Board and Governance

Our Chapter’s Board of Directors is separate from our Operations Team. This is different than many other PMI chapters, where the Board and Operations are the same . Our Board focuses on governance, serving also as advisers providing guidance to the Operations Team.

Each year Board elections are held. A committee of volunteers is formed prior to the election to certify the candidates. Then Chapter Members are given several days to turn in their ballots via email.

The Board consists of

• President
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Directors at Large

The Board follows the Carver Model of governance. Each monthly Board meeting contains scheduled oversight and review of specific governance topics.

Across the Board: No One Governs Alone

It is a simple truth, but an important consideration for the PMI-SFBAC Board of Directors. It is a guiding consideration for me as the board’s Chief of Governance (CGO). My role as a CGO is to provide the linkage between the board and the CEO in meeting needs for chapter members. My professional career in the government setting is where I can help out. The government sector follows governance in a way such that the constituents or public are the members that government-elected officials are responsible for - just like how the Board of Directors is responsible for meeting the needs of each member.

The Policy Governance® model is an integrated set of concepts and principles that describes the job of any governing board. It outlines the manner in which boards can be successful in their servant-leadership role, as well as in their all-important relationship with management. The model enables the board to focus on the larger issues, to delegate with clarity, to control management's job without meddling, to rigorously evaluate the accomplishment of the organization. To truly lead its organization.

This model of board leadership paradigm, created by Dr. John Carver, is a groundbreaking model of governance designed to empower the Boards of Directors to fulfill their obligation of accountability for the organizations they govern.

PMI-SFBAC has identified the Carver model of governance policy as a method to amplify the impact of our chapter members and therefore the PMI community. We as a PMI chapter board experienced through the Carver Model of Policy Governance the path to excellence in board governance. We see the path as a way to a more thriving and hopeful future as a chapter Project Management Community. It is through this “Excellence in Governance” we aspire to work better together for the greater good of the chapter owners/members.

In June 2019, I along with other Chapter leaders attended an enlightening conference on Governance. We were energized to push forward, with a clarity of purpose, a determination to create lasting END results, and are doing so with an unwavering dedication to the people for whose benefit we exist, our PMI members. Currently the chapter is being propelled by visions of a fun, supportive environment, and a legacy of mentorship. Unlike other PMI chapters we have organizational leadership referred first and foremost to governing effectively and served as a critical precursor to managing the day-to-day operations of the chapter.

The ultimate success and continued growth of PMI-SFBAC depends on how well it is governed with the ultimate responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the Board of Directors. The conference helped each of the leaders better understand how we must protect and direct the chapter to develop with the velocity of change in today’s current Bay Area environment, and do so with focus and intent. We know what is required today is to remain relevant to our membership and the Project Management industry. We learned that as a matter of practice the Board needs to continue to the full array of chapter activities as we uphold core values with integrity and transparency.

After the conference we are better set than ever to ask the right questions of our members, owners, and primary stakeholders. This year’s focus of PMI-SFBAC is “scaling”. The Board with the governance policies is the steady bridge, where we are accountable to the owners and hold the chapter and global volunteer leaders responsible for maintaining a high standard of quality of programming and member responsiveness through technology updates and service expansion.

We invite you to learn more about the integrated set of principles within a sound governance framework that we have for greater clarity of purpose and focus on the future through the Carver Model of Policy Governance. Help support us in having lasting impact as a unified board, engaging in meaningful discourse, placing the needs of the chapter member (you) first, as we anticipate and lead changes while ensuring proper stewardship of vital chapter resources.

- Tyrone Navarro is former president of the PMI-SFBAC chapter and current Chief of Governance of the PMI-SFBAC Board of Directors

Republished from the PMI-SFBAC Newsletter.

Your Board Members

Current Term

• Dina Tassiou, President
• Zenaida Alejandrino, Treasurer
• Tyrone Navarro, Director at Large
• Bessie Tam, Director at Large
• Stephanie Salazar, Director at Large
• Lorena De Benedittis, Director at Large
• Tim Bombosch, PMP, CSM, PhD, Director at Large
• Cynthia Maria Estalilla, CAPM, Director at Large
• Isabelle Lescent-Giles, PhD, Secretary

Previous Term

• Anup Deshpande, President
• Zenaida Alejandrino, Treasurer
• Tyrone Navarro, Director at Large
• Bessie Tam, Director at Large
• Stephanie Salazar, Director at Large
• Lorena De Benedittis, Director at Large
• Dina Tassiou, Director at Large