West Virginia Universitys chief procurement officer has joined an elite class of purchasing professionals.

Phil Charneskie has obtained certified public purchasing officer certification from the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC). To date, more than 1,500 purchasing professionals have achieved this status.

Philips willingness to achieve advanced certifications such as this affirms his commitment to maintaining a professional, competent and effective procurement function at West Virginia University ,said Dan Durbin, associate vice president for finance .We are fortunate to have administrators like Philip in our organization.

To become a certified public purchasing officer, candidates must demonstrate they meet specific UPPCC -established requirements, including procurement-related course work and training, public purchasing experience and functional management experience. Candidates are also required to undergo comprehensive written and oral examinations to prove their mastery of public purchasing knowledge.

Charneskie has been WVU s head purchasing officer for the past three years. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the WVU Division of Public Administration .

During his career, he has held procurement positions in a wide range of organizations, including the U.S. Air Force and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Most recently, he worked for a company specializing in reconstruction efforts in Iraqs Green Zone.

He is also a certified purchasing managera credential awarded by the Institute for Supply Management. He has a bachelors degree in geography and urban planning from the University of Pittsburgh and a masters degree in business administration from the University of Wyoming.

The UPPCC was established in 1978 by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing and the National Association of State Procurement Officials to administer certification and promote procurement professionalism in the public sector.