Pittsburgh PMI

PMI Pittsburgh Slideshow

PMI Walk to End Alzheimer's

PMI Pittsburgh Slideshow

« Previous ‹ PLAYBACK STOP PLAY › Next »

Welcome to the Pittsburgh Chapter

Happy New Year! The beginning of 2012 brings new beginnings, new resolutions and new opportunities….for us as individuals and also for the Pittsburgh Chapter of PMI and more specifically, for our members. We are starting 2012 with a bang – a great chapter meeting (see details below), world class training opportunities (see our website and articles in the newsletter for all of the details) and a new Board of Directors. As the new President of the Pittsburgh Chapter, I am excited and honored to be working with them and with you to take our Chapter to the next level, and to build on the core of excellence that was instilled in our chapter by Mike Rapach. He has set a high standard for both execution and achievement, and the Board and I, with help from you all, will work diligently to continue this legacy.

As you set you personal and professional goals for 2012, please consider including PMI as a means to network, learn, volunteer and grow. If you haven’t been to a chapter meeting in awhile, please come. If you’ve been considering taking a class or volunteering, there’s no time like the present. Please come join us and help make 2012 even more of a success than we achieved in 2011!

2012 Feb Chapter Presentation

Christopher Burch, on 27 January 2012

Achieving Success when Dealing with Multiple Projects

Presented by Joseph A. Lukas, PE, PMP, CCE

9 February 2012

Abstract: The classic definition of program management is multiple projects managed together to obtain benefits and control more effectively compared to managing them individually. However, most Project Managers are managing more than one project, and in most cases there are common threads between the projects resulting in what can be considered a ‘program’. Therefore, most Project Managers are also Program Managers. This presentation will help you become a more successful Program Manager. Our presenter has been a Project, Program and Portfolio Manager, and based on his experiences will discuss the five keys for success when dealing with multiple projects. In addition, effective project management techniques for handling multiple projects will be covered, including how to plan for success and how to most effectively use your time to manage and control the projects. This presentation will then discuss how to respond to the inevitable crisis and conflict that can occur when trying to juggle multiple projects. Finally, the value of the PMI Standard for Program Management and the benefits of Program Manager Certification will be discussed. If you’re looking to become more effective in managing multiple projects, attend this presentation! Session Learning Objectives: When the session is completed, the attendee will be able to:

Describe the five keys for success when dealing with multiple projects
Explain effective project management techniques for handling multiple projects
Know how to respond to the inevitable crisis and conflict that can occur when trying to juggle multiple projects

Joseph Lukas Bio: Joe Lukas has been involved in project, program and portfolio management for over 30 years. His work experience spans engineering, manufacturing, construction, project controls, estimating, contracting and both Program and Project Management. His projects experience includes information systems, product development, capital construction and manufacturing. Joe joined PMI in 1986 and has held many Chapter Board positions in Rochester, NY including two terms as President. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Project Management Professional and Certified Cost Engineer. Joe has 36 published articles on project management topics, and is a frequent guest speaker for organizations and companies. Joe is Vice-President for PMCentersUSA, a PMI Global Registered Education Provider and the 2006 PMI Professional Development Provider of the Year. Joe teaches project management and business analysis courses, plus provides clients consulting services on topics such as scheduling, earned value and risk management.

2012 Feb Financial Services LIG Meeting

Christopher Burch, on 26 January 2012

Large Programs - Lessons Learned and Things to Consider

Presented by Mary Beth Sapienza, PMP

9 February 2012

Executive Summary: Want to lead a large program? What do you have to know and what must you do to step into this role and be successful? This session will discuss many of the lessons learned from managing large projects and programs and what a PM in that position must consider. Many of the lessons can be used for any size project. There are certain things that our presenter will touch upon that are specific to the success of cross-functional, complex programs on a large scale. The primary focus will relate to the setup, the initiation and planning phases.

Speaker Bio: Mary Beth Sapienza, PMP, is the program manager leading the IT Transformation program, a 3+ year program with over 15 workstreams and over 20 project mangers. She has been with BNY Mellon for 19 years in various positions and departments, beginning in Auditing as a programmer / software developer, eventually transitioning into a business analyst, project manager and finally program manager, which has been her primary role for the past several years. Programs she has managed in the past include: Wall Street Systems and the first external client mobile roll out on the IPAD. She is currently managing a multi-year, $50M program within BNY Mellon. Mary Beth received her PMP certification from the Project Management Institute in July 2004 and is a graduate of the Expert track of the BNY Mellon PM Certification program and currently sits on the program board. Mary Beth has a BS in Computer Information Systems / Accounting and a MBA from Robert Morris University.

2012 Feb Engineering LIG Meeting

Christopher Burch, on 27 January 2012

Leveraging Systems Engineering to Improve Program Performance

Presented by Joseph P. Elm

9 February 2012

Abstract: An understanding of the value of Systems Engineering (SE) is necessary to justify a project’s investment in SE resources and activities. To identify the value of SE, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Systems Engineering Division, in collaboration with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), developed and executed a survey of defense industrial contractors (i.e., suppliers to the government). The survey, conducted anonymously, collected information regarding the SE practices deployed on development projects, and the performance of those projects, as measured by conformance to budget, schedule, and technical requirements. Responses received from 64 projects were analyzed to identify the statistical relationships between the deployed SE capabilities and project performance. The analysis of the responses revealed quantitative relationships between specific SE efforts applied to the project and the overall success of the project. This information is used to develop recommendations on the deployment of SE for both system acquirers and system suppliers.

Biography: Joseph P. Elm serves as the Manager of Strategic Projects within the CERT Program at the Software Engineering Institute of Carnegie Mellon University. In this capacity he manages programs addressing the cybersecurity needs of the US Government. Prior to joining the SEI, Mr. Elm served in various engineering and management roles in several aerospace manufacturing companies developing precision electro-mechanical equipment used in the development of for missile guidance and navigation equipment. Mr. Elm holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. He is an active member of INCOSE, serving as the Assistant Director, Technical Planning, Procedures, Projects and Publications, the chair of the Systems Engineering Effectiveness Working Group, and the 2011 President of the Three Rivers Chapter.

PMP Preparation Class - 2012

Become a certified PMP!
Click here to register.

This is a great class at a great value for your preparation for the PMP Exam.
Mark your calendars – the PMP Preparation Class will be held on five (5) consecutive Saturdays in early 2012.

o     February 25
o     March 3
o     March 10
o     March 17
o     March 24

Each day is planned to run from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM with lunch and other snacks & beverages provided.

35 PDUs will be awarded!
This course includes a text book, study guide, online resources, practice exams, instructor support, and more!

Cost: $1080
Pittsburgh PMI Member Discount: $225 (Please login to website to get your discount.)
Late Fee After 17 February: $100 -- materials may not arrive until the second week

Ansaldo STS is sponsoring this class and will host us at the following address.

1000 Technology Drive Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3120

Click here to register.
Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions.

Interested in being an instructor for the Spring 2012 PMP review class?
Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Great Project Management Training!

Frederic Koos, on 29 May 2011

Information is here in the Training page on upcoming live seminars! Sign up now!

DALE CARNEGIE - Advancing Projects Through Motivational Leadership, Jan-Feb 2012
TRES ROEDER - 8 PDUs, Develop Collaborative, Winning Teams, 2 February, 2012
PMP Preparation Class, 35 PDUs, Feb-Mar 2012
LEE LAMBERT - Using Myriad PM Tools to Create and Communicate Vital Decision Support Information, 9 March 2012

We are glad to have brought the following successful training opportunities to Pittsburgh in 2011.

Agile: Rod Claar - Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Class, 16 PDUs, 29-30 November
Carl Pritchard - Advanced Risk Management, 7 PDUs, 8 December
Roeder Consulting live and online training
PMP Preparation Class
Online Project Plan Class
Agile Certified ScrumMasters Class with Rod Claar

Additional future events include:

Agile Certified Professional (ACP) course
Study Groups for PMP, PgMP, and ACP certifications
Lee Lambert seminar
PgMP certification support
Professional Devellopment Day

About Us

The Project Management Institute (PMI), founded in 1969, has grown to be the organization of choice for project management professionalism. With over 200,000 members worldwide, PMI is the leading nonprofit professional association in the area of Project Management. PMI establishes Project Management standards, provides seminars, educational programs and professional certification that more and more organizations desire for their project leaders.

The PMI Pittsburgh Chapter, founded in 1980, boasts over 1100 members, of which over 65% are certified Project Management Professionals (PMPs). The Chapter hosts multiple monthly meetings for project management professionals focused on networking, education, and general topics. See the Calendar area for more information.

The PMI Pittsburgh Chapter is a volunteer organization, where the members gain value in professional development through teaching, presenting and sharing with other members on both the local and international levels. Our members are from a diverse cross-section of local employers, with experience in various industries and disciplines.

For more information, please contact the VP of Membership at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Career Corner (job listings)

Philip H Van Sickel, PMP, on 30 May 2011

Untitled document The Career Corner of the PMI Pittsburgh Chapter Web Site provides a forum for the Corporate Community (including Recruiters) to post job listings on our Web page. We will only accept advertisements for Project Management Positions!!!