PMI-Madison PDD 2024

Keynote Speaker:

Hasard Lee

HASARD LEE is a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who began his career flying the F-16, where he was selected as the 'Top Instructor Pilot of the Year' for the Air Force's largest F-16 Combat Wing.

As a flight commander, he led his pilots into combat during one of the most intense periods during the War in Afghanistan. There he flew over eighty combat missions and became the only fighter pilot to ever fly two different types of jets into combat on the same day while supporting troops under fire.

Hasard was then hand-picked to fly the F-35―the most advanced and expensive weapons system in history―which was still in development at the time. During his last role on active duty, Hasard became the Chief of Training Systems for the largest training base in the world, leading the development of new technology and teaching methods to train future fighter pilots.

Hasard's first book, "The Art of Clear Thinking," was a #2 Wall Street Journal Bestseller. In the book, he distills what he’s learned during his career flying some of the Air Force’s most advanced aircraft. With gripping firsthand accounts from his time as a fighter pilot and fascinating turning points throughout history, Hasard reveals powerful decision-making principles that can be used in business and in life.

Hasard is also a content-creator with one of the most viewed military aviation channels on YouTube. Since the start of 2021 he has over 100 million views on YouTube and has reached over 290 million people across social media.

PDD 2024 Master of Ceremonies

Andrea Pence

Andrea Pence, PMP, BRMP is a Director of IT Business Relationship Management at Exact Sciences, in Madison, Wisconsin. Andrea has led projects and teams of Project Managers for eighteen years in a variety of industries including medical device, managed services, retail structured cabling, and nonprofits.

Andrea blends her passion for creating engaging events with her experience in Project Management, IT leadership, and Business Relationship Management and is thrilled to serve as this year’s Master of Ceremonies for Professional Development Day. Andrea has had her PMP since 2012, has attended numerous PMI events, and holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.

PDD 2024 Speakers

Wendy Babcock

Wendy Babcock is an International & TEDx Speaker, Author and the Paid Stage Speaker Coach. Her collaboration with Will Bowen, the world authority on cultivating a culture free from complaints, has been a defining aspect of her successful speaking career. Wendy's passion for this transformative message is echoed in her impactful presentations, making her a sought-after speaker on the global stage. She has been trained and certified as a Complaint Free Trainer by the founder of the Complaint Free World movement, Will Bowen.

Alongside her commitment to reducing negativity, Wendy also founded The Kindness Bucket Brigade, a Facebook group dedicated to eliminating online bullying and spreading compassion. Her initiatives have gained recognition from prominent publications such as Reader's Digest and The Wisconsin State Journal and have led to appearances on major television networks like ABC, NBC, and Fox47, shining a light on her passion for promoting kindness and empowerment through positive communication.

Wendy, also known as The Paid Stage Speaking Coach, has become a sought after expert helping female entrepreneurs add profitable speaking to their business to create another stream of income.

Shawn Belling

Shawn Belling, M.S., PMP, PMI-ACP, CSP, is a globally-experienced project management practitioner and instructor. He is a senior consultant for Farwell Project Advisors LLC and has held executive and management roles in software, consulting, bio-pharma, manufacturing, and regulatory compliance sectors. Shawn is also adjunct faculty at the University of Wisconsin with over 29 years of project and program management leadership experience. He teaches, speaks and consults on various project management topics and was awarded a PMI Kerzner Scholarship in 2008. Shawn writes about methodologies and project planning.

Tuan Ho

Born in Vietnam, Tuan Ho moved to Boston at 10 years old and quickly demonstrated his leadership potential, earning the Young Leader in Service recognition by Harvard’s Institute of Politics when he was just 15. Despite financial barriers, he displayed remarkable perseverance by writing 120 essays to secure 40 scholarships, amassing $500,000 in educational funds from esteemed institutions, including the Yawkey Foundation and NAAAP.

By 20, Tuan co-founded ScholarJet, reflecting his entrepreneurial spirit. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Northeastern University and an MBA from Quantic Institute of Business and Technologies. His commendable efforts earned him prestigious accolades like the Priscilla Chan Stride Fellowship, the Spark Impact Award, and features in BostInno’s 25 Under 25, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30 lists.

Tuan also lectures a graduate Engineering Innovation course at Northeastern University. Recently, he co-founded The Point AI, leading the organization as CEO. His journey, marked by resilience and determination, continues to inspire.

Jennifer Lang

Jennifer Lang is a Senior Project Manager at the University of Wisconsin with over 14 years of experience in herding cats (aka project management). Jennifer has a degree in Operations and Project Management, PMP certification, and started a UW Project Manager Community of Practice. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at a local animal shelter, baking, traveling, and spending time with family.

Barb Monson

With an impressive 26-year career that spans roles from entry-level clerk to CFO, Barb Monson has done it all. Her journey wasn't just a corporate climb; while working full-time and raising two children, she also achieved an MBA in Management.

With a keen understanding of today's work environment, she addresses pressing concerns with insight and innovation. She teaches leaders how to navigate the new era of individualism, delves into the underlying causes of trust issues, and offers strategic solutions instead of superficial fixes.

Whether captivating a room with her powerful presentations or providing one-on-one coaching, Barb's insights are both practical and profound. Her ability to bring out the potential in every team member isn't just a skill; it's a calling.

More than just a consultant, Barb has a unique ability to bridge the gap between employees' expectations and leaders' frustrations. Her hands-on experience at every level of corporate life enables her to connect with both sides of the organizational equation.

In a world where engagement and retention are increasingly challenging, Barb Monson stands out as a voice of reason, inspiration, and transformation. If you're looking to new energy into your leadership approach, look no further than Barb Monson. Her ability to connect and inspire is more than just talk; it's a proven path to success.

Joe Perzel

Joe Perzel has been leading projects of all sizes and managing staffs since 1982 in both a corporate and vendor capacity. He has a background in multiple industries such as healthcare, insurance, finance, government, manufacturing, non-profit and education. Presently Joe is Partner JPerzel Inc. as well as Portfolio Manager at Aon Corp. Previously he has held leadership positions at Surescripts, Cargill, Thomson Reuters, MN Workers Compensation Bureau and International Multifoods.

Joe has been speaking since 2002 on topics ranging from project leadership, management, strategy, negotiations/sales. He has presented keynotes, chapter meetings and workshops internationally to multiple corporate, government and non-profit organizations, over 20 PMI chapters, PMBA Conferences, PMI Global and Region 2, BBC (Building Business Capability) conference, International Institute of Business Analysts (IIBA) chapters, local and global Society for Quality (ASQ), Project Summit*BusinessAnalyst World (PMBA), International Project Management Assoc. (IPMA) and the PMO Impact Summit.

Nicki Vo

Nicki Vo is a distinguished industry veteran with 18 years under her belt in Chemical Research & Development. Holding an Executive MBA from a top-tier institution, she's been lauded as one of the top 40 MBA students nationwide by Poets & Quants in 2018. Her vast leadership experiences, and driving meaningful innovations through strategy, change management, and execution, have equipped her to share insights that are both profound and practical.

Roger Wolkoff

“The Guy with the Voice,” Roger is a professional emcee, personality guru, and voiceover artist. He helps you master your emotions before they master you. You hire him for his expertise in emotional intelligence and DiSC. He doesn’t give up on people; he believes they will find a way to move forward and improve. How does he do it? Roger’s emcee presence and programs are high content and motivational in style and tone. He delivers stories, ideas, and keys to unlock what’s already inside you.

Roger has over 20 years of expert interpersonal communication and team-building experience. Audiences rave about his most popular keynote Harnessing Emotional Intelligence: 6 Proven Techniques for Personal Growth. Clients regularly invite him back to emcee and host their events.

He is a certified Everything DiSC and Five Behaviors Authorized Partner who encourages leaders and teams to use their strengths to create better teams and clearer communication.

Roger lives in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a Past President of the National Speakers Association Wisconsin Chapter. He loves to travel, bike, and read science fiction. He is a big fan of baseball, pinball, and all things Tesla.

Rachel Yarger

Rachel Yarger, PMP, MBA, is a project management veteran with over 15 years of experience in defense contracting and biotech product development. Specializing in developing FDA-regulated diagnostic products, Rachel has built and led PMOs, implemented governance structures, and guided teams through novel development and complex project management. Passionate about mentoring, Rachel is dedicated to developing the next generation of project managers. Rachel leverages extensive experience to inspire and educate, bringing practical insights and strategic solutions to the forefront of project management.