PMI-Central Illinois Chapter September 2026 Newsletter
Straight Talk with Ingrid
Dear Chapter Members and Friends,
September changes the tempo. Labor Day closes out the summer; the school year settles into a routine, the combines start moving down our county roads, and the last quarter of the year is suddenly close enough to see. Each of those has something to say to us as project professionals.
September is a month of execution. August was for getting ready. This month the plan meets the actual work, and the teams that did the quiet preparation find out whether it was the right preparation. Some of it will not be, and that is not a failure of planning. That is what planning is for. Adjust early and tell people you are adjusting.
September is also National Preparedness Month, which in our language is risk management. I go by the actual definition of the word. Preparedness means knowing who makes the call when your primary vendor misses a date and having a team that reports a problem the day it happens instead of the week after. I do not want to know when the building burned down that somebody already knew it was on fire a week ago. Ask your team this month what they are worried about and have not said out loud yet. Write it down and do something with it.
And September is harvest. Around here, the yield gets measured, not the effort, and projects are judged the same way at year-end. If the number you will report in December is not the number you promised in January, the time to say so is now, while there are still three months to work with.
Two things from PMI I want on your radar. The refreshed PMP exam took effect in July, with more weight on AI, sustainability, and value delivery. If you are studying, confirm your prep materials match the current exam content outline before you sit for it. Also, the PMBOK Guide, Eighth Edition is out and free to members. If you have not downloaded your copy, that is thirty minutes well spent.
Our election is finished, and I want you to know who is stepping in. Rick Carlson is our incoming Vice President of Finance, Julie Kaiser is Vice President of Membership, and Florence Rene is Vice President of Professional Development. Congratulations to all three and thank you to everyone who voted. Every one of these is a working job with real hours behind it, and I am glad to have them.
If serving is something you have thought about, we still have volunteer openings posted on our site. I am glad to talk with anyone who wants to know what the work actually involves before they commit to it.
We have two sessions this month, and both of them are about the customer. You will find the details further down in this newsletter, and registration for both is on our calendar of events. Please sign up early so our teams can plan well.
I look forward to seeing you at both events. If there is something you want the board to take up this fall, tell me. I would rather hear it in September than in December.
Warm regards,
Ingrid Holliday, PMP, PMI-SP, AH-MC
President, PMI Central IL Chapter
Upcoming Events
Whether you're looking to strengthen your skills, expand your network, or give back locally, there’s something here for you on our calendar of events.
Why Attend?
- Stay current on topics, trends & tools
- Earn Professional Development Units (PDUs)
- Grow your local professional network
- Engage with a vibrant PMI community in Central Illinois, no matter where you are located
Strong customer relationships don't happen by chance—they're built with intention. On Sep 8th, join Nicholas "The New York Cowboy" Errico as he introduces his engaging DRS (Deliver, Relate, Sell) framework and shares practical strategies to strengthen stakeholder relationships, enhance project outcomes, and create lasting customer value.
Margaritas & the Board @ Ancho & Agave is on Sep 26th from 4P-6P CT! This is a members-and-guests happy hour, straight off the heels of our chapter's strategic planning session. No agenda, no slides, just the board, some drinks, and a chance to hear a few highlights of where PMI-CIC is headed and ask whatever's on your mind. Go register as space is limited!
The future of the PMO is about delivering business value—not just managing projects. On Sep 17th, join Alex Marques, Head of PMO at XIUS Corp, to learn how leading organizations are reimagining the PMO through customer-centric practices, strategic alignment, and measurable impact. You'll also gain insight into the growing role of the PMI-PMOCP™ certification and how it can support your professional development.
Successful projects require more than a well-built plan—they require people to embrace change. On Oct 22nd, join Wani Iris Manly, Esq., as she explores the human side of project success, sharing practical strategies to reduce resistance, strengthen stakeholder alignment, and lead organizational change with greater confidence and lasting impact.
AI isn't just changing how we work—it's changing what we can build. On Nov 10th, join Chris Leonard to learn how non-technical professionals can confidently lead AI product initiatives, establish ethical guardrails, and collaborate with technical teams to create innovative solutions with lasting organizational impact.
Welcome New Members
Welcome to our newest members (August 2026)! We are thrilled to have you as part of our local project management community!
Ernest Chamblee
Gift Etuakwu
Nancy Kumi
Do Yoon Lee
Drake Roach
Rajani Vuggam
Member Renewal Spotlight
To our members who have renewed with us (August 2026):
We truly appreciate your continued membership with the PMI Central Illinois Chapter. It is a privilege to support your professional journey year after year!
Adam Humphreys
Brittany Mahkovtz
Bryan OLaughlin
Carolee Cosgrove
Daryl Fritchey
Dave Freese
Dean Plumadore
Douglas Poe
Eric Johnston
Florence Rene
Ishsamina Pettaway
James Brattvet
Jena Souvannasy
Jennifer Harris
Lori Clemens
Marcie Thomas
Matthew Morris
Melba Haggins
Michael Milligan
Patrick Reynertson
Rachel Stomberg
Renee Hinnen
Sharon Peoples
Stephen Tyler
Steven Branch
Steven Hastings
Susan Kunz
Susan Sharick
Tanya Williamson
Tony Collings
Travis Deem
Yvette Earnest
New Credential Holders
Congratulations to our PMI Central Illinois Chapter members who earned new certifications in July and August! Your commitment to professional growth, continuous learning, and advancing your skills is worth celebrating.
July 2026
PMP
Colton Cavanaugh
James Seyfert
Jeffrey Saathoff
Katherine Tegeler
Kevin Ryan
Michael DeYoung
Tracy Dempsey
William Wetzel
CAPM
Meagan Arnett
PMI-ACP
Tyler Stembridge
PMI-CPMAI
Paul Adams
August 2026
PMP
Mariah Street
CAPM
Mariah Street
PMI-CSPP-cp
Marshall Brown
News and Happenings
Q3 2026 Social Event- Tres Rojas Winery Tour
For our Q3 PMI-Central Illinois Chapter social outing, we visited Tres Rojas Winery in Washington, IL, to experience firsthand what it takes to build and operate a successful vineyard and winery in Central Illinois.
We sometimes associate product and project management with SaaS products, big technology implementations, construction, corporate transformations, or other traditional environments. But the same disciplines are being used every day by entrepreneurs and small-business owners. The terminology may be different, but the work is remarkably familiar.
For our chapter, that's part of the purpose behind our social outings. We get out into the communities we serve, network with one another, experience something different, and discover product and project management in places one might not normally think to look.
Interested in making our social outings memorable? The Membership Office is always looking for you. If you’d like to get involved in future events, reach out to Julie Kaiser at [email protected] to learn more.
PMI-CIC Board Election Result
The votes are in! Florence Rene will return as VP of Professional Development, Julie Kaiser returns as VP of Membership and Rick Carlson also returns as VP of Finance.
On behalf of the election committee, we want thank all the members who voted and know that the PMI-CIC Board is already gearing up for a productive 2027!
PMI Global Summit 2026
The agenda for PMI Global Summit Detroit, October 21-24, is live. 100+ breakout sessions are organized around the three capability shifts shaping the profession in 2026: acting with agency, leading with purpose, and driving collective movement.
Each session is PDU-eligible toward maintaining your PMI certification. Beyond the breakouts, the four days include the Executive Summit, the PMI Awards Gala, facilitated community conversations, and the Annual Membership Meeting.
Check out the agenda - https://bit.ly/4eNHmsh.
Need help with writing your business case for employer reimbursement? Checkout https://events.pmi.org/flow/pmi/gsdetroit26/landing/page/makethecase.
Standards & Practice Guides. Get Your Copy!
PMBOK® Eighth Edition is available here: https://www.pmi.org/standards/pmbok
Leading AI Transformation is available here: https://www.pmi.org/standards/leading-ai-transformation-organizational-strategies-for-project-professionals
Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program and Project Management, the first and only ANSI-approved AI standard for the project profession, is available here: https://www.pmi.org/standards/artificial-intelligence
Guest Blog
Check our latest blog! Go read "From Compliance to Competitive Advantage: Rethinking Controls in Projects" and previous blogs here: https://pmicic.starchapter.com/blog/c/1
Get to know our blogger: Sumanth Kumar Gadde is a technology leader with over 15 years of experience driving enterprise transformation, data modernization, and operational optimization across both private and public sectors. He holds dual Master's degrees in Computer Technology and Management of Information Technology. Sumanth is a recognized speaker at the PMI Global Summit, CIO Florida, the Georgia Digital Government Summit, and the Florida Digital Government Summit, where he presents on AI governance, fraud detection, data lifecycle management, and the evolving intersection of emerging technologies and project management practices.
Career Development
PMI-CIC is committed to helping our members grow knowledge and skills! Here are exam prep resources offered by our training partners. If you have any questions, please visit the Career Development page and/or contact [email protected].
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PMI-CIC, in collaboration with PMTraining, are thrilled to announce the expanded suite of online course offerings that will support & prepare you as you develop your career with one of PMI’s globally recognized certifications! PMTraining offers Live Virtual classes, On-Demand courses and Real Practice Exams to support you on your certification journey! PMTraining supports PMP® , PMI-ACP, PgMP (Program Management Professional), PfMP (Portfolio Management Professional), and Disciplined Agile prep courses in all course formats. |
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PMI-CIC is excited to be partnered with Peak Business Management to provide PMP® Exam Prep and other certification training! With this partnership, our members receive a significant discount on PMP® and PMI-ACP exam preparation classes of up to $200 in savings! Peak offers several live virtual classes per month that will be sure to fit ANY schedule with instructors & students from around the country. For upcoming PMP® Exam Prep classes and to obtain the discount, go to Peak Business Management and use code pmp200. For upcoming PMI-ACP Exam Prep classes and to obtain the discount, go to Peak Business Management and use code acp125. |
Volunteer Opportunities
Create Your Volunteer Profile and Become a Volunteer!
Want to broaden your reach, deepen your impact, and nurture lasting relationships? Give volunteering a chance. Take the first step by visiting the volunteer platform (https://volunteer.pmi.org/) to create/update your profile and find volunteering opportunities that speak to you. There are openings across all the offices, especially the Professional Development and Publicity & Sponsorship offices.
Sponsorship
We have several ways to sponsor and partner with our chapter. Here are the four (4) sponsorship packages currently available (https://pmi-cic.org/catalog.php?cat=8):
- Diamond
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
Why PMI-CIC?
- Over 25 year-old chapter in good standing with the Project Management Institute (PMI)
- Run by volunteers & 6 Board members
- Gain exposure to ~600 members
- Gain exposure to over 2,500 Central/Southern Illinois professionals who subscribe to chapter communication
- Gain visibility as a leader and supporter of project professionals within your organization and in the larger business community
- Top cities: Our members are found in Bloomington/Normal, Springfield, Peoria, Champaign/Urbana, Morton, Decatur, and Pekin
- Top industries: Our members work in Insurance, Banking, Healthcare, Higher Education, Manufacturing, and Government
- Type of chapter activities: Lunch & Learn meetings, Evening meetings, Networking events, Outreach, and Social TV (Livestreams)
- Committed to a wide range of topics of interest to project professionals and changemakers
- Past speaker profile: Industry experts, Seasoned professionals, and Professional speakers affiliated with John C. Maxwell, National Speakers Association, and Tony Robbins
- Various social media platforms with a growing presence
- Monthly e-newsletter and a blog
Have questions? Want to receive a custom proposal tailored to your business strategy? Please get in touch with [email protected].
Thank you to our Sponsor!
Find Us On Social Media
Find us on our social media platforms to stay engaged in between meetings.
- “Like” our Facebook Page
- Join our Facebook Group
- Follow our LinkedIn Company Page
- Subscribe to our YouTube
- Follow our Instagram page
- Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter)
- Follow us on TikTok
- Follow our Threads
