PMI MONTEREY BAY CHAPTER

JULY 2026 NEWSLETTER

💬 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Project management is serious work, but our chapter is proof that professional development does not have to be serious all the time. One of the best parts I like about being part of PMI is that we get to grow professionally while enjoying the people and stories behind the work.

This month, I encourage you to make learning part of your routine in a way that feels energizing, not overwhelming. Attend a chapter event, join a webinar, grab a coffee at one of our meetups, mentor another member, or even share your own lessons learned in an article or presentation. Many of these activities can support your professional development and may help you earn PDUs while contributing to the strength of our local chapter.

A good rule of thumb is simple: if you are learning, sharing knowledge, or giving back to the profession, you are likely investing in both your career and our community. That means your next PDU opportunity might come from something more engaging than you expected — a lively panel discussion, a practical workshop, a mentoring conversation. We all love success stories, but if you are like me, you learn more from project failures, and our chapter likes to discuss those too.

PMI Monterey Bay exists to make project management more practical, more human, and more connected. So this month, take one step to learn something new, one step to share something useful, and one step to engage with your local chapter. That is how we build better project leaders and a stronger chapter together.

Stay curious, stay connected, and keep moving your professional development forward.

Robert Mendoza
President, PMI Monterey Bay Chapter

📢 CHAPTER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome Our New Leadership Team

As we begin our 2026–2027 fiscal year, we are excited to introduce the newly elected and appointed Board of Directors who will help guide the PMI Monterey Bay Chapter through another year of professional development, networking, and community engagement. Please join us in congratulating our new Board:

Robert Mendoza	President
Roslyn Springer	President-Elect
Benjamin Havens-Stokes	Past President; Interim VP Administration
Pamela Beem-Willars	VP Finance
Jill Movahedi	VP Communications
Mercedes Grzimek	VP Programs
Billie Jo Garcia	VP Membership

Our volunteer leaders are passionate about serving the project management community along the Central Coast. Whether you are a longtime member or just getting involved, we encourage you to attend one of our upcoming events and get to know the new Board — they would love to meet you!

Have questions, ideas, or feedback you'd like to share with the Board? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us anytime at bod@pmi-mbay.org.

📢 We're Recruiting: VP of Administration

PMI Monterey Bay is actively seeking our next Vice President of Administration to join the Board. If you're interested in helping shape chapter operations and governance, we'd love to hear from you — learn more and apply at volunteer.pmi.org/opportunities/71714.

Coming This Fall: ProjectBites Virtual Professional Development Day

Beyond Delivery: Driving Value in Every Project

Keep an eye out for more information on our upcoming partnership with ProjectBites (Canada) for a virtual Professional Development Day this September. This new collaboration will bring flexible, high-quality PDU opportunities directly to you — no travel required.

🔄 Registration will be available soon through the chapter website — full details, the direct link, and the agenda will be announced on our website and social channels as they're finalized, so watch this space!

Note to editor: this pulls the graphic live from ProjectBites' own site. Since the newsletter references it externally, if their file ever moves or gets renamed, the image will break here too — worth downloading a local copy to Dark Rhino's media library as a backup once the design is finalized.

🎓 PMP® EXAM UPDATE

PMP® Exam Changes Coming July 9, 2026

The PMP® exam is evolving to reflect the future of project management. Here's what's changing:

Business Environment domain jumps from 8% to 26% of the exam
New content covering AI and sustainability in project management
Aligned with the newly released PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition
Exam fees increasing in August 2026 — plan ahead if you're considering certifying

The current exam remains available through early July. If you're mid-prep, now is the time to move.

📅 MEMBER EVENTS

☕ Coffee Meetup — Seaside

7 July 2026 | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | The Creperie, 1123 Fremont Boulevard, Seaside, CA

Start your morning with great coffee and even better conversation. Our monthly meetup is a casual opportunity to connect with fellow project managers, chapter members, and professionals interested in PMI. Members cover their own coffee — come for the conversation, it will be worth it!

🌊 Explore Ocean Science at MBARI Open House

11 July 2026 | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | MBARI, 7700 Sandholdt Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is opening its doors to the public for a free afternoon of discovery. Meet the scientists, engineers, and staff behind some of the world's most innovative oceanographic research, explore technology demonstrations, and discover how multidisciplinary teams bring complex projects to life beneath the surface of our oceans. Admission is free — review MBARI's event page for parking and additional details before attending.

Visit our Meetup page to attend with other PMI members.

🤖 AI Implementation Foundations for Project Managers

16 July 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | The Community Shared Space, 3756 The Barnyard, Suite H23, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Join us for an engaging presentation by Jen Seregos, AI strategist and founder of Athena Digital and the Monterey Bay AI Association (MBAIA), as she shares practical strategies for successfully implementing artificial intelligence within organizations.

During this session, Jen will cover:

AI Literacy Ladder
AI Implementation Foundations
Troubleshooting common adoption challenges
Interactive Q&A

You'll leave with a better understanding of where AI can create immediate value, practical use cases applicable to your organization, and a prioritized roadmap for improving efficiency and productivity, without adding headcount.

☕ Coffee Meetup — Salinas

21 July 2026 | 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM | Bearded Bean, 210 Main Street, Salinas, CA

🌐 PROFESSIONAL EVENTS

PMI Global Summit 2026

21–24 October 2026 | Detroit, MI

PMI's flagship annual event — learning sessions, keynotes, networking, and PDUs alongside project professionals from around the world. Details are still rolling out, but worth putting on your calendar now if you're thinking about attending this fall.

Learn more at pmi.org/events

📩 STAY CONNECTED

PMI Monterey Bay continues to grow thanks to the engagement of our members. Whether through volunteering, professional development events, or networking opportunities, we encourage you to stay involved and connected.

Questions or ideas for future events? Reach out to the board anytime at bod@pmi-mbay.org.


Member Meet-Up at Dust Bowl Brewing Company.	Family and Friends at the Monterey Bay Chapter Holiday Party 2022.	Dan Swaigen, Pam Willers and Ben Havens-Stokes present at PM Tools Session, April 2025.

Chris Nannini presents Hybrid Project Management at Carmel Mission Inn.	Interacative participation at PM Tools Session in Salinas. April 2025.	Monterey Bay Chapter's President Jill Movahedi at the Chapter's Holiday Party.

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