DEI Spotlight - Members & Volunteers

How long have you been a member of PMINJ?

I have been a member of PMINJ for 20 years and recently celebrated my PMINJ Anniversary

What are some of the benefits you enjoy most about being a member of PMINJ?

I enjoy attending the events and, on average attended 3 to 4 events per year before the pandemic.

Can you share a memorable experience or accomplishment as a member of PMINJ?

By attending the PMINJ events, I have gained a great deal of confidence in how to present information to others by attending the in-person events and observing how the PMINJ presenters convey their message.

What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and PMINJ?

I started dancing the week after my 40th birthday, where I walked across a bed of fire in the Meadowlands Arena with Tony Robbins at a three-day event, i.e., Firewall. The first day of the Tony Robbins event is where you make a goal and walk across the fire at night in the parking garage, and my goal was to learn how to dance. I just turned 60 in November 2024. I had never danced until I turned 40, and now I can perform in front of a stage of people. I did a Rumba to the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way" in front of 200+ people at a variety show in October in Lakewood, NJ. I got a lot better than I ever would have thought possible back when I started.

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?

April 2018

What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?

Membership retention, Food Bank of New Jersey, Business Strategy - Sponsorship

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?

It’s a wonderful opportunity to give back to the organization that has helped me stay on top of industry trends and best practices. It’s also an opportunity to connect with other project management professionals in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise.

What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?

I’m an avid day-hiker, I love to cook and spend time with my husband. I’ve also recently taken up leather work, which has allowed me to explore the more creative side of my personality – I love it!

Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?

We enjoy travel. Our favorite place to-date is Iceland.

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?

I’ve had a PMP certification since February 2018, been a member of PMINJ since 2019, and started volunteering in February 2020.

What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?

Calling new members, members who have renewed PMI, but not NJ, and members whose PMINJ expires at the end of the month. Now I’m the lead for the Membership Retention team.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?

I like that I can meet new people via phone, let them know the benefits of PMINJ.

What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?

Outside of work and volunteering, I like to read, run, travel with my husband, volunteer at theater houses, and play with my dog.

Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?

My husband and I are big travelers. Last year we went to Norway, this upcoming March we are taking a tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand, and in November, we’re looking into a trip to Iceland.

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?

I joined PMI NJ Chapter in 2018, and have been volunteering for the last 2.5 years.

What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?

I have been volunteering as a Member Services Caller.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?

It gives me an opportunity to connect with PMI NJ members and grow my professional network.

What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?

I like to travel and learn about new places and local cultures.

Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?

Switzerland

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?

PMINJ member since 2017 and started volunteering in 2020

What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?

As of now only with member services.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?

Assisting & connecting with members. Enjoy being in the team lead by Liliya & John Bufe

What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?

Traveling to different countries, reading about space & metaphysics

Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?

Cape Town, S.Africa & Reykjavik, Iceland

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
At first, I joined Member Services Team as a Member Services Representative. Since 2019 I am a Director of Member Services.
What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?
At first, I joined Member Services Team as a Member Services Representative. Since 2019 I am a Director of Member Services.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I enjoy to work with people in my team, leading, training and mentoring them. I have a great responsible team, which cares about our members a great deal.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I love to read, and the library is my favorite place to spend time. I enjoy daily walking around the neighborhood. I like to spend time with my two adult kids when they are both at home.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
I love beaches, especially our South Jersey ones. I’d like to visit and explore some European countries.

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
since 2011
What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?
New Member welcome/outreach.
Outreach to members whose membership is expiring.
Boy and Girl Scouts Program
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I enjoy staying connected to fellow project managers across the state. I relate to people and thus, enjoy outreaching to people. Doing outreach generates dialogue and sometimes, my discussion lasts up to an hour! I have fostered professional friendships through my phone outreach. Overall, I enjoy giving back to the PMP community through my volunteering.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I love to run! Running is physically exhausting but mentally and emotionally recharging. Every run presents a new challenge, a new opportunity to push myself, and a new time to reflect on everything else going on. In my life, there's nothing else quite like it.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
My favorite place to vacation is Grand Cayman Island – where there is constant sun, a 7-mile beach, and known as the “Culinary Capital of the Caribbean”

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I have been a member of PMINJ since 2012 and volunteer since Oct 2020
What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?
Member services and Mentorship program
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
The great part of volunteering is that you get to give back to the community what you have learned over the years, sharing your experience and knowledge and not to mention building new connections. Last but not least it gives me a great sense of satisfaction and joy in helping out people using my time and talent and knowing that what I do will help the project management profession grow in the foreseeable future.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
Marvel/DC fanfiction, Running, Origami
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Barbados

How long have you been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I have been a member of PMINJ since 2019 and I have been a volunteer since March 2021.
What areas have you volunteered within PMINJ?
I volunteer as a Member Services Representative.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I enjoy answering our members and potential members with their questions. Helping them resolves any issues that they have so that they can move forward in their journey.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I enjoy reading outside of work and volunteering.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
I enjoy visiting the beach, different states, and countries while on vacation.

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
Since 2008
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
Member Services
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
Working with people
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
Going to the shore and golf
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Myrtle Beach

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
1 year
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
Customer support
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
Gives me a chance to solve problems for both members and non members
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
Spending time with my kids
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Jamaica

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I became a member of PMINJ in 2019. I started volunteering in 2020.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
The area I volunteer for is Customer Support Administration.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I enjoy helping members and non-members resolve their challenges.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
My favorite things to do are repairing damaged items; visiting cultural events and listening to smooth jazz.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
My favorite vacation spot is Paris, France. I love their historical culture, food and visiting their national sites.

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I’ve been a member and volunteer of PMINJ for 9 years.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
I started as a volunteer for scholarship renewals. Once the renewal program was discontinued, I volunteered for general scholarships. I also assist with Recognition’s monthly updates on members celebrating anniversaries.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I enjoy learning about the students that apply for scholarships. It is great to see such active and ambitious young men and women in our state.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I enjoy spending time with my family. We are always on the go with kid’s activities, classes and sports.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
I love to visit the Outer Banks with my family. We rent a large house on the beach and enjoy the week of fun in the sun!

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I have been a PMINJ member since 2008 and have been a volunteer since 2015.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
I started off with the Marketing team as an email author in 2015. The same year, I signed up as a member of the annual Volunteer recognition dinner hosting team. Subsequently, I joined the professional development team as a mentor. For the last 2 years, I have also been a part of the academic outreach, as a PM coach for Stevens University students.
I had also been a part of the team that developed the job buddy program until its launch.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
The thing that I love most about volunteering with PMINJ is that there is no dearth of opportunities. I can choose the area I want to work in. There is constant learning as well, because whatever area you work in, there is a need to use and hone my project management skills.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I love Hindi Karaoke singing and watching old classic movies. I also love walking and hiking, though hiking is taking a backstage as I age.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
I am a history buff, and I love visiting places embedded with history. I love visiting India, especially Delhi, my native place, not just because I have family there, but also because there are historical monuments strewn all over the city. Many of these are over 500 years old and are within walking distance of my family home there.

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I joined PMI and the NJ chapter of PMI in early 2012.  Shortly thereafter I began exploring volunteer opportunities and was asked to join a volunteer team in 2013.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
My initial volunteerism with PMINJ was in the area of scholarships.  We evaluated many applicants and awarded a number of scholarships on an annual basis.  Since then, I have become a part of the team that plans and executes the annual recognition event which is really a rewarding experience.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I enjoy many aspects of volunteering with PMINJ.  I like meeting fellow volunteers, networking and learning from them as well as learning about the chapter and the project management profession.  I consider myself a lifelong learner and PMI and volunteerism is a way to continue that.  Working on the annual recognition dinner is also rewarding to recognize the outstanding volunteers in the NJ chapter.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends.  One of the many things I like is to support and enjoy the arts:  whether this is attending a theater performance, visiting an art museum or taking in a symphony performance. 
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Next on my list of places to visit is any Major League Baseball stadium.  My family and I started attending MLB games at different stadiums more than 10 years ago when we were on a road trip and we try and incorporate that into many of our vacation plans.

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
Joined on 08/17/2016
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
Volunteer Coordinator and work on the Yearly Volunteer Celebration.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
Great to work with other volunteers, share my past experiences & give input, and help PMINJ where I can.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of PMI volunteering?
Besides working at Trane Technologies as my full time job, I volunteer as a director at The Garden State Java User Group.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
Enjoy my 3 grandchildren. They really brighten up my day.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Loved Hawaii!

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I have been a member and volunteering PMINJ for the last 6 years
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
I started off with a Volunteer Member retention team in 2016. Volunteer recognitions, Appreciation celebrations, Volunteer recruitments are the few areas I have been part of.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
PMINJ has played a huge part in my professional networking  area. My professional goals were achieved  after being part of PMINJ as it gave me a lot of confidence and ability to think out of the box.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of PMI volunteering?
I love to spend time with my kids and doing activities with them. I  also love to listen to music that I believe is meditation to my ears.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
My Favorite place for vacation is London.

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
5 years.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
Volunteer Coordination – Opportunity approvals, Welcome volunteers, Volunteer Appreciation.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
Build social connections with PMI volunteers and professionals. I believe the interactions I have had through my volunteer activities including virtual during the pandemic have encouraged me to push myself to learn new skills and be more confident.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
Spend time with friends and family. I also love to cook. Cooking relieves my stress and encourages me to be more creative, try new things.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Switzerland

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I’ve been member of PMINJ for 22 years and a volunteer for 14 years.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
I’ve was the Director of LCI’s (SIG’s initially) for 12 years and the VP of Outreach for the last 2 years.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
I’m also an active Volunteer for our Church in Toms River, NJ. That includes many different types of things (such as dishwasher for food events) but being a Trustee (property management) requires the most work. We have 7 buildings and there’s many major maintenance projects going-on (simultaneously) and I get to project manage several at a time.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I like to spend about 1 hour each day walking outside. Now that I’m older, walking has taken the place of running each day. I have 7 different routes – one for each day of the week – and it gives me a chance to enjoy the fresh air and still remain active.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
I’ve visited many places as a Consultant for 33 years. My two favorite places are:

1. San Diego, CA - because the area is beautiful and the weather is awesome
2. Colorado Springs, CO - because there are several places within driving distance that a person can go ‘night’ skiing! 

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I’ve been member of PMINJ for 11 years and a volunteer for 10 years.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
Membership Retention Initiative Team, Director of Membership and VP of Membership.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
Assisting its members to optimize their value with the Chapter and its offerings. My goal is retaining existing members and welcoming new members to the chapter so their professional goals are being achieved and exceeded. Also soliciting constructive feedback to improve membership and the Chapter.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
Love to exercise, play the piano, traveling and taking long weekend motorcycle trips.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Love to visit my home country Greece (lived in Athens from 9-18 yrs. old). Visited the Grande Cayman Islands and love to visit again! 

How long have to been a member and volunteer of PMINJ?
I’ve been member of PMINJ for 18 years and a volunteer for 12+ years.
What areas have to you volunteered within PMINJ?
My first volunteer role was working with a team to establish the mentor program, after launching the mentor program participated in the pilot program as a mentor and move into supporting the mentor program. Also simultaneously volunteered with the membership retention team, reaching out to members as their membership was up for renewal.  Eventually joined the PMINJ board as a Director leading the mentor program which I did for several years.  In 2017 accepted the VP Recognition position leading the PMOY and POY awards, Scholarship program, Volunteer Operations and other aspects of recognition. In February 2021, accepted the role of VP of Diversity Equity and Inclusion. In September 2021, voted in as the Vice Chair Membership which includes Outreach, DEI, Recognition (PMOY, POY, Scholarship, Anniversary), Volunteer Leadership Development, Volunteer Operations and Membership.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with PMINJ?
There are many things I enjoy about volunteering with PMINJ, but first and foremost, I enjoy celebrating our members who give so generously to this chapter with our Annual Volunteer Celebration dinner.
What is your favorite thing(s) to do outside of work and volunteering?
I like being active and enjoy walking and hiking.  And I absolutely love taking a high energy Zumba class.
Where is your favorite place to visit or vacation?
Hawaii is my favorite vacation spot.