SharePMI SoMD Chapter 2022 Board of Directors
Board of Directors |
President / CEO
Marina Prasek, PMP is the Project Office Manager at Mettler Toledo AutoChem. In her role, Marina is responsible for leading New Product Development projects. She is also the Owner of Project Management Processes, responsible for championing improvement initiatives and developing and delivering training workshops on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) for AutoChem. Marina started her career as a Physical Organic Chemist and held various positions in academia before moving to the corporate world. She has extensive experience with Product Lifecycles Management and managed product lines for the Defense market from business justification to product retirement. Marina has also served both as a subject matter expert (SME) and competitive market analyst in the submission of grants to federal funding agencies. to reach out to Marina, please email marina.prasek@pmisomd.org |
Vice President/President-Elect 2023
Harry Zolkower, PMP is Vice President of PMI of Southern Maryland and previously held positions as Assistant Vice President and Vice President of Membership. Harry is an accomplished program manager, project manager, business analyst, and scrum master at Salesforce.com, with over 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors and experience in several industries, including public housing, health care, IT, and education. He has experience in delivering Salesforce implementations with the ability to manage large, cross-divisional programs and teams in a complex environment and drive results. Excellent client-facing, customer service orientation, communication, critical thinking, multi-tasking, problem-solving, self-starter, time management, and analytical skills. Harry also volunteers for Project Management for Change and is leading the Continuous Value Delivery program globally. To reach out to Harry, please email harry.zolkower@pmisomd.org |
Assistant Vice President/Chief Operating Officer
Beth Tanner has spent the last thirty years learning and growing in the project management and IT fields. She spent the first part of her career in the nonprofit sector, primarily working with membership and professional organizations, and most recently has been working in higher education in various capacities. She is currently a government contractor for Zantech IT. She has an MBA and an MS in Technology Management, an undergraduate degree in Philosophy, and is working on a second BS in Computer Networking and Cybersecurity. She has been a PMP since 2011, used to be a CCXP, and has a handful of ITIL certifications. When she's not managing projects or conducting analysis, she is a writer and loves to cook, travel (when it's safe) and do genealogy. To reach out to Beth, please email beth.tanner@pmisomd.org |
Past President
Jeffrey (Jeff) Yellets is a Project Management Professional (PMP). He currently works for Spalding Consulting, Inc. as a PMO Manager. Previously, Jeff worked for Eagle Systems, Inc. in Business Development and for Brandes Associates as the Business Unit Director and the Director for Business Development, at SAIC, serving in various project and program management roles in NAWCAD in St. Inigoes, MD and at Honeywell where he served in various engineering and program management roles. He has a Masters of Science and Bachelors of Science in Chemical Engineering and has experience with complex project and program management. As a manager at Honeywell, he lead a team of engineers and scientists in the engineering, design, and delivery of advanced automation and control programs and projects. He has been a PMP and a member of the Southern Maryland PMI Chapter since 2010. To reach out to Jeffery, please email jeff.yellets@pmisomd.org |
Vice President of Membership and Community InvolvementSheryl LaGrange is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® and has been a member of PMI since 2015. She is an accomplished Program Manager who has successfully led projects by guiding and inspiring teams to provide client solutions that deliver value. Her project management experience spans the private sector, non-profit, international, and government organizations. She holds a BS from American University and MBA and MIM degrees from the University of Maryland, University College. She is also an active member of and participant in several professional associations and community organizations. To reach out to Sheryl, please email sheryl.lagrange@pmisomd.org |
Vice President of Finance
His projects management experience spans variety of technical and educational initiatives for both the public, private, and non-profit sectors. He has managed students’ art projects and exhibitions for many years. Jacob is originally from Ghana, started his career as an educator and has taught all grades, from high school to college levels students. He holds his master’s degree in art/ Education from University of Idaho. He has also obtained Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP), CompTIA Security+ CE Certifications. Mr. Commodore is pleased to now serve as a PMISOMD Board member and hope to grow further and contribute to the organization. Jacob has been engaging in volunteering work over the past years. In his free time, he makes art works and has passion for cooking. To reach out to Jacob, please email jacobo.commodore@pmisomd.org |
Vice President of Administration/Secretary
Rachelle Spencer currently works as a Management Analyst in Federal Human Resources. Rachelle is a native of the Washington DC metropolitan area, attending Howard University and earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Rachelle later attended American University, where she earned her Master of Public Administration degree from the Key Executive Leadership Program. Rachelle has obtained the Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) certifications. Rachelle enjoys volunteering and mentoring opportunities, using her talents and experiences to serve as the chapter's Youth and Social Impact Coordinator. In this role, Rachelle is responsible for leading youth outreach activities, to support and advance project management principles within the chapter's reach. Rachelle enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially her two fur-babies. |
Corporate Officers |
Director of Operations for Programs and EventsMichelle Weddington is a native of Maryland, but has had the pleasurable opportunity of holding residence in various location (most recently in Iowa - 10 years! -- 5 other US States, Montreal, QC and Brussels, Belgium). She has returned to the DMV with an expanded cultural and experiential diversity. Professionally, she holds an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland and a few undergraduate degrees and certifications, and is a member of the Project Management Community. Ms. Weddington enjoyed working as a Management Consultant (10+ yrs) and has been opportune to serve in a varied listing of arenas and industries, from NGOs & legal to education and healthcare. In earlier years, she served as a Registered Nurse and later transitioned into Business, Management & Consulting. Now with her company she enjoys planning/constructing events and using innate creativity in both professional and domestic settings. The events range from office seminars and university symposia to international business conventions. (etc.) Ms. Weddington's beginnings were from a relatively large family, with a very rich heritage and consisting of five other siblings. She holds dual citizenship, for both the US and Canada. She is pursuing fluency in Spanish and French, as she celebrates diversity and culture. Ms. Weddington is glad to now serve as a PMISOMD Board member and hope to grow further and contribute to the organization. To reach out to Michelle, please email michelle.weddington@pmisomd.org |
Director of Operations for Education and Certification/Military Outreach
Scott Johnson is a Project Management Professional (PMP) since March of 2019. He currently serves in the United States Air Force as an Aircraft Maintenance Assistant Manager. He has been serving since January 2008 and has worked on multiple different aircrafts such as the VC-25, C-32, and the AC-130U. He ran numerous projects inside of his Squadrons and deployed 5 times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Throughout his service, he has volunteered to manage and run different private organizations. In 2018 he was the 89th Air Wing Top 3 Professional Development Coordinator scheduling professional development briefs for over 300 Senior Non Commissioned Officers. Previously from 2015 to 2017, he was the Program Manager for the Total Force Development Council responsible for the scheduling of 40 facilitators who briefed John Maxwell Leadership principles to over 1,500 Joint Service members. Scott earned his Masters of Science in Aeronautics in 2016 and his Bachelor of Science in 2013 through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He is currently working on a Master of Education in Teaching through American Military University. He furthered his educational experience in 2019 by achieving his PMP and Airframe and Powerplant certification. He has been a member of the Southern Maryland PMI Chapter since 2020. |
Director of Operations for Website and Content Management
Dr. S. Raschid Muller Ph.D.,(PMP)® is a Cybersecurity Executive and United States Navy Veteran with 20 years of experience working in government and is at the helm of Cyber Watch Technologies, LLC as its Chief Executive Officer. While employed with the Department of Defense, he ran the following programs: Cybersecurity Infrastructure Tools (CSI) ($5 Million), Assured Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS) ($27 Million), and Joint Regional Security Stacks (JRSS) global deployment ($36 Million). He was the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) rotational engineer for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks & Information Integration (ASD-NII) and was the sole-source acquisitions lead for DISA, Air Force Network Integration Center (AFNIC), and US STRATCOM for cloud solutions ($47 Million). In an academic capacity, he served as the Defense Information Systems Agency Information Operations Chair and Visiting Professor at National Defense University from 2017 – 2019 where he taught technical and non-technical Cybersecurity courses to military commanders and senior leaders in the federal government. Dr. Muller was selected to the 2020 Class of The Brookings Institution Executive Education – LEGIS Congressional Fellowship and served on the House Committee for Homeland Security under the leadership of Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS). He was the cybersecurity technical SME assigned to the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation subcommittee that consisted of attorneys and analysts who drafted cyber policy. His portfolio consisted of oversight of the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), election security, cyber curriculum and development, cyber policy, and HBCU/MSI-STEM engagement for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He is also an Executive Leadership Academy Fellow at the University of California – Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy. Dr. Muller is a Life Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, a Life Member of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and has affiliations through Jack and Jill of America, The Links Inc. (Connecting Link), and is an active Prince Hall Shriner (A.E.A.O.N.M.S., Inc.). To reach out to Raschid, please email dr.raschid.muller@pmisomd.org |
Director of Operations for Volunteerism
Keisha A. Nelson works as a Senior SharePoint Administrator and IT Project Manager at USDA and is responsible for leading and executing SharePoint initiatives within the Department. In her role, Keisha serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME), SharePoint Evangelist and Customer Experience Champion by leading ad-hoc teams to deliver quality products by continuously improving business processes. As a Better Government Ambassador and USDA IT Fellow, Keisha has the remarkable ability to successfully combine customer experience success with effective long-term strategic planning. Keisha has a strong technical and teaching background. She is known for her ability to be able to communicate technical information in a way that is understandable to all audiences. She holds a Master’s degree in Information and Telecommunications Systems from Johns Hopkins University, and two Bachelor of Science degrees in Information Systems and Health Information systems, respectively from the University of Maryland – Baltimore County. Keisha has a passion for community service and enjoys making a difference in the lives of others through consistent community service. She is a mentor to young girls, as well as a Girl Scout troop leader and an Election Judge. Keisha is also an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and looks forward to sharing her skills and talents with the Southern Maryland PMI chapter. Keisha received her PMP certification in October 2019 and has been a member of the Southern Maryland PMI chapter since 2019. To reach out to Keisha, please email keisha.nelson@pmisomd.org |
Director of Operations for Communications Tony is an accomplished program manager, Sr project manager, and scrum master at Soft Tech Consulting, Inc, with over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors working on projects in telecommunications, software development and release management. Excellent client-facing, customer service orientation, communication, critical thinking, multi-tasking, problem-solving, self-starter, time management, and analytical skills. Tony also volunteers for Charles County Special Olympics and Down Syndrome Association of Southern Maryland. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. serving on their District Rules Committee and History/Archives. He is married to his wife Dian (15 years) and has two sons Evan and Stormie.
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Members at Large |
Member at Large Married for 18 years, Natika has 2 daughters (15 & 10) and a dog. In her spare time, she enjoys working out with her husband, reading fiction novels that allow her to check out mentally, and relaxing at the beach. Natika looks forward to reaching out to members of the PMI-SoMD from Calvert County to increase engagement and participation in all of the virtual events being planned by this chapter. |
Member at Large Professionally, Ryan serves as a Vice President and IT Portfolio Manager at Resource Management Concepts (RMC). During his tenure, he has been responsible for collaborating and managing relationships with more than 200 Navy Program Offices, as well leading a workforce of more than 250 IT professionals. Specific areas of expertise include Mission Assurance Strategy, Program Management, Navy RDT&E Virtualization, Navy Validation (RMF), Cyber Operations, and Agile implementation and consultation. |
Member at Large
He served in a variety of ground and airborne command and control systems in the CONUS and Far East. He retired from the Air Force in 2004 and accepted an appointment to the Executive Office of the President in the White House Drug Policy Office, where he was responsible for the Afghanistan opium portfolio and the President’s Afghanistan Counternarcotics Strategy. In 2005, he returned to the Air Force as Associate Director, Warfighting Systems Integration and Delivery, in the SAF Office of Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer. He joined Leidos (formerly SAIC) in 2009 as a senior defense analyst and capture manager. He left Leidos in 2019 and served in the US Department of State, Office of Emergency Management, as deputy chief of plans and State Liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the start of the COVID Pandemic. He accepted his current position in the F-25 Joint Program Office in May 2020. Mr. Kennedy is currently employed by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). Mr. Kennedy resides in Waldorf, Maryland. He is a private pilot and long-distance runner. |
Member at Large
Nikia is Mommy to three beautiful children – Camryn Samiyah (10), Corryne Asia (7), Roman Amir Roosevelt (6) and wife to Dr. S. Raschid Muller. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Southern Maryland Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. and Vice President/Membership Chair of the Southern Maryland Chain (MD) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated. A proud Combat Veteran of the United States Air Force, some of her hobbies and interests include reading, dance (ballet, tap & jazz) and public speaking. She is a member of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, MD. |
Member at Large
Margaret “Maggie” Cornett is Chief Information Officer at URAC, an independent, nonprofit healthcare accreditation organization. Committed to assisting in the provision of the highest quality of healthcare and with over 40 years of experience, in the hospital & health care industry, she is skilled in Healthcare Consulting, Health Informatics, Physician Relations, U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Healthcare Information Technology (HIT). Maggie acquired her PMP in 2019. She holds a BSN from Penn State University and a MS focused on Computer Systems Management from University of Maryland University College. An avid, but novice gardener Maggie also volunteers with the Greenbelt Animal Shelter. |
Jacob Commodore is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP)® and became a member of PMI in 2021. He has worked on projects locally and internationally. 
Anthony "Tony" Zanfordino, PMP is Director of Communication for PMI of Southern Maryland. He received his PMP in 2005. 
Natika White, is one of the newest Members-at-Large for the Project Management Institute of Southern Maryland. Natika is a Sr. Manager at an investment firm that focuses on helping government sector employees build retirement security. She has been in the financial services industry for 23 years.
Ryan Gravelle, PMP currently serves as a PMI of Southern Maryland Member at Large. Ryan is an accomplished project, program, and portfolio manager with more than 20 years of experience supporting a variety of technical and educational initiatives for both the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
Retired Air Force Colonel, Mr. John Kennedy, is a Program Manager for the Block 4, F-35 Lightning II, supporting the Development Foundation Program for Flight Test and Labs in the F-35 Joint Program Office. He has more than 40 years’ experience in military operations and the Defense and National Security community. He has held a PMI Project Management Professional certificate since 2016. Mr. Kennedy earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Master of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Kennedy served more than 26 years on active duty with the Air Force during which he earned ratings as a master weapons director and senior air battle manager with more than 1,300 flying hours in the E-3 AWACS.
Dane’ Muller is a contract and acquisition analyst for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She holds a B.A. in Public Relations from North Carolina A&T State University, an M.A. in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix and is a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree (Product Management concentration) at Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland.