I don't think that there is anyone who is unaware of the current market conditions.  It seems that every day there is another report of a company downsizing and good and valuable employees let go without respect to their abilities.  I think we all know a number of people who have been caught in the crossfire as companies batten down the hatches to weather the economic cycle. I know some who were off work less than a week, and others who have been off over a month.  Yet the encouraging thing is that of all the skills that have become available recently, the most in demand is project management.

Project management skills are recognized as those skills that allow a company to achieve its goals most efficiently.  It is the project manager that leads a team to collaborative success. In these times, the skills of risk mitigation, communication, and efficiency that a project manager brings to the table are most valuable.  There are companies in the Miami Valley that are investing during the downturn and will emerge ahead of the pack and stronger in the upturn.  These companies understand the value that project management can lend to the bottom line.  As project managers we understand our responsibility to ensure that the company gets the best return possible on every investment we make.

The advantage we all have as PMI members is the support organization and training to help us all develop our skills.  The Dayton/Miami Valley Chapter of PMI continues to strive to provide high quality professional development for our members every month.  I think it's also important to recognize that we also benefit from the excellent programs available through the Central Ohio and Southwest Ohio Chapters in Cincinnati and Columbus.

As we move into the summer we take a short break on our monthly chapter meetings.  In the fall we reengage and reenergize with some great speakers as well as our September Professional Development Days.  We also have Infotech in October which is an excellent opportunity for professional development and networking.  As always there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for all members of the Dayton/Miami Valley Chapter to get involved and earn PDUs. 

The Dayton / Miami Valley PMI chapter would like to draw your attention to the upcoming special events listed below:

• Learn to Improve the Effectiveness of YOUR Job Search! - Non Chapter Hosted Event
• September Chapter Meeting - Chapter Meeting
• Sixth Sense Communication, Developing Communication Competence and Confidence - Professional Development Day
• Project Management Leadership Essentials - Chapter Meeting

Please click the links above for more information. 

See the Events Calendar for more information.