Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

I’m excited to share a few important updates with you this month.

Upcoming Professional Development Day (PDD)
Our next PDD will be held on November 18th. This is always one of our premier events, and we look forward to bringing valuable learning, networking, and professional growth opportunities to our members and community. Please be sure to save the date—you won’t want to miss it!

Celebrating 30 Years of PMI Buffalo
This year marks a very special milestone, our 30th Anniversary as a chapter. We celebrated this occasion at Chestnut Ridge, and it was a wonderful time catching up with familiar faces and welcoming new members. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Sheila Schostick, Daniel Culross, BethAnn Kibby, Rosa Delaney, and Pauline McKeown for all of their hard work and dedication in preparing for this event. Your effort meant a great deal to me and helped make the celebration truly memorable.

Looking Ahead to 2026
I also want to thank our board for their thoughtful work during our 2026 Planning Session. We are always looking for ways to improve and grow as a chapter, and your input as members is vital to that process. If you have suggestions, ideas, or feedback, we would love to hear from you.

Get Involved – Volunteer Opportunities
If you’ve ever thought about getting more involved with PMI Buffalo, we have many opportunities to contribute. Even if you only have a few hours here and there, we can match you with volunteer roles that fit your availability. Volunteering is a great way to make connections, strengthen our chapter, and give back to the project management community.  Reach out to director_volunteers@pmibuffalo.org.

Thank you for being a part of PMI Buffalo. Together, we continue to make our chapter strong, supportive, and forward-thinking.

Vince McKeown
President, PMI Buffalo Chapter

Hello PMI Buffalo Members,

August is here, and with it comes exciting updates and celebrations for our chapter!

First, please join me in congratulating our incoming board members:

• VP, Finance – Rosa Delaney

• VP, Membership – Jay VanMarter

• VP, Outreach – Inderjeet Singh

• Trustee – Dan Augustynek

These leaders bring incredible experience, energy, and passion to their new roles, and I’m confident they will help shape an even brighter future for our chapter. Thank you for stepping up to serve!

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

As we move through the summer months, the energy and momentum within our PMI Buffalo community continue to grow, and I’m inspired by the connections and progress we’re making together.

This month, I want to start by highlighting something critical to the future of our chapter: elections are happening now. Your vote truly counts. It’s your voice in shaping the leadership and direction of PMI Buffalo. I encourage every member to take a moment and participate. We are a volunteer-led organization, and your involvement helps us stay strong, representative, and ready for the future.

Looking ahead, one of our biggest celebrations of the year is right around the corner. Our 30th Anniversary Picnic is coming up on September 13, and it’s going to be a fantastic, family-friendly event. We’ll have lawn games, face painting, hair glitter, and a chance to relive the ’90s—so bring your best throwback outfits and music! Most importantly, it’s a chance to connect, share stories, and celebrate three decades of project excellence. You can find all the details and RSVP now on our new website.

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

As we move into the heart of summer, I want to take a moment to reflect on the energy and community we’re building together.

Earlier this month, we gathered at Buffalo Riverworks for an evening of networking, socializing, and simple connection. It was more than just an event, it was a reminder of the strength of our local PMI community. I had the chance to meet new members, reconnect with familiar faces, and hear stories that reminded me why our chapter is so special. Thank you to everyone who came out and made the night meaningful.

Looking ahead, we have some exciting milestones on the horizon. Our 30th Anniversary Picnic is coming up on September 13, and it promises to be a celebration worthy of three decades of project excellence. This fun, family-friendly event will feature lawn games, hair glitter, face painting, and plenty of opportunities to reminisce. We encourage everyone to come out and share your favorite chapter stories over the years. It’s hard to believe that 30 years takes us back to the ’90s, and that’s part of our theme! So bring your best ’90s music, wear your favorite ’90s outfit, and join in the celebration.  For me, I reflect on “Smells like Teen Spirit,” but I would love hear your favorite song from that time.

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

We recently held our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Gala, and it was nothing short of amazing. It was a wonderful evening to reflect on our collective accomplishments and recognize the incredible people who bring our chapter to life.

Each of our Vice Presidents shared the milestones from their respective areas, highlighting the dedication and teamwork that fuel our success. The atmosphere was warm and energizing—and I left feeling truly inspired after our guest speaker’s presentation.

It was also a joy to connect with so many of you in person, including some of our newest members. These kinds of events remind us that PMI Buffalo is more than just a professional organization, it’s a supportive community.

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

Continuing the momentum from our first quarter, I want to thank everyone who joined us for our recent virtual events. The energy and engagement were fantastic, and we have more great things on the horizon.

I also want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for all the volunteers who have stepped forward in recent weeks. Whether you’re helping to plan events, organize our upcoming 30th Anniversary Picnic, or supporting the day-to-day operations of our chapter, your contributions are vital to our success. PMI Buffalo thrives because of your passion and commitment.

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

As we move into March, I want to take a moment to reflect on our chapter’s progress and share our vision for the months ahead. We have seen tremendous engagement from our members,and I am excited about the direction we are heading.

Current State

Our chapter continues to grow, with new members joining and existing members getting more involved. Attendance at our monthly dinner events has been steady, but we recognize the need to enhance participation and engagement. We are working diligently to ensure that these events provide valuable networking and professional development opportunities.

Additionally, our volunteer base is growing, but we still need more hands to help drive our initiatives forward. If you’ve ever considered giving back to the chapter, now is a great time to get involved. Whether you have a few hours a month or can take on a leadership role, your contributions will make a difference.

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

I hope this message finds you well as we step into February and continue our exciting journey through 2025. It has been truly inspiring to see the enthusiasm and ideas shared by so many of you over the past month. Your engagement and passion for project management remind me why I am so honored to serve as the President of PMI Buffalo.

Dear PMI Buffalo Members,

It’s an honor to be elected as the 2025/2026 President of PMI Buffalo, and I’m truly excited about the year ahead. A little about myself: I’m originally from Hamburg, NY. After high school, I joined the Navy as an Electronics Technician and proudly served for over 10 years. Following my military service, I remained in the Washington DC Metro area, working as a Project Manager on various government contracts. In 2020, I returned to Western New York and have since worked as a Project Manager for Centene Health, DelawareNorth, and currently serve as a Portfolio Manager at Kaleida Health.

What excites me most for 2025 with PMI Buffalo is the energy and enthusiasm of our board. Over the past few months, the board has come together and developed four key strategies to guide our work this year:

1. Increasing membership and engagement
2. Marketing PMI offerings beyond the PMP certification
3. Increasing volunteer recruitment and retention
4. Enhancing cohesion within the board of volunteers

Hi PMI Buffalo Members,

As I conclude my term as the Interim President of our esteemed Buffalo Chapter of the Project Management Institute, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each one of you for your support and commitment. It has been an honor to serve in this capacity, particularly under such dynamic circumstances, and I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together during the last two years.