The PMI MN 2026 Board of Directors elections are live!
PMI MN Chapter members are invited to vote in the election from 8:00 a.m. on Thursday September 4, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. on Friday September 19, 2025.
Be on the lookout for email communications from PMI Global with instructions for how to vote. Candidate profiles are available to review during the voting process. We welcome your participation, every vote counts!
The following positions are open for the 2026 election:
· Director at Large (2 positions)
· Director of Finance
· President Elect (three-year commitment: President Elect, President, Past President)
Board candidates will be available to meet at the upcoming Military Outreach event scheduled for Monday, September 15th. Event registration and details can be found here.
If you are interested in board service in the future and wondering how to qualify, please review the qualification criteria to put yourself in the best position to run.
Questions? Please send an email to the PMI MN Nominating Committee at: [email protected]
PMI-MN Nominating Committee
For the 2026 Board
Melissa Sprenger
Nancy Mwaura
Edith Ujuagu
Nate Ogren
President-Elect Candidate
Guhan Vaidyanathan
I have been a chapter member of PMI-MN for over 9 years, and I have been an active volunteer since 2023. Through the Minnesota chapter, I have volunteered with Professional Development Days in 2023 and 2024, and Chaired the Professional Development Committee for the year of 2024, giving me a great opportunity to meet excellent industry professionals, and improve my own knowledge and skills. I am currently a Director-at-Large acting as a liaison with the PD team and working closely with the current President and the President-Elect on events planned through 2025.
In my roles with the Chapter, I have brought in new speakers (David Espindola, Karen Fomafung, Kim Essendrup), started new programs (International Women’s Day event, Agile and AI Day events) and connected with partner organizations (Best Buy) to establish new relationships. I have also encouraged and supported our chapter members to volunteer and take on leadership roles, and helped them plan out their chapter activities.
As President-Elect, I will first and foremost support the President of our Chapter in planning and overseeing the events of the year, taking on as much responsibility as can be delegated to me. I will engage with PMI Global to align our programs to Global Standards and adapt to the changing and evolving landscape of Program and Project Management. I will also bring in partnership with other nearby chapters to exchange ideas and determine how we could collaborate to improve our reach and our relevance to our audience.
I would also like to support the chapter to put ongoing review measures and proactive steps to address raising our Membership levels and to develop programs and events of interests to the general program management community as a whole.
I will initiate special programs to create mutually beneficial partnerships for the MN chapter with major organizations based out of Minnesota, and to become the primary source for supporting them with the latest development of management skills from the industry. To this effect, I have already connected with a few organizations and have been working on a proposal to participate in an annual Lunch ‘n Learn event that our Chapter members could present.
My approach to leadership consists of 3 primary factors: Communication, Value Addition and Visibility.
Communication from our leadership to our members, as well as receiving feedback from our members back to our board.
Value Addition by bringing on relevant topics and industry recognized speakers to our events.
Visibility by improving our reach not only through our Marketing and Outreach strategies, but establishing our presence as a go-to organization recognized as the place where Project Management aspects are defined and guidance provided for practitioners within this industry.
I will practice what I do at work, by creating an Objectives and Key Results approach that each of our Committee teams can develop to have a better vision and a roadmap for what they want to accomplish and how they can measure their own progress.
I thank you for considering my application, and I will continue to serve the Chapter as a committed volunteer regardless of the decisions made for this election.
Director of Finance Candidate
Melissa Merchant
Melissa has been an active member of PMI-MN for the past four years, serving on the board in 2024 and currently managing the Mentorship Program. She brings not only a strong project management background but also extensive expertise in corporate finance and accounting. From 2016 to 2019, Melissa worked as a financial analyst at a Fortune 500 company, specializing in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning. She has also held accounting and managerial finance roles supporting several small businesses and a nonprofit. Melissa holds an undergraduate degree in finance with a minor in accounting. She is excited to support our members, programs, and volunteers by strengthening PMI-MN’s financial planning and strategy. In the role of Treasurer, she aims to ensure clear, transparent reporting and sustainable financial practices that will help the chapter continue to thrive and grow.
Director at Large Candidates
Matthew J. Olsen-Kelley, MBA, PMP, CSM
I am currently a supervisor for a Project Management (PM) team working for the State of Minnesota, with over 20 years of experience in the PM field. My extensive background includes leading cross-functional teams in technical, creative, marketing, research, legislative, and business development initiatives, often involving multi-million dollar projects. I excel in innovating and delivering strategies that motivate teams, engage customers, and drive projects to success.
In addition to my civilian career, I am a retired 22-year Army veteran. My military service culminated in the role of First Sergeant of the 88th Regional Readiness Command, where I led and assisted enlisted soldiers as they transitioned into a new command support structure.
Currently, I serve as the Chair for the PMI-MN Outreach Committee. I take great pride in spreading the organization's message to the community, assisting with planning multiple events, and conducting military outreach to veterans and service members.
Having dedicated over 35 years to serving the State of Minnesota and the Army, service to others is the cornerstone of my ethos. My leadership style is built on three pillars:
- Empower staff to reach their goals – Provide them with the necessary tools to succeed and then step back to let them shine.
- Lead teams with a strategic focus – Ensure the team aligns with the overall strategic goals of the department and organization. Understanding the "why" behind decisions helps staff own their work and feel they are contributing to the greater organizational goals.
- Be kind and give grace – Recognize that the people within the teams and organization are the key to success. Every team member brings unique skills to the table, and my role is to help them become the best they can be by providing encouragement and guidance.
Tom Sulzer Chief Technical Officer Masterplan ERP, MS, PMP
I am running for Director at Large because I believe in the importance of advancing PMI-MN’s mission and strengthening our chapter's role within the broader PMI Global community. With over five years of volunteer service with PMI-MN, I bring a deep understanding of our chapter’s operations, challenges, and long-term goals. This experience positions me to navigate the evolving landscape, especially as we prepare for impactful changes like the Single Payment initiative from PMI Global. I’m confident that my familiarity with our chapter and ability to consider diverse perspectives will allow me to contribute meaningfully to strategic decisions.
What they hope to do in their position:
As a Director at Large, I aim to support the successful implementation of new policies and provide thoughtful input on existing challenges with a focus on practical, sustainable solutions. I believe in servant leadership and the power of collaboration to drive improvement. Drawing on my personal values—as a husband and father of three Eagle Scouts—I bring a strong sense of responsibility, commitment, and a drive to leave things better than I found them. These values guide my approach to every initiative I take on, and I look forward to applying them in service of our chapter.
Anna Flewellan
My name is Anna Flewellen, and I currently serve as the Membership Chair for PMI-MN. In this role, I’ve focused on strengthening member engagement and building a more connected chapter community. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to support our members and help foster a welcoming environment for both new and long-standing participants.
I’m a qualified candidate for Director at Large because I bring over 12 years of experience in project management, leading both projects and programs across a variety of industries and teams. I’m passionate about collaboration, strategic planning, and creating an inclusive space for others to grow and contribute.
In this position, I hope to expand member involvement, support initiatives that increase the chapter’s visibility and impact, and champion professional development opportunities for project managers at all stages of their careers.