Follow the Top Project Management Influencers on Twitter as individuals and organizations can be a good resource for your daily work if you want to stay updated on project management tips and work processes

#1 Lindsay Scott @projectmgmt - Enthusiastic programme and project office bod. Director of Project Management Recruitment business – Arras People.http://www.arraspeople.co.uk 

#2 Project Management Institute @PMInstitute - PMI is the leading membership association for the project management profession. http://www.pmi.org 

#3 Cornelius Fichtner @corneliusficht - Project manager, PMP trainer, host of The PM Podcast, public speaker and gummi bear addict. http://www.pm-podcast.com 

#4 Josh Nankivel @pmstudent - Offering Project Management Career and PMPStudy Advice That Works. http://pmStudent.com 

#5 PM Hut @pmhut - Project Management Articles. http://www.pmhut.com 

#6 Elizabeth Harrin @pm4girls - Computer Weekly IT Professional Blogger of the Year 2011, author of Social Media for Project Managers, business writer, Director of @otobosgroup http://www.GirlsGuideToPM.com 

#7 Peter Taylor @thelazypm - In the UK , lazy but oh so productive: Speaker/Author/Project Manager http://www.thelazyprojectmanager.com 

#8 Bill Mabry @BillMabry - Expert in Project and Program Management. Founder of High-End PM. http://highendpm.com 

#9 Thomas Kennedy, PMP @ThePMCoach - PMP certified project manager connecting with others that are passionate about project management.http://bit.ly/9afi9L

NOTE: Some groups may be "closed" requiring that you submit a request for approval. There are many LinkedIn Groups and below are just some recommendations. Be resourceful, search for ones that may be more suitable to your area of interest or industry. Enjoy growing your network!


Professional Development

PMI California Inland Empire Chapter
Project Management Institute - Los Angeles Chapter
PMI Orange County California Chapter
PMI San Diego

Professional Associations

ASQ - The American Society for Quality
IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysts)
Lean Six Sigma
APICS - Inland Empire Chapter (for Manufacturing and Logistics Operations Management)
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (aka HIMSS)

Career Development

Career In Project Management
PMI Career Central (an official PMI group)
Inland Empire CA Job Seekers
Realize Your PMP(R) Dream !
FEDERAL BIZ Network - Government Stimulas Teaming Jobs PMI Consulting Funding Sales Opportunities

Business Professionals

Inland Empire Business Professionals
Linked IE California
Inland Empire Executives & Networkers
Professionals of the Inland Empire
Inland Empire Women's Business Center
OCEAN - Orange County Executives And Networkers

Project Management

Project Success
Project Management Link 
PgMP Credentialed networking Group
North American PMO Forum Network
PMO Directors
PMO Linked
PMO of the Year Award
Los Angeles PMO Alliance
PMO Symposium
PMI Program Management Office Community of Practice (PMO CoP)

Education and Training

University of Redlands
PMI Learning, Education and Development Community of Practice (LEAD CoP)
PM Solutions & PM College
Project Management Institute Educational Foundation
Project Management Book Club (PMBookClub.com)
PROJECT MANAGEMENT for KIDS (PM4K)
Social Media for Nonprofit Organizations
Roeder Consulting
Exceptional Recommended Individuals
Quotivate

Growing your professional network is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re setting yourself up for long-term professional success. What’s the best way to do this? By connecting with others who are working in a field you’d like to work in or who have attained professional success you’d like to achieve as well.

Here are some things to keep in mind when growing your professional network.

Reach out to people within your social and alumni networks

You likely already know plenty of people who can be part of your professional network. The key is to identify them. The best way to do this is by taking some time to make a list of everyone in your social, academic and professional circles. When compiling your list, include everyone from family friends to professors and peers, and don’t limit yourself to a specific industry. Instead, focus on making your list as broad and inclusive as possible to ensure that you’re building a strong network. Once you have your list, identify 2-3 people who can help you develop your career goals. Then, reach out to them and ask to set up a time to chat (either in person or over the phone), and use your time to talk to them about your career goals and to get their advice on steps you can take to achieve them.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to reach out to people within your school’s alumni network. Many alumni are actively involved with mentoring students and recent grads from their alma maters and even those who aren’t are likely to be flattered that you reached out to ask for their advice.

Stay in touch with co-workers and managers from previous jobs.

Make it a priority to stay in touch with former managers and co-workers. This will ensure that you’re building long-lasting relationships and leaving the door open for new opportunities that may arise in the future. The best way to do this is by reaching out a couple of months after the internship has ended to let your former manager know how you’re doing and to ask them about any updates on their end.

Pro Tip: Be specific. Instead of sending a vague email asking how they’re doing, ask about the outcome of a project you worked on together or about a trip they were planning to take. This will show them that you’re interested in establishing a genuine relationship and that you care about the work you produced while you were with the organization.

Make use of your social media accounts

Although social media is more often seen as a personal space rather than a professional one, using it as a networking tool is a great way to connect with people in an organic way while showing off a bit of your personality. This can be as simple as “liking” the Facebook page of a particular brand you admire or tweeting at an influencer about something they’re working on. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to be respectful in your interactions and to put your best foot forward.

Be genuine and helpful in your interactions

When done right, networking can be a powerful tool for advancing your career and creating the kinds of relationships that will stick with you throughout your professional life. And if you want to ensure that those relationships are authentic and long lasting, it’s important to approach networking opportunities with a genuine interest in getting to know the other person and being as helpful to them as possible. By demonstrating your desire to create a strong professional bond, you’re likely to develop the kinds of relationships that will be mutually beneficial to everyone involved.

Although growing your professional network might seem a bit intimidating at first, by approaching it in a thoughtful and strategic way, you’ll be able to set yourself up for long-term success.

Professional Associations to help grow your Project Management career...

PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE 

Project Management Institute (PMI) is one of the world's largest professional membership associations, with half a million members and credential holders in more than 185 countries. It is a not-for-profit organization that advances the project management profession through globally recognized standards and certifications, collaborative communities, an extensive research program, and professional development opportunities.

Our worldwide advocacy makes us the global thought leader in this strategic organizational competency.

Click here to learn more about PMI Membership.

For .pdf brochures, click on the appropriate link below.

Start Your Career in Project Management

Build Your Career in Project Management

Advance Your Career in Project Management

IIBA for Business Analysts

IIBA® (International Institute of Business Analysis) is the independent non-profit professional association for the growing field of business analysis. Our goal is to create greater awareness of the BA profession and recognition of the value of the business analyst role. IIBA can help your business do business better, to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace and enable your organization to succeed. 

Toastmasters International for Leadership and Communication

Worldwide, our membership is 270,000 strong. These members improve their speaking and leadership skills by attending one of the 13,000 clubs that make up our global network of meeting locations. Click here for locations in the Inland Empire.
Membership in Toastmasters is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself. At $36 every six months, it is also one of the most cost-effective skill-building tools available anywhere.

Implementation Management Associates (IMA) for Change Management

An international consulting firm that builds organizational capability to implement all types of business changes. Since 1989, our Accelerating Implementation Methodology (AIM) change management methodology has been used extensively for the successful implementation of a wide variety of business-critical change projects, including:

• Organizational strategic initiatives
• Transformational changes
• Business process redesign and business re-engineering
• Six sigma and lean implementations
• New or upgraded technology implementations
• Mergers/acquisitions
• Restructurings