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Mom's Pantry Volunteer Event

Calling All-Compassionate Volunteers: Join Us at Mom's Pantry on September 23, 2023!

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,

Are you ready to make a tangible difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity in our community? We are thrilled to announce that we are planning our second annual volunteer event at Mom’s Pantry and would like to extend an exclusive invitation to all members of the PMI Phoenix Chapter to join us on September 23!

About Mom's Pantry:

Mom's Pantry is a local non-profit organization dedicated to combating hunger and providing essential food items to those in need. Our mission aligns perfectly with the spirit of giving back that we cherish within the PMI Phoenix community. Since our inception, we have been at the forefront of the fight against food insecurity, ensuring that no family in our neighborhood goes without a meal.

Volunteer Spotlight May 2023 - Amy Sutherland

Amy became a PMI member in 2015 and was part of PMI Chicago chapter until 2018 when she moved to the sunny state of Arizona and joined the PMI Phoenix chapter.

She started her career as a process manager and moved through various career stages, including an extensive stint as Executive Assistant  to the C Suite leaders. She was always fascinated by the extensive breadth of a Project manager role as it lets her utilize skills like organizing and planning. She worked as a Project manager  in corporate where she worked with the Executive team, and worked on various high-level strategy projects like acquisitions, non-GMO strategy, structured processes, projects and programs, rebranding and systems implementation  . She is also very passionate about estate management and led the creation of a website called www.myestateneeds.com  where she created a checklist of important information helpful for anyone looking for estate management needs. She also wrote a chapter in a book called Wisdom of the Silver Sisters ~ The Last Gift.  

For the last few years, she took a break from the corporate world to focus on personal well-being and other creative pursuits and she now feels ready to come back to the traditional corporate roles and is actively looking for opportunities.

At PMI Phoenix chapter, she is a Mentorship Team Manager in Ken Goebel’s team since November last year. She got involved with the Mentorship Team and immediately made an impact. She used her strengths like creating the organizational structure in SharePoint; developing Excel database and pivot tables for all mentorship members; documenting and updating mentorship process (via Visio); Documented mentorship program process steps and actions, which helps run the activities of the mentorship function smoothly.

Her advice to anyone looking to volunteer at PMI Phoenix is “If you want help support others and / or gain experience, this is a safe place to grow, learn and develop.  You have a whole group of like-minded individuals ready to support you while you are supporting others.  It is a wonderful community feel.”

According to her she recently discovered her hidden talent “During covid, I learned how to make pie crust and now make pies and quiches.  The friends who have had my pie now call me “Martha Stewart.”  The friends who haven’t don’t believe it.  J “

The proudest moment of her professional life was when she got her PMP certificate.  Her company didn’t require it but supported her through the process.  She found a support group and learned how to study and take tests.  It was a journey of personal and professional growth for her.

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She loves to travel and spent time in Europe when she was in her teens and has fond memories of various trips especially her time in Germany.

Here favorite quote is from Alan Cohen – “It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.” 

ASU Study Proposal

Hello PMI Phoenix,

I (Dr. Emily Mertz) and my colleague, Dr. Elizabeth Castillo, with the Faculty Leadership and Integrative Studies at Arizona State University, invite you to participate in completing a survey as part of our research on sustainability in project management, A Pilot Study: A Multi-Scale Study of Factors that Enable and Constrain Sustainability Change and Green Project Management in Organizations.

We are conducting a research study to: 1) explore how to operationalize sustainability in practice and apply it to specific projects; 2) bridge the disconnect between academic knowledge and practical need for tools, techniques, and methodologies for sustainability solutions; and, 3) develop a systems view of how elements at multiple scales (e.g., individual project managers, project management offices, and organizational culture, policies, and structures) intertwine to promote or constrain adoption of sustainable project management practices and organizational sustainability initiatives.

Despite the emerging recognition of the importance of integrating sustainability and project management, there remains a lack of understanding on how to operationalize sustainability in practice and apply it to specific projects.  Your participation in this research study will allow us to assess this gap by identifying relevant factors at multiple scales to generate recommendations and a toolkit that facilitates the adoption of sustainable project management in various organizational types (e.g., private, public, nonprofit) within different industries.  This research could contribute to a critical gap in project management on how to operationalize sustainable project management theory into practice.

Your participation in this study is voluntary.  If you choose not to participate or to withdraw from the study at any time, there is no penalty to you.  There are no foreseeable risks or discomforts to your participation. You must be 18 or older to participate in the study. 

The anticipated time frame for the collection of the survey data is June 19 - July 7.  This survey will be followed with recruitment to participate in focus group interviews anticipated July 24 -August 11, 2023, depending on participant availability.  We expect that individuals will spend 15 minutes participating in the survey followed by a one-hour focus group (if you choose to participate) for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes for the proposed research activities.  If you are interested in completing this 15-minute survey to help advance research in sustainable project management, please follow this link to the survey.

If you are interested in learning more about the study proposal or the research grant, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a copy.

Letter From the Board Chair

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,

Boy, do I have a lot to report since my last letter to you in March: First, I want to share that this is now our 45th year as a PMI Chapter! We are actively planning a fall celebration to mark this milestone. Watch for more information about the event. We’re in need of an Event Project Manager and Event Coordinator to assist in planning this event. If you’re interested, see the details here.

In more exciting news, Shane Cretacci, our Past-Board Chair has received the 2023 PMI Chapter Leadership Impact Award. Shane served as the Board Chair during the pandemic period when multiple board director roles were vacant. While filling those responsibilities, he helped to successfully launch our robust social good program and partnered to participate in the PMI Xchange events. In addition, he implemented a virtual platform and multiple process efficiencies that enabled our chapter to provide member value during Covid. Help me congratulate Shane for his outstanding leadership and commitment to this Chapter!

I again want to mention our partnership with the PMI Tucson Chapter and Arizona State University (ASU) Project Management Network to offer a two-day Project Management Summit this fall: September 29th will provide a virtual option, and September 30th will be an all-day in-person option. You can attend one or both, so mark your calendars and be watching for news on this exciting event.

We are working on infusing a diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) strategy across the entire chapter in all that we do. We are committed to ensuring we proactively consider and evaluate how we represent and support all our members and volunteers. Help us make this a welcoming and inclusive chapter.

Our annual Board of Director elections nominations has just opened: We are looking for one Board Chair-Elect and three Board Directors. If you’re interested or want to see more about what this might mean, check out the details here. I began volunteering to grow my project management connections and community in the Phoenix area, and I have been rewarded with both personal and professional growth as a result. You never know what you can learn by taking on a new role or helping out on an event.

Did you know we have a PMI Phoenix Job Board and a link to the PMI Job Board? If you’re looking for a job in project management or have a job to post, check out these resources.

I also want to recognize the outstanding commitment of our volunteers. We are a volunteer-run organization, and I am consistently amazed at what we can do with volunteers who have only a couple of hours a week or month to help. Through our volunteers we have been able to offer exceptional programs and events, such as:

  • Three eight-week PMP Credential Study Groups each year to help people prepare for their PMP exam. Our last study group ended May 6th and the next Study Group begins July 8th. We are looking for both participants and facilitators.
  • Providing judges for the annual International Christian School STEM Competition April 22nd at Grand Canyon University – the competition provides STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) competitions for students in grades 7-12 at Christian schools across the United States and internationally. Our Academic Outreach volunteers work to establish relationships and collaborations with schools and universities to educate about project management principles. If you’re interested in helping, check out the volunteer opportunities.
  • Two Mentorship Programs each year – the last group graduated May 17th and our next one will begin this summer – it is continually growing, so if you’re interested in being mentored or being a mentor, be watching for the announcement.
  • Our monthly speaker breakfast meeting that routinely averages 100 attendees – the variety of speakers and information offered for professional development is always exceptional. Check out our past breakfast meeting recordings in our webinar library.
  • In-person networking events both in the Phoenix and Yuma areas, with plans to expand to other areas around the state. If you live in an area outside of the Phoenix metropolitan area and are interested in hosting a networking event in your area, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
  • Partnerships with PMI Authorized Training Partners and the International Institute for Learning (IIL). These partnerships bring you valuable training and professional development opportunities.

Watch our newsletter, Facebook page, Instagram, LinkedIn, and website for details on all these programs and events, along with much more. If you are interested in volunteering, click here.

To stay up to date on everything your membership provides you, keep an eye on our monthly calendar, as we add new speakers and events throughout the month.

Thank you for joining the PMI Phoenix Chapter. You are a valued member, and I want you to get as much benefit from your membership as you can. 

Stephanie Hanko

2023 PMI Phoenix Chapter Board Chair

Volunteer Spotlight - Andrea Jones

Andrea Jones has been a PMI member since 2020 and decided to join the Phoenix chapter last year as part of her preparation for her PMP certification. She has been working for the last 20 years in event planning and administration till she decided to go for PMP certification and got a job as a Project Manager which she really enjoys doing now. She is now leading multimillion $ projects which are helping her organization's growth plans.

She is a volunteer in the membership team led by Milan Dordevic. As a membership manager in the Yuma area, she utilized her leadership skills and efforts to initiate and host two in-person networking events so far, with phenomenal responses and attendance of about 15-20 Project Management professionals each time.

According to her “I wanted to grow a PM community in my local community of Yuma, AZ, something I saw a need for and didn’t have so I decided to take charge and start the effort here with the support of our leadership in Phoenix.”

 

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When asked about the most rewarding experience of this journey so far – she says her most memorable experience has been getting to meet and connect with other PMs in my community from various industries. Also rewarding has been helping to connect future PMI members with resources we have available that may assist them in their current or future PM role.   “As a volunteer I was participating in something bigger than myself and giving back.  That is rewarding “. 

She has some words of wisdom for new volunteers based on her own experience so far - “Although I joined PMI Global, I didn’t really engage with PMI fully until I became a member of the local chapter then eventually became a volunteer”. She also recalls from her experience being patient with new initiatives, things sometimes look like taking more time but understand that it will happen - keep the faith and lean on team members as and when needed.

 

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Outside of work and volunteering, she is an active member in the community, she is a mom and a soccer coach and loves to cook. She volunteers as a soccer coach for her daughter's soccer team. She is very involved in her daughters' sports activities and help whenever she can. She loves to travel and hopes to travel to Europe in near future. 

PMI Phoenix Board of Directors Elections

 

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Every year the PMI Phoenix Chapter holds an election for offices on the Board of Directors. The PMI Phoenix Chapter Board of Directors is responsible for:

  • Adhering to the Chapter’s mission and vision
  • Growing project management talent through professional development and volunteer opportunities
  • Delivering quality educational and networking opportunities and maintaining high quality technology through the website, newsletter, virtual access, and audio/visual presentations
  • Marketing the Chapter to earn new members
  • Creating strong external business and academic partnerships
  • Achieving the Chapter’s financial goals as a non-profit
  • Ensuring Chapter administration and governance aligns with PMI Global 

Serving on the Board takes time and dedication but is very rewarding. As a Board member, you have the opportunity of expanding your skills and professional network while impacting the strategic direction of the Chapter, all while earning PDUs!

Board positions up for election are listed below; each position requires a two year term:

  • Treasurer/ Director of Finance 
  • Board Director (duties determined by the board)
  • Board Director (duties determined by the board)
  • Board Director (duties determined by the board)
  • Board Director (duties determined by the board)
  • Board Director (duties determined by the board)

Details of each position’s responsibilities can be found here in the Board of Directors Roles and Responsibilities document.

How do I know if I qualify?

To run in the election, a nominee must:

  • Be a Chapter member in good standing at the time of the election
  • Receive at least three nominations
  • Agree to serve in the position for which I am nominated

How do I get nominated?

  • Any Chapter member in good standing may nominate another member 
  • A Chapter member may nominate him or herself as one of the three nominations
  • Nominations are submitted by an e-form at Chapter Elections Nominations under Current Opportunities (scroll down to Call for Nominations at bottom of page).  

What is the elections process for 2024?

  • The call for nominations begins May 1
  • PMI Phoenix Chapter Nominations Committee evaluates nominees May 1 - June 30
  • Nominee’s agreement to be on ballot
  • Resume submission
  • Panel interview from Nominations Committee
  • Nominations Committee confirm nominees and requests presentations in July 
  • Ballot finalized by July 30
  • Nominee's presentation to PMI Phoenix Chapter members in July
  • Elections open August 1
  • Elections close September 30
  • Results presentation to PMI Phoenix Chapter members in October
  • Transition of outgoing board to incoming board (includes shadowing of outgoing board by incoming board) October - December

If you have questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.