Katianna joined PMI about 7 months back and joined the chapter in Feb 2023 to connect with Project management Community and build her network of PM professionals. She became a volunteer in the Program team led by Derick Brownell and was instrumental in organizing the first in person event since COVID. The event had a great turn out with lot of industry leaders and Project Management community members, she arranged the ice breaker event to ensure all participants feel comfortable and connected.

She studied health care innovation as part of her university degree program focused on health care policies and technology which shapes the innovation in this space and is very motivated by technological advances in health care space. She originally started off in IT recruitment, hiring IT NetSuite professionals and managing clients, which made her interested in IT, but wasn’t sure which aspect of IT she wanted to get involved in till she stumbled upon Project Management.

She got a job offer to work on IT Projects along with business development opportunities with a health and wellness organization in the valley.  She has been in this role for almost a year and really likes managing and negotiating vendor terms and agreements. She likes the flexibility of designing scope and giving the projects shape and structure. She was surprised by how much she enjoys doing the Project Manager role and it motivated her to get the PMP certificate last week (Congratulations!).

She finds PMI Phoenix chapter to be very welcoming for the new members and she found it easy to blend in with the community while she was studying for her PMP certification. When asked about her most rewarding experience as a volunteer she says “Seeing the success of our first in person event was a rewarding experience. I enjoyed being part of the process of planning and putting together an event that helped others build connections and community within the Phoenix Chapter.”

Her hidden talent is Cooking! In her own words – “I come from a Greek family who loves to feed people. My dad taught me everything I know about cooking. I always have Tzatziki in my fridge ready to snack on or add onto any dish. Some of my favorite things to make are Lamb Shank, Tiropita, and of course Gyros.”

Her proudest moment in career was just past her first year at her previous company, she closed the largest deal in the office’s history!

Her other passion is cars and watching Formula 1 racing, as she gets up early and stays up late to watch the races on TV and is planning to go to a Live race someday soon!

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.

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.” 

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.”

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.

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. 

Christopher Downey has been a PMI member since 2017, but in the past year, has become a member and volunteer of PMI Phoenix as well.  He jumped in with both feet and volunteered as Future City Project Manager for the whole competition.  The opportunity caught his eye during the Pheonix Chapter new member orientation.

Chris’ volunteer efforts have involved multiple months of work.  From August through January, he supported the Future City Competition Executive Committee with project management resources and planning; provided a brief presentation on project planning; and culminated on January 21st assisting in competition setup, orienting students and teachers to the site, guiding other volunteers on event activities, and coordinating with the awards & stage crews.  During that process, the most rewarding part was seeing so many of a younger generation applying STEM and Project Management. “Observing the time and effort these students put in to prepare for this extra-curricular competition exceeded my expectations.”

When asked about what made the difference, Chris stated, “Volunteering for the local Chapter really expanded my networking with other professionals since I am relatively new to the Phoenix area. There are different kinds of volunteer opportunities within PMI-PHX that are not what you’d expect and putting yourself out there to support programs like these makes the experience fun to be part of.”

Chris’ hard work is also evident in his work life. He is an Army veteran and now works for a high-quality, high-output wallboard and building products manufacturer.  His team is geographically dispersed and it is his intent to be always “adding value” everyday.

Outside of work and volunteering, Chris has an adventurous side.  He states “My wife and I typically plan our personal travels based on the best food recommendations. Favorite foodie destinations for us thus far include Las Vegas, Austin, and Du-bai. We have had some great food so far in Phoenix and glad to accept recommendations from other Chapter-members.”  Chris resides in Casa Grande with his wife and two kids (ages 7 & 2).

“Volunteering is a selfless act, and seeking recognition should never be your goal. While I am humbled by this recognition, I did not expect it. Volunteering is truly an opportunity to give back for no other reason than to give.” These are the wise words of Dennis Kinton, volunteer of the month.  Dennis has volunteered for PMI’s involvement with Future Cities Arizona and most recently was the Director of Future Cities Competition.  His role involved directing the Future Cities PMI portion competition and acting as a Judge for the competition. Work networking opportunities led Dennis to his volunteering: “Riley Sedam, the previous director of the future cities, asked if I wanted to volunteer, and I said yes :).”  Since then, he states that the rewarding part of the role is “being able to see the end results from the [student] teams and seeing how they put their project plans into action.”

Outside of PMI, Dennis in a multi-faceted individual.  From a continual improvement perspective, he is passionate about continuous learning in whatever form.  It can through official education or certification or even courses on linked in or YouTube. It becomes obvious that this comes from his heroes: his parents and his wife. “Through all my certifications and my education, I will never learn more than my parents taught me about life. And my wife has been the pillar that has held our home together as I have gone through school and sought certifications.” Dennis is currently celebrating his proudest moment of opening his own business. “Seeing my name as owner of Chuck’s Wagon Crafts was a moment I had always dreamed of but never thought that I could achieve.”

Dennis also has some fun sides, too.  His hidden talent is knowing how to juggle and make balloon animals, a talent he has yet to find a use.  However, he states, “but if my career as a project manager ever ends, I know I can always transition to the circus!”  And he ‘fessed up to being a huge Taylor Swift fan!

In conclusion we can learn much from Dennis’ philosophy: “Never accept mediocracy or allow others to limit your ambition. Your path is what you make it, and there are countless ways to achieve your goals.”

Help us fight hunger!

Instead of enjoying a bountiful meal, many parents will skip the trip to the grocery store to ensure they can cover rent this month. Donate a turkey, or side foodstuffs! Or donate a Thanksgiving meal for an entire family by giving $30 dollars online. Pack the Pantry 

Where:  Mom’s Pantry 13440 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85022

When:  Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9am-1pm (Closed Nov 20^th)

OR

13613 N. Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85022

Nov 13th and 19th 9am-6pm

Nov 14th - 18th 12pm-6pm

Nov 20th 8am-12pm

When asked Funke what prompted her to volunteer, she responded quickly with “while studying for the PMP, I realized such opportunities existed, I’ve always loved and believed in giving back. I get to do what I love doing and earn PDUs. I also saw this as an opportunity to network and meet people I will have otherwise not met, so I saw this as a win-win.” PMI Global awards 25 giving back PDUs in every 3-year PMP renewal cycle. What Funke has found to be rewarding about her volunteer service? “The joy of serving my community. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a smile on persons face and know you had a part in putting it there.” Her message to other members considering chapter volunteer work, “Please find your passion and get involved, there is a great need.”

I don’t like talking about myself or selling myself, it misleads people about my capabilities when I demonstrate my skill. They are quite surprised by the number of skills I have in my toolbox. Funke has been mentoring when asked for help and recently produced a 1-hour video for the ladies in Nigeria interested in the information technology field.

What you might not know about Funke Ogundare is her love of family and that she owns and manages a gym in Nigeria. “My parents retired in 2015 so I found something for my dad to do and she later took it over since there is so much need in Nigeria. It’s another way to give back to the families. We use proceeds from the gym for the school’s sports programs and to help the community.”

Funke Ogundare’s words of wisdom, “you have more time than you think you have, but it is important to not say yes to everything because then you would get burnt out. People need to jump in and make time for those things that are important to them. You have time for what you choose.”

What is our goal?

To raise $1,000 in funds in our virtual coat drive which will warm 1000 people, and to collect 100 coats in our physical coat drive  this fall to warm 100 more for a total of 1100 coats.

How will this work?

For the virtual coat drive, we would send out a web link to One Warm Coat to donate funds for this cause. For the physical coat drive, we are collecting outer coats, sweaters, sweatshirts, caps and scarfs for men, women, and children with drop off locations around the valley. zone map

When will this take place?

The coat drive will run from October 2-23, 2022.

Help PMI - Phoenix Social Good Coat Drive  reach their goals!
Every $1 donated warms 1 person! 

How can you help?

Consider helping us in one or more of the following ways:

• Donate your new or gently used coats, drop them off at the zone closest to you, or arrange for a pickup
• Donate funds to this cause, $1,000 will keep 1,000 people warm.
• Tell your friends and family to join us on this quest to warm the homeless this fall. Please share this information on your social networks and/or forward it to their email addresses.

We appreciate your support! 

Our conversation was looking at our projects in general and the importance and role that people, process and tools play in successful project management. Have the vision to identify gaps where technology can improve quality, efficiency or effectiveness for our members.  Every project is dependent upon people, processes, and tools and all three should be kept in balance. Any time that a tool is adopted, it will necessitate process changes or even elimination since processes that once worked perfectly may now be inefficient at best or error prone and costly for us as a nonprofit. 

The irony is that if you do that successfully, you might practically eliminate the need for a Project Manager and put yourself out of a job, but that’s the right thing to do so you can move onto another challenging opportunity 

When Henry is not working professionally in the cloud space and volunteering for the chapter he focuses on whittling down his extensive bucket list, being positive to others and taking road trips around Arizona, Nevada and California with my wife and my German Shepherd. Henry’s hobbies are enjoying music and video editing and production.  His goal is to get better on Guitar and Piano by taking online lessons. He also loves “tinkering with Web Development technologies such as Asp.NET, REACT, PHP and some low code - no code platforms such as Power Apps and Bubble IO.” 

I discovered that he is a creative, innovative person who looks at things with an agile mindset. 

Henry Jones shared his volunteer words of wisdom, “The chapter has a variety of departments and activities where you can get involved.  So, pick out something where you can lend a hand.  If it isn’t what you like find another department.” 

Many of you may already know Frank Balogh, PMP since he has served PMI since the early 2000s. For those who do not, let me introduce you to our Mentoring Program Director, the June Volunteer of the Month.

Frank’s journey started when the chapter developed and facilitated our PMP boot camp, and these materials were part of the foundation of what we know of as the Study Group today. From the beginning, he was a volunteer PMP test prep instructor, academic outreach resource, and presenter on project management trends and professional development. His passion was mentoring and sharing his knowledge.

His volunteer journey initially began by accident – “I was at a company where no manager was a PMP, and a new CTO came in and asked, “why do we have all these IT PMs who are not certified?”. Suddenly, I was quite popular. My manager at the time told me that I had a knack for presentations and mentoring and the PMI chapter had opportunities to grow this skill.”
Over the years, he has been a presenter on PM topics, especially migrating one’s skills to non-traditional roles and adopting Agile and Agile at Scale practices and thinking. Frank Balogh has also worked with universities whose engineering students had capstone PM projects that needed advice from a practitioner. And he was one of the initial mentors in the San Francisco PMI chapter.When asked what has been rewarding about your volunteer service, he responded, “it’s been mostly to see people who could not initially see a path forward to their goals light up when they use something I’ve suggested, and then they can sort out a solution themselves.”
Frank Balogh’s word of advice for new volunteers. “Don’t be concerned about being perfect or an expert. Use the volunteer experience to learn and expand your knowledge.”On a personal level, he likes cruises where he can have a chance to dress up and tie a bowtie. There is no driving or flying involved—his proudest moment “was when he finished his first sprint triathlon. For years I had seen people do this and thought it was something I could never do myself, and I broke down and cried in joy and wonderment after it was over.”
An interesting bit is that he took ballet lessons. I had a traditional fencing coach in college who determined that we were not supple enough, so they sent us to classes. Years later, I joined her when my 5-year-old daughter came home from school and demonstrated a few ballet steps. Her immediate reaction was, “Daddies aren’t supposed to know these things!”

Heather Cardosi shared that "responsibility and acceptance should be considered by everyone and we should embrace our differences. It doesn't matter what race, creed, or ethic background you are, what matters is that you are not hurting others. The story of your world is what you make it, dont be a douche. We make our story, we decide, we put forth that perception out to the universe. The world is the way it is because we put it there, people always complain that this is not the way the world works but we make the world. We need to put out the effort to make if better or the way we want the world to work."

Heather's project management work supports a satelite heathcare for kidney diallis to provide better health and education so they do not get to to the medical state of needing diallis. She is an infrastructure group manager who supports the programs using a hybrid waterfall approach to shift the mindset to new ways and doing things.

Her passion is to work on envionomental issues, perhaps with a non-profit to repair the damage caused by not using sustainable practices. She has a GPM-b (Certified Green Project Manager – Level B) whidh is the foundational, knowledge-based sustainability certification that supports the commitment of those in project management to maximize sustainability within the project lifecycle, to improve the construct and delivery of goods and services produced as project deliverables, and to use measurable standards to consider and account for social, environmental, and economic impacts in projects.

Learning green project management basics and how you can apply it to any projects by not using the key points like impact should be the measure, money should not be the key metric. Profit might be less but the impacts would be thinking longterm for a better way of life like not letting our cell phones ending up in a landfill. This mindset can be applied to any project.

Heather shared that "even when you fail, you are not a failure until you stop tring." As a kids hockey coach she teaches that we are here to have fun not to win we are here to have fun and if you fall down, get back up. You are not trying hard enough." This is a good lesson for all of us.

A quick review of risk: an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project objectives. —PMBOK®

 “Harry Hall states, if you say the word “risk” to ten people, each person may think of something different— insurance, threats, investments, bets, or potential loss. As we manage project teams, it's critical that you and your team members have a common understanding of what project risk means. Otherwise, people will be confused by your risk management efforts. The important thing is to obtain agreement with your team about how to define risk. Include the definition in your risk management plan.” 

Another important factor is the project success criteria which refers to measurable terms of what should be the outcome of the project that is acceptable to the end user, customer, and the stakeholders. In other words, the project success factors consist of activities or elements that are required to ensure successful completion of the project. In order to deliver project value, the success criteria should be well defined. Make sure that the documentation of the criteria is done at the start of the project. Also, make sure that the success criteria are properly communicated to the team. The criteria should also reflect on the project deliverables through effective project planning and at the end of the day, the success criteria should not be regarded as a set-in-stone. Instead, the manager should strive to go beyond the success criteria and exceed the expectations of the clients. This is a sure-fire way to project success.

Tom’s words of wisdom as a leader are the “first step is to understand the tools and techniques. Build your toolset up in both areas. I then assist them with guidance but i do not solve the problem for them. They need to work with the stakeholders and solve the problem for themselves. Keep the stakeholders informed, they need your project to succeed. Be transparent and do not hide stuff. You need to have the confidence to walk into the c level suite and have the conversation since they are normal people.”

“i mentor and coach on risk management it is a different beast - this goes to all team members not just the project management office, it is a team effort. Execute risk management throughout the project not just at the start of the project. If the risks are not reviewed and each project team is at the same place on the projects, then elevate the company to continually assess risk. Risk management is often ignored or done at a lower level and not at the enterprise level. Challenge is to get stakeholders to spend time and money at assessing risk to save money proactively. Train your teams on risk management.”

What you don’t know about Tom Wilp is his motto to play as hard as you work. He enjoys fishing, golfing, exercising and spending time in the outdoors. He is at the point in his career that he passes on his knowledge to develop the junior PMs, project expediters, and project coordinators “I will work until I stop having fun or stop enjoying it.”

While cost management is viewed as a continuous process, it helps to split the function into four steps: resource planning, estimation, budgeting, and control. They are mostly sequential, but it’s possible that some resource changes happen midway through the project, forcing the budgets to be adjusted. Or the variances observed during the control process can call for estimate revisions. —PMBOK®

Skye Sandoval started volunteering the summer of 2020 for the study group after being a member of the chapter for five years. The areas he enjoys most is cost, managing the money and risk. His goals with volunteering are to meet people and to retain the PMP certification knowledge. He likes mentoring the small study group and was a trainer and mentor for the past ten years.  Skye is currently a mentee for scrum master and shared that “both the mentor and mentee gives knowledge in both directions like the hands of a watch. Skye describes himself as a visual learner so when he mentors, he tells them, shows them, and lets them try it. Basically, using all three types of learning to get the concept across. His emphasizes that “we are here to help each other. Together we can make a beautiful world if we all work together.”

If you take the PMP journey, remember you must be like Steve Jobs, stay hungry and stay foolish. If you fail it will help you learn how to do things right. Skye shared that it can be painful, but it makes you strong. Everyone gets discouraged but keep going and don’t stop.

I asked Skye how he manages projects, and his approach is to divide things into four like a box. The left side of the box is the most important, the right side is the backlog. I move things around in the box quadrants as the work and priority shifts. The bottom two boxes are to keep them in the forefront. “The box keeps it simple so I can build it like a pyramid and so I can see my day.”

If you meet up with Skye Sandoval, you will realize that he is a free spirt and has a hippie mentality at heart. To relax he does yoga several times a week. He credits his mom, a geologist who took him to visit geological points around history for helping him realize that “it takes time to build something just like our 15 billion years on earth.” To sum him up he shared that “he has never met a stranger. I have traveled all over the globe and aways find something in common with them"

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.

Why did Alex engage as a volunteer? It was twofold, to give back and get something for himself as a lifelong learner. Alex Green shared, “I enjoy learning from the diverse and extensive experience of the other volunteer facilitators, and I wanted to contribute in an impactful way to assist PMP candidates to master the material and pass the exam. Getting to meet experienced project managers and learning how they’ve utilized PMBOK methodologies into their projects throughout their careers, has been invaluable.” Alex wants to build up his base and explore other industries and how they operated projects, so he has more tools in his toolbox. Alex looks to his hero mother for inspiration, Carolyn Green who is a seasoned PMP. He chose to become a second-generation project manager. He is amazed by witnessing her energy which is produced if you love are doing what you love what you are doing. His proudest moment to date is on presenting a communications project which helped overcome his fear of speaking, his recent marriage since he had to publicly speak his memorized vows and improving his verbal communication skill in general. He clearly is working on improving his perceived weakness by volunteering as a study group facilitator.  Alex Green’s long-term goal is to “find a way to repay the universe for all of the fortunate people and things that I’ve been blessed to have in my life.” 

Which causes keep Alex passionate outside his career? Ensuring that LGBTQ and youth are empowered. “I was very fortunate to have supportive friends and family in my personal journey and feel everyone deserves to develop in a safe and compassionate space.”

Communication as a skill was the theme of our conversation. It is difficult to herd cats to communicate a problem from the bottom up. A key component is to find out how departments interact and build a bigger picture of where you or your project fit and then to guide decision making based on functional areas of knowledge.  Alex wants to encourage others in my circle to pursue something, to continually learn and grow so you don’t get left behind by being complacent. The value you bring by personal learning and growing for your own growth to see if you can improve your value is immeasurable.  Finding out why are you unhappy is more of an art than a science, there is always growth and balance. School teaches you crazy skills but lack the science of the human skills. It is a factor in the great resignation, we need more of work life balance and personal time. So many people testing the waters to find that balance. “Corporate culture needs to support that balance rather than on the bottom line. Its not about money if all your needs are met - will that bring happiness to your life. If employers don’t adapt, they could sink.” 

Alex Green’s advice to members who are on the certification journey, “The PMI Phoenix Chapter can be a great learning and networking resource for current and prospective PMPs with just a little time and commitment.”

It is no secret that our chapter runs on the hard work and effort of our volunteers. Every month we highlight the impact our volunteers have on our chapter and the Project Management profession. This month's volunteer spotlight is no different. 

Alyssa Stricklan is an excellent example of how the PMI Phoenix chapter supports the success of its members and how quickly our volunteers can make a difference in our community. 

PMI Phoenix VOTM and Intel Supply Chain guru, Alyssa Stricklan

If you want something done right the first time, you better call Alyssa. The first in her family to attend college, Alyssa continued the streak, accepting a job offer as a supply chain analyst with Intel immediately after graduating from ASU. Not one to stop learning, Alyssa then moved on to her next challenge – the PMP exam. "I'd be a lifelong student if I could.", Alyssa says as she starts to describe her experience studying for the PMP. It seems she has an order, "I enjoy the process and the focus on documentation and orientation towards detail."  

She took her PMP training to heart. "Even while I was still studying for my PMP, I knew I was going to volunteer in some facet. I love giving back to the organizations and groups that help me." Then, in August, everything fell into place. "I kept an eye out for opportunities, and once I read about the academic content manager position, I know that's what I wanted to do!"  

Alyssa joined the Academic Outreach team, where she was tasked with developing content for the Future Cities competition. As it turns out, Alyssa enjoys teaching as much as she does learning. The sole content creator for @Alyssa_SCM, a TikTok channel that teaches Supply Chain tips to other professionals, Alyssa used her skills to develop a simple presentation to teach 8th graders basic Project Management skills.  

"I am so happy to have already been able to make tangible material that is being put to use and know that more is needed and will make an impact in the community. I am also overjoyed to be a part of helping teachers and universities learn and teach about project management to the next generations." 

So what's next for the laser-focused chapter volunteer? She's currently transitioning to her new role as Supply Chain Solutions Engineer at Intel, something that seems perfect for a person with a passion for learning and acute attention to detail. She also likes to travel and find good reads to her home library of over 200 books. "I read a couple of hours each day." “I am constantly reading multiple books and buying more books. If there’s a bookstore, I’ll find it and come out with my arms full.” Her latest favorite? Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.  Favorite travel destination? Italy.  “It’s the first place I went overseas, and I haven’t stopped thinking about every moment of being there nearly 10 years later. My love for travel and experiencing the world started there. Plus, the food!”

Alyssa on the hunt for books while on vacation in Italy!

Speaking of Year of Yes, Alyssa believes that everyone could find their volunteer opportunity with PMI Phoenix. "Absolutely do it! There are so many types of help needed and each person really can make a difference not just for the Phoenix chapter, but for PMI as a whole. The future of PMI is so exciting, and you could be a part of building and expanding that future."

Here is to the bright future of one outstanding PMI Chapter member and volunteer! Thank you, Alyssa!

Aaron started his journey to become a project manager from a developer path and feels strongly that his technical skills, along with learning the project management skillset led to his nickname, “the fixer.” His colleagues would describe him as the person to call for help.

Non-technical pms were causing a lot of noise amongst the development team and he came to the realization that it is hard to figure out technical problems while managing a project. “I got to a crossroads, it is very difficult to have a dual role, software developer and project manager. I did not want to water down both professions, so I chose project management. Fast-forward, my department saw the value of approaching problems from a technical perspective and I received more complex projects and the roadblocks led me to a formal PMP.”  Aaron expressed he would have been perfectly okay not taking the PMP and happy where he was at, but the study groups opened his eyes to the new tools in my toolbox and allowed me to be more preventative.

“The Chandler study group instructors who I most admired were, John Robertson, who used his knowledge on how to study and then Tom Wilp, an expert on the risk management process opened my eyes to be more proactive to consider risks so you have multiple options and plans you can put in place.” “I liked that I was in a classroom sharing styles and sharing of industries and was impressed that you could have the answers before a problem surfaced by using the risk management process so I could think of these things beforehand.”

Aaron Jang is happy to share his project management tips and is approached often with questions for but if they really knew what I was most proficient in they would ask me for cooking tips!

To learn more on how to successfully integrate ERP systems, you need to explore project management from the perspective of Dev Ops and what it takes for project results, a current trend in corporate information technology.

“Skills required for executing DevOps projects require you to be all in one, in technology and show good communication skills, leadership skills, collaboration skills and lead the team and also be a team player. However, the most important skill areas are dedication, interest, and passion,” Star Agile.

CHARLES SEYBOLD agrees that the days of the siloed project manager and “skilled” development team are becoming a thing of the past, thanks to the increasing complexity of dev projects.  That said, project management doesn’t happen magically, and it would be foolish to assume that just because someone is a skilled developer, they know how to manage a project. The most critical skills needed for this type of project are:

• Estimation and Scheduling, the estimation of a completion date triggers many other teams to perform their functions across the company and you need to sequence the work in the correct developmental order. A work breakdown schedule is essential
• Critical Communication, as a team, it’s essential to keep the lines of communication open for project updates. This includes having strong interpersonal skills, namely the ability to maintain clear team communication across the technical development and collaboration; complete document reviews and have succinct interactions about project deliverables and expectations. Ensure document sharing with searchable capability so team updates are enabled, and so there are no excuses for missed or mixed messages.
• Problem-Solving of issues still need to treat problem-solving as a skill that should be continuously strengthened so they can be dealt with efficiently before a situation spirals.
• Risk Management is another key to being proactive with agreed upon options that can mitigate the issue if an event occurs. It allows for the most realistic planning possible, requiring each team member to take accountability for precise timelines for their piece of the project. These timelines then roll up to the greater project plan and provide a more accurate estimation of completion date and potential pitfalls.

Kyle joined the chapter in 2014 and has been a volunteer since 2017. He is part of the team that has integrated and developed our technology tools so that we can focus more of our volunteer time on getting things done rather than on the mundane administrative operational tasks.

A little bit about Kyle, did you know that he was a police officer and deputy. His proudest moment was when his mom pinned on his badge. The people who know him describe him as a person with good intentions which makes sense since he has served his community.

Kyle identifies himself as an engineer and a gear head on his Mustang convertible so basically, he likes to fix things and make it work.  He thrives and is driven due to his family, his motivator. Kyle's greatest joy is taking his wife and grandkids on a car ride enjoying nature and letting time stand still. His advice to others, "keep things simple, or at least make complex things simple for others. It makes more of an impact than most people think it will." Continue to try new adventure, Kyle embraces being a grandfather and playing with the kids while teaching new things, like caring for the environment so the planet remains beautiful. "Educating youth makes me feel good - it is a connection to the new generation to get kids interested in cars and while making memories and it’s a cool thing to share." Kyle worries about the younger education quality. Everyone needs to focus on being educated and about their impact your personal world to make things better.

As an engineer he identifies with is analytical side and grew up with the arts. Kyle's heroes is his parents who taught him to mix technology and creativity, he was given the technical edge and found a way to merge technology and art. His other hero, Kyle's wife who is a teacher forming young minds so youth have a strong foundation to grow.

Kyle's personal motto is a quote borrowed from Teddy Roosevelt, “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” It is a message he would like to pass on to prospective volunteers, there are plenty of opportunities with work to be done and feels it is important to help the chapter since it is volunteer led. It is important and fate led me to be a member of the technology team.

Kyle feels fortunate and likes his journey. "I am happy with my journey and am right where i want to be. I feel blessed."

Cedrick has been a PMI member for the past nine months; after obtaining his PMP, he decided it was time to give back and, in March of this year, started volunteering with the Phoenix Chapter.   

I had the pleasure of conversing with Cedrick Woodard and quickly learned that he is challenging to read from a first impression and guards his words carefully but embraces lifelong learning. Associates regard him as always reliable and a natural leader. If you establish a rapport with him, you quickly realize he is deeply passionate about providing socioeconomically disadvantaged communities and folks opportunities to obtain sustainable wealth and education (in perpetuity). 

Cedrick’s words of wisdom, “ you need to learn, learn to be humble, how to network to get the resources to make a solution happen. Network to be better and share your strengths and talents with others. If you are not ready to learn, you are not ready to live. Share the story, and the process will make you better.” 

He established and volunteered for over seven years with Paideia Kids Program, designed to strengthen the community stewardship ethic and deepen learning through volunteerism and civic involvement. Cedrick’s focus was on the program that serves youths from K-12 and adults 18 and older. Services were offered to all ethnicities, with the understanding that certain minority groups are predisposed to certain health conditions due to lack of physical activity, poor dietary habits, and lack of health education. The program targets community members of all ethnicities and age groups underperforming in those categories and others. The program emphasized lifelong health disease conditions caused by poor eating, an adverse impact on families and society, and a lack of access to affordable, healthful foods. In strengthening our communities, we help address and reiterate advocacy, community impact, community need, community partnerships, diversity, sustainability, student achievement, youth voice, and reflection. 

Cedrick Woodard’s advice to others who are thinking about volunteering with the chapter is, “embrace the opportunity to sacrifice and use the opportunity to network. Use your resources and strengths to make a difference in human life.” Do not be selfish; treat people how you want to be treated. Cedrick has a healthy respect for fearless people and for doing what they say they will do. 

If your paths cross, take a moment to get to know Cedrick. You might leave the conversation with a changed outlook on what you can give to the world if you only share yourself in solving a problem for your community. 

Marissa Akins works as a project manager for ASU and has led the peer network. What has kept her inspired is her many influencers and she feels strongly that "variety is the spice of life and you can draw your inspiration from a multiple of sources. Keep trying it and do something differently so you dont get stuck. Avoid the delimina of not exploring everything, analysis paralis, so just pick something and try it knowing it might not work out. You will have something you can use and keep adjusting until you get closer to the ideal in your vision."

What prompted her to volunteer? Marissa attended study group three times. Once in-person, once at the start of the pandemic before the life of teaching children at home with virtual learning and then a final time since she postponed her test which she passed in September 2020. Marissa enjoyed this the facilitation role because connecting with people who are interested in the same path I decided on is exciting. There is SO much to share and prepare for and there’s likely someone in the same situation that you are in that may really benefit from connecting with you. Marissa Akins words of advice, "just do it! You’ll never regret helping to support someone achieve their goals."

In getting to know Marissa, you will find that she is passionate about fitness and hiking, both allow her to free her mind of concerns, enjoy nature and to grab some me time. She is also passionate about spending time with her family and enjoys their social time. arissa's personal motto is say what you mean, mean what you say, and do what you said you are going to do.

Marissa is currently reading, Courageous Cultures. It’s a great read, but be ready to make waves in your organization if you take this one on; otherwise, you may just end up discouraged. She looks up to people who do the hard things for inspiration and as her heros. Why? We’re all at different places in this journey so find yours and build a network.

Her colleges would share that Marissa is committed to their well-being. She always has the project objectives in mind, but if you take care of your team, they’ll take care of the project. Marissa's business advice, "just try it! A lot of times we spend so much time deliberating over something or delay by discussion and we can really take that time and energy and put it towards a small-scale prototype of what we’d like to accomplish and learn from that experience."