Course Resources
The New RMC URMC Classroom Instructors
Margo Kirwin, CPLP®, PMP®, PMI-ACP®
Practice Director and Trainer—Project Management
Margo is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP), with over 25 years of experience in technology and technology training. She has a degree in Psychology, with a research emphasis on Learning and Memory. As the Director of Training at RMC, Margo is responsible for all aspects related to live training—including instructional design, course development, research, course delivery and course quality.
Margo has been actively managing projects for over 13 years, nine of which were spent as an independent consultant. Her industry-specific experience includes manufacturing, technology, training, financial services, and legal services. Margo has created and managed dozens of project teams, and has extensive experience building training departments from the ground up.
Barbara A. Carkenord, CBAP®, PMP®, PMI-ACP®
Practice Director and Trainer—Business Analysis
Press Release: RMC Hires BA Industry Expert
Barbara A. Carkenord has over 25 years of experience in business analysis, and is one of the original founders of the Business Analysis training industry. Barbara has an MBA from University of Michigan, is a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). She is also the author of Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and chapter events. Actively involved in the IIBA, she was a core team member of the IIBA BABOK® creation committee and has contributed to its upcoming book, Managing Business Analysis. In 2010, Barbara was named Small Business Woman of the Year by the Georgia Women in Technology Association.
Barbara possesses detailed knowledge and experience in many analysis tools and techniques. She develops and delivers business analysis training using proven techniques and real-world experience. Barbara's areas of expertise include business analysis, software design, quality assurance, and project management. Her experience covers many industries including insurance, banking, and manufacturing.
Jeffrey S. Nielsen, PgMP®, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, PMI-RMP®, MSCIS
Senior Instructor and PM Trainer
As RMC's first and most senior instructor, Jeff Nielsen has trained thousands of project managers on a variety of topics. His enthusiasm and knowledge are the perfect combination for a fun, comprehensive review of project management fundamentals, advanced project management techniques or PMP® exam preparation. Jeff has been a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® since 1997 and a member of PMI® since 1995. He has been active in developing a PMI® chapter, presented at several PMI Global Congresses, and worked with PMI on a number of activities—including as an advisor to the PMI® Board of Directors on the IS Advisory Committee (ISAC).
Jeff has over 20 years of project management experience on over $187 million worth of IS, IT, new facility development and airline industry projects. He not only knows project management but has the real-world experience to tailor his courses to students' needs. Jeff holds a bachelor's degree from the College of St. Thomas and a master's degree from Boston University.
Sonja Almlie, PMP®, CCBA®
Senior Instructor and PM Trainer
With over 20 years of experience, Sonja offers a wide range of real-world experience managing projects in IT, web technology, process optimization, usability and marketing. She has served as adjunct faculty at The University of St. Thomas' Center for Business Excellence, and has taught Advanced Certificate PM courses in Time Management, Communications Management, Requirements & Charter, Procurement Management, Systems Thinking and The Project Management Office. Sonja brings extensive industry-specific experience in the financial services, non-profit and transportation sectors, and worked most recently at Ameriprise Financial—#296 in the 2008 Fortune 500 rankings.
Sonja is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®, and holds a certificate in Project Management from The University of St. Thomas. She is also currently enrolled in The University of Michigan's Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program.
Roger Thomas Kent, PMP®, PMI-ACP®, MA
Faculty Instructor and PM Trainer
Roger is a seasoned training professional with a master's degree in Communications Theory. He has designed a number of specialized project management courses for both the government and the private sector. As a PM consultant, his project management consulting experience includes projects for Hewlett-Packard, United Airlines, Levi Strauss and Pacific Bell—along with government agencies such as CalTrans, Alameda County and the United States Military. In Roger's words, he is comfortable with "T-shirt high-tech, power-tie business, and regimented military."
In addition to his instructing and consulting experience, Roger has successfully developed a number of "train the trainer" programs, one of which was delivered twice (the original presentation and an encore) at the 2005 Global Congress in Toronto, Ontario, to standing-room-only crowds. And for those who wish to have their training delivered in a language other than English—French, Spanish, German or Italian, for example—Roger will gladly accommodate your request.
Jill E. Richards, PMP®
Faculty Instructor and PM Trainer
Jill is an experienced project management trainer with extensive real-world project management experience, particularly in the field of software development. She has over seventeen years of large and complex Program and Project Management experience. Jill has been responsible for all components of project management—including estimating, planning, staffing, controlling, budget management, communication, scope and schedule management, issue management, risk management and progress tracking.
Jill has been a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) since 1996 and was certified as a PMP® in 1998. She is a frequent speaker at PMI® events, including the PMI® Global Congress (2003 and 2005) and several other PMI®-sponsored seminars and symposiums. Jill received her management training at the University of Michigan Executive Education Center and completed her certification for Team Building for Self-Directed Teams from Zenger Miller.
Jean McKay, PMP®, MSCIS, PMI-ACP®
Faculty Instructor and PM Trainer
With many years working as an IT and project management professional, and over 18 years in the training industry, Jean is an experienced professional with a proven track record in all phases of technical training. She currently holds over fifteen (15) professional training certifications in both Project Management and IT, and has spent more than a decade teaching professionals how to do their jobs better, faster and more effectively.
Jean is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® , and PMP-RMP Risk Management Professional with a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems. She is also certified to teach courses for a variety of Novell, Cisco, CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. Jean currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona, and is an active member of the PMI Phoenix Chapter.
Sherry Pate, PMP®
Faculty Instructor and PM Trainer
Sherry is a seasoned project manager with over 15 years of PM experience. She has managed multi-million dollar engagements for Fortune 500 companies throughout North America. Sherry has extensive experience in Software Development, Portfolio Management, Program Management, Project Management Tools, PMO, and Project Management Training. She has been a featured speaker at Project Management events and has strong expertise in both on-site and public Project Management training.
Sherry's enthusiasm, knowledge, and experience make her classes not only educational, but enjoyable and upbeat as well. Students have said that her extensive and varied real-world experience is what sets her apart from other instructors. Sherry is certified as a PMP and has been a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) since 2003. She participated in Rita's classes to pass the exam and serves as a real life testimonial to the effectiveness of RMC's unique methods.
Elaine Marans, PMP®
Faculty Instructor and PM Trainer
Elaine has been actively managing projects and programs for over 20 years, with a focus in Product and Process Design, Quality Management, R&D and Manufacturing. Elaine has worked in the private and public sectors, and has held project leadership positions in Asia, the Middle East, the United States and Mexico. Her industry-specific experience includes environmental engineering, marine engineering, rapid prototyping, agriculture, consumer products, and training; with specific expertise in performance and quality assurance testing, and failure investigation.
Elaine holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Toronto, a designation in Marketing from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), and is a PMI-certified certified Project Management Professional (PMP)®. She has designed and implemented quality management training across the globe, bringing real-world industry experience to various levels of business with the goal of enhancing innovation and reducing project costs.
Patricia Henao, PMP®, CPF
Faculty Instructor and PM Trainer
Patricia has over 25 years of project management experience, including the most recent 14 years as an independent project consultant managing a wide variety of projects, programs and portfolios. Her most recent work includes process optimization, continuous improvement / TQM, strategic planning, business model change, software development, and selection / implementation of projects and programs. She also possesses a solid track record of successful training and coaching in TQM and Project Management. Patricia has a degree in Management Science with an emphasis on Operations Research, and is both a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and a Certified Professional Facilitator.
Having lived abroad for the last 17 years, Patricia has spent thousands of hours training in both virtual and international environments—and has taught project management to students of over 25 nationalities. This invaluable experience has made her a versatile and adaptable educator, able to train within multi-cultural groups with a high degree of effectiveness.