ABOUT US
AEPA History
Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies of West Virginia started in 2000 with 10 member states with purchasing professionals who had the mutual goal of securing combined volume purchasing contracts based on potential sales by qualifying customers in participating states using:
- Combined expertise
- Existing vendor relationships
- Experience & overall vision
As of today, AEPA has grown to have 29 member states!
AEPA WV’s Mission
Our mission is to cooperatively serve our agency memberships through a continuous effort to explore and solve present and future purchasing needs. AEPA is working on your behalf to secure multi-state volume purchasing contracts that have benefits that are measurable, cost-effective and continuously exceed our memberships expectations.
Our Goals
- Leverage the purchasing power to benefit all schools regardless of size, with the ability to purchase at equal buying levels.
- Combine the potential needs of all schools to create an incentive to vendors to offer the best price and the highest quality product in the country.
- Stream line the bidding and purchasing process through a single locally and nationally recognized purchasing solicitation.
- Provide a single contract that is available statewide with one cooperative agency identified to function as the statewide contract facilitator and representative.
- Become the national purchasing option and solution for interested qualified customers and vendors.
Our Team
Jan Hanlon has served as an educator, school administrator, and district level CTE/Curriculum Director for over thirty years in rural West Virginia.
Ms. Hanlon currently serves as the Executive Director for Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative. During her years as the CTE /Secondary Curriculum Director, she implemented a pilot program for Simulated Workplace in Logan County. The West Virginia Department of Education awarded the program a Model CTE school award. Her expertise in working with poverty-stricken communities has been invaluable and has benefited many students and educators through various initiatives.
Ms. Hanlon serves on the executive council for AESA, Association of Educational Service Agencies, and represents West Virginia’s membership on AEPA, Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies. Currently, Ms. Hanlon serves as a member on the WV First Lady’s Communities in Schools task force to ensure at-risk students graduate on time by creating a network of support.
Rachel Bias graduated from Huntington East High School
in Cabell County. She has over 39 years of experience in educational services, beginning as a secretary for the Audiologist and School Psychologist.
She moved into the executive secretary position in 2008.
Additionally, Rachel provides support for the MSESC Governing Council and the staff. She assists with AEPA cooperative purchasing.
Rachel is the point of first contact and will direct you to the appropriate personnel or department.
Tammy is the program development director for Mountain State ESC. She works with K-12 education by providing technical assistance, professional development, and curriculum support.
She also works extensively with AEPA cooperative purchasing. Additionally, she supports the substitute teaching program and serves as the liaison between Marshall University and K-12 teachers for graduate course programs offered to improve educators at a reduced cost.
Tammy is a graduate of Marshall University. She holds a BA in elementary education K-6 and a MA in Reading Education PK-Adult. Tammy has worked with educational services for more than four years. She worked at the county level as a secondary instruction coach, staff development coordinator, TIS, and teacher.
Tinessa Williamson is the Chief Business Official for Mountain State ESC.
Tinessa is a graduate of Marshall University. She has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting.