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PMI-Central Illinois Chapter January 2026 Newsletter Print

Straight Talk with Ingrid

Dear Chapter Members and Friends,
Happy New Year! As we step into January 2026, I'm filled with excitement and gratitude for the incredible journey ahead. January—a month synonymous with fresh starts, goal-setting, and renewed commitment—offers us the perfect opportunity to reflect on what makes us successful as project professionals.
January is traditionally known for New Year's resolutions, strategic planning, and setting the tone for the year ahead. For project professionals, these themes resonate deeply. Just as individuals commit to personal growth, we commit to delivering value, aligning our efforts with organizational strategy, and driving meaningful outcomes. January reminds us that success begins with intention, clarity, and the courage to start strong.
This year, our chapter theme is "Ignite Change Through Innovation and Resilience." This theme aligns perfectly with PMI's M.O.R.E. initiative and reflects an expanded focus on benefits realization, stakeholder satisfaction, and overall business impact. As project professionals, we're not just managing tasks and timelines—we're strategic partners who create lasting value for our organizations and communities.
Speaking of value and impact, I'm thrilled to share one of our chapter's most exciting developments: the implementation of the President's Award. This honor, awarded at the discretion of the current President, will permanently recognize exceptional contributions to our chapter's success. Recipients will have their names proudly displayed on our website in this place of honor for years to come.
It gives me tremendous pleasure to announce that Florence René is the inaugural recipient of this award. Florence has been absolutely pivotal to our chapter's growth and success. Her dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our community embodies everything this award represents. Florence, thank you for all you do—you inspire us, and I couldn't be more honored to have you as the first to receive this recognition.
Our calendar is already full through June, and we have outstanding events lined up! Here's what's coming:
January 13, 2026 - Our Yearly Kickoff Meeting, where we'll review last year's business and set our course for 2026. We're honored to have Amber McMillan, The Feisty PM, as our keynote speaker presenting "Cultivating Resilience: Leadership that Lasts." You will not want to miss this! Please sign up for this important event!
February 5, 2026 - RAID Log Practitioner Certification Training (2 Virtual Sessions: February 5th and 19th) with Kim Essendrop
February 10, 2026 - Lunch & Learn Event: "Pro-juct: Debunking the False Debate Between Project Management and Product Management" featuring Jesse Fewell
We are excited to see you at these events. Please invite your friends and colleagues to join us!
I need to share an important update: after holding off as long as we could, we've had to increase our meeting rates. As I'm sure you've noticed, costs have risen across the board. Moving forward, Members will pay $15, and Non-Members will pay $20. We remain committed to providing exceptional value at every event.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact any board member with questions or ideas. Your engagement and input strengthen our chapter.
Here's to a fantastic January and an extraordinary 2026. Let's start strong and make this our most impactful year yet!
Warm regards,
Ingrid Holliday, PMP, PMI-SP, AH-MC
President, PMI Central IL Chapter

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Upcoming Events

PMI-CIC 2026 Calendar

Now is the perfect time to register for our chapter meetings—designed to deliver practical, relevant, and future-ready skills for today’s project professionals.

🎯 Why register now?

  • Lock in your seat before calendars fill up
  • Start 2026 with intention and momentum
  • Invest in skills that matter now and in the future
  • Support your local PMI chapter and its mission

🔗 Register today: https://pmicic.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php

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Welcome New Members

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

Anthony McEvoy
Glenn King 
Hannah Adams 
Joseph Crispen
Lakshmi Nukala

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Member Renewal Spotlight

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

Amanda Litwiller Laura Gossmeyer
Brian Groff Lisa Wells
Carl Haney Matt Schlenz
Carrie Geason Matthew Milby
Catherine McHenry Michael Davis
Chad Clark Michelle Lewis
Daniel Lorenc Mike Vicary
Doug Zeitler Paula Drumm
Elizabeth Bazan Rosezona Long
Emily West Satish Venkatachalapathy
Jacob Fowler Scott Pratt
Jeffrey Bailey Smitha Rhodes
Jeffrey Havens Stephanie Vukotic
Jessica Bales Terrel LaFrance
Jishnuram Nair Zack Stelly
Ken Gilliam

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News and Happenings

Introducing the New PMI-CIC President’s Award

We’re excited to announce a new honor in our Annual Awards Program — the President’s Award. This prestigious recognition is bestowed at the sole discretion of the PMI Central Illinois Chapter President to celebrate an individual who has made an exceptional, unique, or transformative contribution to our chapter over the past year.

This award may be presented to a volunteer, member, or supporter whose efforts have significantly advanced our mission, strengthened our community, and exemplified the values of PMI-CIC. The recipient will be honored at our annual Member & Volunteer Appreciation Event and added to the permanent President’s Award Roll of Honor on our website.

We are proud to share that the inaugural President’s Award was presented to Florence René, VP of Professional Development, in recognition of her contribution to our chapter.

PMBOK® Guide – Eighth Edition Released

Be sure to download your free electronic copy of the new PMBOK® Guide – Eighth Edition, shaped directly by the PMI community, by  visiting:https://www.pmi.org/standards/pmbok. This edition continues evolving the global standard and reflects the realities of modern project delivery.

PMP® Exam Refresh - July 2026

A new PMP® exam will launch in July 2026, focusing on the evolving future of project management. Key changes include:

  • Increased emphasis on AI, sustainability, and value
  • Greater weight on agile and hybrid approaches
  • Focus on value delivery rather than traditional triple constraint
  • More inclusive eligibility recognizing apprenticeships and vocational programs

Project Professional Advanced Certification (Pilot)

PMI is piloting an advanced certification for project professionals who lead high-stakes, high-complexity initiatives. The certification path includes:

  • Maintaining an active PMP®
  • Peer review by a PMI-accredited organization
  • A PMI standardized proctored exam


This certification will be in limited access during 2026 as part of the pilot phase.

Meet the New PMI Infinity™

The latest generation of PMI Infinity™ is now live on PMI.org and inside the official PMI mobile app. The upgrade includes:

  • Built-in project management expertise grounded in PMI standards
  • Smarter, more context-aware intelligence
  • Secure-by-design handling of data
  • Full mobile availability for members


PMI Infinity is now a member-exclusive benefit with a 30-day trial by visiting https://www.pmi.org/infinity.

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Featured Article

Are you a Project Manager with an interest in AI? 

If so, you may be interested in the PMI-CPMAI™ certification offered by the Project Management Institute. 

Whether you’re already delivering AI initiatives or eager to start, this certification gives you the structure and credibility to turn innovation into measurable, lasting value.

With PMI-CPMAI you’ll learn how to:

  • Turn bold AI visions into clear, achievable project plans
  • Navigate fast-changing technologies without needing tool-specific training
  • Unite cross-functional teams around a shared process
  • Deliver outcomes that are ethical, measurable, and built to withstand business scrutiny

For further details visit: PMI Certified Professional in Managing AI (PMI-CPMAI)™| PMI

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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

Have questions? Want to receive a custom proposal tailored to your business strategy? Please get in touch with [email protected].

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Find Us On Social Media

Find us on our social media platforms to stay engaged in between meetings.

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