Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members, 
We are finally getting to the end of a very hot summer and are looking forward to our Arizona Project Management Summit which is taking place virtually October 18^th and in person October 19^th. You can attend one or both, so mark your calendars and be watching for news on this exciting event. The PM Summit is a continued collaboration with the PMI Tucson Chapter and Arizona State University (ASU) PM Network as a result of the success of the inaugural summit last year. This is sure to build on the success of that summit! 

Our annual Board of Director elections are underway for your new board directors. Make sure to get your votes in before September 20^th.  

I wanted to call attention to the growing project management networks – the Yuma Changemakers and the Flagstaff PMI Network – that meet regularly outside of the Phoenix metro area. We continue to work to continue our outreach outside of the Phoenix Metro area. If you are interested in helping support new networks, contact Cynthia Ford at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Did you know we have a PMI Phoenix LinkedIn Job Fair 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. 

We have officially launched our Project Management Toolkit, an introductory guide to the field of project management. This Toolkit is a set of materials for volunteers and teachers to use in teaching students (and other!) about project management to use in schools or other organizations wanting to understand project management. 

Have you checked out our new Wellness Corner on our website? These short, easy to read, but insightful articles feature a perspective we all need in our work lives, a reminder to focus on wellness. If you have any articles you’d like to submit to the Wellness Corner, send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

I want to recognize the outstanding commitment of our volunteers. We are a volunteer-run organization, and it is remarkable 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: 

• Offering our Credential Study Groups. These study groups have consistently helped individuals prepare for their PMP exams. This summer, a pilot group launched to prepare individuals for their CAPM exam. The feedback was so positive, we will be integrating a CAPM Study Group into our rotation of credential study groups available each year to help people prepare for either their CAPM or PMP exams.  

• Graduating from one Mentorship Program cohort on February 28. The next Mentorship Program cohort is preparing to begin on September 18.

• Hosting monthly speaker breakfast meetings that continue to routinely average 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 Phoenix Fusion Networking events that rotate around the Phoenix metro area monthly to engage members and recognize volunteers for their hard work. 

• 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.  

Shane Cretacci 

PMI Phoenix Chapter Board Chair 

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,

I hope you all had a great holiday season and are making steady progress on your 2024 professional development goals. It saddens me to inform you that I need to step aside as PMI Phoenix Board Chair due to health issues. Shane Cretacci is assuming the Board Chair role. I will become the Past Board Chair and support Shane as I can. I have been so honored to be your Board Chair and to be part of this incredible Chapter. 

Help me welcome Shane Cretacci who is stepping in as the Board Chair. Shane has been the Past Board Chair, having served as Board Chair from 2021 – 2022. In addition, Shane has been involved as a volunteer with the Phoenix Chapter since 2016, and has been on the Board of Directors in some capacity since 2018. He also received the 2023 Chapter Leader of the Year Award, so I know you are in good hands.

So far this year, we have been working with the Board of Directors to finalize our strategic objectives and 2024 budget so we can submit to PMI for our annual Chapter renewal. Each year our Chapter must be renewed, and this key milestone brings with it increased opportunities for collaboration and funding from PMI.

As we look ahead into 2024, our strategic goals include:

• Monthly Phoenix Fusion Networking for new members to join and connect with existing chapter members. These lively evening events are rotated around the valley in different locations, and are designed for those who've recently joined, those who've been with us for a while, and those curious about our community. These new events average 40-50 attendees each month.
• A Project Management Summit, again with our ASU PM Network and PMI Tucson Chapter partners, planned for this fall to have a virtual day of speakers and a full day of in-person speakers. Our goal is to expand the attendees and breath of topics - more to come!
• Social good events both in the Phoenix metro area as well as in areas around the state. Our goal is to expand our reach!
• Outreach to military members as they transition from military life into a project management career.
• Increase collaboration with our university and academic partners to engage students in project management principles, practices, and careers.
• Continue the programs and events that are foundational to our Chapter, such as our Breakfast Meetings, Study Group, and Mentorship Program, along with many others.

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 we want you to get as much benefit from your membership as you can. 

Stephanie Hanko

Outgoing 2024 PMI Phoenix Chapter Board Chair

Shane Cretacci

Incoming 2024 PMI Phoenix Chapter Board Chair

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members, 

Happy holidays! Since last I wrote, we were selected by PMI as Chapter of the Year in Category III (>1500 members)! That’s out of the 300 PMI Chapters around the world! I am honored to be part of this incredible Chapter. The PMI Chapter of the Year Awards program recognizes and celebrates those chapters that have made significant contributions to members, the project management profession, and Project Management Institute. Our Chapter builds opportunities for all our members to engage, learn, grow, network, give back, and support each other in our project management journey. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. It is all of us together that has made this a truly special Chapter that PMI has recognized.  

Help me welcome Heather Cardosi, Aaron Jang, and Sean Ryan to our Board of Directors. These three outstanding individuals have committed their time and energy to our Chapter to help support the vision and mission and ensure we continue to execute our strategic objectives to continue to carry our chapter forward. 

I want to once again thank our corporate partner, Nextiva, for providing space in their beautiful training facility for the PMI Phoenix Board of Directors to meet during day-long strategy sessions. Their hospitality and partnership have been invaluable to allow us to plan and move forward on many initiatives this past year. 

As I look back over 2023, our Chapter has held many programs and events: 

Our monthly virtual breakfast meeting, hosted by Paul Bartal, on the last Friday of each month (with adjustments for holidays) is regularly attended by 100+ participants. The breakfast meetings are speaker events to address current topics and trends in project management, but so much more: They provide a forum for networking, recognition of certification achievement, and a place to share if they are looking for jobs or have jobs opportunities to fill. It’s a community of project managers and project management professionals coming together to network and grow. 
We’ve launched monthly Phoenix Fusion Networking for new members to join and connect with existing chapter members. These lively evening events are rotated around the valley in different locations, and are designed for those who've recently joined, those who've been with us for a while, and those curious about our community. These new events average 40-50 attendees each month. 
Our Social Good Team just completed a full year of events, with five events this year. In addition, during our 45th Anniversary Celebration picnic the Social Good Team organized building hygiene kits to distribute to local non-profit groups serving the homeless. 
The PMI Phoenix Chapter participates in two collaborative chapter meeting programs that bring different content and viewpoints outside the Phoenix Metro Area:  
We are in our third year of participating in the PMI Chapter Xchange Program and were only the second US-based chapter when we entered the program. The PMI Chapter Xchange has grown to include 26 chapters and provides a unique, diverse, and worldview experience to our chapter members.  
We began collaborating with the PMI Los Angeles multi-chapter meetings in 2022. These meetings currently include eight chapters and are offered monthly to our members. These meetings offer differing regional views and are very popular with members who travel between chapter cities. 
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

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,  I hope your summer was healthy and safe. Now that fall is almost here, so is our Arizona PM Summit! This extraordinary adventure is waiting for you, ready t...

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

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,  Spring is here and the Board has been actively working to design and enhance our service offerings for you. As part of thes...

ear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,  Thank you for your support during the last elections process. I am excited and honored to be your incoming Board Chair. It i...

My Term as Chair ended yesterday, 12/31/22, and I will move to the role of past Chair for the next year and will still be on the board in that capacity. It has been a difficult tenure as president and different from what I thought I would be doing when I ran for office. We navigated the pandemic well and have emerged as a more vital organization. I am proud of the team that worked hard to maintain the chapter during the pandemic and all we accomplished.
The board has been jam-packed with activity in December, and we attended the PMI Global Summit as a team with many volunteers and chapter members. We have five new board members, so we have spent a lot of time training and working on a strategy for next year. We have a fully staffed board for the first time in two years, and I am excited to see what this team can do. I recognize our departing board members, Cory Smith, and Chris Gentry, for their contributions to the chapter over the last few years. Stephanie Hanko will take over the chair position for 2023, and I look forward to her leadership. Also joining the board are newly elected board members Milan Dordevic, Derick Brownell, Cynthia Ford, Danielle Lee, Jen Lang, and Pitch Balasubramanian.
As always, we are looking for new volunteers. We welcome you if you have a passion for project management and want to make a difference in the profession and your community. If you are interested, you can apply here: https://pmiphx.org/volunteer-opportunities. Stay tuned for more information from the chapter on new initiatives and upcoming events in 2023. I hope to see you at an event in the new year.

We completed our chapter elections at the end of September. I am pleased to welcome six new board members to the board, and they will bring new energy and ideas to the chapter. We will introduce them to the membership during our annual all-member meeting on November 9th at 6 p.m. We will also review our performance this year to our yearly plan and take questions from the membership during this session.

Our third social good event is underway this year with the One Warm Coat charitable foundation. I hope those that can participate by donating a coat or other needed apparel item will do so or join in the virtual drive by donating cash. One Warm Coat is a great cause and a worthy charity.

We are also in the second week of our last Study Group for the year. Study Group is an excellent way to prep for the CAPM or PMP test. If you know anyone preparing, recommend the chapter study group as a way to get started.

ProjectMasters Toastmasters has started hybrid meetings. They are now meeting in person at the Tempe Library and online. I highly recommend this group if you need to work on your public speaking. If Tempe is not convenient, then you can join the meeting virtually!

We have three significant events on the calendar in October.

1. PMI Chapter Xchange: Project Management for Innovation, R&D, and Fuzzy projects
2. Multi-Chapter Meeting | NASA's New Program Management Organization: Challenges and Forward Plans
3. Daily Execution, Extraordinary Results

There is still plenty of time to register for these events. Don't miss out on these opportunities!

June 2022

Letter from the Board Chair

We need you to run for a board member position!

The chapter has opened the nominations for Board.  We currently have 5 Board positions up for nomination in this election cycle.  Those positions are posted on the chapter website on our Elections page.  The Chapter Board is an excellent place for project managers to gain experience in leading and managing an organization.  Many of our members would be excellent board members but have never thought they were qualified to do so.  So, what qualifications do you need to have to run for the board?

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 he or she is 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

If you’re interested in running reach out to our elections team.  If you think you may have an issue getting the three nominations required, then please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Let me answer some common questions about the board.

What kind of commitment will this involve?

Board members are expected to be actively involved and visibly present at a variety of chapter events as they relate to their duties. An elected board member can expect to spend up to 10 - 30 hours a month on their duties. It varies with the role. As a board member, you will have one or more teams that report to you and there will be additional meetings to manage teams and projects. In addition, elected board members must attend monthly Board meetings (approximately 2.5 hours), the annual strategic planning events (1 or 2 days), an annual Director meeting (half day), and monthly Chapter meetings.

What are the benefits of serving as a board member?

As a board member, you will have an opportunity to develop your own management, leadership, and project management skills. The Chapter will provide leadership development opportunities for its board members, which may include attending PMI Regional Meetings and PMI Global Leadership Institute Meetings (LIM). Being a board member provides you with great networking opportunities and of course up to 25 PDUs per certification cycle.

I'm interested in being considered for an elected board member role, what's the next step?

If you are ready to take the next step, please contact the Elections Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Letter from the Board Chair

April 1, 2022

Arizona is transitioning from a pandemic to a post-pandemic operation, and so is the chapter.  The governor rescinded the state's emergency Covid order on March 30.  The chapter board had already planned on resuming in-person meetings, and we are working on the first in-person chapter meeting in May.  To restart in-person meetings, we need to rebuild our volunteer teams.  We have had great success building out our Study Group, Mentor, and Social Good teams but not as many volunteers for chapter operations like events.   If you have the time and want to volunteer, please apply here.

We have a social good initiative we started last week for the Humanitarian mission for the Red Cross in Ukraine.  If you can contribute to this campaign, please do so here.  We plan on implementing at least one social good project per quarter and hope to have an in-person project for the third quarter.

We have two events on the calendar this month with ProjectMasters Toastmasters.  If you're not aware, the chapter sponsors a toastmaster's club where you can earn PDUs by attending the meetings.  At ProjectMasters, you learn what it takes to master the arts of speaking, listening, and thinking--while still having a lot of fun! ProjectMasters focuses on networking with other professionals, developing public speaking skills, giving and receiving constructive feedback, and enhancing your leadership skills. They are still meeting virtually, so it's a great time to test out a meeting.

At the PMI Chapter Xchange Meeting on April 22, Christopher Gentry, a PMI Phoenix Board member, will be a panelist.   This month's topic is "The Great Resignation or the Great Rethink." Join the event for what is sure to be a great discussion.

We have Miriam Spinner presenting "Positive Intelligence" at the breakfast meeting on April 29.  You can register for the event here.

I hope to see you at one of these events this month or a future in-person event as we transition to those events.

Happy New Year!  I hope that everyone had a good holiday break and the opportunity to visit with friends and family.

The last year has been challenging and during that time the volunteers at the chapter have been laying the groundwork for 2022.  We passed new by-laws last year allowing the board to break out of old silos and become a more agile group.  We hope that this change will allow us the ability to respond quickly to the changing environment and needs of the chapter membership.  We will continue to work on this organizational change in 2022.

We also elected several new board members and are in the process of finalizing our 2022 strategy with this new team.  Part of that strategy will include more efforts in the area of Social Good.  While this has always been a part of what the chapter does we are committing more volunteers and hours in this area.

Are you wondering what is Social Good is?  Social good is something that benefits the largest number of people in the largest possible way, such as clean air, clean water, healthcare, and literacy. Also known as the "common good," social good can trace its history to Ancient Greek philosophers and implies a positive impact on individuals or society in general. It also provides the basis for charity or philanthropic work.

Current and Ongoing Social Good Initiatives that the chapter has underway are our Future Cities participation and our Food Drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank.  We are looking to expand these types of initiatives in 2022.  In order to do that we will need volunteers.  We are accepting applications for volunteer work and our volunteer pool.  If you wish to participate in a future social good initiative, then please apply for our volunteer pool here to be added to the list.

We also have some great events coming up in January and the rest of the year.  I hope to see you at an event soon.

• 1/12 - The Science of Planning a Project that #GSD
• 1/19 - Agile Straight Talk
• 1/26 - Transformational Leadership Program
• 1/28 - Breakfast Meeting: the project Management Journey

We have four great webinars scheduled for Arizona Project Management Week next week. We will also be conducting our Annual All Member Meeting on Wednesday. We will be discussing the chapter's progress this year and introducing the new board members as well. We have a great speaker after the meeting with Dr. Eric Wright, who will be discussing "Developing a Proven Influence Mindset to Improve Project Delivery." I hope to see you there.

The board recently met to discuss our goals for 2022. We have aligned ourselves with PMI's new strategic plan, which emphasizes youth and "social good" programs. The chapter is looking to partner with local non-profits for "social good" initiatives. If you volunteer or work with a local non-profit that could benefit from a partnership, please let us know at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In addition to that, the chapter will continue its virtual programs. That has extended our reach to those outside the metro phoenix area that we serve. We are planning to return to in-person meetings as soon as the situation allows. If you have a topic or speaker that you would like to recommend for next year, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we will add that topic or speaker to our list.

This chapter is an all-volunteer organization, and we can only accomplish our goals with volunteers like you. So if you have some time you can dedicate to the chapter, please let us know by signing up to volunteer. Would you please sign up here https://pmiphx.org/volunteer-opportunitiesif you are willing to be part of a volunteer pool that we use for events?

Thank you to the chapter volunteers who ran the chapter for 2021, and thank you for your participation! We look forward to seeing you in person next year!

It’s September, and I am looking forward to cooling temperatures coming soon. The chapter has been busy the last two months. We recently concluded our latest Board Election in August. The special election for the By-Laws ends on September 21st. We will be introducing our new board members for the 2022 year at our All-Member Meeting on October 27th. We will also review our results to date for 2021.

There are a lot of significant events coming up in the next couple of months. The chapter has partnered with the ASU PM Network for “Level UP” at the 2021 ASU PM Summit. The ASU PM Summit is a half-day event with four tracks. There is an opportunity to earn up to 16 PDU’s via recorded webinars. However, you need to register in advance as registration will be closed after the event concludes on September 29th.  

Our last study group of the year starts on October 9th. So if you know anyone working on their PMP, make sure you recommend the study group.

The chapter is holding its annual Arizona Project Management Week from October 25th through the 29th. We have an event each day that week.  View and Register for those events here.

In November, we are partnering and sponsoring the Arizona Agile Conference. The conference is a two-day event with a great lineup of speakers. Early Bird Registration is open now. If you miss it, we will have a discount code for members for standard registration. You can check out the link to the conference on our website here.

The Board of Director’s Election opened on August 1st.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to vote, please check your inbox for an email from PMI Phoenix Chapter Nominations And Election Committee <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>.  The election closes soon, so make sure your vote is counted and cast your ballot.

In addition to the Board of Directors election, we will be holding a special election in September for a By-Laws Revision.  Please weigh in on that as well.  This revision changes the board's structure and gives the board more agility to react to the changing needs of the chapter. The ballot will be sent out on September 6th.  You can read more about the change and review the new by-laws at this link on the chapter website.

Looking ahead to the next few months, we have some significant events planned.  We are staying virtual for the time being as expected covid surge has coincided with the return to school.  We will continue to conduct risk assessments as it relates to holding live events on a month-by-month basis.  If you haven’t been vaccinated and are eligible, I encourage you to get the vaccine.  That is the quickest way back to normalcy for everyone.

We have a great list of upcoming events:

8/18 – Webinar: Effective Communication: At The Office Or Working From Home

8/21 – PMI Chapter Xchange - Design Thinking in Project Management

8/24 – Project Masters - Toastmasters

8/27 – Breakfast Meeting - How to network and build your business or career when you can’t leave home

We also have a special event with the ASU PM Summit on 9/29.  The chapter has partnered with ASU PM Network and the VPMMA for the virtual summit, and you will have the opportunity to earn 16 PDU’s throughout the event.  The event is virtual, and all the speakers will be recorded, and those recordings will be available post-event.  The event is free so sign up at this link today to attend.

All this information is distributed in our weekly newsletter. If you don't get our newsletter currently and would like to sign up for it you can do so on the chapter website's front page.

If you have any questions or have suggestions for chapter value enhancement, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you for your membership.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

Shane Cretacci, PMP

Chapter President

PMI Phoenix Chapter

It's mid-July, and the monsoon has arrived in the Valley, bringing change in our typical weather pattern. 

The chapter is also looking forward to changing in the next election. In addition to new board members, we are proposing a change to the chapter by-laws. 

This proposed by-law change affects the board structure explicitly. The proposed by-laws will change our current rigid 12-person board structure with defined roles to a more flexible 7 to 11 board members with no specific role assigned. The board will determine each board member's responsibilities based on their skill set and bandwidth for the job. The new by-laws allow the board to adapt quickly to the changing needs of the chapter.

Keep an eye out for your Ballot, which will is emailed to members on August 1st.

We have had an intentionally quiet July with pandemic restrictions lifted the Suns in the playoffs and many members taking a long overdue vacation. Many members (and Volunteers) travel in July, and we have noted that from the activity of the past few years. We have many significant events coming up in the next few months. Notably, we are partnering with ASU for their ASU PM Summit put on by the ASU PM Network. It has been a great collaboration so far, and we are looking forward to the event. 

Randy Black, the immediate past chair on the PMI Board of Directors, will be the closing keynote speaker. I hope you can attend this virtual event that is free for our members.

Additionally, we are partnering with Agile Arizona again this year with their event that will be offered in November. There will be an announcement soon on dates, so keep a lookout for that addition to the calendar.

All this information is distributed in our weekly newsletter. If you don't get our newsletter currently and would like to sign up for it you can do so on the chapter website's front page.

If you have any questions or have suggestions for chapter value enhancement, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Thank you for your membership.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

It’s summer in Phoenix, and the heat has come back in full force. The chapter typically slows down in June, July, and August as members take a vacation and get out of town to beat the heat. It is especially true this year as many people will travel after being homebound for the last year. The chapter has intentionally reduced the number of events on our calendar for the summer.

We worked very hard throughout the pandemic to switch to all virtual events and bring you events that would help you professionally and help provide you with additional activities during a difficult time. We are now looking to get back to in-person events as well. Virtual and Hybrid events will be a part of our offering moving forward. Our goal is to make all our events available to as many members as possible. The Phoenix chapter serves the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area. Still, we also serve the PM communities in most of Arizona except for Tucson and the south and east of that city.

The board is resuming in-person meetings in June. Our first in-person board meeting is on June 28th. Members are welcome to attend the open session of the board meeting via Webex and can submit questions to the board during the question-and-answer session. Register to attend remotely here.

We are working on our upcoming elections, and the nomination committee is screening and interviewing candidates for board positions. The nomination period closes on June 30th, so if you know someone or would like to run yourself, please complete a nomination form here.

If a board position seems like too much of a commitment, but you would still like to volunteer for the chapter, please fill out an application here. The Phoenix Chapter can always use more volunteers. As we move back to operating in a non-pandemic environment, we will be engaging in more social good initiatives, and we will need your help with those causes.

I hope to see you at the chapter event virtually and soon in person.

Each nominee must meet the following qualifications:

• 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 he or she is nominated
• Any Chapter member in good standing may nominate another member
• A Chapter member may select him or herself as one of the three nominations
• The President-Elect must have served six months as a PMI® Board member within the last two years before taking office.

It is a great honor to be nominated to serve on the board. Most people are selected because they have a passion for project management or have specific skills to contribute to the Chapter. There are pros and cons to serving on the board.  

The number of pros is numerous and will benefit you for a lifetime. The first is listing that position on your resume. Employers will give you credit for volunteering for a non-profit board. They will likely want to know more about your involvement, especially any knowledge or skills you acquired during your time on the board. You will also have many professional development opportunities presented by PMI and the Chapter on leadership and governance. You will also have the opportunity to expand your network, which can be very beneficial in other areas of your life. Finally, serving on the board will allow you to give back to the community and the profession and impact the next generation of project managers.

There are some cons. 

The pay is terrible. As a volunteer, there is no monetary compensation for your time. But time is all that the Chapter will ask of you. You will be required to attend all scheduled board meetings, which is one a month plus the additional time to fulfill your role's duties. A complete list of the job responsibilities for each board position is available here. Anyone considering running for a board position should also be familiar with the Articles of Incorporation and the Chapter Bylaws posted on the chapter website here.

If you're considering running for a position, then I encourage you to reach out to a sitting board member and ask them to chat about serving on the board. It's a great way to learn and possibly gather a nomination for yourself. 

If you're not sure a board position is correct for you at the moment, consider volunteering in a different capacity to learn more about the Chapter. We are always looking for volunteers, and you can apply here.

The chapter has fielded some inquiries as to when we may be holding in-person meetings. Last year, we decided, based on the information available we would not hold in-person meetings until at least the late third quarter of 2021. While we have made significant strides in safety and rolling out the vaccine, we are on track with the predictions made last year.

This morning I received my 2nd Dose at State Farm Stadium. If you haven’t been and are medically eligible, I encourage you to get vaccinated.

Vaccinations started on Dec 17th in Maricopa County, and since that date, we have administered 1.5 million adults in Maricopa County. That is 40% of the eligible adults that can receive the vaccine. Out of that, 975,000 have received their second dose or the 1st dose of a one-dose series. As a state, the numbers are not as good. 1.74 million people have been vaccinated to date, making up 24% of the population of Arizona. We still have a long way to go. We will continue to monitor the progress of the pandemic in the county and state.

Putting on in-person events also takes a lot of volunteers. Our programs team will need to add volunteers to put on events once we can. If we could meet in person tomorrow, we would not have enough volunteers to make that happen. If you feel strongly about in-person events, then please volunteer and help the chapter conduct those events. If you would like to volunteer, you can complete a volunteer application here.

For information on vaccination, ADHS offers a bilingual COVID-19 Vaccine Navigation Help Desk at 844.542.8011 for those needing extra assistance with registration and answers to questions. You can also visit their website at podvaccine.azdhs.gov.

Last month I discussed earning and reporting PDU's. This topic was timely because my PMP certification is up for renewal in May. I also needed to renew my PMI membership in February. I have auto-renewal turned on, so it processed to my credit card without my intervention or remembering to do so.

I am a big fan of automation, where I can implement it. I do it on my projects when it comes to status reports and following up on assigned tasks. Most of my monthly recurring bills are automated as well. So I turned on autorenewal with PMI as soon as they added it as an option. It is easy to forget that once-a-year payment.

I take inquiries from members every month who don't understand why they can't register for an event to find out their membership expired. Auto-Renewal is the best way to prevent that from happening.

Here are the main reasons a lot of people take advantage of auto-renewal:

• It's convenient
• You don't have to remember the due date of your renewal
• You don't have to visit the website to make the payment
• You don't risk forgetting to make the payment

Auto-Renewal is not on by default. To enable it, you need to turn it on. You can do that by going to PMI.org and in your profile click on membership and then click on manage membership. You can turn it on for both your PMI and Chapter membership. 

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If you don't use auto-renewal, then I recommend setting up some calendar alerts for your PMI membership and Certification Renewal, so they don't lapse.

I would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that every three years when you renew your certification, you will need to pay a renewal fee. You cannot pay the certification fee by auto-renewal. I strongly recommend setting up a calendar reminder for that.

This month I am going to talk about something we all have an interest in, PDU's. My PMP renewal is coming up this year. I am not worried as I hit my 60 PDU's last year. But there was a time when that wasn't the case, and I found myself scrambling to get the required PDU's to renew.

To avoid that situation again, I put together a plan. The first thing I did was download the CCRS handbook and break down the 60 PDU's required.

I work as a professional so check that off right away. I volunteer with the PMI Phoenix Chapter that fills out the remaining 17 PDU's of my Giving Back Category. Education I planned to primarily receive through the chapter by attending training, meetings, and webinars. The chapter holds at least one event a month, sometimes two. So that was easy. I just needed to attend one event per month, and in three years, I would have my 35 PDU's.

If you hold other PMI certifications, those have different requirements but are very similar and can be found in the CCRS handbook. If you obtain project management training or certifications outside of PMI, you can self report those as educational PDU's. An example of this would be a Certified Scrum Master Course qualifies as 6 Technical, 5 Leadership, and 5 Strategic for a total of 16 PDU's.

If you don't know how many PDU's you have, you can check your renewal status at https://my.pmi.org/. You may notice a new look to your dashboard. PMI recently rolled out an update. But behind the scenes, the reporting system is unchanged. You can still report PDU's as you have been. PMI has a guide book Continuing Certification requirements, and you can view it here.

There are many ways and resources available to chapter members to earn PDU's. The chapter offers events and webinars where you can earn PDU's. The webinar library on the website provides recordings of previous meetings and online events for viewing. At the end of the webinar, a PDU claim code will appear on the screen that you can use to claim the PDU's for that session.

Screenshot of PDU Claim Code at the end of a recorded webinar

If you are looking for PDU's the chapter has them. We send out a newsletter every Sunday letting you know what is happening in the next few weeks with the chapter. If you are not getting it in your inbox, check to see if This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is going to your junk or spam folder. That is an excellent resource to stay informed with the chapter. You can also subscribe to one of our social media channels. We have a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you are looking to earn some PDU's by giving back, we are always looking for Volunteers. You can complete a volunteer application on the website here https://pmiphx.org/volunteer-application.

I hope to see you at a chapter event!

Shane Cretacci
President
PMI Phoenix Chapter

It’s a new year, but we still are facing a unique set of challenges. I am still optimistic that change will come, and things will improve this year. The Chapter has planned on a return to in-person meetings late in the third quarter. 

We are still optimistic that this is achievable, but we will weigh the benefits vs. risks before doing so.

The return to in-person meetings means our volunteer needs will increase. During COVID, the Chapter has managed to provide virtual programs with a skeleton crew. Still, as we continue to add additional offerings and return in person, we will need volunteers from the membership to execute them.

Being a volunteer means that you are offering something – something that is not required nor an obligation. Most of the time, to volunteer, means that you are working side by side with others. 

This connects you to other human beings as you are working toward a common goal. When you volunteer, you are making connections.

Our volunteers are busy people. They have jobs, families, and obligations to tend to. They all are volunteering on their own time. If you choose to volunteer, do not overextend yourself to the extent that you will let someone down or not fulfill expectations. Do something that matters. You are choosing to use the time to work for something. Be sure to give it your best shot!

Benefits of Volunteering:

• Personal development of leadership and other soft skills in a non-threatening environment
• Peer recognition through interaction and publicity of Chapter activities
• Development of a peer network within the inner circle of volunteers
• Participation in special leadership meetings with Chapter officers
• Potential for succession to Chapter leadership positions
• The satisfaction of contributing to the Chapter’s success and celebrating it at special volunteer-only events
• Credit (PDUs) toward certification renewal

If you’re interested in volunteering, then click on the link below to learn more about volunteering with the Chapter.

https://pmiphx.org/volunteer-opportunities

Letter from the President

It’s December and the Holiday Season is upon us. Many started early with decorating and putting up trees to get into the spirit of the season.

The Board of Directors and I would like to take a moment to wish you all the best through this holiday season and to give special thanks to all our volunteers that helped us maintain the course through a difficult 2020.

This year was challenging in many ways.  Many of us had to adapt to working in new ways.  Whether you were new to working remotely or had to adapt to everyone else working remotely.  New skills were learned and shared.

I hope you had the chance to join one of the many webinars the chapter offered this year.  The chapter was able to quickly pivot to virtual events and by December 31st, 2020 will have offered 131 events this year.  I am proud of the volunteers in the chapter that made this possible.

We are going to continue the trend into the new year.  The board met in October to begin our strategic planning for 2021.  Below are some of our objectives for 2021:

• Creation of a student chapter
• Establish a Communities of Practice
• Establish a Formal Mentorship Program
• Organize 2 Community Charity Events

This will be the 42nd year for the chapter and we will continue to bring you relevant training and events to enhance your Project Management and Career skills as well.  All of our initiatives for 2021 are derived from the feedback from you, our members.  Please continue to provide that feedback.  I would like to like to thank the board and all our volunteers for their hard work this year.

Shane Cretacci, PMP

President

PMI Phoenix Chapter

Members,

The PMI Phoenix Chapter Board has started planning for next year.  To that end, we are soliciting your feedback in the annual all-member survey.  We will run this survey until November 15th to solicit your feedback on the chapter and use that to assist us in planning for next year.  You can take the survey here.

The board will be in attendance at the virtual Chapter All Member Meeting on November 18.  We will review the progress on our goals for this year and review our plan for next year.  I hope you will be able to attend.  We have an excellent presentation scheduled for that evening from our Guest Speak J. Scott, the CEO of 120VC, and his presentation on “Servant Leadership that Get’s Sh*t Done”.  Please register here to attend.

November is Project Management Month!  We have a full calendar this month.  I hope you can join us for one of the many events we have planned. 

• We have partnered with Agile Arizona this year and members will receive a discount on registration. Login to the website and check out our discounts page here.
• International Project Management Day is November 5th and IIL has a full day event planned that is also available on demand.  You can register for it here.
• We have partnered with IIBA for an event on 11/10 for “Effective Visual Presentation Skills” by Tom Otstot.
• Our Wednesday Webinar series will continue on 11/11 with Drew Middelton and Kornelia Homewood from Kolme Group and their presentation “Project Managers need to be Change Managers”.
• Our Breakfast Meeting is on Nov 20th due to the holiday. Our guest speaker is Balinda Strosnider and her topic is “How Train Difficult Stakeholders Like You Would Train a Bird of prey”.

I hope everyone is able to take time and spend it with family going into the holiday season.  This has been a difficult year and I know for some it has been extremely difficult.  The chapter is giving back to the community with our food drive for St. Mary’s Food Bank.  If you can please contribute.

Dear Members,

This is my first letter to you in the role of President. It’s a little earlier than expected as I was not due to assume this role until the end of the year. Cory has elected to step out of the role early to focus on some health issues. Cory will move to the role of past president and will still be engaged with the chapter. Cory has been an asset to the chapter for many years and I will continue to rely on her for counsel.

We are continuing to offer remote classes and webinars to the chapter membership. I hope you have been able to take advantage of a few. If not, then you can always view the recordings on the website if you find yourself needing some additional PDU’s or just are looking to brush up on a specific topic.

I have talked to quite a few members over the last few months that didn’t realize they had not renewed their chapter membership. If you had to renew this year your membership may not have auto-renewed. PMI recently upgraded to a new E-Commerce platform and I understand that it is fixed moving forward but you may want to check your membership status at https://my.pmi.org/ to ensure that your membership is current. We have an article on this topic on the website.

We have some great events planned this month.  

• PMI’s Virtual Experience series is free to members on September 9th with an opportunity to earn 10.5 PDU’s.
• Ted@PMI has a two-day event planned for 9/25 and 9/26.
• Kim Essendrup with the Kolme Group is presenting a webinar on “How Much Does a PPM Tool Cost?” on September 16th.   
• We have our final Study Group for the year starting on September 12th. We have a few seats left open but I expect those to be filled this week.  
• We wrap up the month with a special multichapter event with 8 global chapters with a panel book club covering 3 books on Digital Transformation on 9/25.

We also just completed the 2020 Board election. Congratulations to the new and returning board members heading into 2021. Congratulations to the following four newly elected board members:

• Deniese Reinhardt, Vice-President of External Relations
• Joseph Brewer, Vice-President of Technology
• Christopher Gentry, Vice-President of Programs
• Eileen Marin, Vice-President of Virtual Locations

Deniese and Joseph are already serving in their roles. Christopher and Eileen are new to the board and will start their transition this year.

The PMI Phoenix Chapter is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to giving back to the profession and our community. If you have time to offer even a couple of hours a month, please reach out and fill out a volunteer application.

Shane Cretacci

President

PMI Phoenix Chapter

August 2020

Dear Members,

The chapter is still providing continued education with certification courses, PMP study groups, webinars, and career services. We remain here for you to provide membership support for economic hardship, transitioning military veterans, and mentoring for career growth.  

Do you have an idea that you want to be supported by the chapter or if you are leading a community service event that would be successful with more helping hands, let us know. There is strength in numbers.

If you have questions, need assistance, or have a suggestion that you want the chapter to hear, we are here to assist. We are here to serve.

What’s Happening?

The board met for a strategy refresh to discuss our 2020 goals and to see what else we can do during COVID, in the 4th quarter. We incorporated your feedback to freshen up our planning.

Check out our website calendar. Events are scheduled virtually. You should be receiving a weekly calendar of events bulletin. You can pick morning, evening, or on-demand events to fit your schedule and to keep your PDU and education journey going without impact.

If you up for a credential renewal don’t let it lapse. The chapter virtual PDU event library is growing and free to members. Grab the talent triangle class you need to renew.

Want a certification class? Check out our calendar.  We have a Disciplined Agile instructor in our region along with other REPs and ATP providers who are offering virtual instruction. Now is a perfect time to complete a personal or employer goal while you are staying cool inside.

As always, if you do not see the event you were looking for, let us know so we can explore options.  If you need assistance or have a question, reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are reachable through this service to solve problems, take suggestions, or to fill a need.

Stay safe, engage your voice so we can hear you in our virtual world, our current reality.

Cory Smith, MBA, PMP, CSM
President
PMI Phoenix Chapter

July 2020

Dear Members,

Arizona reopened and our COVID-19 numbers spiked. Due to members supporting older loved ones and all of us being encouraged to stay safe at home, the chapter will remain on the virtual event course for 2020.

The chapter is still providing continued education with certification courses, PMP study groups, webinars, and career services. We remain here for you to provide membership support for economic hardship, transitioning military veterans, and mentoring for career growth.  

If you have questions, need assistance, or have a suggestion that you want the chapter to hear, we are here to assist. We are here to serve.

What’s Happening?

Check out our website calendar. Events are scheduled virtually through October. You should be receiving a weekly calendar of events bulletin. You can pick morning, evening, or on-demand events to fit your schedule and to keep your PDU and education journey going without impact.

Want a certification class? We can help you find a certification class with our virtual instructors. Exams are scheduled virtually by PMI Global with a web camera and environmental test procedures to maintain PMI standards.  If you want a certification, now is the time.

As always, if you do not see the event you were looking for, let us know so we can explore options.  If you need assistance or have a question, reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We are reachable through this service to solve problems, take suggestions, or to fill a need.

Stay safe, engage your voice so we can hear you in our virtual world, the new normal.

Cory Smith, MBA, PMP, CSM
President
PMI Phoenix Chapter

June 2020

Dear Members,

Our world might be shaken up, our routine changed, staying safe, and avoiding large gatherings which are the category our face to face events fall into so for the foreseeable future, 2020 is shaping up to be the year of the virtual.

Our mission remains the same to serve you as your go-to for continuing project management education at an affordable price. The board is taking this time to focus on our core and to return to basics to improve the quality of our chapter.

I am focused on building the leadership team for 2020 and 2021. We are still here for you as virtual smiling faces and we are connecting and available.

What’s Happening?

Check out our website calendar. Events are scheduled virtually through September. You should be receiving a weekly calendar of events bulletin. You can pick morning, evening, or on-demand events to fit your schedule and to keep your PDU and education journey going without impact.

Want a certification class? New classes have been scheduled virtually for the ACP, PMP and PgMP boot camp. Exams are now scheduled virtually by PMI Global.  If you want a certification, now is the time.

If you do not see the event you were looking for, let us know so we can explore options.  If you need assistance or have a question, reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We are reachable through this service to solve problems, make suggestions, or to fill a need.

Cory Smith, MBA, PMP, CSM
President
PMI Phoenix Chapter

April 2020

Dear Members,

Our world might be shaken up, our routine changed but there is one constant, to strive to be our best self.  Typically, our community service team organizes an event for us to collectively give back. While that is not possible at this time due to crowd gathering constraints, I still challenge you to serve. What can you do as a highly-skilled professional compassionate human?

I found something; our neighborhood has organized a library to share material to keep our boredom at bay. So, I encourage you to find a little something that you can do to contribute and stay positive.

What’s Happening?

Check out our calendar. Events are scheduled virtually to accommodate the national and state executive stay at home orders. You can pick morning, evening, or on-demand events to fit your schedule and to keep your PDU and education journey going without impact.

Want a certification class? New classes have been scheduled virtually for the ACP, PMP and PgMP exams to meet the application education requirements. Turn the absence of commute time into an educational opportunity.

If you do not see the event you were looking for, let us know so we can explore options.  Continue to submit surveys, they are actioned and appreciated. It is your voice and your chapter.

Cory Smith, MBA, PMP, CSM
President
PMI Phoenix Chapter