PMI PDX News 2019 Nov

November
2019

pdx collage stretch


PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Chapter President Penelope Luedtke, PMP Hello! My friend asked me the other day, “Why are you doing this?” She was referring to the work I’ve been putting in as President. I didn’t have an immediate answer, but it got me thinking. Why do I do this? It’s because I need to put what I’ve learned into practice. I’ve been to countless seminars, conferences, webinars, and workshops on leadership. Now...I need to lead. I need to prove to myself that I can be an effective leader. This Chapter is a great place to do that! I’m surrounded by supportive, like-minded folks, mostly in the same type of profession as me; plus, we're optimistic and a FUN bunch to be around! PMI provides emerging project management professionals a means of learning the language of the trade, AND the chance for experienced pros to sharpen their skills for future opportunities. PMI is a global organization with decades of experience advocating for our shared profession. Today, their motto is “Empowering People to Make Ideas a Reality.” And I have a lot of ideas about this Chapter that I would like to make a reality. I’d like to send welcome letters to all our new members. I’d like to better share the new PMI Global brand on our website. I’d like to have more panel events that showcase our members’ experience and talents. I’d like to spin up study groups for those prepping to take the PMP exam. I’d like us to be close allies with other organizations that could benefit from the discipline of project management. I’d like to be sprinkling the notion of project management among school-age children. I’d like to do A LOT of stuff! But we can’t do it without engaging our members and turning you from once-a-month attendees to “PMI-is-my-jam-let’s-do-something-awesome” volunteers! So, here’s a list of suggestions for you to consider - you might recognize these from our Annual Conference: Do you want to flex your leadership muscle? Consider a position on our Executive Board. Do you want to learn more about budgets and P&L statements? We need an Assistant VP of Finance. Do you want more practice writing, creating content or engaging social media challenges? Our Marketing Portfolio could use your help. Are you interested in training? Our Professional Development Portfolio runs our training and workshops. Does planning an awesome event sound like a lot of fun? Our Program Portfolio could use your expertise. Would you like to flex your technical skills? We have a web page to manage, a suite of tools that need support and an Operations Portfolio that could use your knowledge. Do you need to improve your Public Speaking? Our chapter Toastmasters Club is a perfect opportunity with leadership roles open now. Are you interested in building relationships with outside organizations? Our Outreach Portfolio always welcomes a helping hand in maintaining connections with our community. Or, maybe it’s just time for you to gift your abilities, experience, and talent to the next generation of project managers! Whatever the reason, we welcome you to join us. We aim to be an inclusive, welcoming community and I look forward to you jumping in! Penelope Luedtke, PMP President, PMI Portland Chapter
ARTICLES
Special Chapter Meeting: Prep for Next Career Move “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” — Roman philosopher Seneca Chapter Meeting \| November 19, 2019 — Let the Perfect Job Find You! By Julie Easterly, PMP Want a career change or looking for a job? It’s tough just getting started. Today, job hunting is much different than just a few years ago. Now, along with creating a solid resume, researching a desired company and gathering a good list of references, you need a professional profile, a well-developed 30-second elevator pitch and a good headshot! This month’s November 19 Chapter meeting — held in collaboration with supply chain management group, APIC Portland — will give you the chance to accomplish all those things and more. This meeting has been reshaped into a Job Resource Event meant to help you prepare for your next career move and differentiate yourself from other prospective candidates. With resume reviewers, photographers, recruiters and a panel discussion on career strategies, this is your chance to build or improve your professional identity. Don’t forget: networking is vital to finding the right opportunity. Spend some time getting connected with other project management professionals and potential employers. Register before November 14 for our early bird discount. Let us help you prepare for when the perfect job finds you! Informational Interviews Can Open Doors By Kelley Duron, MEd, CSM Career strategist Jenny Foss has helped thousands of job seekers find their next careers by offering practical advice on her blog, in books such as the Ridiculously Awesome Resume Kit, and online video courses in partnership with LinkedIn, as well as through consulting and other platforms. One great way to jump-start a new job search is through informational interviews. Foss emphasizes, though, job seekers should NOT expect such a meeting to turn into a job interview. “Don’t plan to thrust your resume on that person and expect them to lead the conversation,” she says. “You are the interviewer … and your primary goal is to collect information that will support your search. Come prepared.” That means doing homework before you go – check out the person’s profile on LinkedIn. Where have they worked? What college did they attend? From that basic information, prepare your questions to get the most out of your time with busy professionals. Foss shares these five simple questions that can kickstart a conversation: *How did you get into this field, and how did you land your role?* This shows you have a genuine interest in their background and could lead to hints about how you might break into that company. *What is the best part about working here?* Foss says all the research in the world can’t answer this question as well as getting first-hand feedback. What are the most challenging aspects of your job? This question will not only give you some idea of the opportunities and projects you may take on should you work at this organization, it could also hint to the culture of the company. *What skills are most important to break into this space?* Don’t be surprised if this question prompts your interviewee to ask about your own skills – or even ask to see your resume (but remember – DON’T just offer it up!) Finally, as you close your time together, ask, *Based on our discussion, can you think of one or two other people I can chat with?* Foss says this is essential to keeping the momentum going. “One person may not be the magic bullet but might spark a chain of introductions that will help you dig further and meet other people,” Foss says. And, who knows? One of them may pull out all the stops to help you land your next job! Jenny Foss will be a panelist and resume reviewer at PMI Portland’s Career Event at our November 19 Chapter meeting. Space is limited. Register today! Meet an Emerging Leader: Omar Ordonez, VP of Membership for PMI Portland By Rachel Crane, PMP Omar Ordonez, MBA, PMP, is many things: Former software developer, current software project manager and management consultant, motorcycle adventurer, backpacker, rescuer of stray dogs, and recent addition to the PMI Portland Board of Directors, where he serves as Vice President of Membership. In his position with our Chapter, Ordonez oversees the strategy and management of membership and volunteer initiatives. “[PMI Portland] aims to attract and retain members and provide value to them,” he explains. “Similarly, we track and retain volunteers and provide them with a career track so that they can grow.” Omar during a motorcycle trip from Alaska to South America, traveling with the adopted stray dog he found while passing through Ecuador. With an adventurous spirit and a desire to make a difference, Ordonez aims to promote professional growth. “I’ve been a member since before my time living in Portland,” says Ordonez. “When I moved here, I saw that there were a lot of opportunities within the Portland Chapter, that there was a need for volunteers. I decided that I needed to do something for the chapter." For Ordonez, pinpointing how the Membership portfolio can lead changes and enhance chapter growth is essential. “We’re trying to move away from the status quo,” he says, revealing his preference for out-of-box thinking. “I’m looking at our President’s strategy and then thinking broadly as if we’re creating a brand-new business. The membership team relies heavily on other portfolios, so we are focused on creating synergies with others to be effective,” he says. Like his aspirations for the chapter, Ordonez’s personal goals are ambitious. He is currently training for his next personal adventure: a 100-mile ultra-marathon. Through his daring and determination, Ordonez is going places. Interested in learning more about opportunities with the Membership portfolio? Visit our leadership page to learn more about open positions within the portfolio.
Have Knowledge to Share? Submit an article -- or share an idea -- by sending an email to Director of Content Marketing. Nominate Someone for PMI Portland Leadership Profile Are you or someone you know interested in being interviewed for the PMI Portland newsletter leadership profile? To nominate yourself or a colleague for consideration, please contact our Director of Content Marketing with a few details about your nominee.
EVENTS
Military Outreach No Need to Take Sides While Watching Army-Navy Football PMI Portland’s Military Outreach group is hosting another family-friendly gathering — this time to watch Army duke it out against home team Navy in their 120th meeting on Saturday, December 14. Enjoy the rivalry, with Army v. Navy competitions in pop-a-shot, foosball and trivia in addition to game-watching on he big screen. Our PMI members and prospective members and families, whether veterans or not, will meet at the Spirit of ‘77 from 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person (kids are free). The event is a fundraiser for the USO. Watch for registration information on our PMI Portland homepage, and follow us on: Twitter @PMIPortland Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PMIPortland/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/pmiportland-chapter Certification Courses Six-Week PMP/CAPM Exam Prep \| January 18 - February 22, 2020 PMI Portland will offer the winter session each Saturday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to prep attendees for PMP or CAPM certification. Experienced project managers or project leaders ready to become certified Project Management Professionals (PMP), and those looking to establish credibility in the application of project management processes as a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), will benefit from this course which will help you prepare for–and pass–the Project Management Institute (PMI) examination. Students will receive a copy of the PMI PMBOK (6th) edition, a complete set of study materials from Velociteach, and access to online practice exams that simulate the exam environment. Attendance in the course will satisfy the education requirement for both the PMP and CAPM application. To be eligible for the PMP certification, you must meet certain educational and professional experience requirements. All project management experience must have been accrued within the last eight consecutive years prior to your application submission. Please visit PMI Certifications for complete exam eligibility requirements. Key Learning Objectives: Study tips & strategies sitting for the 2020 PMP/CAPM examination Supplemental materials and advice from current PMP professionals Learn how to utilize the PMBOK 6th ed. to assist in studying for the exam and further professional development Practical application and analysis of project management Provide networking and study group opportunities Build confidence and awareness to become a Project Management Professional Roundtables in Full Swing Have a pesky problem you are dealing with on your project? Would you like to hear other perspectives on industry best practices from your peers? PMI Portland hosts roundtable groups across the Portland Metro area each week, including Hillsboro, Downtown, Lloyd Center area, North Portland, Vancouver -- even a virtual event focusing on Agile! Agile PM Online Roundtable with Jenn Honermann, is this Thursday, November 14th at 7 a.m. Jenn serves as the Director of Agility Enablement at Capital One and will share key insights and learnings gained on Capital One’s Agile Journey along with answering questions from our community. Watch the PMI Portland homepage, or visit our Roundtable listing for details on all our meetings. Chapter Event Calendar
COMMUNITY
PMI Portland’s Winterhawks Veteran Salute a Rousing Success What a night!! The Winterhawks won; Project Management Institute - Portland Chapter Fan Page raised over $250 for USO.org, we honored our Veterans, 40+ professionals networked and we had a BLAST. What more could you ask for! Free Agile and Lean Events; Earn PDUs/SEUs! Lean Coffee in the North \| Sunday, November 17, 10 a.m. Whether you like coffee, tea or another morning beverage, this gathering offers engaging discussions about how to overcome challenges we face, and shares Agile-inspired stories and other topics. Puppet Speaker Series: Agile for Business, including examples from HR \| Wednesday, November 20, 6:30 p.m. Drawing on lessons learned from both Agile and Enterprise Architecture, Matt Jamison, Principal Consultant at The Gunter Group, explores how Agile concepts offer a fresh approach to building bridges between strategy, processes, and the realization of business goals. Join us for FREE pizza, soda, and learning! AgilePDX Westsde: Transitioning from Waterfall to Agile \| November 22, 11:30 a.m. Join us at Nike to talk about the sometimes bumpy road from waterfall to agile. Bring your war stories and insights to help us work out how to smooth the road from traditional to more agile methods. Sponsor Offers New Courses PMI Portland Silver Sponsor Braintrust Consulting has three upcoming courses to help you build your skillset and bolster your resume. Certified Scrum Developer: CSD Dec 10-12, Portland Certified Scrum Master: CSM Jan 20-21, Portland Certified Scrum Product Owner: CSPO Jan 22-23, Portland Visit braintrust.com for registration details. As a special offer to PMI Portland chapter members, register using promo code PMIPortland19 and receive a $100 discount on the registration fee, and Braintrust will also donate $100 to the PMI Portland Chapter. Email Allyson.bowers@braintrustgroup.com with any questions.
MORE TO EXPLORE
Join PMI Portland Chapter Chapter Leadership New Certifications Become a Chapter Sponsor	Chapter Social Media Contribute to the Newsletter Newsletter Archive Newsletter Article Archive
CHAPTER SPONSORS