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PMI-Central Illinois Chapter March 2026 Newsletter Print

Straight Talk with Ingrid

March is often a month of transition, a natural checkpoint where we reflect on progress and refocus for what lies ahead.
February continued our strong start to the year with two impactful events —  Sabrina Poteat's Why PMOs Fail and a four-hour RAID Log training by Kim Essendrup, both of which equipped attendees with practical, actionable tips and tools for project success. 
As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2026, it’s a natural time to pause and ask: what’s truly working, what needs adjustment, and where do we want to accelerate? These questions apply equally to our teams, our projects, and our own careers.
On March 10, we welcome Jesse Fewell for our Lunch & Learn exploring the evolving relationship between project and product leadership. Later in the month, our March 19 evening session, Running to Leadership with Anthony Reed, invites us to think about leadership as an ongoing discipline built through consistency, resilience, and long-term focus.
March brings the energy of March Madness, a season that reminds us that even the best plans rarely play out exactly as expected. Success often comes down to adaptability, preparation, and trust in the team.
March is also Women’s History Month, a meaningful opportunity to recognize the leadership, innovation, and contributions of women across our profession and within our own chapter community.
As we march toward Q2, I encourage you to stay engaged. Attend an event. Invite a colleague. Consider volunteering.
Let’s use this third month of the year to reflect, realign, and move forward with purpose.
Warm regards,
PMI Central Illinois Chapter President

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Upcoming Events

Register NOW for Upcoming PMI-CIC 2026 Meetings

Project vs. Product.

Tactical vs. Strategic.

Helpful distinction… or harmful myth?

Join Jesse Fewell on March 10 as he debunks the false debate and reveals how both disciplines drive value in today’s hybrid world. 

Go register NOW -  https://buff.ly/VZQNhLa

What do marathoners and transformational leaders have in common?

More than you think.

On March 19, we’re hosting an unforgettable evening session with Anthony R. Reed where he'll connect endurance, risk, discipline, and discomfort to real-world leadership and project delivery.

Fun Fact About Anthony:
🏃🏾 Completed 100+ marathons on all 7 continents and in all 50 states
🏆 Directed 30+ award-winning documentaries
💼 Led multimillion-dollar global IT initiatives
📚 Authored six books
🏛️ Had artifacts placed in the Smithsonian

If you’ve ever felt like leadership is a marathon, not a sprint… this one’s for you.
 
Go register NOW - https://buff.ly/S8jVRv

If your project meetings feel like a hostage situation… or engagement needs a boost, this one’s for you.

Communication isn’t just about what you say. It’s about what people remember.

On April 14, Andrew Tarvin joins PMI-CIC to share practical tools for communicating with clarity, confidence, and strategic humor so your message actually cuts through the noise.

Disclaimer: Humor is a side effect of better communication. No stand-up routine required.

Go register NOW: https://buff.ly/uILXZXF

AI isn’t replacing you.
But it is reshaping how your expertise shows up.

On April 23, join us for an eye-opening evening with Dr. DeMario McIlwain as he introduces the THRIVE Framework and the powerful concept of your Human Mind File.

Because thriving in the age of AI isn’t about keeping up with machines; it’s about intentionally preserving and amplifying what makes you the human in the loop.

This is not another AI tools session. This is about reclaiming YOU in the age of AI.

Go register NOW - https://buff.ly/dcfH2SG

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.

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Welcome New Members

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

Aaliyah Johnson
Georgina Carranza
Jeff Saathoff
Joey Hartz
Lindsey Vandermeer
Megan Krisher
Tiffany Kalka

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Member Renewal Spotlight

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

Aaron Kinder
Andrea Verplaetse
Brenda Stretch
Brittany Elliott
Casey Loomis
Cynthia Chandler
Cynthia Leepper
Daniel Blodgett
Esteban Cruz
Georgette Orr
Isaac Gaff
Jared ernst
Jason Wheatley
Jeffrey Crockett
Jennifer Aholt
Jeremy Dose
Julia Tippey
Kathleen McCartney
Keith Winters
Kristine Baran
Lance Rogers
Laura Mentgen
Lisa Huston
Mamadou  Sow 
Mani Errabolu
Matthew Cruse-Mauldin
Olubunmi Olufunke Salako
Pamela Clapp
Patrick Miller
Penny Pennell
Prathima Sagiraju
Priya Pandey
Rick Carlson
Samuel Mueller
Shane Hayes
Spencer Bolen
W. Jason Strutz

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News and Happenings

New Chapter Sponsor for 2026!

We are excited to announce the addition of Project Insight as a chapter sponsor for 2026! 

Project Insight is a strategic project, program, and portfolio management platform that gives growing organizations a complete and dynamic picture of work across every level of the business. By centralizing project data from expanding teams and software tools into one connected command center, organizations gain the visibility needed to make confident, data-driven decisions.

Project Insight integrates bidirectionally with existing systems to break down silos, automate workflows, and improve collaboration across departments. Built-in AI capabilities help teams plan projects, forecast delivery, schedule resources, and surface risks and issues before they impact outcomes.

With more project views than any other platform, Project Insight supports contributors, project managers, PMOs, and executives in prioritizing work with clarity and aligning initiatives with organization-wide goals. Rooted in PMBOK principles from the Project Management Institute, Project Insight provides project portfolio management automation to over 10,000 companies.

Check out the following resources below!

PMXPO 2026

Registration is now open for PMXPO 2026! This is a free virtual event on March 26th for Project Professionals and those exploring the field. Join the global project community for a day of collective learning, live engagement, and on-demand access. Through this event you can earn PDUs to maintain your PMI Certification and gain invaluable insights from keynote speakers and expert panels.    

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Featured Article

Interested in diving deeper into Agile? 

You may want to check out the PMI-ACP Certification offered by the Project Management Institute. The demand for Agile practitioners continues to grow. Obtaining this certification can grow your Project management knowledge and assist you with adopting and applying an agile mindset.  It validates your ability to drive excellence across methodologies, including Scrum, Lean, Kanban, and more!

There are a few requirements to meet in order to be able to apply for the exam. But if you already have your PMP Certification you already meet the Agile experience requirement! You do need to have 21 formal training hours in agile practices, frameworks, and methodologies which can be accomplished through one of the following: 

For further details visit, PMI-ACP.

 

 

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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].

Thank you to our Sponsor! 

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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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