Palmetto Chapter April Newsletter 
Symposium
REGISTER NOW: 2026 Symposium to be held on April 28, 2026
The PMI Palmetto Chapter is thrilled to announce our Annual Project Management Symposium, taking place on April 28 at Cannon Centre in Greer.
This year’s theme is “From Challenge to Change”. Expect a full day of insights from industry leaders, interactive breakout sessions, and valuable networking opportunities with fellow professionals.
This year's symposium introduces a unifying narrative guide -- Ari the Owl, a cartoon project manager who represents clarity, perspective, and thoughtful leadership. Ari appears throughout the event to connect sessions and reinforce the journey from challenge to transformation.
- When: April 28, 7:30am – 4:30pm
- Where: Cannon Centre (with virtual option)
- Topic: The 2026 PMI Symposium, From Challenge to Change, explores how project leaders transform obstacles into meaningful progress. Speakers will cover reframing problems, adopting new tools, strengthening teams and extending impact beyond the organization toward sustainable change.
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7 PDUs
Attendance is limited to ensure an interactive and immersive experience. Don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and grow with peers across industries.
Key Themes for 2026
Gain insights and strategies across six essential themes:
- Innovation through Constraint
- Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
- Motivation and Team Resilience
- Health and Human-Centered Project Delivery
- Technology as an Enabler
- Community Impact and Social Responsibility
Featured Speakers
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● Session Title: Evolution Isn’t Optional: The Five Pillars That Separate Thriving Organizations From Those Left Behind
● Why You Can't Miss It: This keynote is designed for organizations navigating disruption, building innovation capability, and creating long-term competitive advantage. Attendees will leave with the Intentional Evolution Framework and practical strategies they can apply immediately to foster continuous innovation and growth. -
● Session Title: Overcoming AI Fear: The Imposter Syndrome in the Age of AI
● Why You Can't Miss It: In today’s rapidly evolving AI landscape, project managers face a unique challenge: imposter syndrome driven by emerging technologies. This session addresses how uncertainty around AI can impact confidence, decision-making, and adoption. Mashhood explores practical strategies to build confidence, demystify AI, and integrate it effectively into project workflows. Attendees will gain a grounded understanding of how AI enhances—not replaces—human expertise, along with actionable ways to apply it in real-world scenarios. -
Vinod Kumar
● Session Title: Portfolio Thinking: Emerging Perspective
● Why You Can't Miss It: This session explores how leaders navigate constant change in modern project environments. Adaptability is no longer optional—it is a core leadership capability. Highlights include how resilient leaders reframe uncertainty as opportunity, foster psychologically safe teams, and enable faster decision-making through clarity and ownership. It also explores the role of emotional intelligence, communication, and stakeholder alignment in shifting environments. -
● Session Title: Strategic Influence: The Human Skills That Drive Results
● Why You Can't Miss It: This session explores how professionals can lead through influence—regardless of title—by strengthening communication, alignment, and trust. Natalie Micale shares actionable strategies centered on clarity, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. Her approach reframes “soft skills” as essential power skills that drive measurable outcomes and team performance. -
John Horton
● Session Title: Do You Have a Healthy Project Team?
● Why You Can't Miss It: This session introduces a framework for assessing project and team health through both data and human-centered indicators such as trust, engagement, and communication. Participants will learn how team dynamics directly impact delivery outcomes and how to identify early warning signs often missed by standard reporting. The session provides practical tools to diagnose issues, initiate meaningful conversations, and strengthen team performance. -
(MAC) Melissa-Anne Cunningham
● Session Title: The Illusion of Access: Closing the Gap Between Technology and Performance
● Why You Can't Miss It: Having access to technology does not guarantee the skill or confidence to use it effectively. Drawing on doctoral research, this session challenges traditional views of the digital divide and introduces a practical guide for understanding how intrinsic motivation enhances project leadership in the digital world. Learn how to improve performance by assessing and closing gaps in digital resources. Attendees will leave with a new lens for identifying hidden capability gaps—and actionable strategies to leverage technology for stronger teams and better project outcomes.
Upcoming Events
Join us on April 2nd May 7th for
PM in the PM (In-Person)
PM in the PM (In-Person)
Originally scheduled for April 2nd, this event has been postponed until Thursday May 7, 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
April 28, 2026: Annual PMI Palmetto Symposium - earn 7 PDU's
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.
Professional Development
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)
Social Impact Program Coordinator - https://volunteer.pmi.org/opportunities/68527
PMI Palmetto Chapter will host an online Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, May 12, 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
Seeking NGO or Non-Profit for 2026 Symposium!
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]
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!
Technology
Security Awareness: How to Spot and Stop Impersonation Scam Emails!
Cybersecurity threats are on the rise, and one of the most common tactics used today is impersonation—also known as social engineering. These scams are designed to look like legitimate messages from trusted leaders or organizations, but their goal is to trick individuals into taking harmful actions.
Recently, there have been reports of scam emails targeting individuals by pretending to be organizational leaders and referencing urgent financial matters. While these messages may seem convincing, they are fraudulent.
What Do These Scam Emails Look Like?
Impersonation emails are carefully crafted to appear legitimate. Here are some common warning signs:
● The sender’s name looks familiar, but the email address comes from a personal
domain (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Comcast) instead of an official organizational
account
● The message claims the sender is traveling or otherwise unavailable
● It mentions that another person who could verify the request is “out of the office”
● It creates a sense of urgency around a financial task
● It ends with a vague prompt like: “Let me know if you can handle this.”
Notably, these emails may not include links or attachments. This is intentional—the
scammer is trying to start a conversation and build trust before making a financial request.
Why Is This Dangerous?
If someone responds, the scammer often escalates quickly, asking for:
● Gift card purchases
● Wire transfers
● Payment or banking (ACH) changes
● Processing invoices outside normal procedures
Once money is sent, it is extremely difficult—if not impossible—to recover.
What Should You Do If You Receive One?
If you receive a suspicious message like this:
1. Pause. Urgency is a tactic scammers use to pressure quick decisions.
2. Inspect the sender’s email address carefully. Don’t rely on the display name alone.
3. Verify through a separate channel. Call or text the person using a trusted
number—not any contact information provided in the email.
4. Report the message to the appropriate leadership or IT/security contact for your
organization.
Avoid replying, taking action, or forwarding the message to others.
A Simple Rule to Remember
No legitimate financial request should bypass established approval processes or rely solely on personal email without proper verification.
Stay Alert, Stay Secure
Cybersecurity is not just a technology issue—it’s a people issue. Awareness and caution are some of the most effective tools we have to prevent fraud.
If something feels off, trust your instincts. It’s always better to ask and verify before taking action.
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.
