By Membership Selection Committee
December’s volunteer of the month, Joe Tobias, has a passion for the community he serves and project management that is palpable the moment you talk to him. PMI Portland is lucky to have Joe Tobias as the current Director of Military Liaison and as an advocate for those transitioning to civilian life. Joe’s PMI Portland highlight is one event that brought 25 current members and 75 prospective members in touch with a career coach where participants walked away with actionable advice to advance their careers.
Joe’s first experience with PMI Portland was when a member coached him on his transition to civilian life. During weekly meetings, Joe’s mentor would help Joe translate his military jargon and mannerisms to civilian corporations. Ultimately, this mentorship was a key factor in Joe landing a role in Project Management.
Professionally, Joe is a Supply Chain Manager for TriMet where he implements supply chain processes and procedures for bus and light rail. Within the first few hours of his new job, he was assigned a project. After being in the military, where he would move every 2-3 years, he was used to rapid onboarding and quickly delivered results.As Director of Military Liaison Joe assists Veterans and their family members in a career in project management and obtaining their certificate. He also gives them a heads up on what to expect during their transition out of the military and helps them tailor their resume to convert their military experience into project management terms. Joe continuously stresses the applicability of military experience to project management.Joe urges anyone looking to hire project managers to spend the extra time with a Veteran applicant to understand their experience and military background. To best support our Veterans with their transition, a simple thirty minute conversation can provide the connection between what skills the job requires, what skills the applicant has and ultimately help secure top talent for the business.
To those thinking of volunteering, Joe urges everyone to get involved. Beyond the added benefit of getting PDUs, you can explore additional interests and find a position that matches your availability.In his free time, Joe focuses on what brings him joy, like living an active lifestyle, and volunteering with his church and Veteran organizations. Joe’s time is filled with excitement and activity, which PMI Portland is lucky to be a part of!