PMI-Central Illinois Chapter August 2026 Newsletter Print

Straight Talk with Ingrid

Dear Chapter Members and Friends,

August has a rhythm all its own. It is the last full stretch of summer, the month when backpacks and school supplies return to store shelves, when the harvest begins across Central Illinois, and when many of us squeeze in one final vacation before the pace picks up again. Each of those themes has something to say to us as project professionals.

August is a month of preparation. Families spend it getting ready for a school year that has not started yet, and that is exactly the discipline good project work requires. The teams that finish strong in Q4 are the ones doing the quiet preparation now, confirming resources, closing gaps, and setting expectations before the pressure arrives.

August is also a month of harvest. In our part of the state, the work done back in spring finally shows results. Projects behave the same way. The planning, the stakeholder conversations, and the risk work we invested in earlier this year are what will determine what we bring in by December.

And August is a month of rest. It is recognized nationally as Wellness Month, and I think that matters more than we usually admit. Burned-out teams do not deliver value, and neither do burned-out leaders. If you have vacation days sitting unused, use them. Encourage your teams to do the same. Sustainable pace is a project management practice, not a perk. 

There is a great deal happening in our chapter this month, and I hope you will take advantage of it. Registration for all of these is on our calendar of events. Please sign up early so our teams can plan well.

Enjoy what is left of your summer. Rest where you can, prepare where you should, and I hope to see you at an event this month.

Warm regards,
Ingrid Holliday, PMP, PMI-SP, AH-MC
President, PMI Central Illinois Chapter

Back to top

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

Our Q3 Social Event is almost here! Join us on Aug 9th for "Projects from Vine to Wine – Tres Rojas Winery Tour" in Washington, IL. You'll connect with old and new friends in a relaxed setting while enjoying a unique behind-the-scenes winery experience. Attendees will receive 1 PDU. Space is limited. Hurry.

Today's project leaders need more than technical expertise—they need digital leadership.  On Aug 11th, join Dr. Charles Igwe, PhD, as he shares practical strategies for building data-ready, tech-empowered teams, leading successful digital transformation initiatives, and fostering a future-ready culture.

The PMBOK® Guide – 8th Edition has arrived. On Aug 20th, join PMI Product Manager, Joshua Parrott, for an insider's look at what's new, what has changed, and what the latest edition means for project professionals and PMP® exam candidates alike.

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.

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.

Back to top

Welcome New Members

Welcome to our newest members (July 2026)! We are thrilled to have you as part of our local project management community!

Alexandra Knight
Douglas Wolken
Kelly Helmers
Mariah Street
Merijha Branson
Michael Manto
Misha Shah
Rebecca Luke
Shreyaskumar Bhat

Back to top

Member Renewal Spotlight

To our members who have renewed with us (July 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!

Aaron Ward
Cheryliendora Coleman
Clark Halstead
Crystal Brown
Crystal Williams
Debbie Castaldo
Eldritch DCosta
Eric Fyalka
Jason Mierek
Jennifer Forbes
Jennifer Wright
Jessamy Carruthers
Jim Robinson
Joseph Pullen
Julie Kaiser
Justin Hall
KJ Naum
Kjellrun Olson
Krista White
Lacie Elzy
Lisa Cunningham
Phillip Rixstine
Ralph Young
Rhea Sammons
Sandra Sharp
Shannon Mollenhauer
Shannon Bradley
Stephanie Fulks
Todd Greenwood
Vameika Collins

Back to top

News and Happenings

Backpack Peoria 2026 (Dream Center Peoria x PMI-CIC)

PMI-Central Illinois Chapter had the opportunity to give back by volunteering at the Dream Center Peoria’s Backpack Event, helping local students and families prepare for the upcoming school year.

It was inspiring to see so many parents, students, and dedicated volunteers come together to make the event such a success. Thank you to Dream Center Peoria for allowing PMI-Central Illinois Chapter to be part of such an incredible day of service!  You can watch the event reel on their YouTube Channel.

 

A special thank you to our Vice President of Outreach, Scott Cosgrove, for connecting our chapter with Dream Center Peoria and for organizing and leading this meaningful Q3 outreach event. Your leadership made this opportunity possible.

Interested in making an impact beyond the workplace? The Outreach Office is always looking for volunteers who want to serve our community while connecting with fellow project professionals. If you’d like to get involved in future outreach events, reach out to Scott Cosgrove at [email protected] to learn more.

PMI North America Chapter Presidents Meeting

Huge thank you to our Chapter President, Ingrid Holliday, for attending the PMI North America Chapter Presidents Meeting last month, joining chapter leaders from across the U.S. and Canada to exchange ideas, share best practices, and explore the future of PMI chapters.
From strategy and volunteer engagement to leadership development and sustainable chapter growth, the conversations were focused on bringing practical ideas back to serve our members even better.
We’re proud our chapter was well represented in these important discussions and look forward to putting those insights into action throughout the coming years.

PMI-CIC Board Election Alert

Be sure to watch your email to cast your vote for the PMI-CIC Board of Elections for the 2027-2028 term! PMI-CIC Board election voting is expected to open soon through August 26, 2026.

Three offices are up for election in 2026 for a 2-year term January 2027 through December 2028:

• Vice-President – Finance

• Vice-President – Professional Development

• Vice-President – Membership

Look for an email from “PMI Chapter Elections“  with subject “2026 PMI Central Illinois Chapter Board Election”.

Questions? Email: [email protected] or contact a board member.

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!

Leverage your PMI membership to get your free copies of various standards & Practice Guides. 

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

Back to top

Featured Article

Just watched the recently-concluded FIFA World Cup? Ever wondered what goes into such a spectacular production?

Here is a very interesting read: "What Does Project Management Have to Do with the World Cup? An Insider Explains" Haris Khan, PMP, shares how volunteering at the World Cup 2026 gave him a behind-the-scenes view of one of the world's most complex events. He explains how project management principles—including stakeholder engagement, logistics, risk management, communications, accessibility and teamwork—help deliver a seamless experience for millions of fans.

The post is written by Autumn Granza, and chronicles Haris's journey as a volunteer to one of the most complex projects of 2026.

Read the full article and/or listen to the podcast here: https://www.pmi.org/blog/project-management-world-cup

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

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! 

Back to top

Find Us On Social Media

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

Back to top