Events Calendar

Location: Volkswagen Group of America

                  7469 Volkswagen Drive

                  Chattanooga, TN 37416

Room: Chat TR 10-705 New Hire Orientation

Catering: Through VW

An Overview of Agile Project Management

The agile methodology started to formalize with the publication in 2001 of the Manifesto for Agile Software Development.  The Manifesto outlined twelve core principles.  Since that time, organizations all over the world have embraced agile methods to develop software.   Various certifications became available including the PMI-ACP certification from PMI. 

So, what is agile?  What makes it different and successful?  This presentation will provide an overview of the core principles, key roles and steps and a few examples of applications beyond software development.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Walter Cromer, MS, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM began his career as an agricultural research engineer focused on instrumentation, controls, computer modeling, and analysis with the University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton, Georgia.  CPES is one of the largest agricultural research stations in the United States.  He supported multiple scientists with engineering support in irrigation, robotics, machine vision, machine design, and automation.   He authored or co-authored ten research publications spanning several disciplines.

An assignment to network PCs to the mainframe system led to a transition into IT and a move to Knoxville in 1989.  He led the development of IT teams for two engineering led, entrepreneurial companies, Computational Systems, and CTI Molecular Imaging, for 16 years before joining Team Health in 2005 as VP, IT Project Management.  He developed the first project management office for Team Health and headed that department for 11 years.  He finished his career with Team Health as the strategic business partner for corporate, hospital-based services and other operations. 

Walter chose to redirect his career to earlier passions and founded Eden Concepts LLC in 2018.    Eden is a technology development and consulting firm focusing on agriculture, healthcare, IT and project management.   He is also volunteering as a mentor with the Knoxville Entrepreneurial Center and Greater Knoxville SCORE.  He is a member of PMI, IEEE and the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Walter is passionate about innovation and is a self-described tinkerer and life-long learner.  He loves family time, hiking, camping, woodworking, and gardening and is almost a certified Master Gardener with the University of Tennessee Extension Service.