"Melissa has been very involved this quarter within the PMI Rochester Chapter and is leading the chapter’s Social Impact effort within the Outreach Portfolio.

Melissa proactively searched for a project that would provide value to area residents. She brought together the RIT Project Management Club and the YWCA. Melissa created the project description and mentored the student club to plan and execute the creation of 99 Homeless Kits for the YWCA. Melissa has great ideas and is developing a social impact project for the Fall 2025 PDD in-person event. We appreciate her willingness to get involved and give back to the Rochester Chapter and community!!

Melissa has grown in this new role and is proactively planning a social impact project for the PDD scheduled in fall of 2025.

Melissa was energetic and passionate about ordering important supplies and managing within a predefined budget. She created the project charter that was the basis for the RIT PM club to develop into a project and practice their PM skills. The YWCA responded “We are so grateful!….This project is going to have a tremendous impact!... Our hearts are swelling!”

As part of the events planning team, Melissa volunteered to support the planning and execution of the Roc-to-Roc hybrid monthly chapter meeting. She was proactive, kept the team organized, and attended the event in person. She organized a collection of non-perishables for the YWCA and collected many needed household supplies during this in-person event. Feedback from the event leader “Melissa was a joy to work with and helped keep us organized and ready for event day.” She was an essential member of the team!"

Thank you and congratulations!

"I’d like to recognize Ausma for her valuable contributions as a volunteer over the past few months. She played a key role in refreshing our chapter’s social media presence, bringing new energy and clarity to how we communicate and connect with our community.

Ausma took on this work with steady commitment and a positive attitude, even as we navigated some leadership transitions and other challenges. She showed real accountability by following through on her goals, and approached every task with thoughtfulness and integrity. Her collaborative and kind approach made a noticeable impact on both the work and the team.

We’re grateful for her dedication and the difference she’s made to the chapter during this time."

Thank you and congratulations!

"Evan Tsai is a true example of rising talent within PMI Rochester. As the ROC the Project Administrator, Evan is a key contributor to the planning and successful delivery of the chapter’s educational outreach program.

ROC the Project empowers college students by introducing them to project management methodologies while developing their teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills. In his role, Evan coordinates communications, manages project documents, assists with training plan development, supports marketing efforts, and maintains project templates and status reports. His attention to detail and strong organizational skills ensure the smooth and professional delivery of ROC the Project.

Beyond his PMI volunteer work, Evan actively gives back by mentoring students and sharing his professional knowledge in project management and the financial field. He is also focused on his continued growth and development, and he will be graduating with his MBA from Alfred University this May.

Evan’s leadership, service mindset, and dedication to education make him an outstanding candidate for the Volunteer Spotlight Award. His contributions have strengthened PMI Rochester’s outreach efforts and set a strong example of the value of rising professionals bring to the project management community."

Thank you and congratulations!