programs are facing with approved out-of-policy purchases
developing a framework to support department program needs while maintaining oversight as well as enhancing and simplifying the audit trail
Session Type:Educational Speaker Monique
Droessler, Buyer I and P-Card Manager, City of Longmont, Longmont, Colorado Speaker's Program:P-Card | 525 Cards | 29,045 Annual Transactions | U.S.
Ever struggle with a tug-of-war between compliance and cooperation? It doesn’t have to be that way. This session is designed to help professionals build productive, trust-based relationships with internal departments. We’ll explore the common reasons departments push back on processes and uncover proven strategies to turn resistance into partnership.
Through real-world examples and practical tips, attendees will learn how to:
understand departmental perspectives and their pain points
communicate process value without sounding like the “no” police
leverage a Teams channel to communicate and educate
navigate difficult conversations with diplomacy and confidence
align procurement goals with operational needs
build internal champions who help drive compliance and collaboration
equip you with tools to shift the mindset from “us vs. them” to “we’re in this together”
Session Type:Educational Speaker Amanda
Crowell, CPPB, Purchaser, City of Round Rock Speaker's Program:P-Card | 285 Cards | 2,800 Annual Transactions | U.S.
Higher Education Hot Topics Discussion Join members of the IOCP Higher Education Advisory Team (HEAT) for
a lively discussion where the attendees bring both the questions and the answers! This session is a hot topic forum on issues relevant to payment and card professionals in higher education. While intended to be an open forum, HEAT members
will be prepared to address specific topics. Topics may include cardholder and approver training, gift card payments for research participants, per diem cards and athletic team travel.
Key takeaways:
Learn how your peers address current issues in payment and card program management
Gain insight into best practices around payment and card program issues specific to higher education
Network with your peers who have challenges like those in your own program
Session Type:Educational Speakers IOCP
Higher Education Advisory Team Panel: Shana Hart, Payment Card Team Supervisor, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Lesley Lackore, CPCP, Card Services Manager, Iowa State University, Facilitator Jennifer
Steier, CPCP, EMBA, Director, Procurement Systems and ProCard, University of Louisville
Maximizing Value Through Effective Strategy Development Learn how a 45,000-card global program developed and executed a three-year strategy to drive world-class results. This session will dive into how to develop a Global Card program strategy with a focus on maximizing value through increased financial benefits and positive cardholder experience. Attendees will gain insight into the fundamentals of strong strategy components and design and learn how to channel that expertise into actionable goals.
Key topics will include:
Deep dive on card program dynamics and stakeholder mapping
Managing organizational complexity and global scope
Maximizing buyer compliance
Filling the gaps of global solution providers with local solutions
Leveraging data insights and KPIs to tell your story
Developing, executing and evaluating a three-year strategy
Modernizing Corporate Card Use: Security, Simplicity and Accountability This session will explore the modernization of Commercial Cards and how their use continues to evolve in today’s Payments landscape. Learn how embracing smarter tools, better habits and a stronger understanding of policy and accountability can modernize your program. Accelerate your program while minimizing risk and simplifying your processes.
Key topics will include:
Best practices for using your card in a 21st-century work environment
Modern ways to protect your cards from fraud and misuse
Easy, digital-friendly ways to track receipts and expenses
The importance of timely and accurate monthly reconciliations
How next-generation tools can streamline compliance and reporting
Session Type:Educational Speakers IOCP
Corporate Advisory Team Panel: Robyn Brown, Supervisor Strategic Sourcing Procurement, Kinder Morgan, Facilitator Cedrina Todd, P-Card Administrator, Global Medical Response
Redesigning P-Card Violation Processes to Reduce Violations by 75 Percent Many P‑Card programs equate compliance with punishment. This session shows how AC Transit shifted from a “gotcha” culture to a coaching model that reduces repeat violations, strengthens internal controls and expands usage. We’ll cover how violation letters became micro‑trainings, how simplified policy nudges improved adoption and how retraining pathways ensure compliance without eroding trust.
Learning objectives:
Map violations to root causes and a tiered coaching plan
Convert policy clauses into bite‑size guidance
Track impact with KPIs (repeat rate, remediation cycle time)
Balance enforcement with user experience to sustain adoption
Leverage Teams chat for cardholders and directors for increased visibility and collaboration
Boost self-service tools to help cardholders help themselves
Session Type:Educational Speaker Chellate
Young, CPCP, Senior Management Analyst, AC Transit Speaker's Program:P-Card, Travel Card, One Card | 50+ Cards | 10,000+ Annual Transactions | U.S.
Strategic Planning to Improve Your P-Card Program In this session, we will delve into the components of strategic planning and how you can apply them to improve your P-Card program. We will use the initiatives and lessons learned by Honeywell FM&T as a case study. This session will equip you with tools and concepts you can use for strategic planning for your program.
Key topics will include:
Defining Your P-Card Program’s Vision/Mission/Values
Determining Your Program Pillars\Developing Strategies, Objectives, Goals and KPIs
Defining Strategy-Based Projects and Improvements
Ranking and Prioritizing Projects and Activities
Assessing your P-Card Team Size and Making the Case for Growth
Session Type:Educational Speaker Karen
West, Purchasing Program Manager, KCNSC Managed by Honeywell FM&T
Suddenly You’re a P-Card Program Manager. Now What? Leveraging IOCP Resources When a P-Card program was suddenly dropped into her lap with little structure or guidance, Chellate Young turned to IOCP for direction. In this session, she and colleague Theresa Fukuno, share how they used the IOCP website as a lifeline to navigate the Commercial Payments industry and evolve into confident leaders and advocates for high-performing programs. Through their stories, participants will learn how IOCP’s educational materials, tools, whitepapers and samples library helped them properly administer, strengthen, and professionalize their programs. IOCP team member Amy Allen will highlight additional member resources available to support program administrators at every stage of their journey.
Key topics will include:
How IOCP resources can serve as a roadmap for new or transitioning P-Card program managers
Practical ways to apply IOCP templates and whitepapers to real-world challenges
Why the CPCP certification, while it may seem a faraway pursuit at first, can be an excellent structured learning tool to deepen program knowledge and build professional confidence
Strategies for sustaining growth and credibility through continuous learning
Where to find peer and expert support within the IOCP network
Session Type:Educational Speakers Amy
Allen, MA, Marketing and Communications Manager, Institute of Commercial Payments Theresa Fukuno, CPCP, Procurement Program Analyst, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Chellate Young, CPCP, Senior Management
Analyst, AC Transit
Discover what Shelley learned following her hands-on experience with AI in the Procure-to-Pay process as an early adopter and how this knowledge transformed her program. She’ll share practical insights, tips and the unexpected challenges that surfaced during implementation and adoption—and how you can avoid them as you integrate AI tools into your own operations.
Key topics will include:
Chatbots—pros and cons
Strengths and weaknesses of AI P-Card expense review tools
Ongoing assessment and refinement of AI applications
Building on successful AI implementations
Session Type:Educational Speaker Shelley Shearer, CPCP, Director of Payables, The George Washington University Speaker's Program:P-Card, One Card | 1,728 Cards | $55 million Annual Spend | U.S.
