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INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN GREGORY, THE NEW REGION 4 MENTOR

Brian Gregory, current VP of Governance, has accepted a volunteer position with PMI Global serving as the Region 4 (that’s our region) Mentor. Let’s learn more about this position and what motivated Brian to seek out this role.

Q: What is a Region within PMI?

A region is a cluster of chapters that form a peer network to leverage each chapter’s strengths and needs while working to better serve members and the profession. There are 16 regions globally within PMI and ours is Region 4. Our region takes us from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey and is comprised of 24 chapters.

Q: What does a Region 4 Mentor do?

A Region Mentor provides guidance to the chapters within the region. For example, new tools are shared out from PMI Global and the mentor helps to communicate these tools to the chapters by providing training, answering any questions, and conducting the follow up necessary to support the chapter leaders. The mentor also helps with engaging PMI Global strategies (e.g., Hours for Impact) through supporting chapter leaders in implementing these strategies. The mentor also facilitates Birds of Feature sessions which bring specifics disciplines of chapter boards (e.g., governance, MARCOMM, Presidents) together to share, learn and grow. As region mentors, we are also a support function for chapter leaders who may have questions directed to PMI Global. Often times multiple chapters may have the same question and the region mentor researches and provides information back to the chapters. By doing so all chapters get value from the questions asked by a few chapters. We also support events and strategy sessions where the chapter needs a facilitator or sounding board such as annual planning, strategic planning, governance or assisting in conflict resolution. Finally, the region mentor helps chapters to plan and execute region meeting where all chapter leaders in the region meet and learn from each other.

Q: What motivated you to apply for this position?

When I get asked this question, I always reflect back to the same response. Many people in my life have invested a great deal of blood, sweat, tears, money and resources into me to help me get to where I am today. For me not to pay it forward and give back to my community and my profession would be a waste of everyone’s investment. Also, I consider myself to be a servant leader. It’s been rewarding to have been able to serve the PMI Rochester and our members. What really excited me about the region mentor position was that it was an opportunity to take my passion to give back to a different level. It’s an opportunity for me to give back to a bigger audience and a larger segment of our profession. I’ve partnered with multiple region mentors since I’ve been on the PMI Rochester board and experienced the value they brought to PMI Rochester and the other 23 chapters in our region is what made me excited to step into the role.

Q: What are the qualifications of a Region 4 Mentor?

To serve as a region mentor you have to be a member of PMI Global in good standing and be accredited by PMI (e.g., PMP). You must also have at least 3 to 5 years of experience being involved in chapter leadership. This commitment to leadership is important to succeed in the region mentor role. You also have to have the desire to manage upwards and downwards, because just as much as you are supporting the chapters in the region, you are taking that information and managing it upwards into PMI. This results in a two-way learning experience. You also must be willing to commit to 20 to 40 hours per month for 3 years. In my case I will serve as the Region 4 Mentor from January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027.

Q: How has serving on the PMI Rochester Board for the last 11 years helped prepare you for this new role?

Serving on the chapter board has allowed me to grow my leadership skills to serve our members and make a difference. It has allowed me to get to know people and to know the challenges the chapter has been faced with in the past decade. When I joined the board there were significant challenges to work through and this allowed me the opportunity to put my thumbprint on the chapter and to move things forward. In addition, being involved as a chapter leader I was able to participate in (and lead) strategy sessions, maturity assessments, and projects that served our membership and our community. It also allowed me to have face time with our members and form many long-lasting friendships and relationships. And it has allowed me to make a difference and, most importantly, have a ton fun doing it! Serving as the Region 4 Mentor will allow me to make a difference, just on a grander scale impacting more people.

Q: How has being a PMI volunteer helped you in your career?

It’s helped me both personally and professionally. I’ve used my passion for project management to serve my Catholic church and the Boy Scouts on a personal level and have seen others benefit from my leadership. Professionally is has helped by giving me a foundation from which to build a successful project management career. Through networking, I’ve fostered many relationships both at a personal and professional level. It has also allowed me to think outside of box. Project managers are supposed to be creative and think outside the box, but sometimes we get wrapped up in group think. By being a PMI Volunteer, it has helped me understand how to keep from getting entrapped in group think and helped me look more towards how to be successful as a project manager. It’s also helped me to help others in their success as well. Finally, it’s allowed me to share my passion with others who have benefited from what I bring to the table.

Q: What will you miss about serving with the local chapter?

You can’t get rid me that easily! I’m not planning to end my service to the PMI Rochester chapter. At a minimum, I volunteered to oversee the elections for next year and will support the 2024 PDD Team. I won’t take a major role that will obligate me to a certain timeframe as I now serve 24 chapters, but will surely serve where I can. Note that the only restriction I have is that I cannot serve in a decision-making capacity as a chapter volunteer.

Q: What advice would you give someone considering a volunteer position with the chapter?

Just do it! It’s an opportunity for someone to grow as a servant leader and share your passion with others. By serving as a servant leader you’re able to share your experiences and your skills and have the benefit of learning from the people who you work with. It’s a two-way street of learning and growth. You are giving, you are receiving, and you are growing. The other thing is that you will see the results of your contribution. You will see that you’ve made a difference. It’s not like yay … I did my job. It’s the pride in knowing you made a contribution to your community and to see how you made a difference. You also learn that leadership is nothing more than influence and by sharing your influence with the chapter you grow your inherent leadership skills. Also, don’t feel like you have to boil the ocean. What you can do is start small and do small tasks here and there. You can then grow your volunteer experience into something that fits you. Just know that there will be at least one person that you will come in contact with that will appreciate what you have done and respect the contributions you have made in their lives and their professional careers. That will make it all worthwhile. I promise.

GENERATIVE AI: TRANSFORMING PROJECT MANAGEMENT

(by Chad Sweet-Wright, PMI Rochester Chapter Staff Writer)

In the ever-evolving landscape of business and technology, Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force. This cutting-edge technology, capable of creating content, data, and solutions, is rapidly gaining popularity across industries. Today, we explore the rise of Generative AI and how it's reshaping business practices, with a special focus on the Project Management Institute's (PMI) free course offering: Generative AI Overview for Project Managers.

The Power of Generative AI

Generative AI, often referred to as creative AI, is a subset of artificial intelligence that focuses on the creation of new content, such as text, images, and even code, using deep learning models. Unlike traditional AI, which relies on pre-programmed rules, Generative AI learns from vast datasets, allowing it to generate human-like content autonomously.

Generative AI's Popularity in Business

The business world is witnessing a significant surge in the adoption of Generative AI, and for good reason. Here are some key areas where Generative AI is making a substantial impact:

Content Creation: Generative AI can draft articles, generate marketing copy, and even create music, saving businesses time and resources while maintaining high-quality output.

Data Augmentation: It aids in the generation of synthetic data, useful for training machine learning models when real data is limited or sensitive.

Prototyping: Generative AI can quickly produce design prototypes, enabling rapid product development and iteration.

Personalization: It's used to create personalized recommendations, enhancing customer experiences in e-commerce and content platforms.

Automation: Generative AI automates routine tasks, freeing up human resources for more strategic roles.

PMI's Generative AI Overview for Project Managers

Project managers are at the forefront of implementing transformative technologies like Generative AI. PMI recognizes the importance of staying ahead in this ever-changing landscape and is offering a free Generative AI Overview for Project Managers course.

This course provides project managers with a high-level understanding of Generative AI, its applications, and how it can be integrated into project management processes. While it won't turn you into a Generative AI expert, it equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding its implementation within your projects.

The best part? It's free! PMI's commitment to fostering continuous learning and professional growth is evident in this offering. By enrolling in this course, project managers can expand their skill set, stay updated with emerging technologies, and gain a competitive edge in the field.

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