PMI Nashville 2024 Symposium

Morning Sessions: 2024 PMI Nashville Symposium
“Innovation and Growth”

PREFUNCTION A+B: 7:00am-8:00am: Registration and Breakfast

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 8:00am-8:10am: Linda Stachera, President, PMI Nashville
Official Welcome

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 8:10am-9:00am: KEYNOTE - Traci Barrett, Navigate the Journey 

Make Your Work Matter: Key Steps to Finding Meaning in What You Do (50 minutes)

PDU Category: .5 Power Skills; .5 Ways of Working

An experienced executive, Traci Barrett was one of the founders of the billion-dollar media empire, HGTV. She spent over twenty years in corporate America, is a successful entrepreneur, and owns a thriving business consulting firm. She knows that “Purpose” is the key to high performance. In her session “Make Your Work Matter: Key Steps to Finding Meaning in What You Do” she explores the key steps for transformation. Attendees of this dynamic session will walk away with the following takeaways:

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 9:00am-10:00am: Nancy Everitt, PMP and Eva Higgins, PMP

SURVIVING and THRIVING: Applied AI for Project Managers (60 min) 

PDU Category: 1 Ways of Working

AI continues to power and influence and transform the role of Project Managers and their teams. Over the next 5 years over 80 percent of Project Management tasks can be completed via AI assistance or AI generation. This AI session will provide a step-by-step guide to creating DRAFT Project Management Artifacts via AI to free valuable time in your schedule.

In this session, gain hands-on experience with AI to generate a Project Charter, Risk Register, RACI Chart, Project Plan and Closing Documents all in less than 1 hour. Learn how to leverage AI for drafting then refine the tools as the Subject Matter Expert.

PREFUNCTION A+B: 10:00am-10:20am: Break – Meet the Sponsors and Network

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 10:20am-11:10am: PANEL DISCUSSION

Inside Track: Tips for Establishing and Optimizing Value Creation for a Project Management Office (PMO) (50 min)

PDU Category: .5 Power Skills; .5 Ways of Working

Join Michelle Watkins, Founder & Managing Partner, Global PMO Partners as she serves the Panel Facilitator for a discussion with PMO leaders April Romero, Enterprise Project Director, State of Tennessee; Joanne Eckton, Head of PMO at Qualifacts, Anne Marie Turner, Director Enterprise PMO at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Melissa Eli, Sr. Director EPMO, Terminix. 

Attendees will benefit from 1) lessons learned related to creating and optimizing project management offices and  2) garner insights on how to position and manage the PMO for organizational value creation.

CAPITOL BALLROOM: 11:10am -12:00pm: Peter Kapolas, BSN, PMP, LSSB, CPHQ

David and Goliath – Transforming Eldercare – Applied Session (50 min)

PDU Category: 1 Business Acumen

Peter Kapolas, SVP Program Operations and Compliance of LIFE COORDINATED explores how the PMO of a small but mighty start-up imagined, charted, created and executed a game plan for eldercare transformation via the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Learn how project management powered the organizational goals from plan to reality.

This session will explore key lessons learned and retrospectives to create a Corporate Playbook. Attendees will better understand how their roles as Project Managers can power strategic transformation as organizational leaders.

PREFUNCTION A+B:

12:00pm-1:00pm: Career Fair and Mentoring Meet and Greet

The Power of Connection

Connect with employers and colleagues, explore new opportunities.

Also meet with PMI Career Mentors to help jumpstart your career transition or Volunteer as a Mentor to help others.

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 1:10pm- 2:00pm: Laura McAlister, PMP and Barry McAlister

Goal Setting and Personal Growth Strategies (50 min)

PDU Category: 1 Ways of Working

Discover Goal Setting and Personal Growth Strategies to maximize each day.  Meaning, how do we make goals stick?  Success is not achieved overnight, but through values based on daily commitments to the habits and disciplines of success. Join Laura McAlister for this interactive session based upon John Maxwells’ book “The 15 Laws of Growth.”

Session attendees will leave with knowledge, tools, and professional development templates allowing them to begin where they are and move into the professional future they desire. This session allows the project professional to apply fundamental tools to their own lives.

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 2:00pm- 2:50pm: Joycelyn Stevenson, ESQ, Niloy Ray, ESQ and Littler Mendelson PC

Risky Business: The Role of AI in the Hiring Process – Awareness and Strategies (50 min)

PDU Category: 1 Business Acumen

Joycelyn Stevenson, ESQ and Niloy Ray, ESQ are employment and AI experts with Littler Mendelson PC assisting clients in creating and implementing AI development and use policies; in selecting, testing, and deploying AI tools across the employment lifecycle; and in navigating the compliance requirements and litigation risks of new and proposed AI regulations in the U.S. and abroad. For better or worse AI has become part of the hiring process.

Join Joycelyn Stevenson, ESQ, and Niloy Ray, ESQ in this applied AI session and discover how your organization can actively prepare:

This session will provide attendees with a strong foundation for organizational risk mitigation strategies.

CONFERENCE FOYER: 2:40pm-3:00pm: Break – Meet the Sponsors and Network

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 3:00pm- 3:50pm: Ken Smith, President of Belair Leadership

Insights for Growing Accountability in your Project Teams (50 min)

PDU Category: 1 Power Skills

Holding project team members accountable to actions can be difficult as a Project Manager. When you are not the direct supervisor of the team you may feel like you have little ability to hold people accountable. Or you may find it personally challenging. Join Ken Smith for a facilitated discussion to help make conversations easier and build a culture of responsibility.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

Growing accountability skills will enhance the project manager's ability to complete projects on time, on budget and on scope while maintaining relationships.

MERIDIAN BALLROOM: 3:50pm- 4:50pm: Luke Goetting

Future of Teams: Empowering Gen Z+ with Next Gen Project Management (60 min)

PDU Category: 1 Power Skills

The landscape of work is undergoing a seismic shift, driven by a digitally native generation with unique expectations and values. Gen Z is the future of the workforce and its impact on project management is not just a trend, but a strategic imperative. Join Future of Work expert Luke Goetting on this journey to unlock the transformative power of Gen Z employees on your teams to become a leader in the new era of project management.

This dynamic, interactive program arms you with the critical insights and actionable strategies needed to transform your project management approach and help shape the future of your organization:

More than just connecting with Gen Z, this program empowers you to: