I built this conference because I wanted to go to it

Back in 2011, I had this idea that felt both obvious and completely unrealistic at the same time. I wanted a conference for digital project managers. (We weren't even "digital project managers" back then. We were just starting the community and giving it a name.)

Anyway, I started it because I wanted to be in a room full of people who were doing the same work and trying to figure it out together. I had the vision, the venue, the agenda, the new branding, and a website ready to go. We launched it and sold out in 30 days. It was so exciting!

The only problem was that I didn’t have any speakers.

So I did what most of us do when we’re slightly in over our heads. I emailed people I knew. Friends, former colleagues, people I respected who were doing really thoughtful work in and around project management...as much as possible. I mean, there really weren't people talking about PM in our space then. So I enlisted people who were doing PM-adjacent work. Like my good friend Trish Tchume, who works in the nonprofit space and, at that time, organized volunteers. I knew I could find smart, engaging people to run breakout conversations and sessions that would relate.

I basically said, “Hey… do you want to come talk about how you do this thing?” And somehow, they said yes.

We pulled together a lineup. We filled the room. What I remember most isn’t even the talks! It was the feeling, the energy, and the excitement of it all. People were meeting each other and immediately getting into real conversations. There was this shared sense of relief, like, “Oh, good, it’s not just me," that eventually turned into, "I found my people" (which is a phrase I hear every year at this event).

That was the beginning of Digital PM Summit. And if I’m being honest, it ended up shaping a huge part of my career and my life in ways I couldn’t have predicted at the time.

So yeah, I’m coming back to it

Fast forward about 14 or 15 years, which is wild to even type, and I found myself back in Portland last year hosting the event and running a workshop.

Within a few hours, it all came rushing back. The conversations, the energy, the kind of honesty you only get when people feel like they’re in the right room with the right people. I realized pretty quickly that I wasn’t done with this.

So I’m really excited to be working with Carl and The Bureau team again to help program Digital PM Summit 2026.

It feels a little bit like coming home, but with a lot more experience and a much clearer point of view about what actually makes this kind of event worth showing up for.

We have a chance to make this really special

One of the things I’ve been thinking about a lot is how much our work has changed over the years. The expectations are higher. The roles are blurrier. The tools are… doing a lot. And somehow, we’re all still trying to make sense of it in real time. That’s exactly why this event matters.

We’re re-shaping the program to feel more open, more interactive, and more grounded in what people are actually dealing with right now. There will absolutely be great talks, but we’re also making space for conversations, for workshops, and for those moments where someone says something that makes you stop and rethink how you’ve been approaching your work.

And yes, we’re bringing back lightning talks, which will always have a special place in my heart. There is nothing better than giving someone ten minutes and watching them absolutely nail an idea that’s been sitting in their head for years.

I would love your ideas

The best parts of this event have always come from the community, and that hasn’t changed.

So if you’ve been sitting on an idea, or you’ve had that moment where you think, “Someone should really talk about this,” We’d love to hear it. That someone might be you, but even if it’s not, it’s still incredibly helpful to know what people want and need from this space.

Please use the submission link below (the deadline is May 31, 2026) — that is a requirement. But you can also just reach out to me. Seriously, I mean that. I’ve built a lot of my career on conversations that started exactly that way.

I’m really glad to be back

This event has always been about the people doing the work and trying to do it a little bit better, a little bit smarter, and with a little more support. Getting to be part of that again feels really good. And I have a feeling this year is going to be something special.

T L ; D R - This started as a scrappy idea with no speakers and somehow became a community where people say, “I found my people.” I’m back to help shape what’s next—and I want your ideas to be part of it.