PMIWDC

Individuals and organizations are constantly involved with event projects at work and in the community. This presentation, “Successful Event Planning thru Project Management”, focuses on applying classic project management tools and techniques to the project planning process for events. Whether you manage a special event, a major activity within your organization, or your company’s support for a community event, this presentation can be widely applied and will be of interest to all project managers. 

The Army Ten-Miler (ATM) is a $2.2 million business project with 27,500 participants, 50 contractors and up to 17 project team members. Key stakeholder agencies include the U.S. Army, Pentagon, Northeast Medical Command, National Park Service, Washington, DC, METRO, VDOT, and area Police Agencies. ATM is the Army's premier running event and boasts a record 17 consecutive years as the largest 10-mile race in America.

Jim Vandak has served as the Director of the Army Ten-Miler since 2000 and is responsible for all phases of the project including Initiation, Planning, Execution, Control, and Close. He approves procurements and manages the project’s scope, schedule, budget and senior stakeholder relationships. During his ATM management and leadership tenure, Vandak strategically developed the Army Ten-Miler brand, increased participation from 9,000 to 27,500 runners, and generated over $1.3 million for soldier and soldier family MWR programs.

Originally from Michigan, Vandak has lived in the Washington, DC area since 1985 and has over 20 years experience in business development and event management. Prior to his position with the Army, Vandak served as a consultant, general manager, director of development, and promotions manager in the commercial and non-profit sectors.

His education and professional achievements include a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, a master’s certificate in Project Management from the University of Virginia, and an undergraduate degree in Business from Western Michigan University. Vandak is a guest lecturer at George Washington University, School of Business (Sports Marketing Program) and a guest speaker in the Army Ten-Miler Clinic series.

In 2004, Vandak was selected to serve as the joint military Usher Coordinator for the Reagan State Funeral. His merit citations include two Superior Civilian Service Awards, two Commander’s Awards for Civilian Service and numerous acknowledgments from Army Leadership for service excellence.