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Michael P. Durbin(Adjunct professor at Saint Louis University and DeVry University)

Explore how the SDLC and BALC complement the project lifecycle.

BIO

Bob Keith (ASPE) presenting: Process Performance Analysis

Explore requirement types as well as learn various approaches and techniques that will lead you to requirements discovery.

BIO

Terry Longo from HP (Key Note  and End Note Speaker)

Terry will present a pioneering communication method that will aid business analyst and project managers in developing and sustaining a positive working

BIO

 Jody O’Loughlin

Using the Human Resource Development (HRD) Process Model you will discover how to identify, define and design objectives for evaluating the success of a business analysis effort.

BIO

Brad Utterbeck (HP Education Services) Interactive HP BA and IT Service Management Simulation

Why is it that people recognize the need for change and may want change, yet are so resistant to it? This Audience participative exercise demonstrates how Business Analysis, project teams, and IT Service Management best practices can work together to produce outcomes that will benefit the business.

BIO

Trent Soldwish-Zoole’ (CAIT) presenting: Survey of BA Deliverables

Explore and discuss sample templates and deliverables across a spectrum of BA activities focusing on Enterprise Analysis, Elicitation, Requirement Analysis, and Solution Assessment and Validation.

BIO

Nancy Whatley-Blaine (CAIT) presenting: Dismantling the Elephant

Session Objectives
1. Communication skills and strategies for addressing sensitive issues with diplomacy; 2. Collaborate and influence constructively in difficult situations; 3. Appropriate approaches for increased interpersonal effectiveness.

Session Description
Every day, we see them!  Those awkward, uncomfortable and emotionally charged situations we’re just not sure how to address.  You know, the “Elephant in the Room”…   Maybe it’s a difficult personality you have no choice but to work with – although you’d rather not.  Perhaps it’s the fact that no one respects your opinion – even though you know you’re right!  It could even be unfair circumstances that have left you holding the “short end of the stick”. Unclear of a course of action, we’re tempted to simply ignore them, hoping they’ll go away.  Problem is, of course, that these issues do just the opposite of what you’d like.  They grow, propagate and start breeding new problems.

There’s good news!  These “Elephants” can be overcome – successfully and permanently.  What’s more, they can empower you to achieve results you’ve never thought were possible.

Join Nancy Whatley-Blaine for Dismantling the Elephant.  An interactive and results-driven discussion on how to identify, address, and eliminate these “taboo topics” we try so hard to ignore, avoid and sweep under the rug. 

The session will end with participant examples, offering tangible steps that help you deal effectively with the “Elephants” in your life.

Michael P. Durbin, PMP

Recently joined Basler Electric in Highland, IL as a Project Manager in the engineering department.  Prior to this Michael was a PM at Saint Louis University in the Information Technology Services department. During his tenure at Saint Louis University, Michael presented at regional conferences on the topic of technology in education and in March of 2009 he co-presented at the Metro STL PMI Chapter on starting a Project Management Office.  He is a frequent adjunct professor and guest lecturer at Saint Louis University on the topic of project management, business analysis and technology in higher education. Michael received his B.S. from Millikin University in 1991 and his M.A. in 1995 from the University of Illinois, both in the area of Management Information Systems.  Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate at Saint Louis University and is working on a dissertation that will include research on the current state of project management in higher education. Additionally, he is an adjunct professor for Keller/Devry, a nationally accredited university, teaching both technology and project management courses.  Mr. Durbin has been a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) since July 1, 2007 and has worked in the Information Technology (IT) field, serving various roles, over the last 25 years.  In addition to education, he has worked in several other industries including; consumer product goods, insurance, law, manufacturing, electrical engineering,  and healthcare.

Robert D. Keith, PMP, CBAP

Bob Keith has more than 30 years of Information Technology expertise, encompassing business analysis, process development and delivery, project management, and program management consulting.  He has been a project manager for more than 100 IT projects, actively using business analysis techniques of process and data modeling in their delivery.  His experience includes full project life cycle activities, program management, PMI and CMM policies, standards and procedures, and project assessments.

As a senior manager, director and associate partner of Coopers and Lybrand, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, and IBM, Bob has successfully consulted with more than 70 Fortune 500 organizations as well as local, state and federal government institutions.  The last 20 years have been focused on consulting and education in the areas of systems development process, including business analysis and project management in support of business and IT process improvement and implementation.  He has trained more than 10,000 students over the past 22 years, and has delivered more than 500 seminars on business analysis, project management, and IT process, including analytical techniques, process and data modeling, requirements management, project management (including PMI specific) and project estimating, risk management, and communications.  

Some of Bob’s key accomplishments include successfully developing and delivering a customized training and communication program focused on project management, business analysis, and full IT lifecycle process, and supporting a major process improvement initiative for the largest power producer in the United States.  He has developed and delivered a business analysis technique process improvement program that resulted in increased productivity for the requirements gathering process of IT projects within a multi-state telecommunication organization. The program achieved a documented 35% productivity improvement over the 12-month project tenure.  As project manager on a CMM initiative, he successfully gained Level 2 certification for a company in 14 weeks. Bob has assessed one of the largest IT initiatives for a major insurance company using Project Management Institute (PMI) principals, Capability Maturity Model (CMM) guidelines, and PricewaterhouseCoopers best project management practices, recommending successful strategies to stabilize the operational procedures of the project.

Bob received his B.S/B.A. in Business and Marketing from the University of Kansas and his M.B.A. in Management Sciences from St. Louis University.  He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) by PMI and a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) by IIBA.

Bob has an ability to bring the real world into the classroom.  He strives to make the use of the course material very practical for all his students.

Terry Longo from HP (Key Note  and End Note Speaker)

Jody O’Loughlin is an adjunct professor at Webster University and teaches courses in the MBA/MA Management programs. She is also an Instructor for Business Analyst courses at Washington University through CAIT (Center for Advancement of Information Technology). Jody is also an IT professional that
has worked in the role of Business Analyst, Process Engineer, Test Engineer and Technical Writer at companies throughout St Louis such as Nestle Purina, Anheuser-Busch, MasterCard, and Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Her expertise lies in process decomposition, gathering and documenting functional and technical requirements, writing test plans, cases, and scripts, and managing the testing efforts, and writing technical documentation such as training manuals and white papers.

Trent Soldwish-Zoole is a practicing Business Analyst and Project Manager and Instructor for Business Analyst courses at Washington University through CAIT (The Center for Application of Information Technology).  With 20 years of IT experience, Trent has served in a variety of roles starting as a Systems Engineer and progressing to his current consulting role managing a small team of development engineers and analysts.  He has worked Telecommunications and Financial Services in the St. Louis area with A.G.Edwards/Wachovia/Wells Fargo, SBC/AT&T and Amdocs and consulted nationally with Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint.  In his early career, he led a development team in a manufacturing environment and holds the patent as the lead inventor.  His expertise is in relationship building, strategy, process analysis, use case development, and management.

Nancy Whatley-Blaine offers fresh perspectives and unconventional wisdom to address barriers to team performance running rampant within organizations.  She specializes in “simplifying the science of soft skills”, especially in tough to address areas such as conflict resolution, office politics, and difficult personalities.  
With 18 years’ experience as a consultant, project manager and facilitation professional, Nancy has led award-winning teams and helped organizations – in both the government and private sectors – achieve high-performance results.

Bradley(Brad) Utterback from HP( Interactive HP BA and IT Service Management Simulation)