Project Management Institute Northeast Florida Chapter Jacksonville, Florida Project Management Institute (PMI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving and advancing the state-of-the-art in project management.   PMI's aim is to promote professionalism in the practice of project management through a comprehensive support system. The Northeast Florida Chapter was chartered in August, 1995 and is located at the greater city of Jacksonville, Florida, one of the fastest growing cities in the nation and the home of the NFL Jaguars football team.  Since inception, the chapter has over 600 members representing over 50 Jacksonville corporations and businesses. Wednesday May 22 - Dinner Meeting   (2 PDU)  5:15-6:00   Registration & Networking 6:00-7:00   Presentation 1 7:00-7:30   Buffet Dinner 7:30-8:30   Presentation 2 8:30-8:40   Q&A, Door Prizes, Adjourn Location:   Embassy Suites Hotel, 9300 Baymeadows Blvd Jacksonville, FL Part 1 – Leading with Questions By Greg Githens How Leaders Find the Right Solutions by Knowing What to Ask Good leaders and innovators ask good questions. In this interactive session, you will learn good questions to ask, and how to ask them in a way that gets people to support your ideas. Part 2 – Strategic Thinking for Project Management Professionals Program managers especially, but also many project managers, use the organization's strategic goals and plans as inputs to their governance activities. Yet, often Program and Project Managers people are unclear about what exactly strategy is, and how it differs from goals and objectives. They need insight so they can step up and assure strategic alignment. Many PMOs are now taking on responsibilities for facilitating the strategic planning process for their organizations. Also, every project management professional should be thinking strategically about their career. For many, the next step up from critical thinking and execution excellence is adding strategic thinking. An analysis of current career opportunities shows that employers want and value the ability to work strategically as well as operationally. About the Speakers   Greg Githens Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Greg is an authority on tools and disciplines for accomplishing strategic outcomes. He has been invited by the Management Roundtable and others to address executive audiences. He holds advanced degrees in business and science and is a certified Project Management Professional and a certified New Product Development Professional.        (note:  see his full biography on Eventbee) Monday June 17 - Life Balance Seminar   (4 PDU)  12:30-1:00  Registration 1:00-4:00   Seminar Location:   Embassy Suites Hotel, 9300 Baymeadows Blvd Jacksonville, FL Life Balance Seminar By Neal Whitten, PMP How’s your Life Balance? Many people in their mid-years and later wish they would have been more on-point and deliberate much earlier in their lives so they would have experienced a more effective, balanced and full life—both at work and personally. This thought-provoking and potentially life-changing seminar, geared for all ages, addresses this dilemma head on, revealing choices to make and behaviors to adopt that are essential in attaining the Life Balance you desire. This quality-of-life seminar is based on the award-winning, 480-page book, The Gift of Wisdom: Lessons for a Lifetime by veteran author Neal Whitten. Neal interviewed 25 senior Americans that roughly represent the diversity of America and asked them what lessons they learned and advice they would pass along to others. Neal then recorded over 1000 unique passages of their life lessons from which this seminar is derived. About the Speaker   Neal Whitten, PMP Neal Whitten is a popular speaker, trainer, consultant, mentor, and best-selling PM author in the areas of leadership, project management and employee development. He has written over 100 articles for professional magazines and is the author of seven books.        (note:  see his full description & biography on Eventbee) Monday June 17 - Dinner Meeting   (1 PDU)  5:15-6:00   Registration & Networking 6:00-6:45   Dinner 6:45-7:45   Presentation 7:45-8:10   Q&A, Adjourn Location:   Embassy Suites Hotel, 9300 Baymeadows Blvd Jacksonville, FL Are You Too Soft? By Neal Whitten, PMP Most project managers—most leaders—are not consistently willing to make the tough and unpopular project-related decisions, even though their instincts warn them that they are not taking the most effective action. Witness examples of project manager actions (or inactions) that are indicative of too-soft behavior. Will you recognize familiar behavior? You don’t have to be rude, insensitive, arrogant or a bully to avoid being too soft. None of these attributes is acceptable—ever! Be prepared to rethink what constitutes effective project management and leadership behavior.        (note:  see details & full biography on Eventbee) Tuesday June 18 - Seminar   (7 PDU)  8:00-8:45   Breakfast & Networking 8:45-4:30   Presentation 12:00   Lunch Location:   Embassy Suites Hotel, 9300 Baymeadows Blvd Jacksonville, FL Lets Talk - Leadership, Accountability and Professional Maturity by Neal Whitten, PMP Success is born of behaviors and choices that lead to exceptional performance. When we understand what is expected of us in the workplace, our performance rises to the occasion. How would you like to ask—and listen-in as others ask—a recognized PM authority questions regarding best practices in behaviors and other project and organizational issues that you are facing today? Leadership, accountability, and professional maturity issues are common on projects—too common. This highly interactive seminar addresses specific aspects of these issues head-on. Through a Q&A venue, attendees pose short problem scenarios from either a seminar-provided list or their personal list. Neal Whitten then provides best-practice solutions to handling these situations effectively. Attendees will gain insights and concrete guidance on how to demonstrate professionally mature behavior that will enable them to perform at their best, benefiting their projects, organizations, and careers. The seminar experience is intensive, revealing, and focused—aimed at providing participants lessons that can be applied on the job immediately and that will have long-term impact.        (note:  see full description & biography on Eventbee) Mega SeminarsWorld 2013 Check out the Mega SeminarsWorld 2013 website to find out more details. 24–27 June 2013 Orlando, Florida Education Opportunities!     Please visit our Education page to find out more details about the following ... "PMP Prep Class: FREE - our chapter offers weekly sessions to help you prepare for the PMP exam." "PMP Master Class - our chapter has significant discounts on these online training courses" "NEW Project Leadership Podcast - FREE - Episode #40 - Michele Slinger helps us understand the Agile world and how it can benefit".   See sidebar on right. PMI NEFL TOASTMASTERS Regular Meetings - Wednesday nights Time:        6:00-7:30 pm Location:   DeVry University & Keller Graduate School of Management                  5200 Belfort Road - Room 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256 Come to the meeting to join or find out more information about joining this PMI-NEFL chapter of Toastmasters. Our chapter holds dinner meetings on a monthly basis where we discuss topics of interest to project managers and anyone interested in the many components that make up the project management body of knowledge. Everyone is welcome to attend and network with other professionals during the dinner portion, or come to the meeting just to see the speaker if you prefer. We also offer full day workshops on a regular basis for more in depth coverage of a particular topic. If you have achieved certification as a project management professional (or related certification) you will be able to obtain PDU credits for attending our dinner meetings and workshops in order to maintain your professional accreditation. Scheduling and coordinating events is no mean feat!  The NEFL Events committee has a track record of obtaining the best speakers, most useful and timely information, all geared to assist you, the chapter members in furthering your career and knowledge.   The PDUs you earn are a great bonus! The amount of work it takes to put an event together, coordinate it and make it successful is astounding!  Have you thought of volunteering to help?   PMI-NEFL would love to have you for all year, or even on a per event status.    Education Did you know you don't have to be a PMP or have any certification to join PMI and become a member of the Northeast Florida Chapter?    Many of our members are busy studying for their certifications or busy networking with the other 600+ members.   NEFL education opportunities and events are a great place for learning and meeting new people  Join Today!