Spring is in the Air!

Dear Members,

Spring is a time of rejuvenation: everything around us is new and fresh. Spring is also a great time to refresh and reinvigorate your career goals. Are you happy with the path you are on? Ready to learn new skills, expand your network, or tackle a new job? We have many opportunities available in March and April to provide the resources you need. Find out which attributes executives value most in a project manager and how to identify gaps in your strengths at the monthly dinner meeting on March 21. Also on March 21, the Career Networking Group will provide resume evaluation and advice. Thinking about obtaining a PMP® or CAPM® certification? The next exam prep class starts on April 5. Our April 12 breakfast meeting will teach you how to not get bogged down in the details of your day, and learn the power of a mentor or coach to help you make good choices and succeed at work. Speaker Julie Soderlund will also conduct a leadership seminar on April 19 to teach you how to use your talents to inspire, create a vision, delegate, and get the work done. And finally, our annual Career Fair on April 18 will provide an opportunity to meet representatives of dozens of local companies, take a professional portrait, and network with project professionals.

A great way to keep current on PMI-MN chapter events, industry trends and more is to join the PMI-MN LinkedIn Group. Be part of our current discussion on the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition draft now available for review. It’s free; it’s easy, and convenient. You will have access to a network of over 3700 other local project management professionals who will gladly share their opinions and expertise. Find out what is on the mind of your colleagues in Minnesota and North Dakota and stay informed on PMI activities.

Terri Kimball, PMP
President & CEO

Ana Alvarez-Holmberg Scholarship

Career Networking

On February 22, 2016, Mike Hendel, a recruiter from Trissential spoke about the basics and types (formal and informal) of networking, the importance of first impression and email/LinkedIn interaction with recruiters and potential leads. Mike's recommendation to everyone was to read "The 20-Minute Networking Meeting" book by Marcia Ballinger and Nathan A. Perez. Last but not least, offering help to others first is one of the key actions one can take to network successfully.   

For our next Career Networking Group presentation on March 21, we will learn from Lonnie Fluck, a recruiter from Project Consulting Group, that a Resume is a Sales Document, Not a Historical Document. 

Career Fair

Are you in transition?  Is your current assignment coming to an end?  Are you looking for new challenges?  Do you yearn for a boss as good as Dilbert’s?    
If you said yes to any of these, save the afternoon on April 18 to meet perspective employers and network with peers to find those positions that may never be posted.  The Career Fair is from 3:30 until 6:00 at the Crowne Plaza in Bloomington.

Volunteer Opportunity	Application Close Date
Professional Development - Webinar Moderator	3/17/16
Programs- Web Streaming Breakfast Backup	3/17/16
Programs- Web Streaming Dinner Backup	3/17/16
Membership - Career Assistance Program Manager	3/20/16

Our opportunities change often as some are filled and other new ones are created.  You can always find the latest openings by searching for Minnesota Chapter openings on the PMI VRMS (Volunteer Relationship Management) site.  You can also sign up for notifications when new opportunities that may interest you are posted.

The Website Enhancement Team Updated the PMI-MN Website in 2015

Survey feedback from chapter members, board and volunteers and third-parties provided insights into enhancement opportunities.  This team reviewed the site, the comments and solicited additional feedback.  Using that feedback and careful analysis they designed, coded, tested and implemented a new and improved site.  The site was piloted for a couple months and additional feedback was requested.  Their diligence provided a quality product to our membership.

The site is cleaner, neater and much easier visually.  Additionally, they added new graphics and gave it a more contemporary look.

On-going, they are also soliciting pictures from our Outreach locations.

Congratulations to Members Awarded Certifications!

March Events

April Events

May Events