Military Transition - Joining the Ranks of Project Management
Release Date: 03/03/2016
PM Discipline Integration in the Federal Government
PM Point of View
Dive into the future of project management within the U.S. government in this engaging and insightful interview with key players from the USDA and NOAA. Hear from Jason Traquair, Kellie Cenzano, Daryl Frazier, and Joe Giraldi as they unveil their pioneering efforts and collaborations aimed at enhancing program and project management disciplines across their respective organizations. Discover the innovative strategies, such as building vibrant communities of practice and leveraging integrated value networks, that are set to redefine how government agencies achieve mission success and tackle...
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Risk and Resilience at the UMD PM Symposium (Revised)
PM Point of View
Risk-- again! This episode with guests from the upcoming UMD Project Management Center for Excellence symposium is a thought-provoking discussion that takes a closer look at a crucial aspect of project management – risk management. We've gathered a dynamic trio of experts from diverse backgrounds to share their insights, experiences, and groundbreaking strategies on tackling risks head-on, making your projects more resilient and successful. Joining us from the realms of technology, clinical research, and literary scholarship, our speakers, Lakshmi Sowjanya Uppala from Amazon, clinical...
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People in Projects at the UMD PM Symposium 2024
PM Point of View
Heralding the annual arrival of the flagship UMD Project Management Center for Excellence symposium, this episode has 3 of the presenters in the People and Projects track: Kevin Coleman, a visionary leader and the founder and CEO of KMC Empowerment, John Eskandar, a seasoned professional in project controls at Exelon and graduate of the UMD PM program, who brings a wealth of experience managing large-scale construction projects and Abbigail Meah-Ali, a manager of construction services at the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. From Trinidad to Maryland to Virginia, our guests span a...
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Program Value Management
PM Point of View
Challenged by the hosts, Kendall Lott and Mike Hannan, returning guest Steven Devaux takes his value break down structure (the "Golden Triangle") to a new level, looking at quantifying value of project within programs. That’s the obvious, the less obvious is looking at the need for this view point in critical areas such as public health, emergency response and national security. He emphasizes the need to prioritize or sequence projects within a program to optimize the schedule for maximum impact, where the focus is on delivering outcomes rather than just producing products. What might...
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Asteroids
PM Point of View
In this podcast episode, co-hosts Kendall and Mike are joined by guest Roy Mazel, a retired NASA project leader and guest lecturer. They discuss the Project Management complexities of asteroid missions, specifically, the OSIRIS-REx Psyche missions. As you might guess, the successful implementation of risk management strategies and the importance of technical integrity in the face of schedule pressure is the litmus test of getting these missions completed on time, on budget, and without failure. And what you might not expect, Roy highlights the importance of a strong organizational...
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Let it Flow, Success without Force
PM Point of View
In this episode, Kendall, Mike, and Wolfram Mueller discuss strategies to improve business workflows using the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and Critical Chain Project Management, focused on two things: underloading system constraints and buffer management (having a signal that our flow is or isn't working). One thing that pops out is the importance of calculating business cases and recognizing growth potential--that becomes the compelling case to get middle management on board with the change needed. Getting a team to underload (reduce the non-critical work) of key resources, while having other...
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Getting Out of Our Own Way
PM Point of View
The crux of any success? It isn't the plan, it isn't the desire, not even the WIIFM, its EXECUTION. And organizational change is no different. Today's episode discusses the difficulties that organizations face when it comes to executing change. Once again guest and change management author and guru April Mills comes to us on the topic of change…but this time it isn't how to do it, but how she has seen managers institutionally throw up their own barriers to change even as they try to change…starting with outsourcing on the thinking to…professionals. It may be that we are so good at PM...
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PM Faceoff: Process vs Principles
PM Point of View
So there we were at the 10th annual UMD PM Symposium, having the Great Debate of Process vs principles. Facing off were Crystal Richards, CEO of MindsparQ and Laura Barnard, CEO of PMO Strategies. One hour of back and forth and audience questions. In sum: From the debate between Laura and Crystal,It's clear that project managers should grab the handle.Be a business leader and ask good questions,Embrace risk and change with no exceptions.
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Listener Questions Revealed!
PM Point of View
Elevating the Conversation about Project Management, with a twist. In this episode cohosts Mike Hannan and Kendall Lott take on some Listener Feedback. A running theme in the show is the actual and delineation of project manager, product manager, and program manager--so we jump on that! Of course, our main theme of its all about value, adding value and understanding projects as investments is once again threaded through the answers. But new things lurk--how do you agile on a fixed-price contract? What's the danger and opportunity in cross-functional teams and accountability when managing...
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UMD PM 4.0 AI & Future for Project Managers
PM Point of View
No Luddites here! Episode 3 of the UMD PM Symposium prequal and guests Al Zeiton, Marissa Brienza and Bill Brantley chat about the role of AI in Project Management and the potential risks and benefits of using it as PMs. We discover the logic and importance of maintaining human interaction—turns out its not fear that makes us think “it will never replace us” but rather AI’s limitations in the larger PM discipline. Ah! But what potential magic AI may bring if we use it as augmenting project management, driving improved risk assessment, and being our outsourced memory! All in service of...
info_outlineFrom POG to PM (yes, you have to listen to figure that out!), it’s the PM Point of View podcast, looking at how leaders in project management are putting together the ideas, activities, and chapter board support to serve those who have served us.
Listen in (and get a free PDU) to leaders from DC to Tampa Bay to Houston talk about their experiences with Project Management while in service, and how that has served them to become civilian PMs. As chapter members, we also get to hear how we can reach out and help the transition and grow our membership.
Project Management Point-of-View (PM-POV), a podcast series produced by the Washington DC Chapter of the Project Management Institute, allows our membership and the public at large to listen to brief and informative conversations with beltway area practioners and executives as they discuss various perspectives on project management-- its uses, its shortcomings, its changes, and its future. Listens can send comments and suggestions for topics and guests to: [email protected].
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About the Speakers
Sandy Hoath Cobb
Sandy Hoath Cobb has delivered powerful results in over 5 industries, from start-up organizations to mature corporations, agencies and military commands for over three decades.
A true thought leader, Sandy is passionate about helping clients build effective strategies, efficient management and exceptional execution through the right mix of process, discipline and rigor. Sandy is an advocate of mentoring, training and knowledge sharing, and has been a member of PMI for over 10 years serving at both the chapter and global levels.
Her credentials include PMP, PgMP, PfMP, ITIL, and Six Sigma. Sandy has an entrepreneurial spirit owning 2 companies for over 12 years, and is the co-founder of Gr8MilitaryPM providing transition guidance and support to military personnel.
Jay Hicks
Jay Hicks is an author, instructor and consultant, with over 30 years of business and government planning and leadership.
He advises commercial and federal organizations on the planning, development and leadership of Project Management Organizations, delivering viability and value. Jay speaks, writes books and articles, guides and consults people and organizations in aspects of military transition.
With a special kinship for military personnel, he provides guidance on successful civilian career transition.
Jay is the co-founder of Gr8Transitions4U, where speaking, writing and assisting organizations in understanding the value of hiring military personnel is the key focus.
Andy Walker
Meet Andy Walker – the new 2016 PMIWDC Chapter Vice-Chair and COO. Andy has volunteered for over 5 years starting as a volunteer with the Programs Committee assisting in recruiting speakers for our chapter dinner meetings. Andy quickly ascended to AVP of Evening Programs and was subsequently elected to VP Programs in 2012. In 2014 Andy was elected to the Governance Board as a Director-at-Large where he took on a special assignment as the PM over the planning and execution of the annual 2015 PM Symposium.
Beyond his PMIWDC volunteer work, Andy is the SAP Federal Sales Executive for Deloitte Consulting, LLP with over 16 years in sales, management consulting and industry project/program management experience. He specializes in the strategic planning, business development, marketing and sales of SAP projects.
Andy has held positions of increasing responsibility as an officer in the United States Marine Corps, Honeywell Aerospace and Deloitte Consulting, LLP managing both local and globally disbursed teams. He has led projects with Marines in wartime situations and led or supported seven full lifecycle SAP implementations as well as numerous other IT infrastructure improvement projects. Andy also has added expertise in the implementation and oversight of PMO operations, supporting methodologies, processes, and tools.
Andy has an established track record of exceeding expectations and is consistently evaluated as top performer while rapidly adapting to a myriad of work environments, roles and emerging technologies.
Andy also plays an active role elsewhere in the community having led multiple Deloitte volunteer events, including the Deloitte Philadelphia Office’s largest National Impact Day of Service event at Cradles to Crayons with over 100 volunteers as well as a Deloitte team for a Travis Manion Foundation Heroes Run. Andy has also volunteered and/or led events with Habitat for Humanity, Adopt a Highway and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia.
Andy holds a Masters in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelors of Business Administration and Finance at Villanova University where he was honored as most outstanding midshipman in his Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps class.
Andy resides in Fort Washington, PA with his wife Meghan and kids Grace and Danny. Andy enjoys running, having recently completed the Marine Corps Marathon as well as traveling and spending time with his family.