Jennifer Chadukiewicz recently completed certification classes in Project Management and Yoga Instruction.  The Project Management Certificate was awarded by Charter Oak State College. To earn the certificate Jennifer participated in a three semester series of online classes designed to prepare for certification with the Project Management Institute, PMI®.  Her Yoga training was conducted at Sacred Rivers Yoga Studio in Glastonbury. The 200 hours of yoga training allows her to use the title Registered Yoga Teacher-RYT, as sanctioned by Yoga Alliance. 

Jennifer has been in the Project Management profession for 15 years and has managed a variety of construction and technology projects. However, she specializes in relocation and F,F & E fit out. Despite her experience she benefited from the certification course.  "The course exposed me to Project Managers and Project Management techniques outside the construction industry" she commented. "While many of the processes are the same across all industries, I learned other industries have methods that I can effectively apply in my practice.”  The course also helped me with my long term goal of earning my Project Management Professional Certification". Her yoga training, while at first glance, may not seem applicable to her duties as a Project Manager, has truly enhanced her skill set.  “The teacher training has benefited me in several ways. First, by practicing Yoga I am relaxed and focused. A construction site is often an intense atmosphere.  Anything I can do to lower that level of intensity will contribute to the overall success of the project. Second, I acquired coaching and mentoring skills. I feel a big part of my job is working with people. My training will help be more effective as a coach and a mentor rather than a traditional manager. Lastly, Yoga goes beyond poses and meditation, it is also a philosophy.  Yoga encourages and teaches effective communication and conflict resolutions; two skill sets right out of the PMI® manual.    

Jennifer is applying her Project Management and Yoga skills by developing a program called Matching Pictures®. Matching Pictures® is a series of short presentations aimed at reducing conflict and promoting teamwork on projects by clarifying expectations and goals. Jennifer explains, "If everyone has the same picture at the start of the project, not just in terms of the final results, but also the processes to obtain those results, the project will ultimately be more successful.''   She then adds with a smile, "Pausing and taking a few deep breaths along the way will help too".