Deborah Bigelow Crawford's career in project management began in 1992 when she accepted the position of executive director of the Project Management Institute, where she served through 1996. Her expertise in managing and developing new initiatives and programs helped lay the groundwork for PMI's future continued growth. After leaving PMI, she served as the executive vice president of PM Solutions and, in 2002, also as the executive vice president of PM College, its training division. She is a certified trainer and has helped developed numerous training courses in project management, leadership and business skills. Ms. Crawford has also worked with organizations in developing their training plans and career paths. Over the two last decades, she has authored numerous articles in "PM Network®," "Chief Project Officer" and "Optimize" magazines, and has contributed to several publications including "What Makes A Good Project Manager, Project Management Roles and Responsibilities" and "The AMA Handbook of Project Management." She is the editor and coauthor of the newly released fourth edition of "Project Management Essentials." She has presented a variety of papers as a speaker at international symposia and conferences, and is a member of the National Association of Female Executives and the Project Management Institute. Ms. Crawford was bestowed the designation of Fellow in 2012 by Project Management Associates of India (PMA).