Category: Professional Development Meetings

Professional Development Meeting – 2023 September

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Face-to-Face Meeting @ UTD !!! 

or Attend Virtually via WebEx: Register Here

Presentation Topic1:

“Sensitivity Analysis using Data Tables” in Microsoft Excel
w/ hands-on exercise

(Participants should bring their laptops)

 

Presentation Topic2:

“Waterfall Charts” in Microsoft Excel

 

Speaker:
Kannan Ramanathan, PhD, Clinical Professor, Operations Management – Jindal School of Management, University of Texas at Dallas.

!!! Please make note – Face-to-Face Meeting @ UTD !!! 
or Attend Virtually via WebEx

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 28th September 2023
Meeting Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Meeting Location:

University of Texas at Dallas
800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas. 75080
Edith O’Donnell Arts & Technology (ATC) Building
Room# 2.101

Parking:
All visitors will need to obtain a parking permit to park in GREEN-outlined parking areas.
Parking is also available in Parking Structure #1.
If you have more questions about parking, please contact 972.883.7777 or visit https://map.utdallas.edu/ for additional information.

!!! Register !!!

!!! Please make note – Face-to-Face Meeting @ UTD !!! 

or Attend Virtually via WebEx: Register Here

Professional Development Meeting – 2023 August

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation:

Continuous Improvement

An overview of how we can boost efficiencies in manufacturing processes, cycle counts etc. based real world examples.

Tutorial:

Systemic Problem-Solving Approach 

Speaker:
John Ballis, CEO, and Founder at “Lean Your Way”, John uses Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, Kata and Kanban with Training, Coaching, & Assessments with his clients.

John provides Hands-on experience in executive leadership, operational excellence management, continuous improvement, and change management. He is an operational strategist and transformational leader that consistently delivers high performance results in deadline-driven environments. He brings expertise in assessing corporate culture, navigating organizational dynamics, and translating corporate strategies into tangible results for sustainable change. John is regarded for the ability to expertly drive processes and successfully motivate cross-functional teams. He has a comprehensive Lean Supply Chain and Project Management background coupled with a track record of exceeding expectations locally and internationally. He has been highly successful taking organizations (union and non-union represented) to the next level of operational excellence. John has held Vice President and Operationally Excellence Director titles at a variety of organizations and has authored multiple articles and books on continuous improvement.

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 24th August 2023
Meeting Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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Professional Development Meeting – 2023 July

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation:

How Connected Technology is Leading to Higher Quality Spaces in the Built Environment

In this session, we will explore the integration of connected technology in optimizing indoor air quality, comfort, and overall environmental quality in buildings. Discover the practical applications of HVAC, lighting, IoT, data analytics, and sensors in real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and automation systems. Gain valuable insights into the significant impact of connected technology on quality management, energy efficiency, and occupant well-being. Through case studies and practical examples, learn how connected technology is reshaping the way we create healthier, more comfortable, and higher quality spaces in the built environment.

Speaker:
Tim Vogel, VP Connected Solutions at KMC Controls, leads initiatives around cloud-connected products, solutions, and partners. His primary responsibility is KMC’s cloud-native platform KMC Commander. Working in building automation and industrial IoT since 2016, he manages channel partners across OT and IT segments, OEM partnerships in energy and solar, large-scale accounts, cybersecurity products, and third-party partnerships with many leaders in PropTech. Tim is passionate about helping others grow and be more successful through technology and collaborative relationships. For buildings, this means disrupting old models, innovating, and building a team that loves what they do.

Tutorial:

The Agile Toolbox – Preparing your Team for Success

Speaker:
Zac Jarrad, MBA, CQIA, CQPA, SSGB, SSBB, CMQ/OE, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI, PBA – President of Jarrad Consulting; Section Chair ASQ Kansas City Section. Mr. Jarrad consults with businesses, nonprofits, and K-12 groups including Project management, Agile Project Management, Gamification, Team Building Activities, and Working Across Different Generations. He has presented at several ASQ local, reginal, and national conferences.

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 27th July 2023
Meeting Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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Professional Development Meeting – 2023 May

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Face-to-Face Meeting @ UTD !!!

Presentation:

What is ChatGPT and how will it impact project management?

Never take meeting notes or write a meeting summary again. Can this be true? Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been in the movies for years, and AI has become mainstream in the last few years.

Advancement in AI is making natural language processing a reality. Android, Apple, and Microsoft have been using voice commands for simple requests. Tools today can transcribe meeting notes and dynamically translate the captioning to another language in real time.

The next generation of AI is creating content. “GPT-3, or the third generation Generative Pre-trained Transformer., is a neural network machine learning model trained using internet data to generate any type of text.” ChatGPT and InstructGPT, from OpenAI, use a technique “Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback” (RLHF) to make their models safer by minimizing toxic or error prone outputs.

Here is a sample input “How will ChatGPT impact project management and future projects?” This is a sample returned “ChatGPT and other language generation models like it have the potential to greatly impact project management in the future.”  Enjoy this look at the present and near future and advance your skills along the way.

Speaker:
Lawrence Reid, CBAP, CSM, DTM, PMP, is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) specialist with over twenty years of experience in business analysis, project management, implementation, customization, and integration for companies in the aerospace, financial services, manufacturing, and medical industries.

Lawrence earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Texas, Arlington, and certificate of Financial Planning from Southern Methodist University. Lawrence obtained the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) designations. He is a member of the Dallas and the Fort Worth PMI Chapters and a recent presenter at the UTD Project Management Symposium.

Tutorial:

It’s a Process: DMAIC Helps Manage Diabetes

Speaker:
John Jennings, III, CSSBB, CQE, CRE, CQA, CSQE, CBA, CMQ, is a highly qualified quality management leader and quality engineering professional. He has served in quality leadership roles with companies such as Bowhead Manufacturing Technology, Vertex Business Services, and L3 Communications. John has a Masters of Science in Engineering Science, Electronic Manufacturing from UT Dallas.

!!! Please make note – Face-to-Face Meeting @ UTD !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 25th May 2023
Meeting Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Meeting Location:
University of Texas at Dallas
800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas. 75080
Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM)
Room# 11.305

Parking:
No Parking Permit is required to park in GREEN parking spaces only.

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Professional Development Meeting – 2023 April

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation:

Governance for the Future: Foundation for Success

Speaker:
Don Springer, Chairman – The Colton Group, UTD – Jindal School of Management – Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance.

Tutorial:

Designing an Audit Friendly Quality Management System

Speaker:
John Jennings

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 27th April 2023
Meeting Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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Professional Development Meeting – 2023 February

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation:

Wastewater treatment vs landfill solidification disposal as a solution to industrial wastewater generation

Traditional method for disposing of industrial liquid waste is solidification and disposal at a landfill. Cactus Reclamation Services created a unique process in which up to 99.9% of the waste received is recycled/reused and the resulting flocculated solids are manipulated on a molecular level, dewatered, and subsequently sent for disposal at a landfill. The process has been proven to be more cost effective and reduces precious landfill space which would otherwise be used for garbage.

Speaker:
Michael Wasserman is the Founder and “Executive Paradigm Synergist” for Cactus Reclamation Services – provides non-hazardous waste treatment, water reclamation, and waste management services to business and institutional clients throughout the United States. Michael is an entrepreneur at heart and enjoys finding solutions to existing problems through the creation of new businesses and processes. Michael has an eclectic investment portfolio which includes industries such as waste management, banking, real estate and consulting to name a few. Michael earned his BBA and MSA with an emphasis in Management Science/OR from Southern Methodist University.

Tutorial:

Prepare & Conduct ISO Audits as Internal/Lead Auditor

Speaker: TBD

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 23rd February 2023
Meeting Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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Professional Development Meeting – 2023 January

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation:

Maintaining Software Quality in Large Distributed Systems

SiriusXM radio, like most cloud based services, provides service over the internet as well as over dedicated networks, such as cellular and satellite networks. Many components – all driven by software – come together to provide a high-quality service of such nature. While some of the software components are client facing, many reside at different stages in the backend outside of the customers’ vision. All such necessary software components must work together harmoniously and with the desired outcomes to provide service at a quality customers expect. How is software quality maintained through such a large machinery of software parts?

Accomplishing sound software quality begins with the Product Team that defines the vision and product/feature proposal and translates them into well-defined product requirements. The Engineering Team takes over the product requirements and comes up with efficient technical solutions that translate the product requirements into workable, optimum software architecture and design. The identified software development work is divided into small, manageable, and clearly defined tasks that are unambiguously trackable. These development tasks are taken up by software developers with defined delivery times. Project management and tracking tools are rigorously used to help keep track of the entire project.

Speaker:

Asad Islam, PhD leads software development at SiriusXM – a major US broadcasting company in satellite and streaming radio. He is responsible for ensuring high quality software development of their streaming radio service found in smart devices as well as most automobiles in the United States and Canada. Prior to moving into software, Asad was involved for several years in research and development of cutting-edge image and video technology and was part of the R&D team that introduced award-winning multimedia technology into Nokia mobile phones (prior to the birth of iPhones). He holds over 30 US and European patents and has a Ph.D. in Electrical, Computer, and Systems Engineering (image and video compression) from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York.

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 26th January 2023
Meeting Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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Professional Development Meeting – 2022 October

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation & Tutorial:

BCS Framework: Building Site Decisions and Problem Solving – A Quality Process

Speaker:

Sec. Lucian Niemeyer, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Building Cyber Security, a non-profit organization established in 2020 to enhance global safety by developing frameworks with stakeholders across multiple sectors to promote cyber protections in operational technologies, controls, and devices for enhanced human security and safety in an increasingly smart world. In this role, he applies his expertise and experience in the convergence of facilities, real estate, and technology to counter emerging global threats.

The Honorable Lucian Niemeyer assumed his former responsibilities 26 June 2019 to include oversight and policy for Navy and Marine Corps facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization; military construction; acquisition, utilization and disposal of real property and facilities; environmental protection, planning, restoration and natural resources conservation; and safety and occupational health.

In August 2017, he was appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment. In this role, he provided budgetary, policy and management oversight of the Department of Defense’s real property portfolio, which encompasses 28 million acres, over 500 installations with over 500,000 buildings and structures valued at a trillion dollars. Upon successful integration of the EI&E portfolio into the newly created Sustainment portfolio, Secretary Niemeyer served the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment as a Strategic Advisor. His specific focus was on Defense energy resilience and cybersecurity programs responsible for enhancing the Department’s planning, programs, and military capabilities to provide mission assurance through installation and operational energy and cybersecurity resilience policy development, and execution of initiatives for domestic and overseas installations.

Secretary Niemeyer is an Air Force veteran, retiring in 2008 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with 15 years of active and five years of Virginia Air National Guard service working within the installation engineering and military plans community. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture, from the University of Notre Dame, a Master of Business Administration from The George Washington University, and a Master of National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 27nd October 2022
Meeting Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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Professional Development Meeting – 2022 September

Neil Desai

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!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Presentation & Tutorial:

Clinical Validation of Remote Cardiac Monitoring Device

Review of the Clinical Validation Results of a Continuous Monitoring, Remote Mobile Cardiac Detection Device for At-Home Cardiac Atrial Fibrillation Patients of the Dallas VA Hospital System.

Speaker:

Jerrold Michael Grodin, MD is currently the Director, Dallas VA/Methodist CardiologyFellowship Program. His Medical Degree is from Mount Sinai School of Medicine,New York, NY.  His is a life of service.  He is also  Lt. Col. United States Army, Active Reserve. A Combat Veteran having served Iraq from 2003-2004, and 2008-2009. He served as Internist/Cardiologist for 94th Combat Support Hospital, 807th Medical Brigade, Seagoville, Texas 2001-2012. Called to active duty 2003-2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he deployed to Mosul, Iraq with the 67th Combat Support Hospital.    He was again called to active duty 2008-2009 and deployed to Tikrit, Iraq with the 345th Combat Support Hospital. Called to active duty in 2006 he deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. There Dr Grodin established the Landshtul Regional Medical Center Interventional Cardiology Program. Throughout his time in Iraq Dr Grodin continuously provided care for soldiers who were seriously and critically wounded in combat.

His many awards include the Outstanding Inpatient Subspecialty Teaching Award from UT Southwestern in Dallas as well as the Army Commendation Medal and the  Combat Action Badge from the US Army.

!!! Please make note – Virtual PD Meeting via WebEx !!!

Meeting Information

Meeting Date: 22nd September 2022
Meeting Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Meeting Location:
Virtual Meeting

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