Robert D Bateman, PMP, has been awarded the inaugural Central Mass Chapter of Project Management Institute (PMI-CMASS) "2011 Project Manager of the Year" (PMoY) for his project management leadership in the nonprofit category. He is recognized for his role leading a project team established to submit the application of Wentworth Institute of Technology's Business School to become an accredited degree granting institution by the Project Management Institute's Global Accreditation Center for Project Management Education Programs (GAC) in 2010.

"I'm very appreciative of the CMASS PMI Chapter's PMoY award and flattered to be recognized by fellow practitioners," Mr. Bateman said upon notification. Mr. Bateman is a Project Management Institute (PMI) certified Project Management Professional, CMASS member. Working with OpenSky, he served as Executive in Resident at WIT.

With Mr. Bateman's leadership, Wentworth Institute of Technology is now in the next project phase to be recognized globally for its commitment to advance excellence in project management education. Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) is a nonprofit institution offering four year degree programs in Architecture, Design, Engineering, Business, Construction Management, Humanities and Social Sciences, located in Boston, MA.

In 2009, Mr. Bateman worked with the business school chair to approve a project charter that defined the scope, schedule and budget for the business school to seek accreditation. He then selected a diverse project team comprised of WIT professors, students, administrative staff and external consultants. By 2010, after project team meetings the team was able to submit the 100 page self-evaluation required by PMI GAC. WIT is now addressing the feedback from PMI GAC and is preparing for a site visit to complete the approval process.

Mr. Bateman's CMASS PMoY application was reviewed by a panel of four judges who evaluated it for demonstrated project management knowledge and leadership using practices outlined in PMI's PMBOK, Project Management Book of Knowledge. Each judge has significant industry experience as is in an executive role at their companies: Matthew Davis, PMP, MCITP, Karen M. White, MBA, PMP, FLMI, Raymond L. Sheen, PMP, John Riopel, PMP, MCP comprised the panel.

Mr. Bateman was recognized at the CMASS November 8th Chapter meeting in Westborough, MA. As part of the award, Mr. Bateman was given a complimentary pass to Project Summit & Business AnalystWorld.

"I was honored to be approached by the Chapter to support the launch of CMASS PMoY Awards. It's been a pleasure working with the Central Mass Chapter over the years and to be involved in a new initiative for the community recognizing leadership and outstanding professionals skills is perfectly in line with the core objectives of Project Summit & BusinessAnalystWorld. I look forward to many more years of supporting these awards and the Chapter," said Adam Kahn, Group Event Director of Project Summit & Business AnalystWorld.

The CMASS PMoY Award program was a pilot program in 2011 to recognize PMI CMASS credentialed members who demonstrate individual leadership, project management expertise and excellence and promoting the project management profession. The program is modeled after other PMI recognition programs.

As Program Chair of the Project Management of the Year Award, I am pleased to acknowledge the CMASS PMoY project team composed of CMASS volunteers: Debra Wallace, Alicia Ernst, Bob Finizio, Ann Soucy, Anne Stone, Rich Takvorian, Vern Valero, and Karen White. The project team is also grateful to the CMASS 2011 PMoY Award judges for their time and Project Summit and Business AnalystWorld.

We look forward to 2012 when CMASS will roll out the program again and enhance it with lessons learned from 2011.