Dear PMI Volunteer Leader:

It's been my honor and privilege to serve as the president and CEO of PMI for the last eight years. I can't tell you how much I enjoy my job and how lucky I am to get to work with such a high caliber group of people every day. That's what makes the message I'm about to deliver so bittersweet. After much thought, I have made the decision to retire on January 15, 2011. For the new year, I'm going to enjoy more quality time with my family and dedicate time to the social and environmental causes that mean so much to me. While I look forward to this new chapter in my life, I will truly miss the excitement of continuing to lead the growth of this outstanding organization.

As I told all of you from the first day I joined PMI at the San Antonio Leadership Institute Meeting, PMI could not and will not be a success without the contributions of thousands of volunteer leaders around the world. At the most recent volunteer strategic planning meeting last January, I reinforced this belief when I shared that most of the day-to-day benefits of PMI membership and PMI credentials are made possible by our large group of dedicated volunteers. Nothing "just happens" without planning and preparation; you all know that better than anyone, and I appreciate your efforts to help PMI grow into the leading organization it has become today.

This month our board of directors will begin the process of conducting a rigorous search for my replacement. To ensure a seamless transition, the board will announce the appointment of a qualified successor in October.

Please take a moment to view my personal video message and please accept my sincere thank you for everything you have done to help advance the profession of project management and to grow PMI. I've enjoyed working with you, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for all of us.

I realize you might have questions regarding this leadership transition and if this is the case, I encourage you to send them to transition@pmi.org, where we will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

With warm regards and best wishes