In this issue
Upcoming Events
Side Articles
Our Sponsors and Partners - Thank You for Your Support!
Chapter Sponsor
Student Member Sponsor
Silver Sponsor 
Bronze Sponsor 
Our Partners
Archives
Palmetto Chapter August Newsletter
Member Spotlight
Member Name - Fran Vellios
Member Since - March, 2026
What do you think sets you apart in your field?
What sets me apart is that I lead through relationships first. I’ve learned that project management is not just about plans, tools, or timelines. Those things matter, but they only work when people trust the process and trust each other enough to be honest about risks, gaps, decisions, and what they need.
I try to be the person who brings the right people into the conversation, listens closely, and helps everyone understand how their piece of the work connects to the bigger outcome. I’ve worked on initiatives involving legal requirements, technical teams, operations, customers, vendors, and tight timelines, and in those environments the project manager often becomes the connector. My job is to help teams see each other’s dependencies, reduce confusion, and move forward without people feeling like they are carrying the work alone.
I do build structure, but I try to make it useful and human. A tracker, dashboard, playbook, or risk log should not feel like extra work. It should help people see what matters, make decisions faster, and reduce friction. I’m at my best when I can combine strong follow-through with genuine partnership, because that is where trust builds and where the best project outcomes usually happen.
Tell us about a professional success story that you're proud of?
One professional success story I’m proud of is stepping into the Registered Agent address move program at LegalZoom, where I had to learn a regulated area quickly, build trust across teams, and help protect thousands of customers from service disruption. A Registered Agent is the official contact a business lists with the state to receive important legal and government documents. When office locations changed, Secretary of State records had to be updated accurately and in the right order so customers did not miss important notices or face compliance issues.
I joined during a period of organizational change, when responsibilities were shifting and some institutional knowledge was not easy to find. That meant I had to lead by listening first. I asked questions, built relationships with people who knew the process deeply, and created structure around what the team was learning so the work could keep moving. The program required coordination across Legal, Compliance, Finance, IT, Engineering, Operations, Service Delivery, and Customer Service. My role was to connect those pieces, make dependencies visible, and help the team move in the right sequence.
As we managed more moves, I turned the patterns we were seeing into templates, checklists, a shared tracker, and a Registered Agent Move Playbook. That made the process less dependent on tribal knowledge and easier for the team to repeat. We completed the moves with no service disruption and improved cycle time by roughly 12%, but what stays with me most is how the team came together during a period of change. I’m proud of this work because it reflects the kind of leader I try to be, someone who builds relationships, creates steadiness when the path is unclear, and protects the people affected by the work.
My professional development journey did not start with a project management title. It started as an Executive Assistant to a President, where I learned to pay attention to the room before anything became a project plan. I saw how decisions were made, how priorities shifted, and how much follow-through mattered when people across the business were depending on the same outcome. That role taught me to anticipate needs, organize information, communicate clearly, and keep work moving quietly in the background. I did not realize it then, but it became one of the strongest foundations I could have had for project management.
From there, my career grew through eCommerce operations, IT and business coordination, store operations, implementation, and platform operations. Each role taught me something different about how work really gets done. I learned that project management is not tied to one industry, one system, or one tool. It is the practice of helping people turn ideas, requirements, risks, and decisions into real outcomes. I held my CAPM for about 12 years before earning my PMP, and I am proud of that path because it reflects the way my career actually developed. I learned through experience, built confidence through delivery, and grew into larger responsibilities over time.
Continued learning matters to me because the profession keeps changing. I have been focused on areas that are changing how project work gets done, including data, AI, digital transformation, service delivery, and privacy operations. For me, growth is not about collecting credentials. It is about becoming more useful to the teams I support and bringing better questions, stronger judgment, and steadier leadership to the work.
I am grateful for the ways PMI helps me stay connected to that growth. Resources like Project Bites make learning practical and manageable, while PMI Palmetto offers a local community where project professionals can learn from real delivery experiences and support one another. That matters to me because my career has been built by learning from the work, learning from people, and continuing to grow into the next version of my leadership.
President's Corner
Heading Into Fall: A Season of Renewal, Momentum, and
Community
As summer winds down and the first hints of cooler weather begin to settle in, fall arrives with its familiar rhythm – back-to-school routines, football season kickoffs, renewed business focus, and the steady return to structured schedules. For many of us, this time of year feels like a second “new beginning,” offering the chance to reset, refocus, and reenergize both personally and professionally.
Within the PMI community, fall has always been a season of momentum. After the lighter pace of summer, members return ready to tackle new initiatives, strengthen partnerships, and engage more deeply in the work that drives our industry forward.
Back to School: A Reminder That Learning Never Stops
Families across our community are navigating school supply lists, bus schedules, and the excitement of a new academic year. It’s a natural reminder that learning isn’t just for students.
Fall is an ideal time to revisit your own professional development goals:
● What skills do you want to sharpen?
● What emerging trends should you explore?
● What certifications or workshops could elevate your expertise?
Investing in your growth strengthens not only your career but also the collective knowledge of our entire membership.
Football Season: Strategy, Teamwork, and Shared Wins
Football season brings more than weekend entertainment – it highlights the value of teamwork, preparation, and adaptability. Every successful play mirrors the principles we rely on in our work:
● Clear communication
● Coordinated effort
● Strategic planning
● The ability to pivot when conditions change
As we head into fall, consider how you can strengthen collaboration within your teams and across our member community. Shared wins are always more meaningful.
A Full Plate – And a Chance to Prioritize What Matters
- What deserves your focus right now?
- Where can you streamline?
- How can you balance professional demands with personal well-being?
Our organization is here to support you through resources, networking, education, and a community that understands the unique challenges of our field.
As we step into fall, let’s embrace the season with optimism and intention. Whether you’re cheering from the stands, helping a student settle into a new school year, or gearing up for major initiatives at work, this time of year brings renewed energy and a sense of shared purpose.
President, PMI Palmetto Chapter
Symposium
PMI Palmetto 2026 Symposium: From Challenge to Change
The PMI Palmetto Chapter proudly hosted the 2026 Symposium on April 28, 2026 at the Cannon Centre in Greer, SC, with a simultaneous virtual option. This year’s theme, "From Challenge to Change"—centered on "Courageous Conversations";—focused on empowering professionals to navigate complex challenges, develop conflict resolution techniques, and build community. Attendees were eligible to earn 7 PDUs.
Attendees engaged with thought leaders, including Thomas Triumph (Evolution is Not Optional), Mashhood Ahmed (Overcoming AI Fear: Imposter Syndrome in the Age of AI), Natalie Micale (Strategic Influence), John Horton (Healthy Projects), Melissa-Anne Cunningham (Leveraging Technology), and Vinod Kumar (Emerging Perspectives).
Highlights of the 2026 Symposium:
● PMI Palmetto Star Awards: The Star Awards program continued, celebrating
excellence in leadership and innovation.
Looking Ahead
We are already incorporating attendee feedback from the post-event survey to make future programs even better. The planning for the 2027 Symposium will build upon this year's hybrid success and focus on continued community impact and leadership excellence.
Join the 2027 Symposium Team!
Planning for next year's symposium is already starting, and we need your talent and
energy! We have open volunteer positions.
Volunteering is a great way to:
● Expand your professional network
● Earn PDUs
● Develop leadership skills
● Give back to the project management community
Continuing the Legacy
We want to personally thank the entire planning committee for their dedication and hard work in orchestrating this amazing event. Special thanks to Claire Pfeiffer, 2026 Symposium Chair, and Wayne Hart, Co-Chair, along with committee members John Horton, Tony Jones, Lisa Rodman, Melissa Mullis, Rebecca Simmons, and Detra German. We also thank Susan Marin, Chapter President, for her support.
To volunteer for the 2026 Symposium Committee, please visit PMI's Volunteer Engagement Portal
Upcoming Events
Join us on August 6th for PM in the PM, and on August 20 to for our Monthly Meeting Featuring Tom Esch
PM in the PM (In Person - Spare Time, Greenville)
August 6, 2026 from 6PM-7:30PM
Please join Nicole Walton, Chapter Volunteer, at the next in-person PM in the PM networking session on Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 6PM – 7:30PM EST. Register today! Reserve Your Spot! In-Person PM in the PM
Location: Spare Time Greenville
822 Congaree Rd
Greenville, SC 29607
Venue website
Directions
Monthly Meeting
August 20, 2026
Register today! Reserve Your Spot!
Register for all events through the Events tab of the Palmetto Chapter website.
Share Your Journey with Us!
Become Our Next Featured Member!
Would you like to share how PMI has made a positive impact on your life? Do you have advice for others in the project management field? Would you like to nominate someone to share their story?
Why Share Your Story?
Inspire Others: Your story could be the motivation someone else needs.
Connect: Sharing experiences brings our community closer together.
Highlight Your Achievements: Let's celebrate your successes and milestones.
Don't miss this chance to be in the spotlight and make a difference in our community. Your story is important, and we can't wait to hear it!
Email VP Membership, Valerie Welbourn , for more information.
Volunteers
Volunteers Committee
The success of the chapter and our ability to provide high-quality activities is only
achievable with the help of our members as volunteers. By volunteering you will help build a bigger and better chapter through specialized projects (Symposium, etc.), day-to-day operations (finance management, building organizational structure, etc.), and community outreach. As a volunteer servant leader, you will have the opportunity to expand your professional internal network, enhance your leadership skills, earn PDUs, and much more.
Volunteer roles are open to ANY chapter member in good standing.
Sponsorship Officer (Role Level: Executive)
Webmaster (Role Level: Helping Hands)
2027 Symposium Co-Chair (Role Level: Board)
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💻 Location: Virtual (sign-in details will be sent in your confirmation email)
Please contact the VP of Volunteers at the following email address for more information: [email protected].
Dr. Detra German - VP Volunteers
Programs
Log into the Member Area on PMI Palmetto website and follow the instructions in the ProjectBites Sign-Up form under Member Documents. An individual subscription would normally cost you $90 per year, but it is now FREE for our members!!
• ProjectBites presents project management education and inspiration in 20-minute videos from speakers around the world.
• New content is being added weekly.
• Each video comes with a downloadable “Take-Away” PDF available after viewing.
• All the time spent viewing these videos qualifies towards your collection of PDUs. Project Bites tracks your PDU’s for you.
Free PMBOK® Guide
Did you know your PMI® membership enables you to receive a free copy of the PMBOK® Guide?
Email [email protected] for more information.
