Hopefully you’re enjoying our early Spring this year.  As I tell my family though, “For every up there is a down.”  I’m just not sure what the downside might be with gorgeous weather like this. 

Speaking of ups and downs, the job market for project managers appears to be starting up again as the economy slowly picks up.  We’ve learned a lot through the 2006 economic downturn about how we’re responsible for the quality and longevity of our careers, not our employers. 

Project Managers were especially hit in the downturn as many of our members know firsthand.  I believe there are several reasons for this.  The most obvious is that project managers are directly tied to capital budgets. When companies cut their budgets, they cut projects and project managers.  Unless you’re part of the company leadership, you can’t do much about this.

Another reason that reducing project managers is viewed as an easy way to save expenses is because there are so many people with the title, project manager.  Many companies use the project manager title as a catchall.  If you coordinate activities, you must be a project manager.   In one company I worked for in the early 2000s, there were over 1000 individuals with project manager in their title.  I suspect the number is much lower there now.

To add to the above reason, objectively measuring the impact or need for project management has always been difficult.  No two projects are alike by definition, so comparing performance is often unconvincing.  Many companies don’t even try to measure the value of project management.

So what can we do about the value perception of project managers?  By being an active member of KCPMI, you’re already doing something. You’re keeping up with the latest in project management skills, you’re attaining certifications in new areas, and you’re learning from other members that practice project management.  In short, you’re acting on your belief that project management is a skill and a profession, not a title.  

Another thing we can do to promote our value is to stop describing ourselves simply as project managers.  When someone asks what we do for a living, we should mention our key responsibilities and accomplishments, not just our function. 

Of course, I’m just touching the surface of how we can promote project management value and our own careers.  I’d be interested in hearing some of your viewpoints on this.  If you’d like to join a discussion on this topic, join me on our PMI KC Mid-America LinkedIn group.

If you want to learn more about promoting your careers, you also want to join us at the May chapter meeting, where the speaker will be Diane Stafford.   Ms. Stafford is a business, workplace and economics writer, and the careers columnist at The Kansas City Star.  As such, she has established herself as an authority on managing your own career.  I hope you’ll come join us then for an informative presentation and networking event. 

Keep making it happen,
 
KCPMI President - 2012

May 14, 2012 Kansas City Mid-America PMI Dinner Meeting

We hope you will join the PM community for the May 14, 2012 dinner meeting featuring special guest speaker Diane Stafford.

Diane Stafford is the workplace and careers columnist and a business writer at The Kansas City Star.  A veteran journalist, she has held several reporting and editing positions on the business and metro desks, including city editor, at The Star.  Diane writes a weekly career advice column as well as daily business and economic news articles published on www.Kansascity.com and in the business section, on page one, throughout the week.  She holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Communications from Stanford University.

Diane is the author of Your Job: Getting It, Keeping It, Improving It, Changing It, a career advice book.

Topic: You are More Than a Project Manager - - - Tips to Get and Keep Your Job

Agenda

5:30 - 6:00 - - - - Happy Networking
6:00 - 7:00 - - - - Buffet Dinner
6:15 - 6:45 - - - - Sponsors Speak & Giveaways
Chapter Updates on Events & Volunteer Opportunities
Minute to "Win It"
6:45 - 7:45 - - - - Guest Speaker - Diane Stafford
7:45 - 8:00 - - - - Thanks & "End-of-Meeting" Grand Prize
8:00 - - - - - - - - -Adjournment

If questions or concerns, please contact vpprograms@kcpmichapter.org at your earliest convenience.

HELP WANTED—NEW IDEAS  

Do you know that the KCPMI Board is always looking for new services and events to better meet your needs?   Currently, we are looking into venues for chapter activities that are outside of the core Johnson County membership (460 out of 1334) area.  We have 169 members from the “East of Kansas City” area, 143 from the “Northland” region and 142 from “Mid-area Kansas” (that’s Merriam, Kansas City, KS, etc.).  What can we do in those geographic areas that may attract current and new members to participate?

We currently have a sporting event in the planning stages for August and we have a charity event scheduled in November.  (The charity event will be announced at PDD.)

So what new ideas do you have?  Please share them with Nancy Petersen at president-elect@kcpmichapter.org.  I want specific suggestions, including a potential venue and any contact information that you have already.  All suggestions will be given consideration; some will be selected to schedule this year or in 2013.

Nancy Petersen
President-Elect 2012

Book Club

It’s still not too late to join!  Simply RSVP to BookClub@kcpmichapter.org.  There is no registration deadline and no fee involved!  You can join at any time!  This is a great way to earn PDUs! 

Next Meeting

Monday, May 21st, 6:00pm-7:30pm
Facilitator: Ramona Crawford

Johnson County Library Central Research Branch, the WHITE Room
9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park

We will review the popular book Crucial Conversations by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler. 

Please visit our Chapter website for more details!  We look forward to seeing you there!

New Member Orientations – We’d like to hear from you!

Do you like the idea of having an orientation for new members?!  We are currently in the planning process to establish an orientation schedule for new members.  If you have any suggestions or feedback in terms of any specific topics and / or activities that will help our new members to learn more about our Chapter and stay engaged, please feel free to contact me at VPMembership@kcpmichapter.org.

Corporate Outreach / Registered Company Coordinator (RCC) Program

Our Chapter is extending our Corporate Outreach effort through a new RCC program!  If your company is currently considering or in the process of establishing a PMO or project management practice as a whole, please feel free to contact Wyndam Reeve, Director of RCC program, at RCC@kcpmichapter.org.  We'd love to hear from you and help you out! 

Want to learn more about the benefits of participating in the RCC program?  Please click here to read more!

Membership Ambassadors

We are currently looking for volunteers to be our Membership Ambassadors!  This volunteer position will introduce many networking opportunities through Chapter events and/or activities, earn PDUs, and help stay involved in the Project Management Community!  Please contact me directly at VPMembership@kcpmichapter.org to obtain position description if you are interested! 

Best Regards,
Yawen Hsu-Brown
VP Membership

New PMI Volunteer System

In case you haven’t heard, PMI headquarters has recently launched a Volunteer Relationship Management System (VRMS) where you can create your volunteer profile and search for volunteer opportunities.

The Kansas City Mid America Chapter of PMI has adopted this new system in place of our old process of emailing a form.  The VRMS allows you to create a profile that showcases your skills and experiences, to search for opportunities to enhance your career, and to build a professional network through volunteering.  KC PMI will use the VRMS to post, manage, and track volunteer opportunities, and to recruit volunteers for open positions.

Please take a few minutes to set up your volunteer profile in the VRMS.  You may want to review the  VRMS Guide video for an overview of the system. For more detailed information about the VRMS, please read the Frequently Asked Questions.

PMO Executive Roundtable

KCPMI is launching the PMO Executive Roundtable, a first for the Kansas City metro area.  The PMO Executive Roundtable is a quarterly forum for executives in the Kansas City area who are responsible for setting project management policy and direction within their organizations.  The planning committee, led by Heath Starr, has developed a charter and held initial planning meetings to sponsor and facilitate the Roundtable.  KCPMI’s primary goals for the Executive Roundtable are to create an executive forum for benchmarking of project management best practices across our community, and increase to awareness of and exposure to our KCPMI chapter and to the project management profession among area businesses.  Look for additional information in a future newsletter or on the chapter website.

Professional Development Days 2012 - Climbing Higher
 

September 10 and 11 at the Overland Park Convention Center - MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

Earn 16 PDUs!!

Please visit our site to learn about costs, scholarships, financial aid and group discounts for this event.  Registration opens in July and we accept AMEX, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. 

For PDD presenters, please click here. 

Bob Bolinger, PMP