Palmetto Chapter February Newsletter 
Presidents Corner
As I begin my term as President, I want to share how energized I am about the year ahead. Our industry is evolving quickly, and this organization is uniquely positioned to help every member navigate that change with confidence.
In the coming months, we’ll focus on strengthening advocacy efforts, expanding professional resources, and creating more opportunities for collaboration across our network.
Most importantly, this organization thrives because of your engagement. Your insights, challenges, and successes shape our direction. I’m committed to listening closely and ensuring our work reflects the needs of the entire community.
Thank you for your continued dedication. I’m excited for what we’ll accomplish together and look forward to sharing updates with you throughout the year.
Susan L. Marin
President, PMI Palmetto Chapter [email protected]
Upcoming Events
Join us on February 19 for
Monthly Chapter Meeting
Monthly Chapter Meeting (Save the Date & Watch Email)
Mac Curfman will be the speaker on Thursday February 19, 2026 from 6PM - 7PM EST
Mac is a Bestselling author with over 35 years of experience in leading business and government organizations; and is a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team. Mac has deep business knowledge, having started several businesses (including a gourmet coffee roaster!) and has earned a tremendous reputation as a go-to resource and unconventional problem-solver. Please join us on Thursday Feb. 19 for this exciting discussion!
40th Anniversary Celebration - Event Postponed until March!
This March, PMI Palmetto proudly celebrates 40 years of connecting project management professionals across the Upstate! Since 1985, our chapter has been a community where project leaders learn, grow, and make lasting connections — and now it’s time to celebrate that legacy in style.
NEW DATE: Join us for a special evening of celebration on:
Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Crowne Plaza, 851 Congaree Road, Greenville, SC 29607
Enjoy an unforgettable night featuring:
A professional photo booth (Dress for Success / Business Casual)
Interactive games with opportunities to win prizes
Music, dancing, and great company
While the date has changed, the purpose of the event remains the same—to honor and celebrate our chapter’s rich legacy, recognize the incredible professionals who make up our community, and reflect on 40 years of excellence in the Upstate.
All current registrants will receive a full refund. You will receive a separate notification once that refund has been processed.
We will send another email once ticket sales reopen for the March 12th celebration. For now, please save the date—we look forward to celebrating this milestone with you in the spring.
We sincerely apologize for the late notice and appreciate your understanding and continued support.
For questions, email anniversary.co@
Networking Opportunity - Quarterly Coffee & Connections
Tuesday March 17, 2026 from 8:30AM - 9:45AM EST
In conjunction with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce - let's do something that matters today.
Spinx Market
659 South Main Street
Greenville, SC 29601
CONTACT: Brittney Kessler - [email protected] 864-239-3742
TO REGISTER: www.greenvillechamber.org/events Find Event, Click Register, Enter PMI PALMETTO as the "COMPANY NAME".
PMI CHAPTER MEMBERS ARE ALSO AUTOMATICALLY GREENVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEMBERS
PM in the PM (In-Person)
Thursday April 2, 2026 from 6PM - 7PM EST
Please join Nicole Walton, Chapter Volunteer, in the next in-person PM in the PM networking session on Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 6PM - 7PM EST.
Spare Time Greenville
822 Congaree Rd
Greenville, SC 29607
Venue website
Directions
Register for all events through the Events tab of the Palmetto Chapter website.
Symposium
2026 Symposium Planning is Underway
We're excited to share that planning is in full swing for our upcoming Symposium! The team is onboarding staff, for those who volunteered as helpers be alert to emails / notifications for upcoming meetings.
CALLING ALL LEADERS - this is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic team and make a lasting impact on our PMI Community!
2026 Symposium Helper https://volunteer.pmi.org/opportunities/59407
IMPORTANT: PMI Palmetto Social Impact is looking for an NGO or Non Profit for our annual Symposium to partner with. If you know one please email [email protected].
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.
Professional Development
PMI Palmetto Chapter Study Group Spring, 2026
The Spring group will begin February 17, 2026. The study group meets Tuesdays from 6-8 pm, for 12 weekly sessions. This study group is geared toward introducing the PMI PMBOK Principles and Performance Domains to those interested in learning more about project management and those candidates that are preparing for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam and Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) exam. The course is based on the PMI Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK) Seventh Edition. Each student should obtain a copy of the study materials: the PMBoK Guide, and Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep. This PMBOK Study Group Is Available To Chapter Members Only. There Is No Additional Chapter Cost/Fee For Attending The Study Group.
Rupert Huse Veteran Center 770 Pelham Rd Greenville, SC 29615
Venue website Directions
Tools of the Trade will be held quarterly.
The sessions are free to chapter members and offer 1.5 PDUs. Location is to be
announced. We are looking for PM professionals to share tools, tips and tricks that are useful in their jobs. If you have an idea for tools of the trade and would like to present contact [email protected] (or) [email protected] for more details.
Sekar Parasurman - VP Professional Development
PMI Introduces a new certification: PMI-CPMAI
No Experience Required: Your license to lead AI. With PMI-CPMAI, you'll gain the tools to build with AI effectively, giving you the playbook to secure AI success. For additional information follow THIS LINK..
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, 40th Anniversary Celebration, 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.
Current Open Volunteer Positions: (CRUCIAL POSITIONS BOLDED BELOW)
Director, Tools of the Trade - https://volunteer.pmi.org/opportunities/66328
Volunteer Orientation (Virtual) - Feb 25:
PMI Palmetto Chapter will host an online Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 starting at 6pm EST. This one-hour orientation will give you a comprehensive overview of who we are, how we serve the project management community, and the many opportunities available for you to get involved. It’s a great chance to learn, ask questions, and discover how your skills and interests can make a meaningful impact.
Please contact the VP of Volunteers at the following email address for more information: [email protected].
Programs
Programs Update:
Monthly Speakers:
Stay tuned to this space as the lineup of 2026 speakers is being put together. Look for another exciting years with interesting speakers and PDU gaining opportunities.
Free Project Bites
To register for FREE to Project Bites, 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.
Social Media
Social Media Success & Monthly Giveaway!
Our social media contest is still going strong! Each month, one lucky follower is randomly selected to win a gift card or a ticket to an upcoming event. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn - don't miss your chance to WIN!
Non PMI Palmetto Events
Don't Get Scammed: Protecting Yourself from Fake Job Offers
Finding a new job should be exciting, but scammers often take advantage of people who are searching for work. Job-hunting scams are growing every year and knowing how they work can help protect your money, your identity, and your peace of mind.
What is a Job-Hunting Scam?
A job-hunting scam is when someone pretends to offer you a real job but is actually trying to steal something from you -- usually money or personal information. Scammers may pose as recruiters, hiring managers, or well-known companies in order to gain your trust.
Their goal is simple: to get you to pay for something, share sensitive information, or do work that benefits them without ever receiving the job you were promised.
How Common Is It?
These scams are more widespread than many people realize:
- Recent surveys from employment researchers show that more than 40% of job seekers have interacted with a fake job posting or scam recruiter.
- The U.S. Federal Trade Commission reported that Americans lost hundreds of millions of dollars to job-related fraud in the last year -- one of the fastest-growing categories of online scams.
- Many victims never report the scam because they feel embarrassed, which means the real number is likely even higher.
The impact can be serious: financial loss, identity theft, emotional stress, and lost time during an already challenging job search.
Examples of Job-Hunting Scams
- Training-fee scams: You're told you must pay for onboarding, certification, or equipment before starting.
- Fake recruiter messages: Someone contacts you on LinkedIn, email, or text with an offer that seems rushed or too good to be true.
- Check-deposit scams: You're sent a "hiring bonus" or equipment check and told to deposit it and send part of the money back -- then the check bounces.
- Free-work scams: You're asked to complete "sample assignments" or full projects but never hear from them again.
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Impersonation scams: Scammers copy job listings from real companies but replace the contact information with their own.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- The company asks you to pay money up front.
- Communications comes from a free email address (like Gmail or Yahoo).
- The job promises high pay for very little work.
- The recruiter pressures you to move quickly or avoid asking questions.
- You're asked for banking info, SSN, or IDs before your officially hired.
- The interview happens only by text or chat with no video metting.
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The job description has poor grammar, vague details, or unrealistic claims.
How to Protect Yourself
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.
What to Do If You Suspect a Scam
- Stop communicating with the scammer.
- Contact your bank immediately if you sent money or account details.
- Change any passwords you shared.
- Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with major credit bureaus.
- Report the scam to reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the job board where it appeared.
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Save screenshots and documents -- you may need later.
Final Thoughts
Job hunting is challenging enough without scams getting in the way. By staying alert and knowing the warning signs, you can protect yourself and help others in our PMI Palmetto Community stay safe too.
