Weekly Update: Spring 2026 Mentoring Program – Apply Now

06/22/2026  

THIS MONTH

Solve Problems, Lead Teams, Drive Results

Curious about project management or exploring what your next career step could be? Join PMI Portland for an engaging outreach event that introduces the fundamentals of project management and why these skills are in demand across industries.

Through real-world examples and case studies, you’ll see how effective project leadership helps teams solve problems, deliver results, and create meaningful impact. You’ll also learn practical steps for getting started in project management and have plenty of time to ask questions, share your experiences, and talk through your own projects.

This session is designed for anyone considering project management as a career path—including teens and adults looking to build transferable, future-ready skills.

Event Details

• Speaker: Elizabeth Johnson
• Date/Time: March 12 | 7:00–8:00 PM
• Location: Aloha Community Library, 17455 SW Farmington Rd, Suite 26A, Aloha, OR 97007

Take the first step toward a versatile and rewarding career path—and discover how project management skills can open doors in almost any field.

PM in the AM

Looking for a low-key way to connect with fellow project professionals? Join us for an informal morning of networking and conversation over great coffee. Whether you’re new to PMI Portland or a longtime member, this is a relaxed chance to share experiences, swap ideas, and build your professional community.

Event Details:

• Date/Time: Tuesday, March 17th @ 7 AM

• Location: Insomnia Coffee - Cedar Mill, 12535 NW Cornell Rd Portland, OR 97229

• Cost: Free (just bring your coffee order!)

Start your day with fresh connections and fresh coffee!

March Chapter Meeting: Practical Risk Management

Risk is part of every project, but unmanaged risk is what causes real trouble. Join us for a practical, hands-on session focused on identifying, tracking, and managing risk in real-world project environments.

In this one-hour presentation, Kim Wasson (PMP) will walk through a straightforward, repeatable approach to risk management that you can apply immediately. You’ll learn how to identify risks early, assess and prioritize impact, maintain a clear and actionable risk register, assign ownership, and implement effective response strategies that reduce uncertainty and keep projects moving forward.

Kim brings more than 25 years of experience in software development, consulting, and executive leadership across organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. As founder of IvyBay Consulting, she specializes in practical tools and techniques that help project managers connect strategy to execution.

What You’ll Gain:

• A practical framework for identifying and prioritizing risks

• Simple tools for tracking and maintaining a useful risk register

• Guidance on assigning ownership and accountability

• Clear response strategies you can apply to active projects

Event Details:

• Date/Time: March 18 | 6:30–8:30 PM
• Location: Old Market Pub and Brewery, 6959 SW Multnomah Blvd, Portland, OR 97223
• PDUs: 1 Power Skills
• Cost: $10 Members | $15 Non-Members

Walk away with a clear, manageable approach to risk management—designed for real projects, not just theory.

Mentoring Spring 2026 Session Signup

Applications are now open for our Spring 2026 Mentoring Program (April 1 – September 30). This six-month program pairs mentees with experienced project management professionals to provide guidance, career insight, and real-world advice.

Participants can choose from three mentoring tracks:

• Basic Project Management
• PMO / Portfolio Management (for experienced PMs)
• Military Veteran Mentoring

Whether you're looking to strengthen your skills, transition into leadership roles, or translate military experience into the PM profession, this program provides valuable support and connections.

Apply now to join the Spring cohort!

2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

New Speakers Announced!

The Architecture of Collaboration: Why Your Methodology Doesn't Matter (But Your Systems Do)

We spend an inordinate amount of time debating Agile versus Waterfall, often missing the fundamental issue: neither framework solves for the human element of high-pressure delivery. When teams struggle, it is rarely because they chose the wrong project management tool. Misalignment and missed expectations are because teams lack the relational infrastructure to support it.

Drawing on leadership in strategic partnerships and product development, this talk will explore how we can treat project frameworks not as rigid doctrines, but as social systems. We will move beyond the methodology wars to discuss how to build psychological safety, establish clear boundaries between cross-functional teams, and create flow regardless of the delivery model. Attendees will learn how to diagnose the human bottlenecks in their projects and shift their focus from managing tasks to managing the connective tissue of their organization.

Jana Hodgins, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Xsolla

Jana Hodgins is a speaker and strategist delivering systematic alignment to drive clarity, momentum, and sustainable business outcomes. Simplifies complex challenges into actionable strategy across tech and partnerships through continuous discovery, inclusive collaboration, and hacking team dynamics with healthy relationship patterns.

Keynote Speaker

Stakeholder resistance is only part of the story. In complex transformations (restructures, system implementations, agile shifts) project leaders encounter a wide spectrum of behavioral responses. Some are vocal. Some are silent. Some attempt to lead the narrative. Others withdraw. Misreading these responses often creates friction, stalled momentum, and unnecessary escalation.

Building on Prosci’s foundational “Resistance Zoo,” this session expands the lens to the full Response Zoo: a practical framework for decoding stakeholder behavior and proactively leading through it.

Sarah Parsons, MBA, PMP, ICF-ACC, is a transformation strategist and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience leading enterprise change across global brands including Nike and adidas.

She partners with Excelerate to support complex cross-functional transformation initiatives while also leading her independent coaching and advisory practice. Sarah specializes in helping leaders bring clarity to competing priorities, align stakeholders around meaningful outcomes, and build execution systems that work in high-ambiguity environments.

Her work focuses on the critical layer “before the software” — ensuring strategy, ownership, and decision-making clarity are in place before tools and processes are introduced. She is known for translating ambiguity into structure and helping teams move from conversation to measurable progress.

More Speakers Coming Soon! Join us for the 2026 Annual PMI Portland Conference

Breakfast and lunch are included. MAX-accessible; parking available for $8.

Event Details:

• Date/Time: Friday, April 17th | 8:00–4:00 PM PT

• Cost: $120 PMI Portland Members | $140 Non-Members

PARTNER EVENT

IT infrastructure is evolving rapidly, bringing new challenges in security, AI, cloud computing, bandwidth, storage, and disaster recovery. INTERFACE Portland 2026 is designed to help professionals stay ahead of these changes through a full day of expert-led education and solution-focused discussions.

The conference brings together industry leaders, technology providers, and local experts to share insights on information security, infrastructure, cloud strategy, communications, and more. Attendees can expect presentations, panel discussions, and an exhibit hall showcasing best-in-breed hardware and software solutions, along with practical strategies and emerging innovations.

Event Details:

• Date/Time: March 19, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
• Location: Oregon Convention Center

If your work intersects with IT, infrastructure, cybersecurity, or enterprise technology, this event offers valuable perspectives and resources to support your goals.

Volunteer with Us: Make a Difference and Grow Your Career!

Looking to level up your career while making a real impact? Volunteering with PMI Portland is your perfect opportunity to do both! Whether you want to gain leadership experience, expand your network, or just give back to our incredible community, there’s a role for you.

Why Volunteer?

• Boost Your Resume: Gain hands-on leadership and project management experience.
• Expand Your Network: Connect with other passionate professionals across industries.
• Make a Difference: Help shape the future of our chapter and make a lasting impact in our community.
• Earn PDUs: Stay on top of your certifications while doing meaningful work.

No matter your skill set or availability, there’s a spot for you to shine! Ready to take the next step? Click below to explore our open roles and get involved.

Let’s work together to build a stronger, more connected PMI Portland community!

Want to Speak at a PMI Portland Event?

We’re looking for dynamic speakers to lead Chapter meetings, & workshops. If you’ve got insights to share and a passion for project management, we want to hear from you!

Why speak?

• Boost your professional profile

• Connect with a network of PM pros

• Get invited to speak at other PMI events

We handle the logistics, you bring the knowledge. Topics should offer real value and focus on the hard and soft skills project professionals need to thrive.

Ready to take the mic?

• Apply for Chapter meetings: speaker@pmi-portland.org

• Interested in workshops? Reach out to workshop@pmi-portland.org or vp_prof_devel@pmi-portland.org

Step up. Speak out. Make an impact.

Want to become a sponsor and add your company logo here?

Please see the PMI Portland Sponsorship Opportunities for details.

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