Message from the President Welcome PMI Minnesota and Outreach Community!
For many, Labor Day marks the end of something special: Summer. The time of bright, warm days lounging at your cabin’s lake is coming to an end here in Minnesota. We’ll miss enjoying views of flowers and greenery on a hot August day, and the Fourth of July’s colorful fireworks at the beach. Although summer is coming to a close, the changing season brings many new beginnings! School starting, trips to the apple orchard, swapping out lemonade for hot cocoa, fires with friends (and s’mores!), and . . . yes, those controversial PSLs!
Here at PMI Minnesota, we have A LOT of logs on the bonfire, and I’m excited to let you know what we have in store for you! Our Operations Committee has planned great end-of-year events for our PMI Minnesota members and project management community. I invite you to check out our Registration website and sign up for excellent opportunities to learn and grow your skills, expand your network with other project management professionals near and far, and review the various types of events PMI MN has to offer! Whether you are looking for . . . - PMI Minnesota’s Professional Development Days (PDD) to listen to a variety of speakers, earn PDUs during the event (and up to THREE months after via recorded sessions!) across each of the aspects of the Talent Triangle, or simply build project management skills and capabilities;
- Attending a New Member Orientation to find out what PMI Minnesota has to offer you as a member, volunteer, or chapter leader;
- Catching a Chapter Dinner or Breakfast meeting about emerging topics (we have an upcoming meeting covering the changes to PMBOK 7th Edition – check it out!), building skills, or reaching out to our network of regional professionals;
- Preparing for one of the core PMI Global recognized exams (PMP, DASM); or
- Attending one of our cutting-edge seminars including Understanding Agile Transformation In A NEW World.
PMI Minnesota has something for you! Whether you are a PMI Minnesota and Outreach area member, or a member of the project member community who would like to join us for our events, we have programming and services that span industries, experience levels and regionality.
The attendees at our events find value in connecting with others in the field to share common practices, make connections in their areas, and find out what new and exciting things are happening in the field. We can’t wait for you to Join Us this fall!
Sincerely, Ruth Birkholz, MMIS, PMP® PMI MN President, CEO |
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Board Member Spotlight | Michael O'Connor, PhD, PMP®, PgMP®
 | Michael O’Connor, PhD, has been a PMI and PMI MN member since 2003. He is a PMP® and PgMP® and hopes to complete the PfMP® soon (Triple “P”). He is a member of the PMI Global Executive Committee or GEC. Michael is in his first year of his second appointment as Director At Large for the PMI MN Chapter and Board Liaison for the Sponsorship Committee and Professional Development Committee. Michael’s prior PMI MN roles are Co-Chair Community Outreach, Academic Outreach, Proposal Reviewer, PMI PDD Guest Speaker and Panelist, PDD volunteer, Paint-A-Thon Team Member, PMI Mentoring Program, PMI to Medtronic Corporate Liaison and PMP Exam Prep Volunteer. He also helped develop the new PMI MN Chapter logo. Since joining the Board of Directors, Michael has been passionate about working with the PDD team, sponsorship and professional development. He has been successful in adding an external company to provide jobs to the job board which generates revenue for PMI-MN and helps us build our membership. Michael’s previous experience in strategic partnerships has allowed him to lean on his network and make other connections within the PMI MN organization. Michael is currently the Director Strategy and Project Management with Medtronic, in Corporate Science and Technology under the Strategic Scientific Operations organization. He has over 35 years of professional work experience and 30+ years of professional experience in the Medical Device Industry. Michaels Leadership Philosophy: - Passion: I have passion for the work I perform in the medical device industry. I am motivated to improve on past results and look to create higher efficiency and productivity. I have passion for my team to grow, improve and succeed. Making a difference at an organization and with people creates passion for me.
- Energy: Creating an energetic environment that will foster a positive impact with people around me to create success. I like to bring energy and spirit to other people to pass along this sense of vitality that will move people to work outside of their normal day to day activities.
- Innovation: Innovation defines a new idea, improved process or a more effective device. Innovation is a process that takes ideas and creates value for customers. I enjoy pursuing innovative ideas, network building, persisting under diversity and taking responsibility for actions.
He is a Community Faculty Member at Metropolitan State University and an Adjunct Faculty instructor at the College of St. Scholastica and the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, teaching Graduate level Project Management, Portfolio Management, Project Capstone, Procurement, and Culture / Organizational course(s). Michael enjoys travelling all over the globe (pre COVID) and has been to many different destinations (23 countries and counting) throughout his career. He is an avid soccer player and enjoys most other outdoor sporting activities. In the summer he can be found on the many trails in Minnesota biking, running, rollerblading or walking. He is a true die-hard Minnesota sports fan and supports all other professional and amateur sports around the Twin Cities. |
Professional Development Days 2021!
Did you forget to register for Professional Development Days (PDD) 2021? Don't worry, there is still time! PDD is scheduled for September 27-28. In case you are wondering about the advantages of attending PDD, here are just a few key benefits: - Earn PDUs
- Discover strategic takeaways from the classes that can help you demonstrate your expertise, knowledge and leadership
- Advance your professional development
- Expand your business network
- Celebrate the PM community which has adapted and found new and innovative ways to work during this pandemic
Remember, attendees will have access to these sessions for three months as an opportunity for members to earn all 20 PDUs from the event! Click the button below to learn more and register today!
New Member Orientation September 30 | 6:15 PM - 6:45 PM | Virtual | PDUs:0.5
New to PMI-MN? Learn what benefits you can take advantage of in this virtual 30-minute get-to-know us session. Attendees will also receive a free bonus – a voucher to attend our September Chapter dinner taking place after the New Member Orientation call (Voucher has a $15 value + you will receive PDU credits for attending the dinner!).
September Chapter Dinner: Overview of the 7th Edition of PMBOK September 30 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM | Virtual | PDUs:1
Join us for our Virtual September Chapter Dinner with speaker William Johnson, Director of the Project Management program, St. Mary's University. William Johnson, the Director of the Project Management program at St. Mary's University, will present an overview of the upcoming changes in the 7th edition of the Project Management Body of Knowledge.
October Chapter Breakfast October 12 | 7:15 AM - 8:45 AM | Virtual | PDUs:1
Join us for our Virtual October Chapter Breakfast with speaker Derek Shultz, Senior Project Management Consultant with Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM). Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) led a program for a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) client who had partnered with a Fortune 500 customer to manufacture a medical device for diabetes patients. The pressure was intense, the resourcing challenges numerous, and the timelines unforgiving. IPM will present a success story detailing one of their most challenging programs to date, in which they developed a 95% level of confidence in forecast with an actual launch that occurred within one week of the predicted date. They will discuss how to deliver program management excellence while facing incredible adversity and review lessons learned in a familiar industry in the Minneapolis region.
Understanding Agile Transformation in A NEW World October 23 | 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Virtual | PDUs:4
Join us at PMI and get plugged-in, as Certified Agile Coach and Agile Transformation Expert Practitioner, Dawn Nicole McIIwain, leads PMI Members through this exclusive workshop that will provide an introduction to Agile Transformation, The Market, The Mindset and How To Lead Your Teams Through Transformation.
The Enterprise Agile Transformation Services Market is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. and predicted to be a $18 Billion dollar market by 2026 as organizations of every size, scale and sector share a growing need to deliver products to customers faster, sleeker and smarter.
This means Project Managers, ScrumMasters and those certified in Agile, will need to understand the many moving parts of Enterprise Agile Transformations, their role within this journey and how to effectively lead and support their teams before, during and after Agile Transformation. Through this workshop participants will: - Discover The Size, Scope & Opportunities of The Agile Transformation Services Market
- Learn Key Strategies for Motivating Agile Mindsets
- Find Out Pro-Tips for Leading Your Teams Through Transformation (5-Hats of Agile Leadership)
Participants will get: - Downloadable participant guide
- Interactive knowledge checks
- End of day Knowledge quiz
- Attendance Certification
- 4 PDU's: Leadership
PMP Certification Prep Course November 1 - 5 | 9:00 AM - 8:45 PM | Virtual | Credit Hours:35
Are you considering the PMP certification this year? Join us for a prep course where instructor Barbee Davis will walk you through the updated PMP materials and what to expect when taking the exam. The PMP continues to be the “gold star” certification for project managers. Currently about 6% of all project managers carry the PMP certification. Join the exclusive club and start prepping for your PMP. This year PMI (Project Management Institute) introduced a new PMP exam that draws from both Agile and traditional waterfall. The exam is notoriously difficult and a PMP Exam prep class will help you feel more confident as you prepare. Barbee Davis is a certified Approved Training Provider by PMI and has years of experience in teaching PMP exam prep and focuses on how to make the material “stick” for participants. She is a celebrated author, sought after speaker at national and international conferences and is a regular contributor on projectmanagement.com. Healthcare Executive Panel: Lessons from the Pandemic | PDU:1 | Strategic & Business This session features a panel discussion with 5 prominent healthcare executives, answering questions on what they learned and how they managed through the COVID-19 pandemic. The session focuses on the innovation opportunities presented by COVID-19 and underlying issues uncovered in the process. The panel features medical providers, technology leaders and clinical leaders from leading healthcare systems, and will be jointly moderated by Manish Kalra (Chief Operating Officer, PMI MN) and Brantlee Underhill (Global Managing Director, PMI).
Building & Maintaining Team Momentum During a Pandemic | PDU:1 | Leadership In the midst of a crisis where the way we work, communicate & collaborate has drastically changed, leading to some feeling isolated and disconnected, leaders have to get creative when it comes to motivating team momentum. While more meetings don't always mean closer teams, and less meetings may stifle connectivity, the right events and activities can build & motivate team momentum! By attending this session you will: Learn 5-virtual team activities you can do to add to more inclusive team fun! Discover easy to administer virtual team building events that get results! Find out how to use polls to your advantage to take team pulse checks!
Leading Without Authority | PDU:1 | Strategic & Business Behaving like a leader is important for everyone in the organization, no matter where they sit. Project Managers are perfectly positioned to do more than manage--you fill a critical leadership role in project success. This session will take you through traits, intentions, characteristics, and look into methods to drive change that can make you a great leader. You will learn tools of the trade that are critical to your professional success. We will touch on topics like: communication, facilitation, trust, motivation, empathy, change and transformation, managing conflict and stakeholders, and building teams.
Persuading the Bear: How to Influence Without Authority | PDU:1 | Leadership In this practical and insightful presentation, the audience will learn best practices for leading and influencing without authority, giving them the skills they need to effectively persuade others, lead diverse teams, and get projects done on time.
How to Generate Happiness & Love Using Portfolio Management | PDU:1 | Leadership Speaker Craig Kilford will share engaging stories from his experiences of creating successful enterprise project portfolio management ecosystems within various companies. Using real life examples, his interactive talk will discuss a rapid high-energy approach, the things that work great, the things to watch out for and how focusing on creativity and authenticity will help increase the overall happiness of leadership and portfolio teams by 48.8%.
Let's Really Talk Culture | PDU:1 | Leadership The type of culture that any work team, department or company develops is not from the words that are framed on the wall, titled: Our Vision. A culture takes shape by the attitudes and behaviors of its everyday people. In this session, you will build your skills to address tough issues, and learn the little things that make a big difference in keeping a healthy team culture.
New Members for the Month of August | Joshua Anderson | Katie Dayton | Amy Lafrance | Laney Peterson | Scott Whittemore | | Gena Bilden | Justin Finger | Denisa Lalikova | Kevin Schiller | Nadya Stroeva | | Mackenzie Brandt | Diana Alejandra Fonseca | Blane Maher | Rachel Schuler | Carla Baker | | Lisa Brooks | Barron Helgoe | Kaicee Mcdonald | Thomas Verbout | Kris Quale | | Tanya Butler | Bill Howell | Brea Michaelson | Megan Wollschlager | Richard George | | Meghann Chiodo | Stephanie Kitzke | | | |
New PMP® Certifications for the Month of August | Lindsey Guanella | Achinth Murali | Laura Moyer | Morgan Root | Jane Frazier | | Ajibola Giwa | Daniel Botethi | Nicole Sowers | Ashley Vandenberghe | Alexander Green | | Elizabeth Houser | Betsy Khan | Marissa Galan | Paul Dingels | Callan Brown | | Katelyn Howard | Radha Kulkarni | | | | | | | | Ruth Birkholz, MMIS, PMP®, CISA, CRISC, CISM, CDPSE
President, CEO - 2021
| Aaron Kielhack, PMP®, CSM®, MSPM
Director of Governance/Secretary | Kimberly Berger, PMP®
Director of Finance | Manish Kalra, PMP®
President Elect, COO - 2021
| Jacque Ince, PMP®
Director at Large | Michael O'Connor, PhD
PMP®, PgMP®, IPMA-B, NPDP
Director at Large | Sara Swanson, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, CSM®
Past President - 2020 | Brandon L. Guthman
Director at Large | Matt Mehring, PMP®
Director at Large | |
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