“The course and camaraderie provided by Black Diamond Charities was invaluable in transitioning my career from being an educator to a Project Manager. It provided both the training materials, an overview of skills, and the support of fellow military associated people which ultimately helped me earn my CAPM and PMP. Thank you BDC! ”

“I first learned about Black Diamond Charities through our veterans community here in Chicago. In 2020, a fellow veteran informed me of an upcoming class that he enrolled in and encouraged me to join. Despite lacking formal project management training throughout my career, which included military service, I had successfully led numerous projects and had extensive experience. However, the absence of formal training hindered my job prospects and many opportunities.
What sets Black Diamond Charities apart is their offering of a free project management fundamentals class tailored for U.S. military personnel and veterans, aiming to boost their civilian careers. Instructors, all PMP certified with distinguished military backgrounds, lead the course. It not only imparts project management essentials but also bridges the gap between military experience and civilian project management terminology.
The focus on group projects during the course helped the development of valuable friendships among students, myself included. These connections played a crucial role in networking and advancing our professional journeys. Even after the course, I stayed in touch with many classmates, who shared job opportunities and offered support. One such opportunity was a Project Manager role in the Mayor’s Office of the City of Chicago. While my background and experience matched the role, the Black Diamond Charities Project Management certificate significantly enhanced my resume, resulting in a job offer.
Utilizing the knowledge gained from Black Diamond Charities, I managed and completed various projects within the Mayor’s Office. This success became noteworthy, and when the Director of Veteran Affairs position opened up, I applied and was selected. The significance of project management extends across every sector, from academic to professional settings, underscoring its crucial role in every company, job, and academic setting. The Certificate from Black Diamond Charities is the first step in becoming PMP-certified. I plan on continuing the process in the future, however, just the course itself opened up so many doors and opportunities.”

“As a military spouse looking to pivot my career, Black Diamond Charities project management fundamentals course helped to pave the way for me. The interactive setting allowed for practical use of the fundamentals being taught. Their support did not stop after the course was over, they were there for me as I worked towards my CAPM and PMP certifications. I highly recommend this course for anyone who is interested in project management.”

“Not only did this course get me one step closer to a PMP certification, but it was a great refresher for me. You’re being taught by instructors that also served and you’ll realize that you have more PM experience than you’re giving yourself credit for. I would strongly recommend you attend this program!
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“Black Diamond Charities with collaboration and partnership with PMI Chicagoland Chapter was beneficial for my career transition from IT Engineer to a Project Manager. The topics and processes that I learned during the course was instrumental in me being hired as Project Manager. I can’t thank the volunteer Instructors, Black Diamond Charities and PMI Chicagoland Chapter enough. The class was instrumental in starting my formal training that I will need to become a certified Project Manager soon. The work the Charity and the Volunteers do for the Veterans and Active Duty Military personnel is outstanding.”