Get Involved
Volunteer Spotlight 2Q2023
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David Doyle
Work industry/ Job title: Banking / Senior Data Architect
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PMICOC committee/position:
Professional Development Day (PDD) 2022 - Breakout (with Deb Ducmanas) + PDD Shirts
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Years served on this committee:
3+ years; PDD Committee since PDD 2020
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What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
Give back to the community, networking (and those ever-necessary PDUs!).
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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!)
Volunteer Spotlight 1Q2023
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Kate Wood
Work industry/ Job title: Nationwide Insurance / Product Owner within Enterprise Digital Product Management
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PMICOC committee/position:
Volunteer for the PMICOC Outreach Committee
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Years served on this committee:
1 year
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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.
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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.
Volunteer Spotlight 2Q2023
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Sharon Manwarren
Work industry/ Job title:
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.
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PMICOC committee/position:
Professional Development Day – Facilities Lead
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Years served on this committee:
Well over 10 years.
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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.
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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
Volunteer Spotlight 4Q2021
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Andrew Milano
Work industry/ Job title: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.
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PMICOC committee/position:
Outreach Committee
Years served on this committee:
Less than a year
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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.
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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
Volunteer Spotlight 3Q2021
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Deb Ducmanas, PMP
Work industry/ Job title:
Manufacturing Software/ Director of the Project Management Office for Delmia | Works a division of Dassault
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
Volunteer Spotlight 2Q2021
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Jarrod Weeks, MBA, PMP
Work industry/Job title:
IT Services / New Project Introduction
Engineer
PMICOC committee/position:
Communications / VP of Communications
Years served on this committee:
One year
What motivated you to volunteer with PMICOC?
I have always found something incredibly satisfying about acting in a way that is consistent with my principles. Volunteering with PMICOC provided me an opportunity to assist in the continuous development of the chapter, along with satisfying my appetite for service and personal growth.
What makes this volunteer experience a meaningful use of your time?
The people that make up this chapter, their smiling faces, and willingness to pour into each other, makes this volunteer experience so meaningful. On a professional level, discussing and exercising practical applications of project management with peers that have both more and less experience than I, reinforces my foundation and advancement in project management and leadership.
What is the biggest personal benefit you receive as a volunteer with PMICOC?
Opportunity. I believe we have a challenge by choice chapter in which participants are empowered to decide for themselves how they will participate. Through the opportunities PMICOC provided, I’m able to create my vision for our chapter communications in a safe place that is appealing and engaging. This allows me to fine tune my proficiencies and apply best practices to my personal and professional endeavors.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself?
In 2011, I started a company called Dynamic Circuit Solutions that specialized in repairing control boards for household furnaces.
Your favorite mantra or quote? Proverbs 27:17 NLT - As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
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