In today's rapidly evolving landscape of government operations, staying connected and up-to-date with the latest trends is more important than ever. One great way to do this is by attending government conferences. These events provide a unique platform for networking and learning. They’re places where government officials, service providers, and industry experts all come together from across the country. Municibid’s Director of Sales, Jameel Farruk, knows this firsthand and he had plenty of insight to share, proving the value of these conferences.
A casino employee recognized Jameel at NJAC 2024. Turns out he's a Municibid buyer and fan of the podcast!
The Power of Face-to-Face Networking
One of the primary benefits of attending government conferences, as Jameel notes, is the opportunity to connect with clients and peers face-to-face. In an increasingly digital world, overlooking the importance of personal interactions is easy. However, in-person connections are invaluable for building trust, fostering collaboration, and humanizing the relationships between service providers and government officials. Moreover, there’s a chance for encounters and conversations that would not occur in a virtual setting.
That has been Jameel’s experience while attending conferences like the New Jersey Association of Counties (NJAC) and the Government Purchasing Association of New Jersey (GPANJ). Both have helped the Municibid team strengthen existing relationships and forge new ones, ultimately leading to better services for clients.
"Well, we have GPAN in New Jersey, then also NJAC, and then we have customers that span all the way up and down the Northeast. I'll be heading out to the Public Works Show in Rhode Island. We have another show coming up with the Mass Highway Association. There's a lot of great things out there, and I'm just excited. This is one of my favorite times of the year."
"Sometimes when you are online and not in front of a person, you may lose sight of the humans and the team that are behind the product and the service that we're providing.” - Jameel Farruk
Jameel at Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) in January 2024.
A Platform for Learning and Growth
In addition to networking, government conferences provide a wealth of educational opportunities for attendees. From keynote speeches to breakout sessions, these events offer a chance to learn from industry experts, thought leaders, and peers who are tackling similar challenges or vying for the same goals.
Jameel especially enjoys the sessions at Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), which hosts thousands of people. There, attendees can learn about new policies, discuss best practices, and gain insights from their colleagues.Jameel gets to spend time with both the vendors and the customers, collecting valuable insight from both sides. He uses the conversations to hear out various “pain points” or challenges faced with intentions to figure out solutions.
“This is a conference that we've been doing well over a decade, and it's always a blast. Being a Pennsylvania-based company, we have so many customers in this state, and it's just always a really rewarding experience to be able to go and see everyone, especially see the majority of our customers all under one roof.”
He also gets to hear from government agencies and buyers about their success stories. Recently, one seller told him about a John Deere tractor that was auctioned off for far more than he expected.
“I was just talking to a customer of ours at the PSATS conference this week and he had mentioned that they had had a John Deere tractor on there that before the last two minutes of the auction, they had put no reserve on it. They didn't have a sense of what they were hoping to get and this tractor was at about $30,000. And then within the last two minutes, it quickly creeped up to about $50,000.”
“He said at that point, they would have been very happy to have let it go at that price point. And then within about another half an hour, it jumped up to a little over $110,000.” - Jameel Farruk
Discovering New Opportunities
These conferences provide a glimpse into the latest innovations and technological advancements in the government sector. From cutting-edge software to emerging best practices, these events showcase the tools and strategies that are transforming the way governments operate.
“One of the best things that they're seeing, not just in our industry, but as a whole, is that the technology and the services that people are building and providing to serve the public sector, there's no shortage of them and there's no shortage of innovation that is consistently happening in this field.”
“Every time I go to one of these conferences, a few booths down from me or my neighbor at the conference, it'll be a new solution provider or a new technology service that I hadn't seen the year before. And it spans so many different things. Solutions that are now using your phones and the gyroscopes in the phones that DPW workers can place on their dashboard to map roads, to give real-time data back to their cities in terms of where potholes are or salt erosion is occurring.”
“And having that data in real time allows those public works to be more proactive versus reactive.” Jameel Farruk
Understanding Unique Needs
While innovation is a common theme, Jameel also stresses the importance of understanding the unique needs and resources of each agency. There are sure differences between small townships and large counties, differences reflected in what surplus they value and the general resources at their disposal. Some work with a limited staff, while others have a more robust budget and more personnel. The key to serving each of them well, Jameel believes, is for service providers to be cognizant of these factors and work as partners to find solutions. This personalized approach has led to many long-term and successful relationships.
"We have the opportunity to really determine how well we pay attention and engage. And I think that if we do our part there, we can find reasonable and extremely effective solutions to help our customers, regardless of their size, regardless of the resources that they have, regardless of their footprint." - Jameel Farruk
Building a Stronger Community
Ultimately, Jameel’s insights reveal that government conferences are about more than just networking, learning, and business development. They provide an opportunity to build a stronger sense of community within the government sector. By sharing insights, experiences, and even personal anecdotes (like Jameel’s love for the Beatles), service providers can create a more human, personal presence in the industry.
Municibid remains committed to such community building, and Jameel encourages attendees to approach him and his team at upcoming events, whether to say hello, provide feedback, or simply put a face to a name. Maybe you could even chat about your favorite Beatles song.
"It would be wonderful to shake your hand, see you again. Or if we haven't had the opportunity to meet yet, to put a face to the name.” - Jameel Farruk
Explore government surplus auctions on Municibid. If you're a municipality or school looking to sell your vehicles, equipment, and more, learn about selling your government surplus and apply for a seller account. Want to hear more cool stories from Jameel? Stay connected with Jameel on Linkedin.
