Each year PMI Phoenix Judges support the Future City competition to Arizona Schools by providing guidance and feedback to the teams. During the competition, each team is given four requirements to complete in advance of the project deadline to be eligible for the best project plan award. These requirements include creating Project Goals, Project Schedules, conducting Project Status Check-ins, and completing a Project Reflection.

This year, our volunteer judges at PMI Phoenix have determined that the award for the Best Project Plan is given to Team Antalya from Esmond Station. Team Antalya excelled at completing the foundational elements of defining their goals for the project, showing excellent skills in forecasting their objectives, assigning team roles, acquiring resources, and providing fantastic project assumptions and risks.

Schedules are a core component of any project. Team Antalya excelled in creating its project schedule by capturing tasks and critical milestones. The team also met weekly to conduct project status meetings, where they reviewed completed work and addressed the upcoming tasks. Keeping a rigid task list of their remaining work and working as a team, Team Antalya was able to meet their Milestones and complete their project on time. One essential item that set Team Antalya apart was its ability to adapt to changes in its project. After discovering their model dimensions were out of scale, the team had to redesign some aspects of their project plan to keep them on schedule and meet their milestones. Changes to the plan were discussed as a team and documented in the project plan. The team did a fantastic job coming together to complete their original goals.

Arizona State DECA Career Development Conference needs judges for Saturday, February 26th, 8:30 am-1:30 p.m. DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) focuses on Marketing, Management, Finance, Hospitality, and Entrepreneurship for 9th-12th grades. As a volunteer judge, you will sit across the table from Arizona DECA's talented members and evaluate the knowledge and skills they have developed all year.

When: February, 26, 2022 8:00AM - 12:00PM

Where: Arizona Grand Resort, 8000 Arizona Grant Parkway, Phoenix, 85044

Please note that this is an in-person event. It is the sole responsibility of the volunteer to ensure their health and safety as well as to abide by the health and safety protocols established by the conference organization.

Logistics

• If you are interested in judging one of the categories, please use the link to register: https://bit.ly/AZDECA-SCDCJudges
• Please list PMI Phoenix for the field “Who referred you to volunteer as a DECA Competitive Events judge?”

• Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let him know that you are participating in this endeavor.
• Please track the hours that you spend performing your feedback responsibilities.

If you do have questions regarding this, please contact Steve Poessnecker (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

PMI Phoenix is requesting additional judges to assist with the Elementary and Junior High Paradise Valley Science and Engineering Fair.  Judging occurs February 22-27, 2022 with live video interviews February 28 – March 2.  Judging is done virtually and all judges are provided with the appropriate judging information.  From a judging standpoint, you will be judging the process and you do not have to be an expert in a particular scientific or engineering area. The attached flyer provides the request.

PMI Phoenix Academic Outreach is continually looking for ways to give back to our community.  This is an opportunity where we can provide educational mentoring and assistance to students so that they can get feedback from project management professionals. 

Logistics

• Judges should sign up via the following link for PV Schools District Science Fair Judges Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUr42TkRDFMYkv-RRGwxqZE7QxQf9VUmZwanTEk9GH2Qt7Sw/viewform
• Please list PMI Phoenix as the organization that you are representing.

• Please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let him know that you are participating in this endeavor.
• Please track the hours that you spend performing your feedback responsibilities.
• If you do have questions regarding this, please contact Steve Poessnecker (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Phil Howardell STEM/CREST Coordinator for Paradise Valley Schools (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.),

For the second year in a row, the project was virtual which enables the judges to focus on the detailed materials while still being interactive and engaging. The Chapter Future Cities program offers a service that other chapters do not, feedback to the participants so they can develop their project management skills. The observations provided assist in better project outcomes.

Riley Sedam has worked for the government and spent ten years in the Navy. His mentors provided the insight to take a risk and that you have more to lose by not going for it. Riley currently works for Valley Wise Healthcare and his many projects have helped him identify that he could make a positive impact on the less fortunate, his community and to the patients.  Riley’s peers would describe me as “fun to work with, always willing to jump in and help since there is no I in team, organized and willing to mentor and share knowledge.”

 I spoke with Riley and asked him what inspired him he gives credit to his ten years in the Navy. “I was able to see the direct impact I could make for others. “He thrives on providing service to others, mentoring whenever he can. “Life keeps going on and when I think about my purpose, it motivates me. “Riley’s hobby is to continually foster the mindset of becoming a better person by reading self help books to improve mental resilience and self-confidence. “He wants to become his best self and a strong attitude enables you to weather any storm.”

Riley loves to travel and see new places. His time in Japan, Bali Indonesia and Hawaii fed this passion. Riley Sedam now wants to explore Europe. His spare time is spent outdoors, and he loves spending time at the lake with his family.

His word of wisdom is to share your knowledge with others. Use the resources PMI offers and volunteer. “We are all here to help each other and utilize our community. So be ready and willing to help each other. Take the time to volunteer, it enriches your life and those you help.” Riley shared that he has learned a lot from the community, and they won’t let you fail.