Project Management Applications in the Casino Industry

For those who have ever set foot inside a casino it’s obvious there are a lot of moving parts --- standard slots, progressive slots, promotions, media signage, table games, player loyalty programs, etc., not to mention a very unique and regulated environment. Lorenz will enlighten us with an insider’s view of this unique industry from a systems / project management perspective. He will describe various project types including new installations, conversions, and upgrades; sharing both success stories and key lessons learned. It promises to be a fascinating evening!

PDU: 1

Location: Twisted Fork Restaurant

pdf Project Management in the Casino Industry Presentation (1.08 MB)

Lorenz Ledesma's Bio

Creating the CRCS: Planning and Executing Nonprofit Projects
The Canine Rehabilitation Center and Sanctuary (CRCS), is a rapidly growing 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. Kristen started this business on her own and raised seed money by putting coins in a jar. Now, CRCS has 11 employees, has been able to purchase 14,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, has begun a multi-million dollar renovation project and the thing Kristen is most proud of...... CRCS has gained enough respect in the industry and made such a name for itself that they get requests for help from top shelters across the United States and around the world. They have taken dogs in from as far away as Iran and as close as Canada and Mexico. Support in the way of donations has grown at just over a 1000% from year one. This year, CRCS will reach the half a million-dollar mark and is far from done in terms of growing. This rapid growth is the result of many different projects including successes, failures, and lessons learned. Kristen will describe her journey and how she led a team of employees, donors, supporters, volunteers (and the hundreds of dogs that came into her care) to stay focused and on course through it all.

PDU: 1

Kristen Ivey's Bio

Project Management Isn’t Enough: Essentials of Effective Sponsorship

Project management folklore (and PM product vendors) assure us that abundant spending on project management training and tools guarantees project success. Real world results disagree. While most organizations recognize a return on past investments in project management, many continue to be frustrated by projects that exceed schedule or budget goals, don’t deliver promised functionality or acceptable quality products, or fail outright. Was the whole “PM thing” more hype than substance? Has the ROI peaked? Will the next tool, method, process, or class solve the problem?

During his presentation, Payson Hall will argue that:

• Some projects cannot succeed as defined no matter how well they are managed, and
• Effective project management is necessary, but insufficient

Payson asserts the quality and availability of effective sponsorship can greatly enhance or severely restrict the effectiveness of project management practices. Sponsors establish project goals and organizational priorities, setting a context for project management. Sponsorship is essential for project success... yet poorly understood in some quarters and often difficult to secure.

This presentation is for project managers and sponsoring executives, providing practical insights to improving project success through better sponsorship by:

• Defining the Sponsor’s role and why it is essential
• Discussing how to ask for and encourage good sponsorship
• Exploring how effective sponsorship encourages more realistic expectations and better business decisions

Location: Twisted Fork South Reno

PDU: 1

Payson Hall's Bio

Reno Rodeo Foundation: Supporting the Community: 

The Reno Rodeo Foundation is committed to enhancing and enriching the lives of Northern Nevada families by aiding children with extraordinary needs, building community partnerships, providing grants and scholarships to eligible Northern Nevada high school graduates. As General Manager of the Reno Rodeo Association, George is involved in multiple foundation projects in addition to putting on the annual Reno Rodeo, “The Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West.” He will tell us about what goes into running all these multiple projects in support for Reno and the surrounding areas.

Location: Twisted Fork Restaurant

PDU: 1

George Combs's Bio: 

Powerful Non-Defensive Communication™ (PNDC): Cutting Edge Skills for Project Managers

Presenter: Jesse Combs, Founder/Principal Consultant, Clearstream Consulting, LLC and Partner, Institute of PNDC

For many project managers, being caught between multiple stakeholder groups with different expectations and agendas can lead to significant levels of anxiety and confusion. And when our personal defensive mechanisms are triggered in response, physiological changes in the brain occur which make it more difficult to think clearly and respond appropriately, ultimately rendering us less effective at resolving the issues at hand.
In this talk, Powerful Non-Defensive Communication or “PNDC” will be presented as an alternative method of responding to and navigating situations that have, in the past, consistently triggered our defensive reactions. We’ll first review the current “War Model” of communication, where “to be open is to be vulnerable and to be vulnerable is to be weak,” and corresponding physiology of defensiveness as well as the dynamics of power struggle. Then we’ll discuss a new way of using tools of communication like questions, statements, and predictions to shift away from outdated and obsolete methods of communicating, using real-world project management examples.

Location: Twisted Fork Restaurant

PDU: 1

pdf February Dinner Meeting Presentation (1.17 MB)

Jesse's Bio:

Design Input and Problem Solving Solutions

We start 2017 with a lively discussion led by Sharon Grundy about how to look at design and problem solving from all angles. One of the interesting challenges Project Managers face is getting too much input from some people and not enough from others. Sharon will guide us through a discussion of how to bring in all perspectives to ensure the best design or solution to a problem.

Location: Twisted Fork Restaurant

PDU: 1

  pdf January Dinner Meeting Presentation (775 KB)

Sharon's Bio