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Region’s industry-leading project management conference returns to Lindner

Project Management Institute of Southwest Ohio selects UC to host AI-focused summit

headshot of Suzanne Buzek By Suzanne Buzek
7 minute read September 9, 2024

The Carl H. Lindner College of Business will again open its doors to the Project Management Institute (PMI) of Southwest Ohio and Dayton/Miami Valley chapters for the organization’s 2024 summit on Saturday, Nov. 16.

register for 2024 pmi summit

Approximately 300 project management professionals are expected to attend the summit, which will offer keynote and breakout presentations focused on the theme of “Navigating Tomorrow: Employing Virtual, AI & Remote Project Management Approaches.” Lindner hosted the summit in 2023.

Historically, this annual event has attracted project management professionals “dedicated to transforming big ideas into reality,” representing industries from government services to retail and consumer packaged goods, to health care and manufacturing. It also fulfills professional development units (PDUs) for attendees, with this year’s summit totaling 14 PDUs. 

Conference attendees in 1410 Lindner Hall

Chanda Monroe-Williams, executive director of urban impact and project learning and adjunct instructor of operations, business analytics and information systems, presents at a breakout session during the 2023 summit hosted at Lindner. Photo/PMI Southwest Ohio

“We want our members to become leaders in their organizations, so AI must become one of their skill sets,” said Charlie Slaven, president of the PMI Southwest Ohio Chapter and senior adviser for Kaivac, Inc. “AI is and will become a leading technology that can help project managers become more effective and more efficient.”

Slaven said attendees can expect inspiring speakers imparting relevant and practical advice on the use of AI and virtual teams.

headshot of Steven Jones

Steven Jones

“This year’s summit promises to be an enriching experience, with facilitators who align with the PMI Talent Triangle and sessions inspired by PMI's Pulse of the Profession,” said Steven Jones, assistant professor of operations, business analytics and information systems (OBAIS), and director of the operations and industrial management programs at Lindner.

In addition to two keynote presentations and a lunchtime working session, summit attendees will have 12 breakouts to choose from that parallel the institute’s talent development priorities: “Ways of Working,” “AI for Today/Tomorrow” and “People, Process, Technology.” Two Lindner faculty members are among the speakers on the summit’s agenda: Jones; and Chanda Monroe-Williams, executive director of urban impact and project learning and adjunct instructor of OBAIS. 

Headshot of Chanda Monroe-Williams

Chanda Monroe-Williams

"Lindner's mission to empower students as business problem solvers resonates with PMI’s commitment to advancing project management, a field that inherently requires the identification of challenges, the development of solutions and the effective implementation of those solutions to achieve project objectives,” said Monroe-Williams. “The summit serves as a platform where students, educators and project management professionals can exchange ideas, learn from each other and enhance their leadership skills.”

University and high school students are welcome to attend the summit for the reduced price of $49. There is also a hybrid option for attendees who wish to join remotely. Those interested in attending can register up to the day of the event, unless the event is sold out in advance. 

PMI SWO 2024 Summit: “Navigating Tomorrow” speaker lineup

“Unleashing the Power of the Generative AI Workforce”

Michael Lively, QuantumAI LLC

In today's fast-paced business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking innovative ways to streamline operations, enhance productivity and foster creativity. Enter generative AI agents, a cutting-edge technology that promises to revolutionize the way we work. Attendees will learn to integrate generative AI agents into agile methodologies, foster human-AI collaborative problem-solving and leverage data-driven decision making via ways of working insights. Lively will demonstrate how generative AI can inform strategic planning, enhance risk management strategies and drive competitive advantage through process optimization, rapid prototyping and innovation. Participants will be equipped with tools to embrace this technology, cultivate a culture of innovation and propel organizational success in the digital era.

  • “Hybrid Project Management: Embrace Your Inner Captain Obvious,” presented by Sue Rowland, Kroger.
  • “Building a Winning Solution: Designing a Technology Refresh Project,” presented by David Grote, CompuCom Systems, Inc.
  • “Future Proofing Project Management: Leveraging Virtual Teams, AI Teams, and Tools,” presented by Chanda Monroe-Williams, Lindner College of Business.
  • “Transforming Together: Change Management for the Remote Era,” presented by Michelle Morrison, Culture Timing.
  • “AI: Cybersecurity Friend or Foe?” presented by Dave Hatter, Intrust IT.
  • “A Senior Executive's perspective of AI and Virtual Teams on Project Management,” presented by Alex Yastrebenetsky, InfoTrust.
  • “Next-Gen PM: Integrating AI Into Your Project Toolkit,” presented by Andy Burns, Siemens Digital Industries.
  • “Getting Started and Leveraging AI to Implement Efficient Workflows and Innovative Solutions to Save Time, Reduce Errors, and Improve Consistency and Efficiency,” presented by Rodney Lumpkins, Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP.
  • “Too Many Projects, Too Little Space,” presented by Vernon Stultz, KDG Construction Consultants. 
  • “Increasing Value with Continuous Improvement and AI,” presented by Steven Jones, Lindner College of Business. 
  • “Developing Innovation,” presented by LaTosha Ward, BID- Business & Individual Development. 
  • “Navigating to Safety: Stream Theory and the Evolution of Data-Driven Project Management,” presented by Dimitry Neganov, Vaco. 

"AI for Humans: Workforce of the Future”

Ashima Sharma, Ayuka Consulting

AI will not take our jobs, but someone who knows how to use AI will. This transformative technology is reshaping the landscape of work, not by replacing human roles, but by augmenting them.  

The true power of AI lies in its ability to enhance human capabilities, creating a synergy where the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. The premise of artificial intelligence tends to drive humans to one of two extreme responses. On one side, there is an enthusiastic embrace: "I want to use it today!" These individuals see immense potential and are eager to integrate AI into their daily workflows, harnessing its efficiency and precision. On the other side, there is extreme resistance: "It’s hype, and I don’t want to hear about it." These skeptics fear the unknown and the disruptive nature of AI, often concerned about job security and the ethical implications of this burgeoning technology. However, the future workforce will not be about choosing between these extremes. Instead, it will require a balanced approach where understanding and utilizing AI becomes an essential skill.  

Just as the industrial revolution brought about a need for mechanical proficiency, the AI revolution demands digital literacy. In this session, we will explore AI education and literacy, AI for project managers and ethical frameworks for AI and collaborative intelligence.

Featured image at top: Attendees from the 2023 summit attend the opening keynote, presented by Lindner College of Business Dean and Professor of Management Marianne W. Lewis, PhD. Photo/PMI Southwest Ohio

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