Ken has been a dedicated member of PMI for over 13 years and began his volunteer journey in 2021 after retiring. Driven by a desire to stay engaged and give back to the project management, STEM, and greater Phoenix communities, Ken took on the role of Director of our new Mentorship Program and was instrumental in the program’s growth and maturation. Particularly rewarding for him is seeing Mentor-Mentee progress highlighted during our Mentorship Graduations, where members celebrate successful connections and progress made by both mentees and mentors during each cohort. Additionally, Ken has found a rewarding role in the Chapter’s Social Impact initiatives, such as collecting coats and donations for the One-Warm-Coat drive and helping at our local food banks. He encourages new members and those considering volunteer work to take advantage of the numerous opportunities offered by our Chapter and grow with us on this journey.

Ken emphasizes the importance of networking with top project managers in the state and improving one's skills and knowledge. He believes in the power of giving back and supporting the profession, quoting, "What we have done for ourselves alone goes with us when we leave this life; what we have done for others, and the world, remains and is immortal." His passion for STEM, leadership, social justice, giving back and personal interests such as cycling, swimming, hiking, and handyman projects on his historic home in mid-town Phoenix, further exemplify his commitment to continuous learning and community involvement. Ken's hidden talent lies in his enthusiasm for STEM, where he has presented science concepts and live demos to middle-school and elementary school classes, judged science fair entries, and attended lectures at Cal-Tech, Mount Wilson Observatory, and the NASA-Jet Propulsion Labs.

Ken's dedication extends beyond his volunteer work. He is passionate about family, faith, leadership, and social justice. During his time off, he enjoys visiting destinations like Bellagio, Italy, Southern Germany, and family in Colorado and on the East Coast. His guilty pleasure is Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream from Tillamook Creamery. Ken's business philosophy revolves around developing a long-term strategy, focusing on quality results, and continuous learning and improvement. He is inspired by his heroes, including his parents, grandparents, and family members who supported him throughout his career and particularly after a near fatal cycling-triathlon accident in 2014. Ken's proudest career moments include saving lives through key pharmaceutical and medical product developments along with manufacturing process developments for biological therapies. He is especially proud of his team winning the United Kingdoms’ - Queen’s Award for Technological Achievement. His personal motto, "Noblesse Oblige," reflects his belief in the responsibility to give back and help others.

At the PMI Phoenix Chapter, outreach is a key contributor to how we enhance the experience and network of our local profession. It all starts with molding future project professionals through Academic Outreach, which supports programs for students from middle school through the collegiate level. One such program that engages directly with students early on in middle school is the Future City Competition.

Every year, the competition provides students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade the opportunity to envision a “city of the future” by submitting various deliverables to be judged. This past year, over 70 teams of 3 students each competed in the Arizona Regional Finals on January 18, 2025. This culminated in the selection of one team to represent the region in the National Finals located in Washington D.C. in mid-February. This year’s theme was entitled “Above the Current,” which called for students to “design a floating city and provide two innovative examples of how [their] floating city works and keeps its citizens healthy and safe.”

PMI Phoenix Chapter contributes to the regional competition in several ways. First, volunteer judges from active chapter members are called upon to review and provide feedback on the team’s Project Plan deliverable. Our judges are currently led by our Co-Directors under Academic Outreach for the chapter, Christopher Downey and Robin Watkins. The chapter also shares volunteer opportunities to judge other deliverables and provide logistical support to the region’s Executive Committee. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our Co-Directors if you are interested in supporting upcoming Future City Competitions and the various ways in which chapter members or non-members can support. Project Plan judging typically kicks off in early fall and has split parts to review in November and December that is entirely remote. The regional competition always occurs on a Saturday in mid-January at a pre-selected venue in the valley. We would like to thank Mark Plihcik, Edwina-Sampler Wright, Ronnie Watley, Erica Husted, Taylor Nielson, and Danile Merahbi from within the chapter for their support in this past year’s competition.

The Phoenix Chapter also recognizes students at the Regional Finals with awards that exemplify outstanding use of project management principles. The first is the Outstanding Project Plan Award, which is sponsored by the PMI Educational Foundation. This is for the team our judges determined best capture a basic understanding of project planning and use of tools (objectives, schedules, resources, etc.). We would like to take this opportunity to recognize teams from the last two competition seasons: Team Cliste from Esmond Station K-8 School for the 2023-24 competition and Team Maselan from Desert Wind Middle School for the 2024-25 competition. 

The second is the Outstanding Project Manager Award, which is sponsored by the PMI Phoenix Chapter and is specific to the AZ Regional Competition. Students who were selected and nominated by their educator and team members, sit with one of our Chapter Member for a brief interview. The individual students are asked to share their experience leading their team through the project deliverables. Christopher Downey interviewed students during the 2023-24 competition and Ana Nunez-Prieto from Desert Willow was recognized. Robin Watkins interviewed students during the 2024-25 competition and Kajya Bender from Mesa Accelerated and Gifted Academy was recognized.

Teams have been represented from all over the state including Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff. This year, we would like to congratulate Team Marasana for winning the AZ Regional Finals of the 2024-25 Future City Competition, and representing the state at the National Finals in Washington D.C. The team achieved 4th Place finish overall at the National Finals in mid-February 2025. A great testament to the hard work and dedication that all students show every year.

As the Arizona Regional Competition approaches its 30th Anniversary this upcoming season, at PMI Phoenix, we want to thank all of the volunteers that support Academic Outreach to enhance programs like these for future project managers. If you have any interest at any point throughout the year, don’t hesitate to contact us to understand more about what the competition entails and how you can support. This also includes organizations and other societies that have a desire to sponsor the event in a variety of ways. Feel free to also contact members of the Arizona Regional Executive Committee (https://futurecity.org/future-city-regions/arizona/) if you would like further information about the competition. 

Contacts for the current PMI PHX Co-Directors for Future City:

• Robin Watkins (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 

• Christopher Downey (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) 

Team Cliste (above) was selected for their Outstanding Project Plan, sponsored by PMIEF and judged by the PMI PHX Chapter during the 2023-24 Regional Finals.

Anna-Nunez-Prieto (above) was selected as the Outstanding Project Manager by the PMI PHX Chapter in the 2023-24 Regional Finals.

Steve Poessnecker, PMI PHX Board Director, speaks with teams (above) at the 2024-25 Future City AZ Regional Finals at Casteel HS.

Robin Watkins, Co-Director for PMI PHX, presents Kajya Bender with the Outstanding Project Manager Award at the 2024-25 Future City AZ Regional Finals.

Christopher Downey, Co-Director for PMI PHX, is recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Executive Committee at the Future City 2024-25 AZ Regional Finals.

Team Marasana from the AZ Region is recognized by PMIEF for their Outstanding Use of Project Planning at the 2024-25 Future City National Finals in Washington D.C.

Team Marasana is awarded 4th Place overall at the 2024-25 Future City National Finals in Washington D.C.

Bruce Schwickrath has been a cornerstone of PMI for 24 years, showcasing exceptional dedication and leadership across various roles and chapters. His PMI journey began in 2005 as a Chapter Event Speaker for another chapter, and he quickly rose through the ranks to become their VP of Programs, Chapter Secretary, and Chapter President. Bruce's unwavering commitment to the PMI community shines through his extensive volunteer work, including his contributions to the PMBOK 5th Edition and the Consulting Community of Practice (CoP).

In May 2024, he joined the Phoenix Chapter as the Director of Mentorship Programs, underscoring his passion for professional development and mentoring. This year, Bruce has been at the forefront of rolling out the Mentoring Clinic series and launching Mentoring Cohort 5, generously sharing his 40 years of project management expertise with chapter members. He firmly believes that volunteering is a fantastic way to learn new methods and skills, and he encourages new members to dive in for recognition and growth. Bruce's calm demeanor under pressure and his deep understanding of project management processes make him a revered leader and mentor within the PMI community.

Beyond his professional achievements, Bruce loves unwinding at the beach, especially in the Caribbean, and indulging in his guilty pleasure of working outdoors at home, when it is cooler. He thrives on the challenge of solving complex problems and is inspired by those who say something that can't be done. Colleagues describe him as a team leader who values discussion and collaboration. His personal motto, "Work at something you love to do and never work another day in your life," perfectly captures his dedication to his career and his belief in finding joy in one's work.

Dear PMI Phoenix Chapter Members,

As project leaders, we believe in turning bold visions into reality. What began as a bold, visionary idea has grown into a movement that now spans our entire state. I am incredibly proud and excited to share that the member voting has concluded, and members in both the PMI Phoenix and PMI Tucson chapters have overwhelmingly supported the creation of a single, unified statewide chapter: PMI Arizona.

This is a historic moment for all of us. We are not merely merging chapters — we are uniting our talents, resources, and passion to create a stronger, more vibrant community for project management professionals across Arizona.

This achievement was possible because of many dedicated partners, and I want to extend my deepest thanks. To Paul Lovelis, President of PMI Tucson Chapter, for his invaluable partnership and collaboration throughout this journey. To PMI Global, regional mentors and Chapter engagement partners, especially Shane Cretacci and Kristen Gleason, for their unwavering support, guidance, and belief in our vision. To the boards of both the PMI Phoenix and PMI Tucson chapters, who courageously embraced this bold idea and gave it their full backing. And to all members of Steering Committee, who have worked tirelessly to craft and draft the necessary processes, documents, and plans that brought this vision to life. Above all, I am profoundly grateful to all our volunteers and members, whose commitment, passion, and belief in this vision have transformed it from a bold idea into a driving force for the project management profession, mentorship, learning, and networking opportunities across our entire state.

To mark this historic milestone, Paul and I recorded a special video announcement at the Arizona State Capitol — the very place where Arizona territories once united to become a single state. It felt fitting to stand there as we announced the results and spoke about the next steps for uniting our chapters into one PMI Arizona Chapter. We even took a picture in front of the original proclamation and official seal, at the very spot where the founding fathers of this state “sealed the deal” over a century ago. We are grateful today for the state they created, and inspired to follow in their footsteps as we unite our chapters to shape the future of project management across Arizona.

Looking ahead, our journey continues with some critical milestones:

• We will soon form the Nominations Committee for elections to the inaugural PMI Arizona Chapter Board.
• We will then open nominations to all members statewide for the 2026 Board and for Branch Liaisons who will help lead and represent our diverse regions.

This is your chapter, and your voice and participation will shape its future. I encourage every one of you to stay engaged, ask questions, and consider stepping into leadership roles as we build PMI Arizona together.

Thank you for your trust, your support, and for sharing in this transformative journey. Together, we are not just imagining the future — we are creating it.

Warm regards,

Milan Dordevic
Board Chair, PMI Phoenix Chapter

Dr. Brent Scholar, Ed.D., PMP, PMI-ACP, GPM-b, has been an invaluable member of the PMI community since February 2024. His dedication to volunteerism began in September 2024, driven by a call for volun-teers and his inherent desire to give back. As the DEI Guidelines Project Manager, PMI-ACP Study Group Project Manager, and PMP Study Group Facilitator, Brent has significantly contributed to the creation of DEI guidelines and the facilitation of study groups. His efforts have been instrumental in supporting the success of others and the organizations that have supported him. Brent finds immense reward in seeing others succeed and encourages new members to volunteer, emphasizing the opportunity to interact with great people and continue learning.

Beyond his professional achievements, Brent is a passionate traveler with a hidden talent for cooking. His favorite destination is Bali, though he has many other favorites. He enjoys Chompies’ Rainbow Layer Cook-ies as a guilty pleasure and is currently reading the CAPM All-In-One Textbook and a book from Piers An-thony's Xanth Fantasy Series. Brent’s proudest career moment was leaving a job due to ethical concerns, and his proudest personal moment was earning his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership. Inspired by his wife, Jillian, and their cats, he is driven by a personal motto to enjoy the little moments. Colleagues describe him as loyal, empathetic, strategic, and dependable, and he aspires to visit all seven continents. Brent is also passionate about causes such as Achilles International, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and blood/platelet donations. He encourages everyone to donate blood/platelets and to donate for cancer research and treatment.

Carmen Blackmore has been a dedicated member of PMI since 2023 and began her volunteer journey in 2024. Motivated by a strong desire to serve her community and build meaningful connections within PMI, Carmen has actively participated in outreach efforts, coordinated events, and supported member engagement activities across the Chapter. Her role as Director of the Community Outreach and Remote Engagement Team has allowed her to see firsthand the impact of her work, especially in connecting and supporting project managers in remote areas. Carmen finds the relationships built through her volunteer service to be incredibly rewarding, as each connection strengthens the chapter's inclusivity and sense of community.

Beyond her professional contributions, Carmen is passionate about empowering her community through mentorship and leadership development. She enjoys geocaching and outdoor navigation, with New Zealand being her favorite destination due to its breathtaking landscapes and welcoming spirit. Carmen's guilty pleasure is boba tea, and she finds joy in its simple delight. Her business philosophy centers on building authentic connections through genuine listening, which she believes is the foundation of lasting success. Inspired by figures like Michelle Obama and her sister, Carmen strives to be a connector, helping others flourish and reach their potential. Her proudest career moment was launching a spouse mentorship program for military families. In fact, she was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show for her work supporting military families. She dreams of living abroad with her family and writing a book. Her personal motto is "Anticipate the best, prepare for the unexpected, and welcome the delightful surprises.

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Carmen Blackmore

Carmen Blackmore

Carmen Blackmore