An Overview of the PMI Awards Program

 

Project Management Institute
Image: pmi.org

Former interim director of program and strategy at High Speed Rail 2 (HS2), Ltd., in London, Patrick O’Connell now functions as executive director of the Office of the Chief of Naval Personnel. Over the course of his career with HS2 and the United States Navy, Patrick O’Connell has engaged with professional groups and organizations, including the Program Management Institute.

The Program Management Institute (PMI) has served the interests of more than 2.9 million management professionals around the world for nearly five decades. PMI maintains professional resources and educational services, including an annual awards program designed to recognize excellence in project management. Major awards include the Project of the Year Award, the Eric Jenett Project Management Award of Excellence, and the program’s top honor, the PMI Fellow Award. PMI also presents a Young Professional Award in recognition of younger project managers who already have made significant strides on behalf of the profession.

Award winners in 2018 included Avraham Shtub, PhD, of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, winner of the PMI Teaching Excellence Award, and Dr. Alfons H. van Marrewijk of University Amsterdam, whose study on high-speed train megaprojects between 1995 and 2015 took home the PMI Project Management Journal Paper of the Year Award. For a more in-depth look at the awards program, visit pmi.org.

Common Problems with Bench-Pressing Form

 

Bench-Pressing Form
Image: bodybuilding.com

The executive director of the office of the Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) in Washington, DC, Patrick O’Connell builds upon a career that has encompassed a range of industries in both the public and private sectors. Shortly before going to work with the CNP, he oversaw operations and strategy for the High Speed Rail 2 (HS2) project in London, England. Beyond HS2 and the US Navy, Patrick O’Connell is an avid fitness enthusiast and is training to set a bench-press record.

Although bench presses look like a straightforward exercise, individuals must learn the proper form to optimize health and muscle-building benefits. Poor bench-pressing form leads to an increased rate of injury.

One of the most common mistakes among bench-pressers is letting the bar bounce off their chests. This places a great deal of pressure on the sternum and allows bench-pressers to complete a portion of the lift without keeping their muscles flexed. Bench-pressers should also ensure that they breathe rhythmically, brace their abdominal muscles before lifting, and refrain from flaring their elbows.

Project Management Institute Prepares for 2018 EMEA Congress

 

Project Management Institute
Image: pmi.org

A senior executive with experience in both the public and private sectors, Patrick O’Connell formerly served as the interim director of High Speed Two Ltd. (HS2) in London. After leaving HS2, he served as the chairman and CEO of AQUILA Air Traffic Management Services, then accepted his current position as the chief of naval personnel for the US Navy. Over the course of a career spanning more than three and a half decades, Patrick O’Connell has been involved with several business groups, including the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Dedicated to helping business leaders advance their careers while improving their enterprises, PMI offers members a variety of professional resources, programs, and events. Currently, the organization is preparing for its upcoming PMI EMEA Congress, which will take place May 7-9, 2018, in Berlin, Germany.

Each year, project managers and business executives from around the world attend the EMEA Congress to take part in three days of education, networking, and discussions surrounding the latest challenges and issues shaping business and the project management profession. The 2018 program will feature a variety of educational sessions alongside keynote presentations from author and management educator Rowan Gibson as well as award-winning futurist Shivvy Jervis.

Those looking to extend their learning experience can stay in Berlin for PMI’s SeminarsWorld event, which will be held May 10-11. More information about the 2018 EMEA Congress and SeminarsWorld can be found at www.pmi.org.

High Speed Two Promises to Increase Connectivity in North England

High Speed Two
Image: gov.uk

An organizational administrator with experience spanning the globe, Patrick O’Connell has held leadership roles that include serving as interim director of programming and strategy of High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd. Managing the full spectrum of HS2 strategic activities, Patrick O’Connell helped lay the groundwork for a high-speed rail system that promises to transform transportation in the United Kingdom.

A recently published report titled HS2 – Getting the Best out of Britain draws attention to the significant productivity boost that the rail system is expected to generate across the North and Midlands. While these areas are on par with London and the Southeast in terms of university staff producing high-quality research, Northern employers report a persistent lack of needed skills when hiring. This has proved a barrier to growth, as London continues to attract many of the desirable candidates holding high-level NVQ4 qualifications.

The report presents a case that HS2 will increase physical connectivity among workers in the North, and in turn lead to capital flow linkages that improve the global attractiveness of these investment markets. Officials hope this will result in a thriving economy and equal society.