Personal History

Sharron has a career spanning more than 30 years with experience in the Systems Development and Project Management field. Her positions have ranged from team member to managing projects to overseeing projects in a PMO. She received her MBA from Webster University in 1998 and her PMP in 2005.

A senior IT project manager, accomplished facilitator and analyst skilled in the delivery of projects involving both infrastructure and software development objectives. A leader with proven ability to deliver enterprise-wide programs and projects, engineer processes and create customer requirements. She is IBM trained and proficient in various project management techniques and taught object oriented methodologies at Computer Science Corporation.

Ms Powell leverages extensive project and business experience with breadth of knowledge to accurately capture customer needs and deliver value-added solutions. She is skilled at applying the PMBOK project management principles as a certified project manager and has demonstrated strong communications skills (written & oral) and the ability to communicate diplomatically to resolve and manage conflict. Her diversified background includes project delivery, acceptance testing, vendor and financial management, user training, requirements definition, offshore team management, and finding innovative solutions to business problems.

Her projects have included pharmaceuticals, healthcare, distribution, publishing, sales force automation, imaging, financials, supply chain management, construction, manufacturing, and banking.

She has been a Section Manager at Baxter with global software management responsibilities, a VP of Research and Development for a software company that won the Best New Product of 1993 from IBM Corporation, a Director for Capitol Construction and Zellweger Analytics, an IT Manager for Andes Candies, Toastmaster, Charmglow Products, a Technical Consultant for SSA, and a Senior Consultant for Computer Science Corporation and Encore Consulting.

Sharron currently works as a Senior Project Manager in Corporate Technology at Harris Bank with oversight responsibilities for several major projects.

Ms. Powell has been involved in the PMI Chicagoland Chapter as a member since 1995 and was the Director of Technology/Website in 2005-6 and VP of Communications in 2006-7 and 2007-8.

Best Project Management Advice Given
All projects have their ups and downs.
Get to know your Stakeholders and manage their expectations.
Manage your superiors and their expectations of you.

Your secret to effective Project Management
Active Listening
Honesty
Treating others as I would like to be treated
Be ethical and true to my own standards of excellence
Following the PMBOK.
 

Why did I join PMI?
I wanted to meet and get to know people who were devoted to their careers in Project Management.

What is the value of the PMP certification?
I saw it as a way to differentiate myself. There are a lot of project managers out there and when a potential employer is looking through hundreds of resumes you need to stand out. Having been deeply involved with methodology for many years I wanted to understand and apply the #1 Project Management methodology.

Why did you volunteer to serve on the PMI board?
I wanted to help the chapter and work with the best of the best. I have not been disappointed. The people I have worked with are knowledgeable and committed to PMI. I also found that PMI gives me opportunities to work in areas that I could not at work. I didn't know anything about managing a website or programming in PHP, HTML, XML, etc. and no one was going to pay me to do it. I had a minor in Marketing but no chance to use it in IT. Working as a volunteer for PMI has added to my credentials, enhanced my skills and given me more confidence.