By Janice Phelan,
January 13, 2020
Rolando Salvatierra (right) with PMP Prep Course instructor Jim Staffieri.
Rolando Salvatierra was looking to gain knowledge and diversify his resume while opening
new career opportunities when he enrolled in the ŷƵ’s
(UCM) Project Management Professional (PMP) Prep Course last fall.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who served in Hawaii and Afghanistan, Salvatierra
was among 18 adults completing this 10-week course during fall 2019. Offered at UCM’s
Lee’s Summit campus and funded by a grant from the Full Employment Council, the class
is designed to prepare adults for the industry-recognized PMP Certification exam.
“The program allowed me to not only build a knowledge foundation in the field I’d
like to pursue,” he said, “but to also interact and mingle with professionals in the
field, ask questions and get a good understanding of what opportunities project management
has to offer.”
Salvatierra, who plans to sit for the Project Management Professional exam this winter,
added, “I would most definitely recommend this program to others as I feel that it
provides a good knowledge foundation to become successful in passing the exam for
the PMP Certification. It also is presented at just the right pace to learn and grasp
the material.”
The demand for skilled managers is expected to grow by 6 percent by 2024, according
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, with project management professionals needed
in every industry. Strong management skills, combined with the Project Management
Professional Certification, enhance job security, help employees make more money and
provide job seekers with a competitive edge.
“The course is a great opportunity for adult professionals either looking at a career
change or starting a new path,” Salvatierra said. “The venue and staff were very accommodating
and provide a safe, comfortable learning environment for people of different backgrounds
and experiences.”
The PMP Prep Course helped Salvatierra develop not only professionally but also personally
through the soft skills portion as well as the personality evaluation, he said. “I’ve
built some relationships that I hope will carry on in the future,” he added. “I’m
excited for the upcoming classes moving forward.”
UCM Lee’s Summit will offer another Project Management Professional Prep Course on Monday evenings, Feb. 10 through April 20.
In addition to undergraduate and graduate degree programs, ŷƵ’s
Workforce Development and Professional Education offers a variety of career certificate programs, tailored to fit the schedule of
busy adults. Programs are offered in high-demand areas such as healthcare, technology,
business and manufacturing. Some courses can be completed in as little as six weeks
with both face-to-face and online classes.
Financial aid is available to qualifying adults. UCM partners with the Full Employment
Council to offer monthly open house events to help individuals learn if they are eligible for the debt-free assistance. Open
houses are scheduled from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on the last Tuesday of each month at the
Missouri Innovation Campus in Lee’s Summit.
Graduates of UCM’s fall 2019 PMP Prep Course.