Louis Arias – Staff Writer
Ah-ha moments that change an individual’s perception of reality are game changers. They provide the vision needed to transform common lives to outstanding ones.
Understanding what Daytona State College’s Advanced Technical Certificate in Project Management can do for a career can be a life game-changer. It is estimated that salaries for professionals with PMP certifications earn at least 25 percent more than their counterparts; These professionals are in high demand and benefit from an abundance of local, statewide, national and international job opportunities.
Commenting on the difference that professional project management certification makes, Grady Meeks, Associate Professor of DSC’s School of Business said, “Not only do these certifications allow you to work anywhere in the world, the average median salary for a certified project manager is $108,000 and these professionals also are secure even during economic downturns.”
Why are project managers well paid and in global demand? In today’s fast-paced business environment, continually changing realities demand effective solutions. As technology adds complexity to current problems, the need for professional project management skyrockets.
Organizations today need to finish projects quicker. Waste and the formalities of implementing change are luxuries businesses no longer can afford. In this economy, organizations must get more done with less. Project Managers provide professional expertise that businesses and organizations need to decide between traditional and newer approaches to problem-solving.
Matt McManus, CEO of Mathematics University, is currently enrolled in DSC’s Advanced Certificate in Project Management online program. He is set to graduate this year. He said that he realized its value when one of his clients in Kenya required the PMP Certification as a prerequisite to bid on specific governmental contracts available in that country.
For the last two years, DSC’s School of Business Administration, in conjunction with PMI’s Flagler and Volusia Chapter hosts informal professional networking events that explain program’s details to prospective students and showcase the positive impact it has on our community. The keynote speaker to this year’s first event will be one of Daytona Beach’s own, Percell Gaskins.
Gaskins went to Seabreeze High School and played college football at Kansas State University. In 1996, he moved on to play in the NFL for the St. Louis Rams and for the Carolina Panthers in 1997. Today he has forged a name for himself in the athletics and educational arenas. Gaskins said that topics he brings to the table include “Proactive Change Management,” “Listening to the Future,” “Aggressive and Passive Change Agents” and “Environment Makes Results Predictable.”
DSC-PMI’s first meeting for 2019 will take place on April 15 at the Madorsky Theater on DSC’s main campus between 6 and 8 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments will be served. The event will also include the participation of a graduate student panel that will share a brief testimony on how the program quickened their professional success. Events end with a short Q & A session.