02 April 2023 at 08:00AM
Volunteer Spotlight - Christopher Downey
Christopher Downey has been a PMI member since 2017, but in the past year, has become a member and volunteer of PMI Phoenix as well. He jumped in with both feet and volunteered as Future City Project Manager for the whole competition. The opportunity caught his eye during the Pheonix Chapter new member orientation.
Chris’ volunteer efforts have involved multiple months of work. From August through January, he supported the Future City Competition Executive Committee with project management resources and planning; provided a brief presentation on project planning; and culminated on January 21st assisting in competition setup, orienting students and teachers to the site, guiding other volunteers on event activities, and coordinating with the awards & stage crews. During that process, the most rewarding part was seeing so many of a younger generation applying STEM and Project Management. “Observing the time and effort these students put in to prepare for this extra-curricular competition exceeded my expectations.”
When asked about what made the difference, Chris stated, “Volunteering for the local Chapter really expanded my networking with other professionals since I am relatively new to the Phoenix area. There are different kinds of volunteer opportunities within PMI-PHX that are not what you’d expect and putting yourself out there to support programs like these makes the experience fun to be part of.”
Chris’ hard work is also evident in his work life. He is an Army veteran and now works for a high-quality, high-output wallboard and building products manufacturer. His team is geographically dispersed and it is his intent to be always “adding value” everyday.
Outside of work and volunteering, Chris has an adventurous side. He states “My wife and I typically plan our personal travels based on the best food recommendations. Favorite foodie destinations for us thus far include Las Vegas, Austin, and Du-bai. We have had some great food so far in Phoenix and glad to accept recommendations from other Chapter-members.” Chris resides in Casa Grande with his wife and two kids (ages 7 & 2).
