RMI Connect 2025 Agenda

Advancing the Journey to Resource Management Excellence

RMI Connect is comprised of keynote sessions, RMI member case studies, panel discussions, and topical breakouts, and virtual connection opportunities for those interested in the resource and workforce management. Held across two dynamic mini-events on Tuesday, September 23rd and Thursday, September 25th, RMI Connect 2025 will explore how organizations at all maturity levels can level up their capabilities.  Whether you’re looking to improve project performance, boost utilization, align capacity with demand, or strengthen business agility—advancing your resource management maturity is the key to unlocking these outcomes.  This year’s RMI Connect will provide actionable insights and guidance from process and technology experts to help you Advance your Journey to Resource Management Excellence.

Participants will hear from leaders across a wide range of project-based service delivery organizations, including those serving external customers (e.g. Professional/Consulting Services, Marketing and Creative Agencies, Accounting, Audit, Tax and Advisory Firms, and Law Firms) and those serving internal customers (Enterprise/IT, Product Development, and Engineering)—all sharing how they’re using process, technology, and strategic focus to elevate resource and workforce management.  The event will also feature leading PSA, PPM, and RPM technology providers sharing their perspective on how to enable more effective resource, workforce, and project management—critical enablers as teams move from foundational practices to high-impact results.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

DESCRIPTION: Achieving resource management excellence is a journey—one that requires navigating organizational change, aligning strategy, and maturing key capabilities over time. This opening session explores how organizations can realize measurable value as their resource management function evolves, offering insights into common roadblocks, key enablers of success, and practical steps to advance maturity. Whether you’re laying the foundation or enhancing an established function, you’ll gain actionable guidance to accelerate progress and drive greater impact.

SPEAKER: Ryan Childers, Managing Director, Resource Management Institute

DESCRIPTION: Join us for inspiring case study sessions where RMI members will share their journey to advancing the maturity of their resource management capability.  Each session will explore where their journey began, the obstacles they faced, the pivotal strategies they employed, and how they overcame challenges. Hear firsthand success stories, key lessons learned, and practical insights you can apply to your own organization’s maturity journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to accelerate your progress, these sessions will offer real-world advice to help you move forward with confidence.

DocuSign: David Binnings, Sr. Director, GTM Services Strategy and Operations; Katy Mabbitt, Director, Strategy Ops Account Management; and Eric Mannweiler, Senior Resource Manager

CohnReznick: Jody Townsend, Senior Manager/Service Line Leader, Advisory Resource Management

Shell: Guy Marsh, Global Head of Resource Management

DESCRIPTION: This block features moderated panel sessions tailored specifically to your organization’s resource management maturity level. Each session is designed to deliver actionable insights, real-world experiences, and practical strategies that can help you accelerate your journey to higher levels of performance and value creation.

Getting Started (Level 1-2): Building Your Foundation
Designed for organizations in the early stages of resource management, this panel will explore the essentials of establishing core processes, gaining organizational buy-in, and overcoming initial hurdles. Panelists will share strategies for getting started, using early wins to demonstrate value, and tips for avoiding common pitfalls — all aimed at helping you build a strong, sustainable foundation.

Evolving (Level 3): Strengthening and Expanding
For organizations that have implemented an RM foundation and are ready to refine and expand, this session will focus on optimizing processes, enhancing data quality, and expanding stakeholder engagement. Discussions will include how to become more proactive, formalize governance practices, and leverage automation tools to evolve into a higher-performing RM function.

Mature (Level 4-5): Maximizing Strategic Value – A Leader’s Roundtable Discussion
This special roundtable discussion is for RM leaders in organizations operating at an advanced level of RM maturity, and will focus on continuous improvement, strategic integration, and innovation. Moderated discussion will focus on how to elevate resource management as a strategic enabler, leverage analytics for business impact, and foster a culture of agility and excellence.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

DESCRIPTION: Professional Services Automation (PSA) tools promise to streamline forecasting, scheduling, and utilization—but without mature resource management practices, their potential often goes unrealized. In this session, we’ll explore the critical processes and organizational disciplines that must be in place to fully leverage PSA technology. Drawing on research from the Resource Management Institute, including maturity models and industry benchmarks, we’ll outline a practical roadmap for assessing readiness, closing maturity gaps, and driving successful PSA adoption. Whether you’re evaluating tools or struggling with adoption, this session will help you align people, process, and technology for long-term success.

SPEAKER: Greg Hensley, Director, Resource Management Institute

DESCRIPTION: How do you turn spreadsheet-led scheduling into a strategic, data-driven RM discipline? In this Q&A style session, Nicole will walk us through AAFCPA’s journey doing just that.  We’ll unpack the critical tipping points, stakeholder management, software selection, and maturity milestones including budget-vs-actual visibility, balancing data with human context to resolve conflicts and protect delivery, and managing KPIs. Finally, Nicole will share what’s next as the firm works towards true demand forecasting as part of their resource management continuous improvement.

SPEAKERS: Jennie Moore, Head of Advocacy, Beeye and Nicole Steele, Resource and Operations Manager RMCP, AAFCPAs

DESCRIPTION: In a world moving rapidly toward outcome-based pricing, the future of professional services delivery will be shaped not by how many AI assistants you deploy, but by how well you understand and strategically integrate them into the fabric of your business. Leading firms are already rethinking delivery models—assigning low-cost AI agents to handle tasks once reserved for senior talent, freeing high-value resources to focus on strategic, high-impact work.

But the AI-native business of tomorrow won’t stop at efficiency gains. To stay ahead, resource managers will need to measure the impact of AI and digital agents at a granular level: How much capacity are we truly unlocking? How much profitability are we adding per client? And how do we maintain transparency as client expectations evolve around how AI is used in their projects? This session will draw on new state-of-the-industry research and Kantata’s AI maturity model to show why the role of the resource manager is shifting from reactive scheduler to strategic orchestrator of a hybrid human–machine workforce. We’ll explore how to continually maintain the optimal level of tension on the “fan belt” driving business performance when the engine itself—your delivery model—changes size, shape, and speed. Attendees will leave with a clear view of how AI-powered platforms like Kantata will enable the skills, data insights, and operational mindset that define resource management success in 2025 and beyond.

SPEAKER: Charles Gustine, Director, Customer & Market Insights, Kantata

DESCRIPTION: Revenue leakage doesn’t always stem from lost deals—it often begins with poor resourcing decisions. Misaligned skill allocation, inaccurate forecasting, and underutilized teams silently erode margins, delay delivery, and impact customer satisfaction. In this session, we unpack how modern resource management is no longer an operational back-office function but a strategic lever for revenue assurance. Join us to explore how maturing your resourcing approach can reduce bench time, improve billable utilization, and unlock measurable business value—before delivery even begins.

SPEAKER: Sandeep Kumar, Founder & CEO, Kytes

DESCRIPTION: Join us at RMI Connect for a forward-looking session on transforming professional services through Skills-First Resourcing. This presentation will explore the limitations of traditional, reactive staffing models and introduce a strategic approach powered by Skills AI. Attendees will gain insights into the evolving professional services landscape, the tangible business benefits of skills-first strategies, and how intelligent resourcing can drive competitive advantage and future readiness.

SPEAKER: Stacey Ball, Enablement Lead, ProFinda

DESCRIPTION: Resource managers have no shortage of data, but too often it’s locked up in reports that don’t drive real action. In this session, we’ll explore how to transform raw numbers into meaningful insights that engage stakeholders and influence decisions.

SPEAKER: Nicole Tiefensee, Chief Operating Officer, Runn

DESCRIPTION: In the spirit of bringing RMI Connect to life, join us for an interactive virtual roundtable experience designed to spark meaningful conversations and actionable ideas. In this facilitated session, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with peers who share your interests and challenges around a specific resource management topic. Whether you’re navigating capacity planning, optimizing resource forecasting, enhancing governance, or driving greater organizational alignment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage in dynamic discussions focused on practical strategies and real-world solutions. Come ready to share your experiences, learn from others, and leave with fresh perspectives you can apply immediately.