About Professional Development Day
PMICOC's Professional Development Day (PDD) is the pinnacle event for project management professionals in Central Ohio. It offers a curated agenda of keynote presentations, breakout sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities, all designed to enhance skills and knowledge.
We welcome over 600 project professionals from a variety of industries like Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Technology & IT Services, Consulting & Professional Services, Government & Public Services, Engineering & Manufacturing, Education, Financial Services, and Banking.
Whether you're a seasoned expert or new to the field, PDD promises a day of growth, inspiration, and valuable connections. Join us to expand knowledge, sharpen skills, and build lasting relationships while discovering how maximizing project success can elevate our world.
Partner With Us
Sponsors will have unparalleled opportunities to showcase their solutions, strengthen brand visibility, and connect directly with influential decision-makers and rising talent from across Central Ohio’s project management community.
Opening Keynote
Karla Eidem, PMP, PMI-PMOCP
PMI Regional Managing Director, North America
Karla Eidem, PMP®, PMI-PMOCP, is the Managing Director for PMI’s North America region. With a strategic mindset, leadership prowess, and dedication to the community, she leads the regional strategy design and execution, expanding PMI's impact on organizations, individuals, and communities to maximize project success and create a better world.
Prior to her role as Regional Managing Director, Karla served as PMI’s North America Regional Operations Manager. In this role, she was integral in developing and executing strategic initiatives to grow PMI’s reach and deepen its impact on the practitioner and chapter community across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. She also participated in countless speaking engagements, media interactions, and mentoring opportunities, sharing insights that resonated with individuals and organizations across the region, fostering a deeper sense of community and furthering a culture of continuous improvement.
Afternoon Keynote
Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (RET)
Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that,you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame – she even has a Star Trek Federation starship named after her, the USS Malachowski (NCC-1619).
Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole’s empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”
Closing Keynote
Lee Lambert, Founder of the PMP
Lee R. Lambert, has established the standard against which educators and practitioners in the field of Project Management are measured. As one of the founders of the original Project Management Institute’s (PMI)® Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification Program® (1981), he is an honored and distinguished member of the project management community. Recognized as a PMI Fellow (2009), Lee has trained over 50,000 students, in 23 countries, on the value-added use of the project management process and its associated tools and technique. His unique training style creates an optimal learning experience and a fun educational environment, and earned him PMI's Professional Development Provider of the Year (2007).
He is a Past President of the PMI Central Ohio Chapter and has authored two books and more than 30 professional article/whitepapers. He is also PMI SME for the EVMS Practice Guide and the Project Estimating Practice Guide . As the creator of the “CommonSense Approach to PM”, no other educator/speaker can contend with his uncanny technical knowledge, unique material content and refreshingly entertaining delivery. Lee takes the saying; “Been there, done that, got the T-shirt” to the next level as he continues to “make a difference” in the Project Management world.
Meet the Breakout Speakers
2025 PDD Full Agenda
Evening Celebration
We are excited to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with all of you on the evening of Professional Development Day. We have lots of surprises in store.
Get alerted on new PDD announcements by signing up for our bi-weekly newsletter!
The Venue
2025 Professional Development Day will be held in the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. Parking will be located in the Ohio Union South Garage connected to the Ohio Union.
Garage Information:
1759 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43210
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