From the President's Desk

Greetings Fellow Great Lakes Chapter members!

2021 Symposium - Online Registration Ending Soon!
The countdown has begun, our annual Symposium is less than a couple of weeks away. What an exciting and appropriate theme, given the current status of the world we are in!! Just like you all, we are also very eager to listen to an outstanding keynote speaker, Ted Ma, followed by an array of experts sharing their wisdom with us on various topics spanning over four tracks. There's more... we will be able to visit our sponsors' booths for information and chances to win lots of prizes and above all, plenty of networking opportunities. Those who have already registered, thank you!! Please spread the word among your acquaintances and have them sign up as well. It is not too late to register.

As promised in my last communication, your chapter board has just signed a contract with ProjectBites.com to bring FREE PDU opportunity to ALL Members! ProjectBites is an online library of Project Management education and inspiration in 20-minute video and audio bites. Use of this site is free for PMIGL members, but individuals will need to register. Registration information can be found in the Member Area page under the Membership drop-down after logging in with PMI.org credentials.

As always, my only ask of you, the ambassadors of PMI Great Lakes, is to please renew your membership if you have not already done so and to encourage your friends and acquaintances to become members if they are not. Please also consider volunteering at your convenience. We are always in need of volunteers.

Please stay safe and healthy. Until next time...

Raj Sivakumar MS PMP SCPM ITIL
PMIGL President

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PMIGLC Volunteer Promotion Awareness

PMIGL provides structured engagement and progression tracks to our valued volunteers. Based on your time commitment and interest you could choose any path or enter a volunteer role at any level. Review the slides to learn more about role commitment and progression. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit our volunteer page to learn more. Corporate Outreach, for example, is looking for Managers to help its cause. Learn more about this team’s activities 2020-2021 here.

March 2021 Happy Hour

PMIGL’s first Virtual Happy Hour was held Tuesday, March 16 via Zoom. Jennifer Peeples of Perfect10 Mixology led a “This or That” icebreaker and then walked through making cocktails and mocktails. Attendees made “Taste the Rainbow” and “Pot of Gold” drinks in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. 50% of those who registered attended. Thanks to PMIGL leadership, Member Retention and chapter members who joined. Watch for more information on the next scheduled happy hour and join in on the fun!

Upcoming Meetings

Monthly Dinner Meeting
May 10 - 6-7 pm

Lead with Impact
Take responsibility for your impact, results and reputation as a project manager. This session will help participants create awareness of the one thing that will help them improve results in their business and personal roles. It will help them begin to solve the challenges they face every day and to more successfully achieve their goals. Lead with Impact has less to do with skill, education and intelligence, and more to do with the ability to think clearly under pressure, manage and motivate people effectively, and to change your approach as necessary. 

This presentation provides leaders with the skills to recognize how emotions drive behaviors, the difficulty in managing one’s own emotions, and the emotions of those around them. Tools to manage interpretation of information and appropriate levels of reactions are reviewed. Leaders become more aware of their unconscious behaviors and learn to effectively manage emotions to make conscious decisions for future behaviors.

Speaker: Spencer Horn
Spencer Horn is able to draw upon his 28 years of executive experience to reenergize seasoned and emerging professionals and increase organizational effectiveness. He inspires change, to develop: a powerful culture, effective communication, high performing teams and engagement. Spencer is the President of Altium Leadership. He has previously been the CEO of a leadership development company and Vice President of a NASDAQ company, which developed IMAX theaters in tourist destinations. 

The Benefits of Understanding Your Leadership Style
As we deliver value in the new normal by adjusting to virtual interactions in lieu of face-to-face communication, knowledge and demonstration of positive leadership styles are important. How leaders are viewed can influence the outcomes of objectives and goals set forth. Leadership vision transforms into action, if accepted by the followers or team members. It is imperative that one understands the leadership style that is demonstrated to gain maximum positive results. Furthering the understanding of the influence a leader has on followers or team members, provides the guidelines for effective positive leadership.

Speaker: Dr. Melanie Magruder, PMI-ACP, PMP
Dr. Melanie Magruder has more than 20 years of leadership experience in corporate business, customer relations, mentoring and coaching, corporate training, community and social outreach, and business performance. Offering a rare blend of creative and operational strengths, Dr. Melanie has achieved exciting success in developing and implementing community projects; and is recognized for her success in growing business partnerships and relationships.