Project Management Symposium 2026

Project Management Symposium 2026 will be held in association with the PMI on April 30 to May 1, 2026, at the Project Centre for Excellence, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.

Project Management Symposium 2026 will be offered both in-person and virtually. All sessions will be recorded and available for delegates to view for one year following the symposium.

Project Management Symposium 2026 will offer four featured speakers as well as multiple tracks with some great topics being covered.

Featured Speakers

Michael will use his Break The Bottle™ framework for overcoming the hidden obstacles in project leadership.

Drawing on his 3-D Framework™ (Decision, Direction, Destination), Michael will equip project professionals with tools to shift from survival mode to solutions mode, regain clarity and lead with resilience under pressure.

Kanika will share real-world examples of how project leaders can safely and strategically integrate AI tools into their workflows without losing the human touch that makes Agile thrive. Kanika will reveal three areas of Generative AI:

• How to integrate generative AI into Agile workflows to improve collaboration, sprint planning, backlog refinement and retrospectives.
• How To Apply prompt engineering techniques to generate user stories, acceptance criteria and team insights that align with Agile values and principles.
• Evaluation and implementation of AI-powered tools that enhance team productivity, transparency and innovation across the software development lifecycle.

The data is compelling. Process maturity improves outcomes. A lack of process leads to chaos and too much creates rigidity.

Alan will explain that the path forward is not the next ‘shiny object’, methodology, framework or tool. Harnessing what we already know and managing projects with intentionality will drive success. Alan will reveal the four key elements to deliver successful projects:

• Projects are about people. Success depends on how we engage stakeholders, lead teams and build relationships—not just on what we deliver.
• Intentionality matters. We reduce chaos and confusion by defining the process and establishing clear objectives and measures.
• Hybrid is a choice. There is a wealth of excellent practices. Be pragmatic and make context-sensitive decisions.
• Fundamentals outlive fads. Flawless execution of foundational practices matters. Emerging technologies and new ways of working will improve how we work.

National flood safety assessments and future strategies in the United States, the Netherlands and around the world were accelerated. Lewis will reveal the critical role of innovative and adaptive project management for both the forensic analysis and the design and construction of the $15B risk reduction system now in place.

A key requirement of the PM process was to facilitate rapid execution through the adaptation of new knowledge and practices through the integration of diverse sources of expertise. Lewis will finally pose the question, ‘whether, given the increasing uncertainty with climate and societal processes, the Katrina-stimulated policies and practices are adequate for the future?’

Tracks

The tracks will be categorized into four areas:

• Strategic Project Management
• AI in Project Management
• People in Projects
• Project Management Skills as well as being defined by the PMI Talent Triangle (PMI TT) of: Power Skills (Leadership), Business Acumen (Strategic & Business Management) and Ways of Working (Technical Project Management)

We’ve taken a look at a few from each category.

Strategic Project Management

Ariel Trocino and Sandra Gollob are public health professionals. Ariel and Sandi will present ‘Driving Business Success by Evolving Our Processes, Tools, and Ourselves’. Using their case study, Ariel and Sandi will discuss how they leveraged their PMO to build a project management community that drives innovations and process improvements and supports their organization’s strategic goals.

Ariel and Sandi will present techniques for creating a PMO-based system that promotes project management excellence and cross-department collaboration. Ariel and Sandi will also share the tools used to engage key stakeholders, and what can be achieved today to build a people-first system that strives towards business successes through continuously improving project management expertise. Ariel and Sandi’s presentation incorporates ‘Ways of Working’ from the PMI TT.

Marina Prasek, PMP is the Director of Project Management at MaxCyte. Marina will present ‘PMO as the integration agent in Product Lifecycle Management: bridging the gaps across the phases of product lifecycles’.

Marina will reveal how organizations have become increasingly driven by product-led growth strategies, resulting in a collaboration between product and project management. The focus of this collaboration often revolves around projects for New Product Development and introduction to the market.

Marina will discuss the role that the Project Management Office (PMO) plays in the integration of the responsibilities of these functions throughout the entire product’s lifecycle from development, growth into maturity and decline.

Marina will explain how factors impact the length of each phase of a product’s lifecycle, driving decisions to develop new products, implement changes to existing products, or discontinue products.

Marina will reveal how the PMO plays a key role in Product Lifecycle Management by bridging the gaps among the phases of different products’ lifecycles and ensuring alignment and continuity in the execution of activities throughout each phase. Focus is dedicated to bridging phases from the development, to decline, to product discontinuation phases, with alignment of the introduction of a new product to ensure an optimal stream of revenue and continued customer satisfaction. Marina’s presentation incorporates ‘Business Acumen’ from the PMI TT.

Katie Meersman is the Chief of Staff and Academic Operations and Strategic Initiatives at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Katie will present ‘From Ideas to Action: Embedding Project Management in Student Success Initiatives’.

Katie will discuss her case study, the Ruby Team, which was created and implemented as a cross-functional leadership group focused on student success. A key innovation was to embed project managers directly into leadership structures.

Katie will reveal the framework that powers the Ruby Team’s work and how coordinated project management can transform collaboration and accountability. This approach has improved student retention and completion rates, and the same principles can apply to any sector. Kate’s presentation incorporates ‘Ways of Working’ from the PMI TT.

Dr. Delavar Basha is a seasoned leader and will present ‘Rebuilding Momentum: Leading Teams Through Project Recovery and Renewal’.

Using a case study, Delavar will discuss how enterprise resource planning (ERP) stalled and was paused by executive leadership, as the project was months behind schedule and over budget due to shifting priorities.

Delavar will reveal how, through a strategic reset, guiding principles were redefined, trust was rebuilt and cross-functional collaboration was fostered. The framework used covered four key areas:

• Steering committee and executive meetings were re-established to improve alignment and decision-making.
• Team timelines were also adjusted to give members greater flexibility.
•  A disciplined planning framework was introduced with clear milestones, transparent reporting and stakeholder engagement.
• To strengthen team alignment, full-team multi-day workshops were implemented that reinforced collaboration and support.

These efforts helped deliver three major phases on schedule and within scope, restoring confidence in both the project and the broader transformation it supports. Delavar will offer a practical framework for diagnosing why projects stall and for designing a targeted recovery plan. Delavar’s presentation incorporates ‘Power Skills’ from the PMI TT.

AI in Project management

Rob London is a Managing Partner and Senior Consultant at CoffeeCat Solutions. Rob will present ‘Using AI to validate and improve Traditional & Agile project schedules to reduce the risk of cost and timeline overruns’.

Rob will discuss how AI can be used as a project schedule risk validator—a smart, objective reviewer that challenges assumptions, identifies missing decomposition and strengthens schedule integrity before costly problems surface. Project teams often ‘plan to fail,’ not because the work is impossible, but because the schedule conceals risk.

Through AI demonstrations, Rob will display how to prompt an AI assistant to analyze any schedule and evaluate any task, labor, work, cost and staff resourcing. Rob will demonstrate how to apply generative AI to test the quality of project plans regardless of methodology (Traditional/Waterfall, Agile or hybrid).

Rob will reveal how to create an AI prompt toolkit that lets you use ChatGPT, Copilot or your preferred AI tool to improve schedule clarity and completeness. Rob’s presentation will incorporate ‘Ways of Working’ from the PMI TT track.

Dan Stay PMP, Sr. IT Project Manager for a Department of Defense contractor. Dan will present ‘Starting Small with AI: Why Grassroots Beats the Enterprise Rollout.’ Dan will explain why enterprises struggle with top-down AI mandates, while individual project managers are quietly using AI to transform their work—without permission, without budget and without fanfare.

Dan will explain why grassroots AI adoption succeeds where corporate initiatives fail, and reveal how to start using AI tomorrow with free tools. Dan will demonstrate real applications any PM can implement immediately.

Dan will reveal actual prompts and workflows for requirements analysis, risk identification, stakeholder communications and project reporting, not theoretical frameworks, but techniques that work today. Dan will discuss four key AI areas, covering ‘Ways of Working’ from the PMI TT:

• Why Enterprise AI Fails, and What Works Instead: The predictable pattern of top-down AI failures. The lightweight adoption model, to demonstrate value to colleagues and build organic adoption without executive mandate.

• Five Prompts You’ll Use This Week: Demonstrations of AI techniques for common PM tasks including generating project charters, analyzing risks, refining requirements, writing executive summaries and adapting communications for different stakeholders. Specific prompts to be used and applied immediately to projects.
• Practical Guidelines for AI Use: Learn from real experience when AI works well (first drafts, pattern recognition, reformatting) and when human judgment is essential (organizational politics, priority decisions, unstated constraints). Discover simple checks to validate AI output before using it on actual projects.

People in Projects

Dr. William Albert Brantley is an award-winning leadership and learning strategist. Bill will present ‘Train the Nervous System to Lead the System — Building Calm, Connected, and High-Performing Project Teams’.

Bill will explain how high-performing teams don’t just rely on tools and talent, they rely on emotional safety and nervous system stability. However, when pressure mounts, deadlines tighten or conflict flares, even experienced project managers can watch team performance unravel.

Bill will reveal how TILT (Trauma-Informed Leadership Training) gives project leaders a simple, science-based approach to keep their teams steady, focused and engaged—no matter how chaotic the project environment becomes. TILT shows how to regulate stress, build trust and sustain collaboration under pressure.

Bill will present an interactive session, where delegates learn how to “train the nervous system to lead the system.” Bill will reveal what happens in the body during stress, how to recognize fight-flight-freeze patterns in teams and how to restore focus and connection through simple regulation techniques.

Bill will introduce the Timeframe Training Loop (TTL)—a practical tool for reflection, simulation and visualization that helps project teams learn faster and adapt to change and provide a roadmap for creating project environments that feel psychologically safe, emotionally intelligent and performance driven. Bill’s presentation incorporates ‘Power Skills’ from the PMI TT.

Laura Berman Fortgang is a Pioneering life coach. Laura will present ‘The Power of Positive Leadership: Coaching Skills for High Impact Results’.

Laura will explain how coaching-based feedback can revolutionize team performance and professional growth. Laura will offer practical communication techniques that don’t just solve problems, they prevent them from occurring.

Laura will reveal the secrets to cultivating leadership capacity in others while mastering advanced communication skills that deliver measurable results. Laura will offer actionable strategies to turn everyday interactions into opportunities for development, engagement and innovation. Laura will provide a toolkit for leadership that inspires teams to achieve their highest potential. Laura’s presentation encompasses ‘Power Skills’ from the PMI TT.

Briana McManus works at Louisiana State University. Briana will present ‘The Art of Giving Feedback: Valuing People, Getting Results’.

Briana will explain how giving feedback is a powerful tool that is essential when leading project teams, as a steady flow keeps both people and projects moving forward. Project managers use it, but it is often misunderstood and treated as a ‘tough conversation’ instead of a necessary one, which can lead to miscommunication, mistrust and missed opportunities.

Briana will offer delegates practical tools to redefine feedback as a connection, an act of value and empowerment, a way to strengthen trust, enhance collaboration and drive results. Rather than a correction, Briana will reveal how directness can be delivered with care, strengthening relationships and empowering others to find their voice. Briana’s presentation focuses on ‘Power Skills’ from the PMI TT.

Project Management Skills

Tim Jaques is the President of IPMA USA (United States Member Association of the International Project Management Association). Tim will present ‘Leading Change in a Hybrid World: Cultural Agility and Remote Leadership’.

Tim will discuss how hybrid and remote work have become the norm and project leaders have to drive change across culturally diverse teams. To succeed, it demands cultural agility, emotional intelligence and adaptive leadership. Tim will reveal how project managers can lead using the IPMA Individual Competence Baseline (ICB4). Tim will review the key elements from the People, Perspective and Practice competence areas:

People–  focuses is on leadership, communication and teamwork – how to inspire trust, foster collaboration and maintain engagement across time zones and cultures. Attendees will learn techniques for promoting psychological safety, managing conflict in virtual spaces and developing team identity without physical proximity.

Perspective – highlights how understanding organizational strategy, governance and culture shapes change initiatives in hybrid contexts. Leaders must align diverse teams with shared purpose and values while remaining sensitive to local norms and individual needs.

Practice – provides practical methods for planning, implementing and sustaining change in hybrid environments, emphasizing digital fluency, structured communication and feedback-driven adaptation.

Tim will explain that by focusing on these competences, project managers can successfully apply a wide range of tools, methods and approaches. Tim will equip project managers with actionable strategies to lead transformation that transcends location and cultural boundaries, building connected, high-performing teams ready for the future of work. Tim’s presentation encompasses ‘Business Acumen’ from the PMI TT.

Brandon Matthews is the Associate Vice President of the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). Brendon will present ‘Before AI Learns Us, We Must Learn Ourselves: The New Skillset for Project Managers in an AI-Driven World’.

Brandon will discuss how AI has changed what it means to be skilled. Tasks that once defined project management, building plans, estimating budgets, modeling risks and reporting progress, can now be generated by AI in seconds.

Brandon will reveal what is left for Project Managers! By introducing the Signature Intelligence Model (SIM), Brandon will reveal what is left for PMs. SIM is a simple, research-based framework that helps PMs understand how they pursue goals and how they connect with others. SIM offers PMs the ability:

• to see where your style fits, or clashes, with your organization’s culture, so you can adapt, influence and lead change effectively.
• Lead confidently with AI as your partner, knowing what to automate and what to own, combining AI speed with human judgment and stakeholder trust.

Registration Details

Ticket Type	Cost
In-Person	$575
Hybrid	$475
Online	$275

To register click here

Summary

Project Management Symposium 2026 is a flexible two-day conference offering online, hybrid or in-person attendance. Although there are some industry professionals with real-world experience, this conference errs on the side of academia, with a majority of university- based facilitators presenting. As the Project Management Symposium is being held in association with PMI, Personal Development Units (PDU’s) will be available.