Q3 2024: Yolanda Mackey
Work industry/ Job Title:
Non-profit/Project Manager
PMICOC committee/position:
VP, Member Services and Professional Develop Day (PDD) Volunteer
Years served on this committee/role:
2 Years
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
I enjoyed being a member of the Chicagoland Chapter, so after relocating back to Ohio from Illinois, I connected with Stephanie to learn more about opportunities to volunteer with PMICOC.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
Collaborating with fellow volunteers who are welcoming, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about their work within the chapter.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
The opportunity to meet and network with those in the project management space while gaining knowledge and friendships along the way.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I am a plant lover; I have over twenty plants in my home.
Your favorite mantra or quote?
There are too many to choose from, but this is the first one that came to mind.
"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching." - C.S. Lewis.
Q1 2024: Noor Saqf Alhait, PMP
Work industry/ Job Title:
IT Solutions/ Business Development Associate
PMICOC committee/position:
Membership Director, 2023 PDD Committee member, Social Media Postings and Communication
Years served on this committee/role:
Under a year.
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
During PDD 2022 I met Stephanie, and I showed interest in volunteering at the
chapter, even though it was crowded there, she listened and spent time introducing
others. Everyone was super nice and friendly, and what motivates me in addition to
the great team spirit is how the Chapter’s leadership makes you feel engaged!
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
Giving back time in doing something impactful to the community made me feel time
rich! Although being a full-time mother, working a full-time job, during PDD volunteer
experience, I felt that I can create time doing something I love while learning a lot
from each member who’s always ready to passionately put their efforts together and
create something big that they believe in, as well as extending my network with great
minds. Working with Kelsey and the creative communication team has greatly
enriched my skills in social media postings and added value to the chapter’s presence
on different social media platforms.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
Besides networking with a great team and people, the biggest personal benefit that I gained from volunteering at PMICOC is setting a role model for my kids to volunteer and to enjoy it! My teenage daughter has completed her first sports camp coach voluntary work with great recommendation letters. Her exact words after the camp were ‘I feel great, responsible and accomplished!’.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I play Piano and my son plays Violin, and my daughter is joining choir soon! A band is
in the air!
Your favorite mantra or quote?
Life is the moment we're living right now.' Paulo Coelho.
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To nominate someone for a future Volunteer Spotlight, please email director-at-large1@pmicoc.org with a brief description of why they should be considered, and their contact information.
Q4 2023: Meet Farrah Zemke, PMP
Software Implementations/Project Manager
Work Industry / Job Title:
PMICOC committee/position:
PDD Project Manager
Years served on this committee:
Under a year.
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
The people within the chapter were my motivation.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
Giving back while opening myself up to learn from others. Understanding the work that goes into an event of this magnitude and the respect I have for those who give their personal time to make it happen.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
The feeling of contributing to a chapter that touches so many.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I just celebrated my 20-year Wedding Anniversary.
Your favorite mantra or quote?
“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin
Q2 2023
Meet David Doyle
Banking / Senior Data Architect
Work Industry / Job Title:
PMICOC committee/position:
Professional Development Day (PDD) 2022 - Breakout (with Deb Ducmanas) + PDD Shirts
Years served on this committee:
3+ years; PDD Committee since PDD 2020
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
Give back to the community, networking (and those ever-necessary PDUs!).
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
I enjoy the networking experiences offered through working with other PMICOC members.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
Networking, opportunity to learn from others.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
During my down time I design items with a laser engraver.
Your favorite mantra or quote?
"Turn that video game off!" (To my kids!)
Q1 2023
Meet Kate Wood!
Nationwide Insurance / Product Owner within Enterprise Digital Product Management
Work Industry / Job Title:
PMICOC committee/position:
Volunteer for the PMICOC Outreach Committee
Years served on this committee:
1 year
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
I attended a PMICOC Chapter meeting where the presentation focused on our Outreach Committee and volunteer opportunities within the committee. Volunteering is a big part of my life both personally and professionally as I was raised in a home where the importance of giving back was always stressed. I was immediately interested in the College Connections volunteer opportunity due to my history of working with the Ohio Insurance Institute where I taught classes focusing on Auto and Homeowner’s insurance to high school students around Central Ohio. Through College Connections, I am currently working with Jenna Livingston and OSU administration to develop a project management course which could be added to their student curriculum.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
All the volunteer opportunities I am engaged in are very meaningful to me and I feel a great use of my time. Volunteering through the Outreach Committee has been very exciting and rewarding. We approached the idea of developing this new class as an effort which would likely be overwhelming, however, quickly found with some dedication and direction, we were able to make a tremendous amount of headway in a short period of time.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
This volunteer opportunity has been a refreshing reminder that anything is possible. When you feel that something is too big to do or would require too much effort to make a change, take a moment to remind yourself that it only takes one person to make a difference. Anything is possible. Don’t give up!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I am a standup comedian and perform at the Funny Bone Comedy Show at Easton.
Your favorite mantra or quote?
There are so many great ones…it is hard to choose one. Here is one I have always liked… "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." This quote is from Emerson and the reason I like it goes back to my love of physical fitness. Healthy mind and healthy body. They go hand-in-hand. I have been running since I was in middle school and have competed in marathons, triathlons, long- distance trail runs, ToughMudders and Spartan races over the years. Loved every second of it. My most favorite running comes after a heavy snow. Snow covers the ground. The sidewalks. The trees. It is beautifully quiet and wonderfully white from all the snow. I put on my running shoes, bundle up and imagine making a trail where no one else has traveled. We need to approach life very much the same way. Be different. Be colorful. Be unique. Don’t follow everyone else. Make a path for yourself and make changes in the world.
Q2 2022
Meet Sharon Manwarren!
I have worked at Nationwide Insurance for close to fifty-two years in many different roles, which included a Project Manager working on several large projects both on the business side as well as the IT side of the Claims Department. Currently my title is Specialist, Quality Engineer and I am working as a requirements analyst.
Work Industry / Job Title:
PMICOC committee/position:
Professional Development Day – Facilities Lead
Years served on this committee:
Well over 10 years.
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
It has been so long since I became a volunteer for PMICOC that I really do not remember what motivated me to volunteer. I could say that one of my part-time jobs working in food service industry that I thought working on the facilities part of PDD would be a natural fit. So here I am in 2022 working with a great team from the Greater Columbus Convention Center and the PDD Steering Committee again.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
To me, it’s knowing that I am trying to make an unforgettable experience for the attendees that spend the day at our biggest event of the year, PDD Day. Watching the people come into the hall where the sponsors set up and seeing the look on the attendees faces makes it worthwhile for me to keep volunteering year after year.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
The satisfaction that the PDD event was a success. To see the attendees, meet friends that they have not seen in over a year and watch the networking going on between attendees makes it worthwhile and makes me want to do it again the following year. Hopefully you are planning on attending this year’s event on October 14th. Please stop by and say hi!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
In addition to my full-time job with Nationwide, I’ve had a part time job for over 20 years. A few years ago, I started bartending at the Columbus Blue Jackets games and I love meeting and talking to my customers. In fact, the bar that I work at is nick named “Sharon’s Pub” which makes me chuckle and smile. This past year I also started to work at the new Lower.com field for the Crew. I really enjoy just meeting and talking to my customers and the fans and I must say I make a great Margarita from scratch.
Your favorite mantra or quote?
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
― Winston S. Churchill
Q4 2021
Meet Andrew Milano!
I work in the field of gene therapy contract development and manufacturing at Andelyn Biosciences, where I’m a Project Manager with the Process Development Department.
Work Industry / Job Title:
PMICOC committee/position:
Outreach Committee
Years served on this committee:
Less than a year
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
I was interested in volunteering with PMICOC, but didn’t necessarily know where I would best fit in. I had always enjoyed giving trainings and teaching, so when I found out about the opportunities that the Outreach Committee had to provide training to help support local nonprofits, it became a no-brainer.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
To me, it’s always meaningful and a compliment to be trusted to give assistance to someone else, and it’s also been an education for me to learn more about these organizations.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
It’s been very gratifying to work directly with these organizations to help provide support in this area and to see their eagerness to take the training and adapt it to their everyday work.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I’ve been an avid baseball card collector for 35+ years, mainly focused on building my Cal Ripken collection. Currently, I have over 2000 different Ripken cards in my collection.
Your favorite mantra or quote?
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. – Wayne Gretzky” – Michael Scott
Q3 2021
Meet Deb Ducmanas, PMP!
Manufacturing Software/ Director of the Project Management Office for Delmia | Works a division of Dassault
Work Industry / Job Title:
PMICOC committee/position:
Outreach and PDD Day Volunteer
Years served on this committee:
1 year for Outreach and approximately 2 months on PDD Day
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
PMI had sent out an email looking for a particular type of Project Manager with certain skill set to help with A Kid Again. My background matched that skill set. I also really loved what I knew about the organization and could see I could make a real difference. This has been an amazing year with the A Kid Again. It really gave me light inside of a very dark year. On PDD day I have always really enjoyed it! I wanted to make it as amazing, exciting, and interesting for all our newcomers and all the people who really are ready for something in person.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
I believe everyone should give their time to causes that are important to you. I want to make sure I am not the one complaining. Why does PMI not do this and/or that and not be part of the bigger solution. I think if everyone would just give an hour or so a month, we really could make a difference in our organization and our world. Besides it feels amazing to give your time and that helps with just your daily wellness.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
Working with a Kid Again is an amazing opportunity. I have a daughter that is a Congenital Heart Patient. I always was afforded opportunities with my work to give her some incredible experiences. I want to make sure all children have something to look forward to. It is so difficult on the child and family to be at the doctor’s office, hospital and having major surgery. To take a day or a few hours to be able to give them some relief is an amazing gift. I wanted to be a part of that and make it easier and more accessible to all who wanted it and all who might not know it exist yet. The application we are building is very exciting and is beyond a passion project for me.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
I love animals and my husband never says no when I want one more. Currently, we have an Irish Wolfhound, Azawakh and Pomeranian and a Quarter Horse. (If this is too boring, I have others - like I use to be a Ballerina, or I have played on the field with Buckeyes (couldn’t walk the next day but great photos!)).
Your favorite mantra or quote?
I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the best of her ability – RBG
Q2 2021
Meet Jarrod Weeks, MBA, PMP!
IT Services / New Project Introduction
Engineer