A Message From the President:
Dear PMI MN Members
As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. I am inspired and hopeful by the new beginning brought about by Spring. On May 4, 2024, Project Management Institute, Minnesota Chapter held its Annual Volunteer Gala, a testament to our collective achievements. This year, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary, a milestone that wouldn't have been possible without the dedication of our volunteers and the support of our members. It was a truly memorable occasion with impressive attendance in recent years. In attendance was our founding chapter president along with several of our past presidents. It was an honor to be amongst these outstanding leaders who have done so much for our chapter and laid a solid foundation for us. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to celebrate PMI MN 40th Anniversary with us.
Thank you to our sponsors: Logi[solve], St. Mary’s University, BETHEL, and University of Wisconsin, Platteville for your invaluable support and partnership. Your contributions have been instrumental in our success, and we look forward to continued collaboration. Special thank you to our Volunteer Services Committee and 40th Anniversary Team. Your dedication and hard work, in addition to your regular volunteer duties, in planning and executing this event was truly exceptional. The food, entertainment, venue and ambiance were a testament to your efforts. Again, thank you. Congratulations to all the award recipients, those recognized for all the work they did for the Chapter in 2023. My sincere appreciation to all our leadership and committee members for stepping up and doing your part to keep our chapter going; focused on serving our members.
If you are not a volunteer with our chapter, I encourage you to consider volunteering with this awesome organization. Volunteering with us offers a unique opportunity to give back to the community, build your network, and learn. If you are already a volunteer, please log your volunteer hours on our website www.pmi-mn.org. Later this month we will start gearing up for the 2024 election cycle and one of the requirements to run for office with us is a record that you have indeed volunteered with us.
Our next chapter dinner event, Emotional and Cultural Intelligence and New Member Orientation, will be held on May 21, 2024, at Bethel College, 3900 Bethel Drive, St. Paul. We hope you can join us. If you have not registered, please do so on our website. Furthermore, our biggest event of the year, Professional Development Days, is coming up, so please save the date: August 13 – 15, 2024. This year’s theme is “High Tech, High Touch, and the World of Project Management.” This event will be held at St. Paul College. Don’t miss PDD this year, as we have an impressive lineup of speakers, relevant and engaging topics.
I want to close with some notable dates in May. May 1st marks May Day, a traditional spring festival associated with dancing around the Maypole and the arrival of spring. Just last weekend, on May 5th, was Cinco de Mayo. This coming weekend, May 12th, is Mother’s Day – Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers out there. I hope your Mother’s Day is filled with love, joy, and happiness. Next comes Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of the month. It’s a day to honor and remember the military men and women who we have died while protecting our freedom. Thank you to you and your family for the selfless sacrifice you made to protect us. We appreciate and honor all our service men and women.
In Gratitude,
Geraldine Marks, MBA, PMP®, CSM® CSPO® PMI MN President, CEO
Volunteer of the Month: Priya Venkatasubramian
The PMI MN Chapter is honored to present Priya Venkatasubramian as our May 2024 Volunteer of the Month.
I am thrilled to nominate Priya from the Professional Development Committee for Volunteer of the Month. As the Program Manager for Seminars, Priya has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and leadership.
Her recent accomplishment in organizing the "Journey of the Project Manager" event for Women's History Month truly exemplifies her commitment to our organization's goals. Priya meticulously coordinated all aspects of the event, from securing speakers to managing meetings and crafting the meeting agenda. Her attention to detail ensured that every aspect of the event ran smoothly, leaving a lasting impression on all participants.
Priya's passion for professional development and her tireless efforts to empower others within our community make her an invaluable asset to our team. I wholeheartedly believe that her outstanding contributions deserve recognition.
- Cindy Ward, Vice Chair for Volunteer Services Thank you, Priya , for all that you have done for PMI MN !!!
Board Member Spotlight : Girima Anderson
This month, we spotlight our Director of Finance Girima Anderson
Girima Anderson has been a PMI-MN volunteer since 2020. Her current Chapter Role(s) are Director of Finance and a Board Liaison for Finance and DEI Committees.Girima’s past roles at PMI- MN include Speakers Committee Member at PDD, Chair of the Volunteers for PDD 2020-2021, Vice Chair for PDD 2022, and a Chair for PDD 2023.
Girima is a Senior Program Manager with ITW-MTS, a Test and Measurement company based in Eden Prairie Minnesota. Girima has over 14 years of project and program management experience in the healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering industries.
Girima enjoys relaxing on any beach, reading, and dancing.
Thank you, Girima for all your contribution and hard work for PMI MN!
PMI ® Global Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion PMI, as a global organization, has established a position about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This statement is posted on the PMI website:
As a global leader enabling individuals to create a positive impact through projects, PMI champions a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community – one that serves our millions of stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, members, credential holders, and the profession at large. We embrace and celebrate our differences, and work to create an environment of respect, trust, integrity and fairness in our words and actions. We commit ourselves to empower individuals to do their best work. We aspire to act as a catalyst to bridge cultures, geographies, and differences, and to enable people and organizations to positively impact society.
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