PMI Emerald Coast Newsletter Summer 2014 
President's Report
PMI Emerald Coast Florida Chapter 5th Annual Spring Symposium
This year’s theme was “Today’s Program/Project Manager”
This year’s 5th Annual Symposium was held at the Costa Leadership Institute building in the Niceville campus of the Northwest Florida State College on Saturday May 17th, 2014. The Keynote Speaker Mr. Frank P. Saladis, PMP presented a riveting review and perception of “The State of Project Management - Where we Are and Where we are Going.”
The program featured a great lineup of speakers that presented a variety of topics that was extremely interesting and very well received by the audience. Plan now and don’t miss this great opportunity to attend next year in 2015. An informative and educational event for enhancing your project management knowledge, proficiency and confidence. Look to the Chapters website for future events - www.pmiemeraldcoastfl.org
The Keynote Speaker, Mr. Frank P. Saladis, PMP®, is a Consultant and Instructor/Facilitator in the field of the project management profession. He has been a featured presenter at the Project Management Institute ® Annual Symposia and World Congresses to include various other project management events. Mr. Saladis is a graduate of the PMI Leadership Institute Masters Class and has held several positions within the Project Management Institute including President of the NYC Chapter, President of the Assembly of Chapter Presidents and Chair of the Education and Training Specific Interest Group. Mr. Saladis held the position of editor of the internationally distributed newsletter for allPM.com from 2004 to 2011 and is the author of several project management books and numerous articles about project leadership. His most recently published book – Positive Leadership in Project Management was released in March 2013. Mr. Saladis is the originator of the International Project Management Day and was recognized as PMI ® Person of the Year for 2006.
Oh!, Yes…You can claim 8 PDUs…for attending next year’s Symposium
The Chapter is Looking Forward to next year’s Event, and also to Seeing you in Attendance!
By: Chapter Director-at-Large, Gerson A. Cedeño, PMP,CEA, CQPA
Chapter Sponsored By:
Panama City Branch
Panama City Branch
The Panama City Branch has an exciting lineup of speakers and events still to come in 2014! We continue to meet every fourth Thursday of the month at The Egg and I Restaurant (1114 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach) or our General Membership Meeting and lunch.
The Panama City Branch was created out of a strong desire to serve the members of the PMI community in this area and to reach out to the business community in general. I think we are doing a good job with our fellow PMI folks, however we still occasionally run into someone who is a PMP and possibly not a member of PMI and they have no idea we are here, but are excited when they find out. We want to reach out more to the business community and have taken steps to facilitate that. Much of our focus for the first part of this year was to do our best to make sure we have engaging speakers and interesting topics to share at our General Membership Meetings. To that end we have our schedule set for the rest of the year and even into the New Year.
The second half of the year we want to make the businesses in the area really know who we are and that we are here. We have been a member of the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce for the past couple of years but have really just started using what they can offer us, to reach out. We are now in the “Beach Buzz” which is a weekly e-mail that goes out to all Chamber members. We will also be spot lighted in the July/August issue of “The Circuit” magazine which is widely circulated in the area. Our Director of Public Relations, Christa Colvin, is active in Chamber functions and is meeting new folks and introducing them to who we are on a monthly basis. We look forward to the new contacts we will make in the second half of this year.
We had our first social networking event earlier in the year, and have another one scheduled soon (more info below). We see this as an opportunity to reach folks who aren’t available for our normal Monthly meetings, and as an opportunity to get to know each other. These events are hosted by the Branch Director of Membership, Kyle Hartmann. Noteworthy of mention:
The Branch hosted its first PMI PMBoK Jeopardy! It was an exciting event hosted by a couple of our members from Booz Allen Hamilton. It was sizzling, and we all had a great time. We hope to bring it back once again in the near future. Yes there was a Double Jeopardy winner!
As the Director of the Branch I am here to serve you, so please don’t hesitate to let me know if there is some way I can assist you.
Regards,
Branch Director: Bob Hess, PMP
Pensacola Branch
Pensacola Florida Branch
The Branch has had a great start to 2014. The leadership team, led by Holly Smith, is in place and highly motivated to grow the project management profession in the greater Pensacola area.
Our monthly meeting attendance has exceeded expectations as we continue to market and grow the Branch with interesting, relevant, and unique meeting topics. The monthly meetings have exposed members to multiple knowledge base areas of project management to include scope management, proper planning techniques, and the importance of project communications. Meetings have featured speakers in diverse industries such as construction management, natural food stores, microbreweries, and credit unions which have helped reinforce to members the relevance and wide application of the project management discipline. Unique networking events have provided members with informal means to interact with others in the Branch.
We are very excited that our attendance record just keeps growing during our monthly membership meetings. The February monthly Membership meeting drew 30 participants and was a unique networking event that was held at the Pensacola Bay Brewery hosted by Mr. Mark Robertson (owner/brew master) speaking on the subject of Project Risk Management.
At the March meeting, Navy Federal Credit Union had an excellent panel of discussants reviewing and explaining the Navy Federals Credit Union business and their’ “Holistic Approach to Project Planning”. This meeting had 44 attendees!
In April, William Rolfs, Ever’man Natural Foods General Manager, provided a fascinating presentation on the planning, scheduling, financing, and overall management of the store’s multi-million dollar expansion. The meeting also provided members the opportunity to network while enjoying gourmet natural food prepared by Chapter member Bonnie Bayly.
In May, we all enjoyed participating in the Chapter’s Annual Spring Symposium in Fort Walton Beach. June’s meeting featured Bob Larkin from Academy Leadership. Mr. Larkin provided a presentation on the importance of Personal Development. Meeting attendees got the opportunity to learn how to create a Personal Development Plan.
Check the website often for information regarding Chapter and Branch Events (Including registration for upcoming events).
Branch Director: Holly Smith, PMP
Branch Sponsored By:
Mobile, AL Branch
Mobile Alabama Branch
The Mobile Branch has had an outstanding year so year with membership currently exceeding the Branch's goal of 50 members. New and exciting networking and professional development events at interesting and popular venues are offered every month.
Branch Director: Scott Peters, PMP
Branch Sponsored By:
Professional Development
Chapter VP of Professional Development
Welcome to 2014. In the Chinese calendar, 2014 is the year of the horse, however we (the PMI Chapter) believe 2014 is the year of the Project/Program Manager! The career field is still growing and becoming ever more important in today’s work environment. The PMP certified individual is still the most widely requested certification for job seekers than any other certification and is even being seen and requested in engineering job postings. The PMI Chapter is looking forward to host a PMP Boot Camp in 2014. If you are interested in getting PMP certified and or attending a session or know someone who is interested, please contact me directly at [email protected].
If you already have a PMP certification and are interested in obtaining an additional certification, please email me and we will work to organize a Boot Camp or Training Session to accommodate the request.
The Chapter completed a significant milestone: A partnership with Northwest Florida State College. Through this alliance Dr. Vickery, head of the degree program in Project Management at Northwest Florida State College (http://www.nwfsc.edu/ProjectManagement/) offers his students the opportunity to earn 3 semester hours of credit through 120 hours of work as an intern at local businesses, non-profit organizations, and any other businesses that employ project managers. If you and your business are interested in employing interns from NWFSC or if you would like additional information, please contact the VP of Professional Development at [email protected].
P.S.
Bonnie McClure resigned her position with the chapter because she has accepted a position in a company in the state of Oregon. She is one of the founding members of this chapter. She has severed a President Elect, President, past President, and VP of Professional Development. I am proud to say that through her efforts and her total commitment to PMI, the PM profession and our Chapter, she made the difference. The chapter has grown to have three branches (the most in the region) and her influence was a great assent to the community, the profession, and our chapter. She is a plank owner (Navy term) part of this organization on the Emerald Coast forever. She will be missed in deed. Here’s wishing you “Fair Winds and following Seas” in your new challenges ahead!
By: Chapter Director-at-Large, Gerson A. Cedeño, PMP,CEA, CQPA
To Get a Certification or Not… Is that the Question?
Like many of us here on the Emerald Coast, you have probably been working in the Project or Program Management career field for many years, and have never known about Project Management Institute (PMI), much less the array of professional certifications PMI offers. Now that you’ve been introduced to PMI and know there are professional certifications out there, the logical, next train of thought has to be – Why is certification important to me? I’ve been involved in Project/Program Management for years!, and got along just great without it.
I too had this question in mind, so I began by going to PMI.com for answers, then talked to others in my community who’d achieved one of the eight credentials (certifications) offered by PMI. The bottom line is, the credentials you receive will make you a more effective and valued performer. There are many tools and skills you need to master to be the best of the best, and the credentials offered teach a disciplined, comprehensive set of common terminology, repeatable processes, and practices that will increase your knowledge, proficiency, and confidence. By taking time to make the investment in your professional development, you’ll be on top of the latest best practices globally. This all leads to repeatable successes in your career that will do more than get you noticed – you’ll be someone your organization can’t do without!
Don’t get left behind. There are nearly 350,000 people with credentials worldwide. Go to the PMI website (www.pmi.org) and sign up for the credential package(s) that best fits you. The eight credentials listed below are offered by PMI:
- Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)®
- Project Management Professional (PMP)®
- Program Management Professional (PgMP)®
- Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)SM
- PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®
- PMI Risk Management Professional (PMI-RMP)®
- PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP)®
- OPM3® Professional Certification
Worried about how to study and pass the exam(s)? Don’t. In addition to member support, the PMI Emerald Coast Florida Chapter teams with private companies who specialize in preparatory review, study techniques, and even practice exams to help train you to focus on what you already know for success. Study teams are always beginning developed. To sign up or learn more, contact our Vice President of Professional Development, [email protected] or any PMI member. Also some of our Branches have a professional library with publications to assist you with study material while you prepare for the exam.
By: Chapter Director-at-Large, Gerson A. Cedeño, PMP,CEA, CQPA
Anniversary Spotlight
PMI Emerald Coast Florida Chapter Reaches a Millstone in 2014 - It’s 5th Year Anniversary! (A Look Back in History)
Hello and good cheer….As the newly appointed Director at Large for the year 2014, of the Emerald Coast Florida Chapter, I am truly excited to accept the challenge and be part of the leadership and direction of the Board of Officers of the Chapter and the Branches into the New Year and beyond.
We are pleased and excited to have a partnership with a local College, The Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) representing the Project Management Profession thus providing a genuine opportunity for college students to have a glance and or a glimpse into the real world of the Project and Program Manager. That is exciting news as we move forward into 2014.
As we began this year and we continue to make preparations for the Chapters three major events. The Annual Symposium, which already has taken place and the other two events are still in the planning stages. They are the Annual Chapter Diner Award Ceremony and Annual Board Elections. This year the Chapter has reached a milestone of worthy mention. This year marks our 5th Anniversary!
5 years ago a group of project management professionals made a very important decision and with great foresight, determination, and dedication the PMI Emerald Coast Florida Chapter was founded (Born into existence). Those pioneers were Lakecia Gunter, PMP, Mark E. Wentling, MSPM, PMP, and Bonnie McClure, PMP, including the founding board members too many to mention.
In September 2006, a small group of engineers located in the Air Armament Center, Eglin Air Force Base began discussing their desire to have a Project Management Institute (PMI) Chapter in the local area. The presiding President of the Steering Committee, Lakecia Gunter, PMP recruited Mark E. Wentling, MSPM, PMP in November 2006 to serve as the Community Formation Liaison with the PMI Organization. The formal request to form a new chapter was submitted in the same month, and they were told that new chapter formation was on hold until January 2007. So they planned and waited until January 2007, PMI informed Mark Wentling that this endeavor would serve as the test chapter to prove the new formation processes were viable and also to grant permission to begin the formal request for chapter hood and a PMI presence in the Emerald Coast of Florida.
During the next Three years (2007, 2008, 2009) over 14 dedicated volunteers were working hard to bring this chapter to life. Unfortunately some of the individuals who started this process left the area for new careers and never had the chance to see the results of their efforts (the fruits of their labor), but they deserve and have the gratitude of assisting none the less. Just to give you a sense of the level of effort it took to get the chapter online:
13 revisions of the Chapter’s Business Plan
3 revisions of the Chapter By-laws
5 revisions of the Chapter’s Three-year Budget and Spending Plan
5 revisions of the Chapter’s Strategic Plan
7 teleconferences with PMI Organization
16 Steering Committee Meetings and numerous small group meetings (countless)
While the Board of Directors was progressing along with their internal schedule, they assisted the PMI Organization with a major revision of the chartering process and their milestone list. The President traveled to the PMI North American Leadership meeting in Atlanta where he briefed other PMI National and Global Component leaders on the progress and lessons learned as they were starting their own chartering activities under the new guidelines. Keeping in mind that ECFC was the test platform for the new formation.
So, as the chapter entered the year of 2009, the business plan, strategic metrics, By-laws and budgets were completed and submitted to PMI for approved. PMI approved and granted us to officially begin and the chapter was incorporated by the State of Florida as a Non-Profit entity. The new chapter with an established bank account, a Post Office Box address and an Internet presence (with electronic event registration system on-line) to allow its members to conveniently register and pay for events was officially born (March 2009).
The chapter has come a long way from an idea that started as a …what-if… by a few dedicated professionals (Engineers) to becoming PMI’s first chartered chapter in over a three year period (A freeze of chapter growth was in effect at that time). So, next time you see a board member, take a second to say thank you for continuing the efforts laid down by our predecessors and consider becoming part of the effort YOURSELF! There is still much to do to bring the “Power of the Profession” to all who seek and want it.
By: Chapter Director-at-Large, Gerson A. Cedeño, PMP,CEA, CQPA
