PMI Central Illinois Chapter

Straight Talk with Ingrid

June is a month that symbolizes growth, opportunity, and new beginnings. As we move deeper into the second quarter of the year, it serves as an excellent reminder of many of the qualities that contribute to successful projects and successful project professionals.

June is known for the start of summer, longer days, graduations, and celebrations of achievement. For project professionals, these themes resonate strongly. Longer days remind us that sustained effort and dedication lead to meaningful results. Graduations celebrate the completion of a journey and the achievement of goals, much like the successful delivery of a project. Summer itself is often associated with energy, activity, and momentum, which is exactly what we continue to see throughout our chapter.

Thanks to your engagement and support, our chapter has built tremendous momentum during the first half of the year. We have delivered valuable professional development opportunities, expanded networking opportunities, and continued to strengthen our project management community. As we look ahead to the second half of the year, we remain committed to providing meaningful experiences that help our members grow professionally and personally.

One recent highlight was our social event at the historic Dana-Thomas House. The event was a tremendous success, and attendees were fascinated by the many project management lessons evident throughout the tour. Participants enjoyed exploring examples of constraint management, stakeholder alignment, and creative problem solving in a unique and unexpected setting. It was wonderful to see members connecting. Based on the positive feedback we received, we are already planning additional social events in the coming months.

Be sure to stay up to date with our chapter calendar. We have a full schedule of events planned through August, offering opportunities for learning, networking, and professional growth. There truly is something for everyone.

One event you absolutely do not want to miss is our Virtual Professional Development Day on June 16. This outstanding event offers a full day of professional development designed to help you expand your knowledge, earn professional development units, and gain insights from experienced speakers. Even if you are unable to attend every session live, all registrants will have access to the recordings for three months, allowing you to view sessions at your convenience.

As a volunteer-driven organization, our ability to deliver these programs depends entirely on the dedication and commitment of our volunteers. Every event, educational program, networking opportunity, and member service is made possible by individuals who choose to give their time and talents to support our mission. We continue to have several important volunteer opportunities available, including leadership and operational roles that directly impact our chapter's success. Whether you can contribute a few hours a month or take on a larger leadership role, we encourage you to get involved. Volunteering is also one of the best ways to strengthen your leadership abilities, expand your professional network, and gain experience that can enhance your career.

As we continue building the strong foundation established this year, I encourage each of you to stay engaged, attend our upcoming events, and consider how you might contribute to our chapter's continued success. Together, we can create even greater value for our members, our profession, and our community.

Thank you for your continued support, participation, and commitment to the PMI Central Illinois Chapter. I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event soon.

Ingrid Holliday, PMP, PMI-SP, AH-MC

President, PMI Central IL Chapter

www.pmi-cic.org

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Upcoming Events

Register NOW for Upcoming PMI-CIC 2026 Meetings

Priorities shift, ownership becomes unclear, and progress is difficult to track. The result? Teams feel overwhelmed, and critical initiatives stall.

Join us on June 9th, for Lunch & Learn "Project Management for Nonprofit and Mission-Driven Teams" Feat. Stacye Thrasher Brim, PMP, LSSGB & Matthew Sparkes.

In this practical, real-world session, Project Insight partner Stacye Thrasher Brim and Mathew Sparkes will share a lightweight, scalable approach to managing mission driven projects—without adding unnecessary process.

June 9 12 PM CT - 1 PM CT 💲 PMI Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20

Go register today on our chapter website!

Everything is changing.

Markets. Technology. Expectations. People.

The question is: how do you lead through it?

Join us on June 16th for our all-day virtual Professional Development Day:

Our theme this year is "Rising Above the Noise: Leading Projects When Everything (and Everyone) Is Changing."

Conference Details:

🕗 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM CST

🎥 Buy Now. Watch Later. (All sessions recorded and available for 3 months.)

💻 Virtual Platform powered by AirMeet (buff.ly/jC5ogBL)

💲 PMI Members: $100 | Non-Members: $120 (go to our chapter website to register directly: https://buff.ly/HeevauC)

Eight powerhouse speakers. One focused day to sharpen your leadership edge.

Let’s rise.

Decisions have impact. The question is how do you guide decision-making as a Project Manager?

Join us on July 14th for a Virtual Lunch & Learn "Using What-If Simulations for Executive Planning" feat. Diane Buckley-Altweis & Mathew Sparkes. In this session, you will learn how project managers can use what-if portfolio simulations to model realistic scenarios, understand portfolio-level impacts, and clearly communicate tradeoffs to senior leadership.

July 14th 12 PM CT - 1 PM CT 💲 PMI Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20

Go register today on our chapter website!

Join us on July 23rd, for an Evening Meeting "Designed to Adapt, Wired to Resist" feat Annmarie Curley.

Through a live exercise, you’ll experience your own brain’s threat response in action and discover why what we call “resistance” is your brain doing exactly what it evolved to do. You’ll learn a practical 60-second neuroscience-backed technique to shift yourself and your teams from survival mode to creative engagement — and a framework for designing project environments where people naturally move toward change instead of away from it.

July 23rd 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM CT 💲 PMI Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20

Go register today on our Chapter Website!

Join us on August 11, 2026 for a Virtual Lunch & Learn Event "Digital Project Leadership: Building Data-Ready and Tech-Empowered Teams" feat. Dr. Charles Igwe, PHD.

The world of Project Management has undergone a profound transformation due to the rapid acceleration of digital technologies. This session will dive into this evolving landscape and provide you with the necessary skills to build data-ready teams.

August 11, 2026 12 PM - 1 PM CT 💲 PMI Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20

Go register today on our Chapter Website!

Looking to level up in our career as a project professional? Are you new to PMI-CIC or looking to become a member? Been a member but inactive and have questions? Interested in getting more involved with the chapter? Coming back to us after a break? If so, we encourage you to join our New Member Orientation.

Join us on Tuesday, Aug 18th @12-12:30P for our quarterly member orientation meeting! Register now on our chapter website!

The PMBOK Guide 8th Edition is here, and it's changing the game.

Why another edition?

What actually changed?

And how does it impact your career as a project manager?

Join us on August 20th, for Evening Meeting "PMBOK Guide 8th Edition" feat Joshua Parrott.

August 20, 2026 6 PM - 7 PM CT 💲 PMI Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20

Go register today on our Chapter Website!

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Welcome New Members

Welcome to PMI-Central IL Chapter! We're glad to be your local chapter.

Aaron Murray
Aliya Yabekova
Andy Anderson
Brandon Parker
Jennifer Roland
Katherine Tegeler
Kira Stevens
M.C. Neal
Madonna Coleman
Munachim Anyamene
Patric Cosby
Sai Prratyush Danthala
William Wetzel

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Members Who Have Renewed

Thank you for continuing your membership. We're glad to be your local chapter.

Allison Goldasich	Kulasekharam Gurugubelli
Anil Thacker	Mark Tallman
Ashley Wilhite	Marla McElroy
Bill Lowrance	Marya Ryan
Cathleen Schisler	Michael Shook
Erik Steinbrenner	Natalia Foard
Ezara Penning	Nicholas Koekkoek
Gay Stahr	Patricia Iannone
Harry Elston	Richard Kirchgesner
Heather Haxton	Robert Pawlik
J Scott Hinkley	Safura Sultana
John Shea	sandra L D Quinn
Joseph Albright	Steward Sandstrom
Kathryn D'Alfonso	Terence Puffer
Kayla Griffin	Trinity Panneer Selvam
Kendra Davis	Troy McKnight
Kevin Lanier	Venkateswara Lekkala
Kim Hargis

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News and Happenings

Join Us for Backpack Peoria – Dream Center Peoria’s Biggest Day of the Year!

Our chapter is excited to be involved in BackPack Peoria! On July 25th, 2026, approximately 2,000 backpacks will be distributed to the community with Mission Peoria participants handing out the backpacks! Don't miss out on this opportunity. Volunteers are needed to make this event a success! Sign up now via the following link: #backpack peoria. When signing up please utilize the comments section to identify your association with PMI-CIC.

Details:

When: July 25, 2026
Where: Dream Center Peoria
Sign-Up: Choose one or more roles and indicate your availability when signing up.

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Featured Article

Business analysis continues to be of critical importance when it comes to successful projects. If you are a Project Manager looking to enhance and demonstrate your expertise in this area, then the PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) might be for you!

This certification carries a high level of professional credibility.

According to PMI, candidates for the PMI-PBA,

Perform their duties under general supervision and are responsible for working with stakeholders to define an organization’s business requirements in order to shape the output of projects and ensure they deliver the expected business benefit.
Spearhead the discovery, analysis and overall management of the requirements for a project.
Demonstrate sufficient knowledge and experience to appropriately apply business analysis tools and techniques to enable project success.

To find out more visit PMI's website.

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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].

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.

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.

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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.

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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