Our Volunteers

Thank You All!

As a nonprofit organization that relies entirely on the voluntary efforts of our members, the Project Management Institute - San Diego Chapter is deeply appreciative of the following individuals who have contributed their time, skills, and energy to our cause. They have been instrumental in creating, leading, and driving networking opportunities that connect project management professionals from various sectors in San Diego. We thank them for their hard work and dedication.

Chapter President

	Robin Datko	President	[email protected]
	Robin is a highly motivated individual passionate about connecting with others and fostering their success. She aims to leverage her strong interpersonal skills to create a positive impact within the chapter and among its members. Whether leading a team or engaging with the community, Robin prioritizes building robust relationships where everyone feels valued and respected. Committed to continuous growth, she actively seeks challenges to expand her skills and remain abreast of industry trends. With her enthusiasm and determination, Robin is poised to contribute significantly to achieving the chapter's objectives.
	MayaGrace Weiss	Chief of Staff	[email protected]
	MayaGrace Weiss is Executive Director of Annual Conference Planning and Execution for PMI San Diego. MayaGrace brings over 15 years of experience in strategic event planning, business leadership, and community engagement to PMI. She leads the chapter’s flagship events, fostering professional growth and industry collaboration. Her background includes international business ownership, nonprofit leadership, and project management. MayaGrace is known for her collaborative leadership style, operational excellence, and passion for building event experiences that inspire lasting connections.
	Manny Borja	Volunteer Engagement Manager	[email protected]
	Manny Borja is an IT and Project Operations leader with over a decade of experience building high-performing teams and scalable frameworks across Academic Publishing, Healthcare, and Property and Casualty Insurance. He specializes in workflow design, IT service management, and driving adoption through clear processes and data-driven decisions. He is passionate about mentoring and developing talent. As Volunteer Engagement Manager for the PMI San Diego Chapter, he strengthens volunteer programs and aligns engagement with strategic goals.

Membership

	Robyn Gerdes	VP of Membership	[email protected]
	Robyn Gerdes is VP of Membership for PMI-SD. She has 19 years of experience as a Project Manager and earned her PMP in 2009. Currently she works on privacy regulatory projects created in response to new privacy laws across the globe. Robyn has worked in both the private and public sectors in the areas of compliance, medical research, and auditing. She looks forward to building the PMI-San Diego community and responding to the needs of members.
	Sheena Sellers	DVP of Membership	[email protected]
	Sheena Sellers is Deputy Vice President of Membership for PMI San Diego, bringing more than a decade of experience in project operations, contracting, procurement, acquisition, and stakeholder management. A military spouse with a master’s in Acquisition and Supply Chain Management, she is a Certified ScrumMaster and champions membership engagement, professional development, and military-connected career opportunities.
	Bill Baxter	Membership Military Liaison	[email protected]
	Bill Baxter has a range of industry experience: aerospace engineering in the defense industry, IT systems analysis and then marketing for a distribution company, technical sales support for one telecommunications company (and project management for another), communications cabling system design and data center design for an architecture and engineering company, and data center strategy for a global financial services company. Bill also has a great deal of experience in helping folks prepare for and pass the PMP certification exam. Bill’s broad background enables him to help many folks, as they endeavor to strategize their career advancement.
	Phuong Pursey	Membership Military Liaison	[email protected]
	Phuong Pursey is a PMP-certified professional with a background in quality control, chemical manufacturing, and pharmaceutical operations. As a veteran, military spouse, and mom, she is honored to serve as PMI San Diego's Military Membership Liaison. Phuong is passionate about supporting and connecting service members, veterans, and their families while fostering engagement within the project management community. Through this role, she looks forward to helping military affiliated professionals build connections, share experiences, and access valuable PMI resources.
	Pei-Ling Chu	Event Coordinator	[email protected]
	Pei-Ling has a background in Computer Science, and obtained her Project Management certification in 2009. She began her career at IBM as a Software Engineer. She later moved to the south of France to join Amadeus, a leading global travel technology company, as a Project Manager. After acquiring digital design and web design certifications, she now works as a Digital Marketing Specialist for real estate agents, designing web pages and optimizing their SEO. She is also volunteering as communication manager for PMI-France.
	Shima Rahimian	New Member Coordinator	[email protected]
	Shima Rahimian began her PMI journey at the PMI Japan Chapter and has been PMP-certified since 2023. She is now a volunteer through the PMI San Diego Chapter, serving as a New Member Coordinator. Shima is passionate about supporting new members, helping them get connected, and ensuring they have a positive and valuable experience with PMI. Shima holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and started her career in engineering before transitioning into senior program and product management roles. With a strong technical background, she brings experience in Agile, stakeholder management, and product management to her work.
	Sepehr Safadar	Member Survey Coordinator	[email protected]
	Sepehr Safadar is a PMP-certified Operations and Project Leader with a Master’s in Management and experience in process improvement, organizational development, and project management. He has led initiatives focused on improving efficiency, strengthening operations, and supporting sustainable business growth. Sepehr enjoys identifying practical solutions, building strong stakeholder relationships, and creating effective processes that help organizations and teams perform at their best.
	Leo Lua	Member Survey Coordinator	[email protected]
	Leo Lua is a PMP-certified and Operations Professional with an MBA and experience in healthcare, facilities management, business operations and process improvement. Has led and coordinated projects focused on improving efficiency, managing vendors, strengthening operations and delivering business results. Combinations of project management and Lean Six Sigma expertise with strong analytical and stakeholder management skills to solve problems, improve processes and deliver results.
	Menelik Israel	Membership Graphic Designer	[email protected]
	Menelik Israel contributes graphic design, content development, and project coordination to PMI San Diego. His volunteer work includes researching and designing the historical exhibit for the chapter’s 40th Anniversary celebration. He holds a B.A. in Political Science with an Economics concentration and a certificate in Markets and Management from Duke University. With over four years of experience in program and operations coordination, he brings an organized, collaborative approach to developing creative materials and incorporating stakeholder feedback. Through his design work, he aims to help members connect with chapter programs, resources, and professional development opportunities.

Outreach

	Jake Torres	Deputy Vice President	[email protected]
	Jake currently serves as a Solutions Manager at Maximus, aiming to establish himself as the company's foremost authority on chatbot technology. In his leisure time, he is deeply engaged in learning about cutting-edge technology, focusing particularly on machine learning and AI.
	Nick Scarpello	Outreach Community Liaison	[email protected]
	Nick is a Program Manager with more than 10 years of experience managing global marketing creative services, brand operations, and business transformation initiatives. His management approach embraces a focus on helping teams build cross-functional relationships that enhance collaboration, promote transparency, and incorporate human-centered design practices into business process design. Nick has served Fortune 1000 businesses in life sciences, telecommunications and consumer goods for over 10 years and earned his PMP certification in 2023.
	Mary Ann Dávila	Social Impact Outreach Coordinator	[email protected]
	Mary Ann Dávila, M.S., M.B.A., is a creative project management professional with extensive experience in tourism, recreation, and hospitality. Earning her PMP certification in 2024, she specializes in leading sustainable recreation and tourism initiatives, developing impactful sales and marketing strategies, and empowering the next generation through teaching and mentorship. Her diverse background spans government, non-profit, and private sectors, where she excels at managing impactful projects and cultivating successful collaborations.
	Omar Saleem	Associate VP of Outreach - Marketing Engagement & Digital Platforms	[email protected]
	Omar Saleem is an experienced marketer having worked with global technology vendors, startups, investment firms, a telecom services provider, a global market intelligence and consulting firm, and various non-profit organizations - engaging customers across the Australia, Asia-Pacific, North America, Middle East & Africa regions. He is a long time volunteer with the PMI as a chapter board member, head of memberships and retention, and more recently, Omar advises PMI on its DEI initiatives.

Marcom

	Brian Snell	Graphic & Content Designer	[email protected]
	Brian Snell is an experienced Project Manager in the Saskatchewan potash industry, overseeing multi-scope underground and surface projects with a focus on safety, cost control, and clear communication. He excels at coordinating diverse personnel groups, developing competitive proposals, and establishing repeatable systems that improve reporting accuracy, enhance productivity, and strengthen client trust. Brian is known for his steady leadership, commitment to continuous improvement, and ability to keep complex projects moving efficiently from planning through execution.
	Casey Sherrell	Website Coordinator	[email protected]
	Casey is a Senior Business Analyst currently working as an Implementations Specialist in the logistics and enterprise technology space, with extensive experience delivering solutions across the software development lifecycle for complex financial settlement, logistics, eCommerce, and SAP/ERP-based systems. Since earning his PMP® certification in 2014, he has applied structured project and change management practices to large-scale implementations and enhancements, coordinating stakeholders, clarifying requirements, and guiding work from initial analysis through configuration, testing, and stabilization in production environments.
	Monali Ppaatil	Marketing Coordinator	[email protected]
	Program Manager with 10+ years of experience in healthcare, biotech, and research. Excited to contribute as a Marketing Coordinator with the San Diego PMI team in collaboration with dynamic professionals, she is skilled in leading projects, optimizing workflows, ensuring compliance, and driving strategic initiatives.

Professional Development

	Athena Lai	Vice President	[email protected]
	Athena Lai is a software program and project leader with extensive experience in the medical device, semiconductor and financial services industries.  She is known for her problem solving skills, adaptability, and helping teams unblock their project execution challenges. Athena's software project and product management journey has included mobile and web applications, an e-commerce site and a real-time U.S. equities trading systems. Athena enjoys helping Project Managers start their project management careers and supporting their career progression which is why in 2025 she serves as the Vice President of Professional Development and continues to lead the chapter's mentorship program since 2016.
	Victor "Sonny" Anderson	Deputy Vice President	[email protected]
	Sonny is a CAPM-certified Systems Project Manager whose 15 years as a machinery technician—spanning repairs across Africa, Korea, Israel, and Bahrain—now inform his work in process improvement and data analysis. That hands-on foundation shapes a thorough, resourceful approach grounded in PMI's iterative, adaptable methodology. Sonny also brings a mindfulness-driven leadership style, helping teams stay grounded and make sharper decisions under pressure. As Deputy Vice President of Professional Development, he's proud to give back to his hometown chapter, offering fellow PMI professionals a rare technician's-eye view of mechanical project management.
	Megan Bonifacino	Mentorship Program Director	[email protected]
	Megan Bonifacino is a certified PMP® and senior program manager who builds structure to support growth, for teams, for systems, and for people. With over 15 years of experience leading cross-functional work across consumer products and defense sectors, she brings a grounded, human-centered approach to her work, balancing strategic clarity with the belief that meaningful progress happens through connection, curiosity, and reflection. Her work lives at the intersection of strategy and human connection. At Kenvue, Megan leads global programs that bridge innovation and execution, supporting governance and collaboration within the Neutrogena Skin Care portfolio. She is known for building structures that create space for alignment, for momentum, and for teams to grow with intention. As a former mentor in the PMI San Diego Mentorship Program, she experienced firsthand the power of a thoughtful conversation at the right time. Now, as Mentorship Program Coordinator, she helps others find those moments, building relationships that foster curiosity, confidence, and momentum along the way.
	Jess Johnson	Mentorship Coordinator	[email protected]
	Jess holds a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® credential and is a Certified Scrum Master®, bringing over 25 years of experience spanning education, business operations, and hospitality management. Her multidisciplinary background supports a practical, people-centered approach to project coordination, program design, and team development. After participating in both PMI San Diego mentorship coaching pod cohorts in 2025, Jess found the experience to be highly valuable and inspiring. She is excited to serve as the Mentorship Coordinator, contributing to an inclusive professional community and helping create meaningful, well-structured connections.
	Mary Ann Shannon	Professional Development Program Manager	[email protected]
	Mary Ann Shannon is an operations professional with more than 15 years in clinical project management, lab operations support, and process optimization in life sciences. She holds a PMP certification and is trained as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, bringing a strong foundation in continuous improvement and operational excellence. As an adaptive learner with excellent communication and creative problem-solving abilities, Mary Ann leads through influence and uses a servant-leadership style that fosters collaborations and builds high-trust teams. She is committed to professional development and is eager to leverage her skills and experience to support teams across the organization.
	Chelsea Dixon	Professional Development Program	[email protected]
	Chelsea is a Senior Project Manager, PMP, and Certified ScrumMaster passionate about helping people, improving processes, and building meaningful connections. She believes the best projects are built through collaboration, organization, and continuous learning. Outside of work, you’ll find her tending to her ever-growing plant collection, reading, and exploring San Diego while always looking for new opportunities to learn and grow.

Finance

	Brian Roark	Vice President	[email protected]
	Brian's background includes 24 years of IT and leadership experience across several industries including automotive, semiconductor and financial services. He has built and run several teams ranging from IT Service Delivery, Project Management, SaaS Implementation, Infrastructure, Telco, Budgeting, Vendor Management, and Hardware/Software Asset Management. Brian excels at building relationships inside and outside of the enterprise and is naturally inclined to simplify processes, technology, and the interconnections between the two. As the VP of Finance, Brian plans lean into his strengths and lead the PMI-SD Finance team to becoming the best in the country by further simplifying our processes, documenting those processes thoroughly, and automating as much as possible.
	Tanja Pijpart-Van Tooren	Deputy Vice President	[email protected]
	Tanja transitioned from the Programs team to the Finance team in 2025. She is excited to collaborate with the VP to enhance the chapter's financial processes, leveraging her experience as an Operations Manager for a Dutch biotech company in the US. A certified PMP, Tanja brings over 20 years of diverse experience across multiple sectors in the US and Europe. From organizing and managing events for the Aerospace Industry to overseeing a network of technical experts, she thrives on tackling new challenges, continuously learning, and applying her transferable skills to drive impact. Tanja currently resides in San Diego, CA, where she moved with her family in February 2020 after living in South Carolina for seven years. Previously, she lived in the Netherlands and spent her childhood in Indonesia. Tanja enjoys traveling and exploring different cuisines. To unwind, she bakes and loves to get lost in a good book.
	Adena Brandt	Financial Analyst	[email protected]
	Adena is a strategic project and program leader with a reputation for converting “pie-in-the-sky” vision into executable enterprise programs. Her portfolio spans end-to-end commercialization, capital improvement, and vertical integration from manufacturing through distribution, retail and hospitality. She is known for implementing PMO governance and stage-gate discipline in high-growth, ambiguous environments, uniting teams across functions to deliver measurable enterprise outcomes. As a founder, she commercialized a patented, living consumer product that gained attention from Shark Tank and built nationwide presence in zoos, aquariums and tourist destination gift shops. Her experience includes scaling pork product across all Target and Walmart locations nationwide, contributing to newsworthy sustainability initiatives in wastewater and solid waste, and executing some of the largest beer festivals in California. Adena holds an MBA, PMP, and advanced financial systems expertise, grounding strategy in operational and financial reality.
	Vinita Kapur	Finance PM	[email protected]
	Vinita Kapur is a project manager with PMP and advanced project management certifications. Her experience spanning over two decades, work experience in oil and gas, defense, telecommunications industries and spread over 5 continents. Her projects and programs have been critical technological innovations (5G,4G,3G chipsets) and business return drivers (1 billion dollar DoD contracts) that have shaped portfolio strategies. Currently she is working on projects that enhance innovation and efficiency at workplace and in education.

Programs

	Mugdha Khaladkar	Vice President	[email protected]
	Mugdha applies her skills and knowledge in agile/hybrid project management, technical documentation, and process improvement to support delivering innovative and quality healthcare solutions. She has a Master of Science in Engineering/Industrial Management from Marshall University. With over four years of experience in project and process management, Mugdha has worked with diverse teams and clients across various industries, including Thermo Fisher Scientific, Honda of America, and Wipro Limited. She is passionate about enhancing efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction through effective planning, coordination, and communication. Mugdha’s core competencies include problem-solving, stakeholder management, risk management, and data analysis.
	Zsofia Kormendi	Programs Event Coordinator	[email protected]
	Zsofia Kormendi is an operations and project management professional with extensive experience in the startup environment. As a former Director of Operations at a local startup managing over 350 active projects, she specialized in optimizing workflows and building scalable processes. Now, as a freelancer, she helps entrepreneurs and small businesses streamline operations and build systems that support real, sustainable growth.
	Tori Simon	In-Person Events Program Manager	[email protected]
	Tori is a PMP-certified Project Manager with extensive experience leading complex clinical operations and multi-site global trials. She has successfully streamlined workflows, optimized cross-functional teams, and delivered measurable impact across patient recruitment, study efficiency, and operational processes. Currently at ICON, Tori coordinates cross-functional teams to ensure smooth execution of global clinical trials, drawing on prior experience managing study expansion and operational strategy at Orso Health and supporting device and heart failure research at San Diego Cardiac Center. As PMI San Diego’s In-Person Events Manager, she channels her problem-solving mindset and passion for bringing people together to create engaging, high-impact events that strengthen the chapter community and foster meaningful connections.

Operations

	Michelle Gregoire	Vice President	[email protected]
	Michelle Gregoire is a dedicated leader known for her keen attention to detail, tenacity, and commitment to continuous improvement. She thrives in optimizing processes, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring smooth operations. Her ability to listen actively and connect with others allows her to foster strong relationships and drive meaningful change. At her core, Michelle values integrity, respect, and service. Whether leading a team, supporting a project, or championing the arts, she approaches each role with a dedication to uplifting others and driving lasting impact. As VP of Operations, Michelle is excited to support operations with PMI San Diego. Michelle graduated from SDSU in 2008, receiving a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management, and completed their Project Management Professional Certificate program in 2024. She has also been an owner of a small business since 2018.
	Patricia Goueth	Board of Directors Documentation Coordinator	[email protected]
	Patricia Goueth is a purpose-driven operations professional, based in Carlsbad, CA. She is passionate about elevating people, enabling success, and always delivering measurable value. Shaped by mentors who challenged and believed in her, she brings a relentless drive for excellence, a focus on results, and the courage to take risks to everything she does. Patricia strives to live with intention, lead with heart, and make a meaningful difference in every space she enters. As Operations Coordinator, Patricia can't wait to support operations with PMI San Diego!
	Dominique Ortiz	Board of Directors Meeting Coordinator	[email protected]
	Dominique Ortiz recently earned a CAPM certification and is passionate about project coordination, operations, and creating people-focused experiences. Dominique is excited to continue growing within the project management community and contribute to PMI San Diego as an Operations Coordinator volunteer.
	Alka Rani	Operations Coordinator, General Support	[email protected]
	Alka Rani is a PMP-certified Program Manager with experience supporting executive leadership, cross-functional operations, governance, and strategic initiatives across the U.S., Middle East, and India. She has worked in IT and digital transformation environments, supporting global teams through program coordination, process improvement, executive operations, stakeholder management, and organizational governance initiatives. As an Operations Coordinator volunteer with the PMI San Diego Chapter, Alka looks forward to contributing to the PMI community, collaborating with fellow professionals, and supporting chapter operations and growth.

Technology

	Elmira Mazloomian	Vice President	[email protected]
	Elmira is an experienced software architect and project engineering manager, with a proven track record in innovative projects spanning Auto Telematics, IoT, wireless 5G, and LTE Broadcast. She is passionate about integrating new technologies, such as AI tools, to enhance project management while focusing on the human aspect and leadership to boost productivity and efficiency.
	Darren Dellaripa	Director VP of Technology	[email protected]
	Darren is a seasoned Project Management Professional with a foundation in Lean Six Sigma, PMP, and ScrumMaster methodologies who excels in developing and implementing strategies that optimize efficiency, reduce costs, and exceed client expectations. With a diverse range of expertise, including program and project management, property and facility management, capital improvement projects, strategic planning, and organizational change management, Darren's experience spans industries, from technology and real estate to retail and hospitality. He's passionate about driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and ensuring the effective utilization of technology to support the project management community. He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with well over a dozen years of experience in each: project management, entrepreneurship, and technical and operations consulting.
	Colin Theseira	Director of Technology	[email protected]
	As a seasoned IT leader with over two decades of experience with several multinational companies, Colin specializes in delivering large-scale cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity projects while balancing technical execution with global governance. His experience spans identity governance (IGA and IAM) and complex regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions, leading Responsible AI initiatives, guiding enterprises in building Artificial Intelligence Management Systems (AIMS) to align with ISO 42001, the NIST AI RMF, and the EU AI Act.