Welcome! Introduce yourself to PMI’s Online Community

-Your name and your current role:
Brantlee Underhill, Chief Community Officer of PMI
(If you're wondering, what is the CCO? I’m responsible for nurturing and growing the engagement within our community of project professionals and aspiring project professionals.)

-What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An international spy. Anyone remember Sydney Bristow?

-What are your favorite project management tools and technologies? Or ones that you’d like to learn more about?
I love a good charter that includes the benefits expected. I value the structure and simplicity of what needs to get done and why.
I also love the agile mindset, which is also a growth mindset. With the head in the right space, anything is possible. (Can you tell I’m an optimist?)

-What drew you to the project management profession? What's kept you in it?
I was drawn to PMI when I found this job in the newspaper (yes, an old-fashioned newspaper!! In the last century, by the way!!) and it was an opportunity to work with international communities by helping to set up and grow PMI’s chapters. It was a good fit for me coming out of college considering my studies in language and political science. And I landed at PMI at quite a time; the organization had about 40 employees and 30,000 members in 1998. And now, we have 750 employees and nearly 700,000 members. I grew my career here at PMI, learning so much about the profession by working with our volunteers, and I’ve made many friends along the way. I’m truly grateful for the challenges and continuous growth and learning, and that I get to serve this community every day. I love what I do!

-What's your proudest accomplishment (personal or professional)?
I’m most proud of my family and raising our son. Being a mom is the best. And becoming PMI’s first Chief Community Officer is pretty cool; I feel most aligned to my purpose when I’m visiting our community members by sharing a meal and conversation or walking through the streets in the places where they live and work. These moments create stronger connection and belonging, and those are powerful qualities that come from being part of PMI.

-Your name and your current role:
Brantlee Underhill, Chief Community Officer of PMI
(If you're wondering, what is the CCO? I’m responsible for nurturing and growing the engagement within our community of project professionals and aspiring project professionals.)

-What did you want to be when you were growing up?
An international spy. Anyone remember Sydney Bristow?

-What are your favorite project management tools and technologies? Or ones that you’d like to learn more about?
I love a good charter that includes the benefits expected. I value the structure and simplicity of what needs to get done and why.
I also love the agile mindset, which is also a growth mindset. With the head in the right space, anything is possible. (Can you tell I’m an optimist?)

-What drew you to the project management profession? What's kept you in it?
I was drawn to PMI when I found this job in the newspaper (yes, an old-fashioned newspaper!! In the last century, by the way!!) and it was an opportunity to work with international communities by helping to set up and grow PMI’s chapters. It was a good fit for me coming out of college considering my studies in language and political science. And I landed at PMI at quite a time; the organization had about 40 employees and 30,000 members in 1998. And now, we have 750 employees and nearly 700,000 members. I grew my career here at PMI, learning so much about the profession by working with our volunteers, and I’ve made many friends along the way. I’m truly grateful for the challenges and continuous growth and learning, and that I get to serve this community every day. I love what I do!

-What's your proudest accomplishment (personal or professional)?
I’m most proud of my family and raising our son. Being a mom is the best. And becoming PMI’s first Chief Community Officer is pretty cool; I feel most aligned to my purpose when I’m visiting our community members by sharing a meal and conversation or walking through the streets in the places where they live and work. These moments create stronger connection and belonging, and those are powerful qualities that come from being part of PMI.

OMG, @Brantlee, my dream was to be an International Spy or an Oral Surgeon. I am a huge fan of the Kingsman Secret Service movies, as well as Atomic Blonde!

Good Evening everyone. My name is Jeff and I live in San Diego, CA. I am retired Navy and now support the Navy as a contractor on the new construction, ship procurement side. I have been with my current company for 7 years and was promoted last year to a position of Test and Trials Coordinator. About the same time, I was finishing up my degree (Bachelors in Business with a concentration in Project Management), and realized that testing each ship we received from the builder was a project unto itself. I started to apply project management principles to the process and discovered a lot of benefits. I wanted to increase my knowledge and skills so I joined PMI. I was finally able to get my PMP this year. I am proud to be part of this organization and group, and look forward to learning from my fellow Project Professionals.