The Role of Regional Representatives

Vanessa Templeman

Regional Reps hold important positions that assist in communication, mutual support among colleagues, and information sharing. Each of the ten regions appoints a Regional Representative, and in some cases, a backup representative, to serve for the year as the primary conduit of information to and from the region.  Regional Reps have the following main functions:

• Participate in the large workgroup led by the Chairperson of the Regional Reps
• Coordinate and hold their own smaller regional workgroups
• Run the Regional Information breakout session at the NAMPI Conference 
• Facilitate effective communication

Each year, at the annual conference, the regions nominate their Regional Representative for the upcoming year. The Regional Representatives also serve as the nominating committee for the NAMPI Board.  
Note: Typically, the Regional Rep is a PI Director or senior-level manager.  For those that don’t hold these roles, it is important to have approval from your leadership to hold this position.  There are important time commitments required to serve in the role. Most regions try to have a one-hour meeting every month. Additionally, the Regional Rep attends a meeting with the Chairperson of the Regional Reps, and other regional reps, for maybe another hour every other month. There is also some time needed for the admin responsibilities of organizing information for your role.  

The NAMPI Board includes one appointed position, a Chairperson of the Regional Representatives. All Regional and backup representatives coordinate through the Chairperson of the Regional Representatives. Each Regional Rep. would routinely communicate with the chair of the regional reps and all other regional reps to share more about the happenings across the country and to serve as a conduit for information sharing with the NAMPI Board.
 
Not sure who your Regional Rep is?

The regional representatives and the Chairperson are designed to be part of a larger workgroup. This workgroup shares information across the regions to keep us all informed of happenings around the country.  The Chairperson of the Regional Representatives coordinates the information flow to and from the Board. 

Each Regional Rep is also tasked with coordinating information-sharing sessions for all states/territories within their assigned region.  Each Regional Representative serves as the chairperson of their smaller regional workgroup. Within each region, the PI Directors for the states that fall within that region (and other members of their teams as they so designate) are the members of the regional workgroups.  These regional workgroups should routinely convene to share information.  Responsibilities include coordinating routine meetings throughout the year to further this information sharing and encourage participation from all states/territories.  The Regional Rep is also required to create an atmosphere the promotes synergy and connectivity.  

Collaboration and information sharing should happen in a couple of ways. Items of interest within each regional workgroup include fraud and abuse schemes and other issues in the region, program integrity questions that can be asked free from any recourse, and working together as much as possible to come up with solutions and strategies.  Throughout the year, these are the types of opportunities for the region to push up information to NAMPI and to bring back information from other regions and from the NAMPI Board. 

NAMPI has become more than an annual conference and has information sharing and training throughout the year.  The Association and the NAMPI Board couldn’t achieve this ongoing activity without the ongoing communication with all of the states through the regional reps, through the chair of the regional reps, and up to the rest of the NAMPI Board.  NAMPI is 36 years in its making and we look forward to our continued successes partnered through the Regional Reps!

NAMPI was started to improve communication and information sharing among the states/territories.  Check out The Back Story on the NAMPI website for more of its founding history.