Board Message - September 2026
A great conference can inspire us. What we do afterward determines its value.
Dear Fellow NCPMI Members,
A great conference can inspire us. What we do afterward determines its value.
As project professionals, we understand that lessons learned are only useful when they influence what happens next. We capture insights, evaluate what worked, identify opportunities for improvement, and apply those lessons to future projects. Our professional growth works the same way.
As we move forward from the 2026 PMI North Carolina Chapter Annual Conference, I encourage you to reflect on one simple question: What will I do with what I learned?
Perhaps you heard an idea that challenged how you lead, discovered a tool or approach you want to try, or met another project professional who offered a different perspective. Maybe a conversation reminded you of why you chose this profession in the first place. Those moments matter, but the real opportunity comes when we turn inspiration into action.
Our profession continues to evolve, and project professionals are increasingly expected to lead through uncertainty, manage change, communicate across different perspectives, and create clarity when the path forward is not always obvious. That requires more than simply knowing project management. It requires us to continue growing, adapting, and learning from one another.
NCPMI provides many ways to continue growth throughout the year. You can volunteer your time and experience to help strengthen the chapter, attend an upcoming event to continue learning and expanding your network, or participate in one of our Communities of Practice to connect with members who share similar professional interests. Each offers a different way to engage, contribute, and grow.
Volunteering, in particular, is one of the best ways to experience the chapter from a different perspective. Our chapter is built by members who are willing to share their time, talents, and ideas. Whether you can contribute to a single initiative or take on a larger role, there is value in raising your hand and becoming part of the work that makes NCPMI successful.
Growth does not always require a major commitment. Sometimes it begins simply by showing up, introducing yourself to someone new, sharing something you have learned, volunteering your experience, asking a question, or taking one idea and putting it into practice. Small, intentional actions repeated over time can create significant change in our careers, our organizations, and our chapter.
As we continue through the remainder of 2026, I encourage you not to allow the energy and ideas from the Annual Conference to remain inside a conference room. Carry them forward. Apply what you learned. Continue the conversations you started. Stay connected to the people you met and look for another opportunity to participate.
When we invest in our own growth and then share that growth with others, the entire community becomes stronger.
For September, I challenge each of us to take one meaningful step. Volunteer for a chapter opportunity, attend an upcoming NCPMI event, participate in a Community of Practice, reconnect with someone you met at the Annual Conference, or apply something you learned to a current project.
Inspiration creates possibility. Action creates progress.
Thank you for continuing to make NCPMI a place where project professionals can learn, connect, serve, and grow together.
Get Involved
Warm regards,
Damien Perez
President-Elect
PMI North Carolina Chapter