Volume 17 Issue 3  

National / International Connection

Ten Things To Add To Your Resume -- And Ten To Remove Immediately

Most people don't like their resumes. I don't blame them! Most resumes are weak. They are boring, and they all sound alike. 

Most resumes are lame because they are written in an awful language that's only used for resumes and company policy memos. I call this language Corporate Zombie Speak. It is dry and formal. It sucks the power out of your story....

Why Business Analysts Become More Necessary in 2018

I certainly understand that the luxury of having a project manager and a business analyst on every project isn't something that every organization and customer can realize.

However, with ever growing annual concerns over data integrity, hacking, cyber crime, information security and the increased financial threat of ransomware it may not be a luxury going forward. In my view, gone are the days when an organization should take the risks with having both key roles handled by one individual or even including the tech lead role combined into that one super human entity. Gone. That was 2000.... 

Creating Greater Value

by Ken Fulmer, President and CEO, IIBA

At IIBA® we have been focused on improving the value proposition for all our stakeholders this year including launching new EEP™ programs, new academic programs (this month), revised corporate programs, and of course more substance to what the individual practitioner Member gets. This includes a new Competency Model launched this summer, a new high-value Agile Extension, a new Leadership series for the BA program - which has drawn over 4,500 attendees to the online program and a new face-to-face, hands-on leadership workshop day coming this November - an improved webinar program slate, and a new Global Thought Leadership program. Thanks to over 5,200 global respondents ...  

Changing Organizations: Business Analysts and Change Management

Let us admit it. On occasions, performing business analysis at organizational level is a sort of wielding a wild behemoth.

Whether the change is business-driven (business process improvement, restructuring, M&A, cultural change, downsizing, etc.), IT-driven (ERP implementation or upgrade, digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, etc.) or an intricate mesh-mash of both, encountering a whole organization, with all of its hard and soft elements, can be an overwhelming engagement, even for the bravest business analysts....

Board of Directors Spotlight...Kathy Leigh

Kathy Leigh

Vice President of Sponsorship

Kathy joined the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter in 2013 as one of the founding members.  She was recruited by Aaron Whittenberger, the first president of Bluegrass Chapter, and was motivated because she wanted to promote Business Analysis in Central Kentucky. Kathy has served on the Board of Directors of the chapter since its inception, as the VP of Sponsorship.

Kathy graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BSCmE) and ...

Upcoming events

October 18, 2017 - Business Analyst as an Organizational Leader

The purpose of business analysis is supposedly to define a future that will allow an organization to achieve specific goals and objectives. In reality, the purpose of business analysis can be anything from mindlessly scribbling down “requirements” to predicting the future of the known universe...

October 18, 2017 - Leadership Fair

You are invited to explore leadership opportunities with the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter.  Come learn new leadership and collaboration skills, and learn how business decisions are made at the executive level of an organization. 

The Bluegrass IIBA Chapter is hosting a Leadership Fair for those professionals that may be interested in volunteering time in a leadership position with the Chapter.  The Chapter has elections...

Are you maximizing our Professional Development program for your career advancement?

Bluegrass IIBA Chapter is the local association for the advancement of the business analysis profession in the Bluegrass region.  It was established here in Lexington, KY in August 2013 to serve the Bluegrass business community. Our mission is to bring together the Bluegrass community of professionals who deliver organizational change to promote best practices in delivering better business outcomes....  

Bluegrass IIBA Chapter Enhances Customer Experience

Bluegrass IIBA Chapter has announced new initiatives to enhance the customer experience for their members and participants in their programs.  As part of our affiliation agreement with International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) we can accept only people who are members of the international association as members of the local chapter.  It has been difficult to convey that message to our community.  Over the last two years we had...

Local Connection

Bluegrass Business Spotlight...Cork & Barrel

A Day in the Life of the BACoE Leader

We have a BA community of 80 professionals in our company organized under one manager, who is the Director of our Business Analysis Center of Excellence (BACoE).  The purpose of our BACoE is to provide the same level of business analysis service across our enterprise no matter which of our business analyst is serving a particular business unit within the organization. We do that by building standards of practice and providing education to all our business analysts as to how business analysis is provided to our organization. Our BACoE is aligned with IIBA’s A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide) version 3.

We are beginning our fifth year...  

Origin Hotel, new boutique brand, coming to Summit at Fritz Farm

Origin, a new boutique hotel, is coming to The Summit at Fritz Farm.  Origin is from the Thrash Group, the same people who bought and restored the Campbell House before they sold it. Owner Ike Thrash said... 

Keeneland’s, Churchill Downs’ new track plans get cool reception from racing commission

Keeneland, the Lexington racetrack and Thoroughbred auction company, and Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, announced a plan Friday to open two new racetracks and gambling parlors.

One track would open in Corbin, just off Interstate 75 north of Tennessee, and another in Oak Grove, on Interstate 24 near Fort Campbell....

Teen doesn’t have driver’s license.  But she’s running her own business — and expanding.

Rosalinda Ahuatzi has many of the same challenges other new business owners have: product development, marketing, cash flow, rent, supplies and payroll.

She also has a few more: getting around without a driver’s license; hiring someone to run...

We at Bluegrass IIBA Chapter realize that your successes and challenges can be great lessons learned for others; therefore, we encourage you to donate your time and experience to local groups that provide mentorship to youth or professional development for adults. Let's enrich our community by helping others advance or prepare for new careers.  

Beginning in August 2016, members are able to attend Bluegrass IIBA Chapter meetings for free (some restrictions apply). Remember to renew your membership to continue to enjoy the benefits of membership. Do you have more than 10 professionals who perform business analysis in your organization?  Then the IIBA Corporate Membership and Bluegrass IIBA Corporate Membership programs may be for you.

This Newsletter Sponsored by: