Project Management Institute logo with orange, purple, and blue abstract shapes
Project
Management
Institute.
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Lighting the way for the
project profession since 1969

The Project Management Institute (PMI), is the leading authority in project management, dedicated to guiding the way to project success. Since 1969, PMI has shone a light on the power of project management and the people behind the projects. Learn more about our history and founders.

Since the beginning, PMI has been committed to bringing people together —and on relentlessly defining, guiding and evolving the project management profession

After months of conversations between Jim Snyder and his colleagues, a dinner in Philadelphia resulted in the decision that a new organization should be formed to provide a means for project managers to associate, share information and discuss common problems. This led to the first formal meeting at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on 3 October 1969. From this meeting came the birth of Project Management Institute. Shortly thereafter, articles of incorporation were filed in Pennsylvania, signed by five persons, who are officially recognized as the founders of PMI - James Snyder, Eric Jenett, Gordon Davis, E.A. "Ned" Engman and Susan C. Gallagher.

1969–1979: One Giant Leap for Project Management

Apollo takes off, and so does PMI

It may be that the most lasting legacy of Apollo was human: an improved understanding of how to plan, coordinate and monitor the myriad technical activities that were the building blocks of Apollo.

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While Apollo was making project history, PMI was starting to build the foundations of project management. The first PMI leaders volunteered their time because they believed in the need to share project planning and scheduling practices. In fact, the organization was almost named The American Planning and Scheduling Society. But the founders realized it was bigger than that—it was about project management. PMI was founded and held its first Seminars & Symposium, “Advanced Project Management Concepts,” in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The First PMI chapter started in Houston, TX. PMI quickly became global, holding another Seminars & Symposium event in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. PMI also hired its first part-time employee, and leased office space.