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_outlineAn energy project today might be the development of a car battery that will run an electric car for 200 miles; the placement of wind turbines in an open field; or the construction of an oil refinery that can process half a million barrels a day. For organizations seeking to restructure energy resources and delivery, options abound. More than a project, in energy you must consider a full portfolio of intertwining elements. PMs in the current environment often find themselves in the role of Change Manager. Stakeholder management is paramount, as you deal with the communities that will be affected, energy providers and distributors, and bankers and financiers. Then there are the risks – new technologies and equipment, multi-billion dollar investments, and safety issues. And don’t forget industry and government oversight and regulation. A background in engineering and years of experience in the field are often prerequisites. In this episode we learn how PMs are forging new paths in the Energy sector.
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An educational podcast with PM Guests discussing key technical project management techniques in new ways.
About the Speakers
Darren Booth
Darren Booth has managed over $2 billion in complex power generation and smart city developments in Australia, Asia, the Caribbean and U.S. working for engineering and construction companies, public utilities and private investors for the past 20 years.
He is currently working on a pipeline of business development projects he calls “GreenPowerU”, guiding Universities, Municipalities and Major Commercial customers in the strategic implementation of disruptive technology solutions to deliver prosperity.
Early in his career, his client’s had a clear understanding of their specific project requirements, today a typical project often includes a diverse set of interlocking and phased criteria for success from reducing operating costs to decarbonizing operations, facilitating customer choice, increasing distributed generation, leveraging employee engagement and productivity all while enhancing the resilience of critical operations during grid interruptions.
Darren has an undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy a Master’s in Engineering Technology from Murray State University, has global banking, project finance and risk analysis experience with Chase Manhattan Bank and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
Karen Chovan
Karen Chovan is the principal of Enviro Integration Strategies, a founding member of the Lean Team, and a training partner with GPM Global (Green Project Management). A geological engineer, a sustainability expert, and a project manager with nearly 20 years progressively advancing in the industrial sector, Karen has gained tremendous insight into the risks, challenges, and opportunities for improvements that can be made in industrial operations, projects, and corporate environments. Karen is a forward thinker who has strength in raising risk and opportunistic awareness, aligning multi-disciplinary teams, working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, and empowering them to build consensus on common goals.
Charles Waligura
Based in Texas, Charles Waligura has forty years of project management, department management, sales and chemical process industries process and systems engineering. He has managed task force activities such as manpower forecasting and scheduling, client liaison, engineering and construction cost estimating and cost control, as well as managing subcontractors and field construction.
His specialties and experience include project management of wind energy facilities and refinery and petrochemical revamps; business development, and process and systems design for petrochemical plants and offshore oil and gas production, refining, light hydrocarbon processing, pipeline compressor stations and utility systems.
Waligura has a B.S. and an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Houston. He is a Past Chairman of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Division for Fuels & Petrochemicals; a Past President of the Project Management Institute, Houston Chapter; and Past Chair of the Project Management Institute SIG Leadership Development & Excellence Committee.