Bloomport U

Some years ago I decided that I would never let my skills lose relevance (See “Weak signals of change: are you listening?” for the full story).  One of the best ways I found to do that was to connect back into the industry whenever I picked up a new area of responsibility.  In the project management arena, I taught PMP certification courses, when I worked in SAP, I ran an ASUG special interest group.  As I moved into Project Portfolio Management, I connected to quite a few different project portfolio managers to learn how to judge the maturity of a project portfolio process.

 Details aside, I know that I learn best by watching, doing and teaching… what better way teach than to teach at an industry conference!  Below is an acceptance letter I just got today for a presentation proposal I submitted to give a talk at the PMI Project Management Office conference in Texas later this year… too cool.

Shawn–

Thank you for your presentation proposal for PMO Symposium 2010.  The Symposium Program Committee reviewed over 95 high quality presentation proposals for a very limited set of approximately 25 speaking slots and I am pleased inform you that the Program Committee has recommended your proposal for inclusion in the PMO Symposium 2010 program.  I am happy to accept their recommendation and, on behalf of the entire PMO Symposium 2010 team and the Board of Directors of the PMI Program Management Office SIG, to invite you to join us as a presenter at PMO Symposium 2010.

If you are still interested and available to present during the Symposium (November 8-10, 2010 in Dallas, Texas, USA), please reply back to me with a confirmation.  Following your confirmation, an information packet will be mailed to you within one to two weeks that contains the Symposium Speaker Agreement as well as additional information concerning formatting your presentation, logistics and accommodations information, and a timeline for critical deliverables.  Please review the Symposium Speaker Agreement return deadline indicated in the packet as your participation is not confirmed until the PMO Symposium 200 office receives your signed Symposium Speaker Agreement.  Additionally, please note that if you submitted multiple proposals, the packet will clarify which of your proposals has been selected.  

As the Symposium presentation agenda will not be finalized until around May 1, I am not able at this time to provide you the specific day and time that your presentation will be assigned in the agenda.  If you have a travel or other limitation that would impact your assignment, please let me know when you reply back with your confirmation.

I look forward to working with you over of the course of the next few months as we prepare for PMO Symposium 2010 and also to meeting you in Dallas.

PMO Symposium 2010 General Chair

Vice-Chair, PMI PMOSIG