April 23, 2008
7th Annual Spring Symposium

Charanya Girish

The presentation talks about diversity in a Michigan based mid-sized organization. MESSA being a one of a kind organization the aspects of diversity are both traditional and non-traditional. These are explanined in detail along with how diversity has been handled by the project management office.

Charanya Girish, Director, Project Management at MESSA (Michigan Special Services Assoc.) is responsible for project management for the entire organization. Prior to MESSA, Charanya spent over 8 years at Ford and Ford Financial leading projects and programs of varying sizes through the entire life cycle. Charanya is a certified PMP with over 15 years experience in Project & Program Mgmt. A trained facilitator known for her excellent oral and written skills she presented at the GLC Spring Symposium 2007 and at the PMI North America Congress 2007. She is a member of the Advanced Topics Seminar team and the Great Lakes Michigan Outreach Programs committee.

• What is Diversity?
  
  
• Paramaters that make up Diversity
  
  
• Diversity at MESSA ( several slides will explain these in detail)
  
  
• How is the PMO handling Diversity?
  
  
• Next steps
  
  
• Summary
  
  
• Conclusion
  

The presentation talks about diversity in a Michigan based mid-sized organization. Beginning with the definition of diverstiy and its parameters the presentation moves on to look at diversity at MESSA. MESSA being a one of a kind organization the aspects of diversity are both traditional and non-traditional. How the PMO is dealing with these challenges is explained in detail with a look at the future?