Written By: Laura Davidson, PMP, Director at Large

On October 22, The Home Depot corporate headquarters hosted its 6th annual Women’s Leadership summit in Atlanta.  The Women’s Link connects women with the opportunities, experiences, and visibility they need to move into leadership roles at The Home Depot.

With 350 in attendance, this year’s event had a record turnout.  The theme, “Say Yes to Your Journey”, was championed by the following leaders that each presented during the day-long conference:

- Yvonne Byars, PMI Atlanta Vice Chair;  “How Effective Are Your Meetings?”
- Chris Coussens, PMI Atlanta Toastmasters President;  “How to Manage Without Authority”
- Laura Davidson, PMI Atlanta Director;  “You Can’t Live a Positive Life With a Negative Mind” and “Managing in a Multi-Generational Organization”
- Sandra Hofmann, Author, Former WIT President: “Wearing Heels for the Leadership Journey”
- Lydia James, PMI Atlanta VP of Volunteer Coordination;  “What’s Your Personal Brand?”
- Trina Nkhazi, Project Manager, City of Atlanta; “Requirements Planning: Perfect Recipe for Success”
- Evelyn Rosier, PMI Atlanta Treasurer; “Balancing Work-Life Through Time & Money Management”

PMI Atlanta Director, Cathy Luby organized our representation at the event and encouraged each speaker to deliver a message that reminds the audience that our professional "journey is just as important as the final destination."  

The opening keynote speaker, Laurel J. Richie, President of Women’s National Basketball Association, reminded all that being prepared means making the most of the unexpected.  Richie’s inspiring message shared that her professional journey included reluctantly accepting marketing assignments and turning those into personal feats of remarkable accomplishment that gave her the strength and confidence she has today.

Closing speaker Missy Dugan, President of the Boys and Girls Club of Atlanta, shared how her personal tragedy feeds her passion for youth leadership and philanthropy.  Dugan shared transformational success stories from the BGCMA highlighting its measureable success in afterschool development programs promoting academic success, healthy lifestyles and character.

by Mike Ososki, PMP, Communications Committee

“Why create a Project Management Office?,” Gerald Hill queried his PMI Atlanta Dunwoody Dinner audience earlier this month. Each table came up with answers, including ...

       • Support business strategy
       • Share preferred practices
       • Monitor and control portfolio
       • Standardize process and tools 
       • Develop and mentor project managers
       • Prioritize projects and provide fiscal oversight

Mr. Hill’s own answers overlap with those above ...

       • Centralize project oversight, control, and support
       • Reduce project disarray, and promote greater project success
       • Collaborate project management across technical and business disciplines—improve integration
       • Access and apply project management expertise
       • Achieve strategic business objectives

A volunteer position is open for Speaker Chair within the PMI Atlanta Agile Forum.  This critical role has prime responsibility for ensuring speakers engage for monthly presentations, 10 months out of the year.  This great networking opportunity places the volunteer at the forefront of mainstream Agile topics.  The role requires good logistics management skills, a great personality and the drive to get things done.  This position requires about 6-8 hours per month.

Written by Valarie R. Merced, PMP, AVP of Communications

In March 2011 the Project Management Institute Atlanta Chapter (PMI Atlanta), launched its Education /Academic Program as a part of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI’s) Education Foundation Initiative.   The purpose of the program is to provide opportunities for students to acquire Project Management skills that will help them become competitive in the 21st century work force and to give back to the community by increasing the quantity of capable project management practitioners in the Atlanta Metro Area.