The Nominations Committee would like to present the candidates for the 2015 Executive Board of Directors Elections.  Elections will commence on November 9th and close on November 20th. The winners will be announced on December 8th at the Holiday Celebration event at The Georgian Club.

Ballots were emailed to PMI Atlanta Members on November 9th.  Be sure to check your email and cast your vote!  If you are a current member and did not receive a ballot, please email us.
 

Secretary Candidate:	Director 3 (At-Large) Candidate:
Chiquetta West, PMP - 2015 Secretary Candidate	Bill Kay, PMP - 2015 Director 3 Candidate

Written by Glenn Boylan, PMP

During September and October meetings, I’ve been presenting information about the upcoming CCR changes at various PMI Atlanta events, including the Technology Forum, Alpharetta Lunch Meeting, and PMIConnects! meetings. If you currently have a PMI certification you should be aware of these changes, as they will impact what you have to do to maintain them. 

The Continuing Certification Requirements (CCR) program outlines the requirements for obtaining professional development units (PDUs) that are required to maintain PMI certifications. 

Based on feedback from employers, PMI is changing the CCR requirements to better align with the skills employers need today, and to guide and support PM professional development to better meet those needs. 

The changes apply to PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI–PBA certifications (which require 60 PDUs every three years), as well as the PMI–ACP, PMI–RMP, PMI–SP certifications (30 PDUs every three years). In the discussion below, I’ll be referring to PDU quantities for the 60 PDU certifications, but keep in mind that the same type of changes will apply to the 30 PDU certifications as well. The actual numbers will just be different.

You will still earn PDUs in two main categories: Education and Giving Back. Here is how the CCR guidelines are going to change.

PMI Atlanta is pleased to announce October’s Volunteer of the Month – congratulations, Les Scott! For the past three years he has been hosting the Alpharetta lunch meeting. Les is an awesome example of the spirit of our PMI Atlanta organization, in addition to hosting, he also coordinates the registrations, introduces speakers, manages last minute questions and does it all with huge smile. He is being recognized for being a dependable and invaluable go to volunteer who helps ensure the Alpharetta lunch meetings are always successful. We love Les' positivity and passion for the project management profession – read and learn more about him below and what he enjoys about volunteering for PMI Atlanta.

What has been your favorite or most rewarding volunteer experience with PMI Atlanta? 
My most rewarding experiences as a PMI Atlanta volunteer is the opportunity as a Program Manager to host the Alpharetta Lunch Meeting. Being that this is the end of my third year hosting, it feels like the beginning. What I enjoy most is the meeting of new people who attend the presentation and the facial expressions and comments of the first time visitors. Their enthusiasm and eagerness is simply priceless.

How did you become interested in the project management profession?
While working for Lucent Technologies as an Engineering Supervisor, a colleague informed me that he had accepted a Project Management position and was very excited. He also informed me that he had completed his PMP Certification and couldn’t wait to apply the methodologies in his new position. He also stated that there were several positions available and suggested that I apply. After carefully considering my options, I decided to apply and was offered a similar position and caught the Project Management bug also.

What leisurely activities do you enjoy? Any little known fact that you’d like to share?
I enjoy bowling, reading (favorite author Larry McMurtry) and movies (action, suspense). After the completion of my PMP certification, I was offered a position as an instructor teaching project managers how to pass the PMP certification exam. I really enjoy teaching and the ability to help others do something that would be instrumental in their career.

by Mike Ososki, PMP, Communications Committee

One single person can make a huge difference. We know it’s true, and it could have been the title of John Salguero’s informative presentation at our Dunwoody Dinner last Monday evening. (Though Project Managers and Pyramids sounds more intriguing, right?)

The story traces the roots of Project Management all the way back to the awesome Pyramids of ancient Egypt, constructed nearly 5000 years ago. Mr. Salguero suggested that maybe this makes the Project Manager the world’s oldest profession, and then asked us to close our eyes. What we then imagined was the Egyptian desert: up to 120 degrees, where rain water evaporates before hitting the ground, and you’d better have a blanket at night. Less than 10% of the population was literate, the average life expectancy was 35 years, and the infant mortality rate was 20-50%. This is the grueling context.

Mr. Salguero advanced three hypotheses ...
     1. Slaves did not build the Pyramids.
     2. Slaves were treated very well.
     3. The Pyramid builders were skilled tradesmen and paid laborers.

According to traditional archeology, a workforce of 100,000 labored 40+ years to build these wonders of the world. Working under the Pharaoh, the leader of this monumental undertaking was named Imhotep. This “First Architect” may also be thought of as the first Project Manager, and his task would have been impossible without having exceptional abilities to plan, organize, and manage projects.