PMI-Central Illinois Chapter July 2026 Newsletter
Straight Talk with Ingrid
Dear Chapter Members and Friends,
As we step into July, I want to take a moment to recognize both the season's energy and the incredible momentum our chapter has built so far this year. July is a month often associated with independence, celebration, growth, and community. These themes resonate strongly with us as project professionals.
July reminds us of independence and leadership, much like the ownership we take in our projects. Just as our nation celebrates progress and resilience, we strive to lead with purpose, adapt to challenges, and deliver meaningful outcomes. It is also a time for mid-year reflection and recalibration, offering a valuable opportunity to evaluate our goals, celebrate successes, and make adjustments to ensure successful delivery by the end of the year. In addition, July highlights the importance of community and collaboration, both essential to building strong teams and achieving successful project outcomes.
I am incredibly proud of the strong momentum we have created together in 2026. A shining example of this was our recent Professional Development Day, which was a tremendous success. I had the opportunity to attend three sessions live, and I was very impressed by the quality of the content, the expertise of our speakers, and the engagement of our attendees. Events like this truly demonstrate the strength and value of our chapter.
As a volunteer organization, we accomplish everything we do thanks to individuals who generously give their time and talents. I want to extend a sincere thank you to all of our current volunteers. Your dedication, energy, and commitment are what make our chapter thrive. Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for everything you contribute.
Volunteering is the backbone of our success and provides a wonderful opportunity to grow professionally, expand your network, and make a meaningful impact. We currently have several critical volunteer openings, and I encourage you to consider getting involved. When more members volunteer, we can offer more programs, events, and opportunities to both our membership and our community.
Speaking of community, I am especially excited about one of our upcoming initiatives, our Backpack Event. There is nothing greater than giving back to the youth in our communities and seeing the happy, smiling faces of children receiving the supplies they need to be successful. They are our future, and supporting their educational journey is both meaningful and inspiring. I hope many of you will join us in making this event a success.
We also have an exciting lineup of events ahead, including learning sessions, networking opportunities, and social gatherings. Please be sure to stay up to date on everything happening within the chapter. We are planning additional social events in the coming months to help strengthen connections and build an even more engaged community.
Be sure to review our schedule, as we have many events planned through August. There is something for everyone, whether you are looking to earn PDUs, grow your skills, connect with fellow professionals, or give back.
Thank you for your continued support, dedication, and passion. Together, we will continue this strong momentum and make the rest of the year even more impactful.
Wishing you a safe, productive, and inspiring July.
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.
July 14th Lunch & Learn
“Using What-If Simulations for Executive Planning”
w/ Diane Buckley-Altweis & Steve West
Learn how simulation techniques can improve executive decision-making and strategic planning in complex project environments. This Lunch & Learn is sponsored by Project Insight.
July 23rd Evening Meeting
“Designed to Adapt, Wired to Resist” w/ Annmarie Curley
Explore why individuals and organizations resist change—and how project leaders can successfully guide transformation.
July 25th Outreach Event
“Backpack Peoria 2026 - Dream Center Peoria" (Volunteers Needed)
Make a meaningful impact by helping provide school supplies to local students in need. This is a great way to give back while connecting with fellow project professionals.
Aug 9th Social Event
"Projects from Vine to Wine – Tres Rojas Winery Tour" in Washington, IL
Connect in a relaxed setting with fellow professionals while enjoying a unique behind-the-scenes winery experience.
Aug 11th Lunch & Learn
“Digital Project Leadership: Building Data-Ready and Tech-Empowered Teams” w/ Dr. Charles Igwe, PhD
Gain insights on leading modern, data-driven teams and strengthening your digital leadership capabilities.
Aug 18th Member Orientation
Join us for our Q3 Member Orientation — a free 30-minute virtual meeting with our Board Members and receive an overview of Chapter and PMI resources and benefits available to you.
Aug 20th Evening Meeting
"PMBOK Guide 8th Edition" w/ Joshua Parrott
The PMBOK Guide 8th Edition is here, and it's changing the game. Join us on August 20th to hear Joshua Parrott, Product Manager at PMI, share what's new with the latest edition and more.
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
For Event Details and Registration:
Please see our calendar of events. We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of these events.
Welcome New Members
Welcome to the PMI Central Illinois Chapter! We are thrilled to have you as part of our local project management community!
Annie Wang
Bankole Ogundele
Byron Alexander
Chante Gilmore
Colton Cavanaugh
Emmanuella Oghenekaro
James Seyfert
Jessica Thomas
Kevin Ryan
Meagan Arnett
Phillip Craft
Rebecca Leach
Tom Chi
Tracy Dempsey
Member Renewal Spotlight
We truly appreciate your continued membership with the PMI Central Illinois Chapter. It is a privilege to support your professional journey year after year!
Alexander Crews
Ashley Petrinec
Bahader Singh
Elise Pate
Ethan Cashen
Henry Garcia III
James Flynn
Jason Peebles
Jeffry Royce
Jill Nolte
Lindsay Victor
Lisa Watkins
Liz Friedrich
Maryam Ar-Raheem
Medeny Guy
Michael DeYoung
Mobashar Alam
Patrick OMalley
Paul Bronzo
Satish Satyam
Season Tanner
Stephanie Fricke
Steve Seiler
Susan Wright
Tonya Smith
William Morgan
New Credential Holders
Congratulations to our newest credential holders on achieving this significant professional milestone!
May 2026
- Alexander Holliger — PMP
- Dylan Warrens — CAPM, PMI-SP, PMP
- J Scott Hinkley — PMP
- Lyndsay Masters — CAPM, PMP
- M.C. Neal — PMP
- Riki Lee — PMP
- Runyararo Zinhu — PMP
- Tony Huston — PMP
June 2026
- Andrew Edenburn — PMP
- Jennifer Harris — PMP
- Kira Stevens — PMP
- Terrel LaFrance — CAPM, GPM-b, PMI-CPMAI, PMI-CSPP-cp, PMI-PMOCP, PMP
News and Happenings
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.
Early Bird member pricing closes July 20th. After that, standard rates apply through September 30th. Detroit is the moment the profession sets up 2027. Worth being in the room.
Check out the agenda - https://bit.ly/4eNHmsh
Projects Around Us. Why You Should Support PMI-CIC Social Events.
Hello, Q3!
This wasn't just an architectural tour. We heard directly from the experts responsible for preserving and maintaining this National Historic Landmark. From restoration planning and long-term stewardship to balancing historical integrity with modern needs, the experience highlighted many of the same principles project professionals use every day—planning, stakeholder collaboration, risk management, sustainability, and delivering lasting value.
Our PMI-CIC Social Events are designed to build community and remind us that project management exists everywhere. Behind every historic landmark, business, nonprofit, winery, manufacturing plant, or community initiative are people managing scope, budgets, schedules, risks, quality, and stakeholders to deliver value.
Through these events, our members and friends can:
- Build relationships in person with fellow project professionals.
- Learn how project management applies across industries.
- Discover organizations making an impact in Central Illinois.
- Support local businesses and community partners.
- Have fun while earning a fresh perspective.
Thank you to the Dana-Thomas House team for sharing their knowledge and passion, and to everyone who joined us for an afternoon of learning, networking, and appreciating one of Central Illinois' architectural treasures.
Missed the Q2 Social Event? Register now for the Q3 Social Event: Projects from Vine to Wine - Tres Rojas Winery Tour (Washington, IL) on August 9th. We hope you'll join us as we continue exploring the incredible projects happening all around us.
Here's a few pics from the Q2 Social Outing Event - The Dana-Thomas House Tour.
Featured Article
What does project success really look like? Is delivering on time and on budget enough?
Check out "What 22,000 Projects Reveal About Success and Failure" where PMI CEO Pierre Le Manh and Alexander Budzier, Fellow in Management Practice at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School dive into project success. Together, they explore why traditional project success metrics often fall short and discuss the importance of measuring long-term business value, recognizing early warning signs, investing in thoughtful planning, and building systems that enable lasting success.
Whether you're leading projects, programs, products, or organizational change, this conversation offers valuable insights that may challenge how you define and deliver project success.
Read the full article and/or listen to the podcast here: https://www.pmi.org/blog/budzier-project-success-failure
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
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- Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter)
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- Follow our Threads
