Paralympics Gold Medal Winner and Author Mike Schlappi to Speak at PMI® Global Congress 2010 - North America

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Sep 21, 2010, 11:30 ET

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa., Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Project Management Institute (PMI), the world's leading project management member association, announces that Mike Schlappi, author and 1988 and 1992 Paralympics gold medal winner, will deliver the closing address for the government track at the PMI® Global Congress 2010 — North America Tuesday, October 12, 2010 from 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. EDT.

Mike Schlappi's presentation will motivate Congress attendees to overcome challenging circumstances and use their skills to create a positive future for themselves and their organizations. With humor and poignancy, Mr. Schlappi will inspire professional perseverance by leveraging his personal story, which began with a tragic shooting accident and has evolved into a lifetime of lessons and victories. These lessons are also chronicled in his books, "Bulletproof Principles for Personal Success," "Motivational Leaders" and "Shot Happens."

Mr. Schlappi's gold medal journey started when he first played wheelchair basketball just a few months after his injury. He set his sights on making the 1988 Paralympics and was picked to represent the United States in Seoul, South Korea. Schlappi and the United States team were awarded the Gold Medals in 1988 and 1992. He also competed in the 1996 games in Atlanta and 2000 in Sydney, bringing home the Bronze medal for each. The PMI Global Congress 2010 — North America will be held from 9-12 October in Washington, D.C. at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center.

About Mike Schlappi

At the age of 14, Mike Schlappi had expectations of a career in sports as a top notch athlete. A gunshot to the chest at point blank range challenged his dreams. He would never walk again. After months of rigorous physical therapy, he began playing basketball from his wheelchair and went on to become a standout athlete. Schlappi's professional credentials include being a member of the Board of Trustees for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, author of two inspirational books, "Bulletproof Principles for Personal Success" and "Motivational Leaders," having his life story featured in the award winning video, "If You Can't Stand Up, Stand Out," and the founder and director of the Wheelchair Sports Foundation, providing sports and recreation opportunities for disabled athletes.

About Project Management Institute (PMI)

PMI is the world's largest project management member association, representing more than half a million practitioners in over 185 countries. As a global thought leader and knowledge resource, PMI advances the profession through its global standards and credentials, collaborative chapters and virtual communities and academic research. When organizations invest in project management, supported by PMI, executives have confidence their important initiatives deliver expected results, greater business value and competitive advantage. Learn more at www.pmi.org.

SOURCE Project Management Institute