Chapter News

SEPTEMBER 2025

Meet PMI-DVC Member Ted Schwab!

How did you get into project management?

It was actually kind of an accident at first. I was on track to an academic career (medieval history and archival/records management), and while I was in graduate school I put together a project proposal and was hired by the place I interned at as a PM. Later, after leaving the academic world and selling Software-as-a-Service, I was tapped by my employer to manage some projects on the side in addition to my sales job. I loved it, and once I got into software implementations and then agile, I never looked back. Now I'm all about the agile mindset.

What do you love most about this field?

My particular niche in the field is agile and scrum. I love the element of coaching and helping others to work well together. I genuinely love other people and want others to succeed, and I think that working as a scrum master and agile coach puts me in a position to do just that.

What do you dislike most?

The volatility of the corporate world can be challenging, particularly as the sole financial provider for my family. PMs often change jobs a lot and I'd like a little more stability and predictability.

What was your most memorable project?

I was working at a SaaS company in Philly as a program manager for a product team and I brought two product suites together after an acquisition. The product team was comprised of some of my closest friends and was one of the most high-performing teams I've ever worked with. We would have these brainstorming/roadmapping sessions that were just electric: too much espresso, bagels, fun and odd excursions into the city to get provisions, and a unique blend of silliness and genius.

What was the most valuable lesson you learned in a retrospective?

I'm not sure if it's the absolute most valuable, but one of the lessons that shaped my current perspective on project management was when one of my developers asked why we were even working on the product we were working on. While I had done my best to explain it, I realized that no one on on the team really knew the bigger mission implications for the work we were doing. That shaped my focus on narrative-based project management, where I believe that we intentionally need to bring the power of storytelling to the work we do.

How long have you been a PMI-DVC member?

I'm actually a relative newbie - I just joined in January when I signed up to take my PMP exam. I am just now getting more involved and exploring the opportunities with the chapter (like this blog!)

Ted Schwab is owner and principal consultant at Lighthouse Ascent (ted@lighthouseascent.com). You can learn more and follow Ted at https://linkedin.com/in/agileted.

JANUARY 2023

Chapter Volunteers recognized for Hours for Impact Contribution to YMWIC

PMI Delaware Valley Chapter volunteers Stephan Rouyer, Ernest Dixon and Steven Bistany recently acted on an opportunity to help the Exton, PA-based Young Men & Women in Charge (YMWIC) Foundation with a challenge regarding their annual Science Expo. Their work was both innovative and timely, helping YMWIC bring efficiency and accuracy to their Expo scoring methodology. 

YMWIC is a commendable organization, delivering STEM learning and practical experience to traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations of students. And PMI's Hours for Impact program empowers and recognizes changemaker contributions for the betterment of humankind in accordance with the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. 

For their efforts, Stephan, Ernest and Steven were recognized by the Project Management Institute. Enjoy the amazing story of our very own project practitioners at work to improve the experience of these ambitious and hard-working young people. 

ENJOY the STORY here | Scoring a Win for Disadvantaged Students