Meet the Candidates 2025
Candidate for President-Elect
Joel Ellis
Bio
Education: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Thomas Edison State College – Trenton NJ – Bachelor of Arts
Years of Project Management Experience: Over 35
Highlights of Experience: Senior project manager, multi-million dollar multi-year project, Senior project manager multiple (> 50) customer projects. Established PM processes and policies @ 2 companies.
Why are you a qualified candidate?
As a senior manager for over 30 years, serving in manager, director and executive roles, I have lots of experience that I bring to the opportunity. This includes a strategic perspective of multiple industries and the needs of people serving in those industries. This translates into the field of project management as EVERY industry is touched by the need for good project management.
What do you hope to do in your position?
The most important aspect of working with other members in any collaborative effort is to listen and communicate well. Seek the good of the common need (the organization) first and foremost. Always work with the understanding that my perspective of a matter is simply one perspective, everyone has one. Humility and patience in communicating and working together to accomplish the goals and objectives are paramount in my behavior.
Candidate for VP of Programs
Anthony Lancaster
Bio
Education: Masters in MIS and MBA
Years of Project Management Experience: 15+ years
Areas of oversight currently:
* Project Management, Program Management, Portfolio Management, Value Office Management
* Six Sigma/Continuous Improvement
* Enterprise Agile Implementation: Scaled Agile (SAFe) implementations
* RPA/Automation and Process Improvement
* Business Analysis, Testing
Why are you a qualified candidate?
My primary goal in working with PMICAC is to be a servant-leader and give back from my years of expertise and education.
Experience: I am an Operations and Technology Executive with 25 + years' experience in building and managing top-performing teams, processes, PMOs, departments and technologies.
Education: I am a life-long learner with strong academic qualifications in business, technology, and process/project improvement.
My passion is executing on strategy, while adding iterative business value and maintaining strong relationships.
What do you hope to do in your position?
I believe the foundation of any team or organization is trust and accountability. All members of PMICAC should be empowered to add value and provide their unique expertise. Based on these foundational principles, I will work to foster personal and professional connections and actively seek out engaging program content, speakers, and networking opportunities for PMICAC.
Candidate for VP of Marketing
Anushree Dongare
Bio
At ARD, I set up the Project Management Office (PMO) and established project management processes to improve efficiency and consistency across the organization. I work closely with the Continuous Improvement (CI) team, collaborating with all departments to manage projects on a department-wide scale. My role involves overseeing project execution, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and fostering cross-functional teamwork. By maintaining a robust PMO framework and actively engaging with various departments, I drive successful project outcomes and lead continuous improvement initiatives at ARD.
Why are you a qualified candidate?
My experience in project management and continuous improvement uniquely positions me to contribute to PMICAC’s future. I have successfully set up a Project Management Office (PMO) and led cross-departmental projects that involved strategic planning, stakeholder management, and data-driven decision-making. These experiences have equipped me with a strategic mindset to help the chapter grow and adapt to evolving member needs. Additionally, my background in automating processes, managing vendor negotiations, and enhancing project efficiency can translate into developing streamlined marketing strategies, improving event management, and increasing member engagement. By leveraging these skills, I aim to ensure that PMICAC continues to provide value to its members and stays at the forefront of project management practices.
What do you hope to do in your position?
Throughout my career, collaboration has been at the core of my success. At my current organization I’ve worked closely with diverse teams and departments, ensuring alignment on shared goals while respecting established processes and structures. I believe that open communication, transparency, and respect for differing perspectives are key to maintaining harmony and achieving common objectives. As a PMICAC Board member, I would actively listen to my fellow members, engage in thoughtful discussions, and ensure that decisions are made with the chapter’s best interests in mind. My goal is to contribute to a collaborative environment where every member feels empowered to share ideas, ultimately upholding and enhancing the chapter's respected reputation in the project management community.
Candidate for VP of Education
Sharon Fortune
Bio
Sharon Nicole Fortune is a Senior Technology Planning Analyst at Southern Company supporting Southern Nuclear subsidiary. She supports the ideation to maturity phases of bringing technology related projects to the fleet of Southern Nuclear plants including general software, data analytics, and AI solutions. Nicole, brings over 20 years of IT experience in the utility and telecommunication industry having served in several roles involving billing, taxation, applications, and data migration. She is a member of IIAB and PMI professional organization. She loves to mentor others working within several organizations and spending time with friends and family. She is an avid reader of books and a continuous learner.
Why are you a qualified candidate?
