The Baltimore IIBA Chapter (established in 2007) represents the IIBA throughout the Baltimore metropolitan area. The Chapter provides networking and ongoing professional development for business analysts who perform analysis for systems and business process improvement in our community.
Chapter Mission
Our mission is to promote the standards, practices, and profession of Business Analysis in the Baltimore community.
Chapter Goals
- Champion the role of Business Analyst and International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) in the business community.
- Promote the standards and best practices in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®).
- Provide opportunities for professional growth through knowledge sharing, education, and CBAP®/CCBA® certification for the Baltimore business analyst community.
- Cultivate alliances with organizations in the community to advance the profession locally.
- Provide networking opportunities for business professionals to learn from each other and share opportunities.
- Ensure a sustainable financial model for the Chapter.
Benefits of Baltimore IIBA Chapter Membership include:
- Discounts to social events and workshops hosted by the Chapter.
- Access to free Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) Study Groups.
- Discounts for industry conferences and training hosted by event partners and accredited education providers.
- Eligibility for raffles and promotions (e.g. complimentary books, training, etc.).
- Participation in mentorship program for both students and business professionals new to the Business Analysis profession.
- Professional networking opportunities.
- Ability to volunteer and influence the direction of the Chapter.
- Access to chapter resources.
Programs and Events
Our monthly Baltimore IIBA Chapter meetings provide interactive forum for BA practitioners to network and share best practices and industry trends. Meeting format typically includes an after work networking hour and buffet dinner followed by an education presentation and question and answer session. We collect feedback each meeting in order to rate and improve the value of our programs each month.
Our educational programs cover a wide variety of content of interest to business analysts: agile methodologies, requirements management, analysis and decision making tools, and soft skills to name a few.
In addition to our traditional meeting format, the Baltimore IIBA Chapter also hosts other events throughout the year. Although the Chapter takes a hiatus from formal meetings during the summer months, we host a summer happy hour to give BA’s an opportunity for pure networking. In a similar vein we host a holiday party each December/January to celebrate the year’s accomplishments with our fellow BA’s. Ice breakers are usually held during these sessions as well to ensure folks meet and get to know a little about each other.
Most events are held at a central Baltimore location provided by our faithful venue sponsor, UMBC Training Centers (THANK YOU!).
The Baltimore IIBA Chapter hosts study groups for CBAP®/CCBA® certification throughout the year. Virtual sessions are held each month on a different BABOK topic. Discussions are also held on how to complete the application and study techniques for the exam. The Chapter’s own Barbara Harper has developed a memory technique useful in the exam, leveraging mnemonics and expanding on the concept for improved retention.
Partners
Baltimore also has the advantage of being close to a number of other IIBA chapters. Within a two hour drive of DC, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, our location provides increased opportunities for networking and speaker sharing. Baltimore and DC even have a joint membership for members interested in attending chapter events in both locations on a regular basis.
The Baltimore IIBA Chapter is lucky to have a number of industry conferences in the area each year. Not only does this provide an additional, local, training resources, but we can also reap the benefits of local speakers, discounted conference and training rates, and conference volunteer opportunities to name a few.
The Baltimore IIBA Chapter is very grateful to its sponsors and partners who provide education, career development and job placement guidance for our loyal members. Our Chapter’s success is contingent on their generous support.
Community Involvement
The Baltimore IIBA Chapter strives to contribute to the community in many ways. Each winter the group makes a donation to the Maryland Food Bank. We also have members who donate their business analyst expertise to non-profits in Baltimore through a few different programs. In partnership with other technology volunteers, the non-profits are able to move their businesses forward through improved websites, volunteer management, and reporting capabilities, for example. It is an exciting and rewarding experience for all!
The Baltimore IIBA Chapter also seeks to develop and expand partnerships with local universities and students. A mentoring program is in its early stages and we hope to provide opportunities to students and recent graduates understanding the BA career path, providing networking opportunities and ongoing education. A discounted student membership is provided for current students.
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to any non-profit organization! The Baltimore IIBA Chapter is supported by a 5 person board of directors performing the primary functions of: president, secretary, education, treasurer, and marketing. In addition, the board is supported by a Membership Committee which tackles tasks related to managing memberships and promoting new memberships (a constant goal). The group was key in setting up our Chapter’s presence on social media, which is a great way to reach new audiences and communicate with our existing members. A webmaster also helps maintain our website. We appreciate the leadership and commitment these folks make to our Baltimore IIBA Chapter and their sacrifice of time away from their families and other personal endeavors in support of our business analysis community!
Connect with the Baltimore IIBA Chapter
Our Baltimore IIBA Chapter hosts events on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in the evenings near Baltimore to provide opportunities for networking, learning about best practices, and studying for certification. Our events are open to the public, so feel free to attend and learn more before deciding to join. The success of our Chapter depends on the participation of our members along with support from organizations who recognize the value of Business Analysis.
Visit out our Chapter website today or contact us at info@baltimore.iiba.org.
Check out our upcoming events on Meetup!
You may also connect with the Baltimore IIBA Chapter through their LinkedIn Group, or follow them on Twitter @IIBABaltimore or Facebook.
