Chapter Leadership

Chapter Leadership Org Chart

2021-2022 Board of Directors

Position Overview

President - Rochelle Petty, MBA, PMP, SPHR

Rochelle Petty, MBA, PMP, SPHR has over 13 years of progressive leadership experience, distinguished by commended performance & proven results. She has worn many hats as a project professional, from Business Analyst and Project Manager to her current role as a PMO Senior Manager - often at the same time! Rochelle's experiences have led her to embrace one thing: Murphy's Law is real. To mitigate, Rochelle works strategically with Executives, Stakeholders, and SMEs to ensure a continuous alignment with objectives.

As President-Elect for PMI Portland, Rochelle plans to work with the President to ensure continued value-added member activities, while ensuring that volunteers can work together effectively and strategically behind the scenes.

Super-power: Bringing order to chaos

Personal keywords: Empathetic, Action-oriented, Strategic, Visionary, Learner

Specialties: Project Portfolio management, Program management, Project management, Business process improvement, Change management.

President Elect - Ken Loewen, PMP

Ken Loewen was elected to the role of President-Elect of the PMI Portland Chapter in August 2021 and will serve in this role for one year in preparation for stepping into the role of Chapter President. Ken has been an active participant in Portland Chapter activities for several years, including serving as a speaker at the 2018 Region 1 Conference hosted by the Portland Chapter and at multiple PMI Portland Annual Conferences.

Ken received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business (Accounting) from the University of Colorado and his MBA from Pepperdine University. He began his career in public accounting, earning the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) credentials from the American Institute of CPAs, and the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential from the Institute of Management Accountants.

Ken worked for several years each in the Technology and Strategy practices at Deloitte Consulting, during which time he was promoted to Sr. Manager and received his Project Management Professional (PMP) credential. From 2006 – 2011, Ken managed more than two dozen merger and acquisition and divestiture projects for Microsoft Corporation and, promoted to Group Finance Manager, served in a Finance leadership role at a Microsoft subsidiary in Paris, France. In 2011, Ken returned to Deloitte Consulting, where he led the Knowledge Management function for the Global Technology practice leader. Returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2015, Ken delivered project, program, and portfolio consulting services and training at Advisicon, Inc., a Vancouver WA-based project and portfolio management consultancy as Director of Professional Services, then Director of Client Solutions, and then founding Director of the BI & Analytics Division.

Ken recently joined Satori Technology LLC as Business Intelligence Engagement Manager, a role in which he serves as project manager and subject matter expert delivering business intelligence and analytics solutions focused around financial and operational reporting.

In 2006, Ken was elected to a six-year term as National Councilor of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, following which he was appointed to the volunteer role of Chief Financial Officer and National Treasurer for three successive two-year terms. Ken has also been an active church volunteer for many years in both elected and appointed roles.

Ken and his family live in Vancouver.

Past President - Richard Ferrin, MS, PMP

Mr. Richard “Ric” Ferrin, MS, PMP, is a Senior Program Manager for Integrated Surveillance and Design (ISD), a small, veteran owned, aerospace company located in Wilsonville, Oregon. Ric received his MS, Business Administration from Strayer University, Manassas, VA, his PMP certification in February 2007 and his ITIL Certification in May 2011.
After a nearly 24-year career in the US Navy, Ric and his family settled in northern Virginia, where Ric supported several US Govt. Programs, from Missile Defense to Medical Therapeutic research and development. In March 2013, Ric relocated to Portland, Oregon.
Joining PMI Portland in May 2013, where he made his desire to volunteer, was immediately put to work supporting the Monthly Chapter Meeting. Ric assumed the Director of Events duties upon the departure of the incumbent, a position, he held for 3 years. Following this, Ric was elevated to the Asst. VP of Programs for 1 year, before being elected to the VP of Programs in 2017.
He is looking forward to collaborating with colleagues, thinking critically and creatively, and motivating others with his clear leadership capabilities.
In his downtime, Ric is an avid hiker (walker really) and photographer. He has a special affinity for plants, flowers, and scenery–one of his photographs was a finalist in The Oregonian garden photo contest in 2018! 

Secretary - OPEN

Position Overview

VP of Governance and Policies - OPEN

Position Overview

VP of Finance - Dan Cobb, PMP

Position Overview

Dan has spent much of his career as a Technical Program Manager and Product Manager at Tektronix, Xerox, and most recently A-dec.  Dan joined the Portland PMI Chapter in 2017 and earned his PMP in January of 2018.  During his long career, he spends much of his own time volunteering for local organizations and first started volunteering for the PMI Portland chapter as an Assistant VP of Finance early during COVID19 outbreak and while seeking a new career.

Dan enjoys helping others, woodworking, remodeling homes, metal working, restoring classic British motorcycles, fly fishing, and learning new skills.

VP of Membership - Penelope Luedtke, PMP

Position Overview

Penelope has been involved in PMI since 2013 with her first volunteer stint at the PMI Global Education Conference. She became PMP certified earlier that same year. 

An employee for the City of Portland since 2000, Penelope began in IT as an analyst and currently is a Senior Program Manager building a Facilities Asset Management Program. Her extensive volunteer involvement includes neighborhood associations and PTAs in addition to PMI. She strongly believes in the benefits and opportunities afforded with a PMI membership and strives to help all members realize the full value of participating in the PMI Portland Chapter.

VP of Marketing - OPEN

Position Overview

VP of Operations - Gary Marx, PMP

Gary is a retired USAF officer who spent the last 12 years of my 24 year career planning and executing large military exercises.  After my retirement I worked as US Army civilian for 4 years in an office created to plan and execute one large project, the merging of McChord AFB and Fort Lewis to form Joint Base Lewis-McChord.  In 2013 I started work at Bonneville Power Administration as the Technical Training Manager, where I, and a team of 15 oversee five formal apprentice and trainee training programs.  In the past I volunteered to work on the Information Technology Committees for both the PMI Olympia Chapter and the Olympia Rotary.  I joined the PMI Portland Chapter in 2014 and became the Assistant VP of Operations in 2019.

VP of Outreach - Marshal Oller, PMP

Position Overview

Marshal Oller is a dynamic servant leader who has successfully delivered transformational initiatives for Fortune 100 companies, health care innovators, elite military organizations and innovative start-ups. For over 25 years he has expertly led teams responsible for producing cutting-edge digital solutions to the delight of his stakeholders. He is a PMI certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a Scaled Agile (SAFe) Product Owner, Product Manager and Advanced Scrum Master.

Marshal is a Willamette MBA Honor Graduate and possesses a Master’s degree in Logistics & Transportation from Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). When Marshal isn’t wrangling programs, coaching global teams or creating a visionary product roadmap he can be found cheering for the Blazers, rooting for the Timbers or spending time in the majestic Pacific Northwest with his dog and two kids.

VP of Professional Development - Sireesha Akula, PMP

Position Overview

Sireesha (Siri) Akula is currently an Engineering Manager at Intel Corporation leading a team of hand selected rock star engineers to bring flagship Ethernet products to market. She is an accomplished grateful leader in validation and customer management with 14+ years of industry experience backed by a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and PMP certification.

Siri regularly applies engineering principles for problem-solving, process design and optimization in all projects and teams. Leads with truth and transparency advocating for grateful and inclusive culture to build trust and form effective teams in the organization. Uses project management fundamentals to lead teams on complex projects to meet project goals and flex with rapidly changing environments.

Her leadership and service spans multiple non-profit organizations including the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Speakeasy Toastmasters, Beaverton School District and Washington County Community Gardens. She is very involved with SWE and served on almost all the board positions and was Past President of Columbia River SWE section. She is currently helping Columbia River section as Nominating Chair to build leadership pipeline and also serving as a Leadership Coach to five professional sections in the society.

In her spare time, Siri loves to cook, garden, and spend time outdoors with family and friends. Very excited to be part of PMI leadership and looking forward to thrill PMI Portland chapter members with their most sought after professional development events.

VP of Programs - Denis Hernandez-Granda, PMP

Position Overview

Critical thinker who empowers his teams and is focused on efficiencies, delivering customer service excellence and quality. Client oriented and accomplished leader capable of building motivated and productive teams. Extensive qualifications in System Integration, Instrumentation and Calibration, MEP design and construction. Familiar with all facets of project life-cycle development, from initial feasibility and conceptual design through documentation, implementation, quality review and enhancement of existing facilities. Experience is balanced and spans a wide spectrum of industries, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Water Treatment, Pharmaceutical, Food & Dairy , Metrology Services and Mission Critical facilities.  Instrumental on Growing Corporate relationship with Fortune100 Customers. Excellent verbal and written communications skills. PC literate: MS Office, Bluebeam, Revit, Procore, Traction Tools, Deltek and Viewpoint.  Very effective Proposal Development leader, Fully bilingual (English & Spanish) and well versed in Italian and Portuguese.