Culture and behaviors are inseparable facets of human existence, intricately interwoven in the tapestry of societies around the world. As diverse as humanity itself, culture defines our beliefs, values, traditions, and customs, while behaviors reflect our actions, attitudes, and interactions.

Within a professional organization, culture is the collective set of values, beliefs, behaviors, norms, and communication styles that define its identity and influence the interactions and work environment of its members. It sets the tone for collaboration, decision-making, and overall organizational effectiveness.

So, how does PMI define culture?

“Our culture is a community wide agreement of how we get things done, how we treat each other, and how we can all expect to be treated”.

It includes the following important elements:

• How we collaborate with each other
• How we act
• What it feels like to volunteer or work with PMI
• Our mindset, behaviors, and attitudes

At PMI, our systems and processes are WHAT we do. HOW we do them, the mindset and behaviors we choose, is culture. When we talk about organizational culture at PMI, we are talking about our communities of staff and volunteers, not the wider project management community.

What are the Culture Values and Behaviors at PMI?

• Make it Easy
• Aim Higher
• Be Welcoming
• Embrace Curiosity
• Together we can

Over the next several newsletters, we will delve deeper into each of these culture values and behaviors. Check out the PMI Culture Hub to learn more.

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.

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