2026 Board Elections - Meet Your Candidates

PMI Northeast Ohio Chapter Members, Board elections are coming soon and your participation in this process is greatly appreciated. Look for your unique e-ballot in your inbox to cast your vote in the weeks to come.

If you are a current PMINEO Chapter member, you will receive your e-ballot in the weeks to come.

Voting note: The Username is your PMI ID#, this can be found on your myPMI profile under Dashboard. The password is auto-generated for ballot security and will not be associated with your PMI profile. If any of the login details (username/password) do not render properly, please send an email to the PMI Northeast Ohio Chapter Nominations and Election Committee immediately for assistance.

Should you have any questions about the election, please contact the Chapter Nominations and Election Committee, operations@pmineo.org.

Joe Anastasi
Joe Anastasi

Joe Anastasi has been a dedicated PMINEO volunteer for the past 28 years, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to the chapter and its members. Throughout his tenure, he has served in numerous leadership roles, including Chapter President, Vice President of Marketing, Vice President of Programs, Program Manager for Outreach, and currently, Program Manager for Member Services. His extensive volunteer experience reflects his commitment to advancing the chapter's mission, supporting member engagement, and providing strong organizational leadership.

Joe teaches Project Management courses at Tri-C and Cleveland State University. Joe is also currently a PMO Manager at Progressive Insurance.

Joe is interested in serving in any Governance Board role where his extensive experience, leadership, and long-standing commitment to PMINEO can best support the chapter's mission. With nearly three decades of volunteer service in a variety of leadership positions, he is prepared to contribute wherever his skills, and experience will provide the greatest value to the organization.

Jessica Cabranes
Jessica Cabranes

Jessica Cabranes is passionate about supporting and encouraging PMINEO members as they pursue their project management goals. Having experienced the challenges of preparing for certification exams, selecting the right project management approach, and navigating the early stages of a project management career, she can relate to many of the questions and concerns members face. Jessica is committed to sharing her experiences, offering guidance, and helping members build the confidence and skills needed to achieve the same level of success she has attained.

Jessica is open to serving in a Chapter Leadership role where her skills, enthusiasm, and passion for member engagement can have the greatest impact. She is eager to contribute wherever the chapter has the greatest need and welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with fellow leaders to strengthen PMINEO and support its members.

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Ernie Kulik

Ernie Kulick is interested in contributing with his expertise in engineering management, Lean continuous improvement, and project management to support the PMINEO Chapter. Drawing on his experience with construction and capital projects, he offers a practical perspective on project execution, operational excellence, and process optimization. Ernie looks forward to sharing insights that may strengthen chapter initiatives, promote best practices, and provide value to members working across engineering, construction, and project management disciplines.

Ernie is particularly interested in supporting initiatives related to membership growth, mentoring, and professional networking. He values opportunities to strengthen member engagement by fostering meaningful connections, supporting mentoring relationships, and collaborating with other professional organizations through joint meetings and events. Ernie believes these partnerships can expand networking opportunities, encourage knowledge sharing across industries, and enhance the overall value of PMINEO membership.

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Andy Macy

Brian Andrew "Andy" Macy currently serves as the President of PMINEO. He was nominated as President to complete the term of the Past President midterm. He has been a member of the Governance Board for the past three years. Prior to joining the Governance Board, he volunteered for many years with both the Programs Team and the Greeters Team, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to serving the chapter. During his first year on the Governance Board, Brian launched the chapter's mentoring program and has played a key role in guiding its continued growth and success. His leadership, dedication to member development, and sustained volunteer service reflect his commitment to strengthening the chapter and supporting its mission.

Brian seeks to continue serving on the PMINEO Governance Board and, if given the opportunity, continue in the role of Chapter President. He is committed to leading the chapter through the challenges and opportunities presented by PMI's new membership model in 2027. Drawing on his leadership experience and deep understanding of the chapter, Brian is prepared to help guide PMINEO through this transition while ensuring the chapter continues to provide value to its members and advance its mission.

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Apo Oguz

Abdullah "Apo" Oguz is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at Cleveland State University and has held the PMP® credential since 2014. He successfully renewed his PMP certification in 2017, 2020, 2023, and 2026 by fulfilling PMI’s continuing professional development requirements. Prior to his academic career, Apo served in the Project Management Office of the Turkish Customs Enforcement Administration, where he worked on large-scale, European Union-funded projects valued at more than $60 million. These initiatives focused on capacity building, advanced information systems, and security technology for customs law enforcement.

Apo’s academic career is closely aligned with the field of project management. He has taught project management, project scheduling, agile project management, systems analysis and design, business analysis, IT governance, and emerging technologies at Cleveland State University, Central Connecticut State University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is also the author of the open educational resource textbook Project Management: Navigating the Complexity with a Systematic Approach, which has been adopted by more than 80 professors at universities both within and outside the United States. The second edition of the textbook was published in January 2025.

In addition to teaching, Apo has extensive experience mentoring students through independent studies, internships, student organizations, and research projects. At Central Connecticut State University, he served as faculty advisor to the Information Systems Club and volunteered as a mentor for the Xi Omicron Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi. He also organized two PMI-related student engagement events at CCSU: one in April 2023 that brought together 50 students and 19 project management professionals, and another in April 2024 on the topic of "The Role of AI in Project Management," which attracted 30 students and six project management professionals. These events
demonstrate his ability to connect students with industry professionals while creating valuable learning and networking opportunities.

Apo’s current research and service activities also align with the future direction of the project management profession. He chairs the AI Committee in the Information Systems Department at Cleveland State University, serves several college and university committees, and conducts research in artificial intelligence, large language models, agile project management, project scheduling, workplace digitalization, and human-AI collaboration. He has also received several teaching and curriculum-related honors, including the 2025 Golden Apple Award, the 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award at Central Connecticut State University, and a curriculum development grant to advance AI education.

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Stephanie Price

Stephanie Lee Price is well-qualified to serve in a PMINEO Chapter leadership role, bringing more than 25 years of experience in project management, technology governance, portfolio oversight, and executive leadership across multiple industries. Her career includes supporting and leading project delivery for more than 200 Fortune 500 companies, providing her with a broad perspective on how project management practices are applied across diverse business environments.

In her current role as Agility Senior Leader and head of the Technology Project Management Office at KeyBank, Stephanie provides governance and oversight for a large annual technology portfolio within a highly regulated financial services environment. She leads initiatives to strengthen governance processes, improve delivery standards, increase portfolio transparency, and support risk-based decisionmaking. Her expertise also includes lifecycle governance, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) oversight, regulatory readiness, audit support, stakeholder engagement, and the application of PMI best practices.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Stephanie has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to service and leadership through volunteer and leadership roles with NCWIT, Diamonds and Pearls Healthcare Services, Tru2U, and as the former Associate Director of Corporate Engagement for the PMI Northeast Ohio Chapter. At this stage of her career, she is focused on giving back to the project management profession and the community. Stephanie's leadership experience, governance expertise, mentoring background, and strong relationships within KeyBank position her to make meaningful contributions to PMINEO and help strengthen the chapter's impact throughout Northeast Ohio.

Stephanie is particularly interested in serving in a Board of Directors or Corporate Engagement role, where she can leverage her extensive experience in governance, executive leadership, and relationship management. She is passionate about building strong partnerships with corporate organizations, expanding opportunities for member engagement, and helping advance the chapter's strategic objectives. Stephanie is committed to contributing her leadership, industry experience, and professional network to strengthen PMINEO's impact and support its continued growth.

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Deanna Rausch

Deanna Rasch's qualifications for a PMINEO Chapter leadership role are grounded in extensive experience leading projects and programs, a strong foundation in healthcare and business, and a commitment to professional service. As a Senior Project Manager and Scrum Master, she holds the CAPM®, PMP®, and PMI-ACP® certifications and has led complex initiatives in healthcare revenue cycle, software, and IT environments. Her experience includes managing stakeholders, budgets, schedules, risks, and crossfunctional teams across both domestic and international organizations. She has also held portfolio and program-related responsibilities, consistently focusing on process improvement, team effectiveness, and alignment with organizational objectives. Combined with her MBA with a specialization in Project Management and her background in Health Information Management Technology, these experiences have prepared her to contribute effectively in a governance role. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Deanna is committed to advancing the project management profession throughout Northeast Ohio. She currently supports the project management cohort within the Health Information Management Technology program at Cuyahoga Community College by speaking with students and encouraging their interest in project management careers in the healthcare industry. She values the opportunity to bridge education, workforce development, and professional practice and would bring that same dedication to PMINEO. Deanna approaches leadership with a collaborative mindset, a strong sense of accountability, and a genuine commitment to creating value for chapter members and the broader Northeast Ohio project management community.

Deanna is particularly interested in contributing to professional development, outreach, and member engagement initiatives within PMINEO. She is passionate about supporting students and emerging professionals as they begin and advance their project management careers, while also helping members explore practical applications of artificial intelligence in project management. In addition, Deanna welcomes the opportunity to serve in a governance-focused role where she can contribute to the chapter's strategic goals, strengthen member value, and support the continued growth and success of PMINEO.

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As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), Tayanya C. Smith has led complex initiatives across multiple industries, including construction, operations, business process improvement, nonprofit leadership, and organizational transformation. Her experience extends beyond managing schedules and budgets; she excels at building systems, improving processes, documenting organizational knowledge, and helping teams become more effective.

Professionally, Tayana has managed cross-functional projects, developed succession planning initiatives, created standardized operating procedures, implemented project management tools, and improved operational efficiency through collaboration and continuous improvement. She is equally adept at working with executives, frontline employees, and community stakeholders to move projects successfully from concept to execution. 

Beyond her professional career, Tayana serves in nonprofit leadership, where she has planned community initiatives, coordinated volunteers, managed organizational governance, and led strategic planning efforts. These experiences have strengthened her ability to build relationships, facilitate productive discussions, and unite diverse groups around shared goals.

If elected to serve on the PMINEO Board, Tayana would bring a servant-leader mindset, strong organizational skills, and a commitment to helping the chapter grow. She believes PMI chapters are most successful when they provide meaningful professional development, foster mentorship, strengthen networking opportunities, and create value for members at every stage of their careers. Tayana would be honored to contribute her experience, energy, and strategic perspective to help advance these goals and support the continued success of the PMI Northeast Ohio Chapter.

Tayana is particularly interested in serving in a leadership role focused on Professional Development, Programs, or Organizational Development, where she can leverage her expertise in project management, process improvement, strategic planning, and leadership development.

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Arun Srinivasan

Arunkumar Srinivasan brings a combination of chapter leadership experience, professional expertise, and a strong commitment to serving PMINEO members. He has served the chapter in multiple leadership roles, including Vice President of Student Leadership Development and, most recently, Director-at-Large II, where he has worked to strengthen member engagement and support the growth of future project management leaders.

Professionally, Arunkumar is a Manager of Data Engineering at Medical Mutual with more than 25 years of information technology experience and over 15 years of leadership experience managing teams, leading complex initiatives, and driving organizational change. As a PMP-certified professional, he brings a strategic, memberfocused perspective that can help advance PMINEO's mission, expand volunteer involvement, and enhance the value delivered to members.

Arunkumar is particularly passionate about strengthening the entire member journey. In his current role as Director-at-Large II, he is leading the chapter's New Member Initiative, focused on improving onboarding, increasing engagement, and helping members quickly connect with the people, resources, and opportunities available through PMINEO. He is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages long-term participation and helps members achieve both their professional and personal goals.