CMC Spotlight on Doug Bedinger

The CMC is all about continuous learning for Doug Bedinger, "When you are in front of your certification review panel, it’s all about how you handled a situation and what you learned from it.”

The learning doesn’t stop there, says Doug, who achieved his certification in 2007. "As experts, we CMCs must continue to learn. As the best of the best, we should be out there learning and then sharing what we’ve learned.”

An organizational development consultant, Doug is Principal of the California firm Consulting for Results. He has recently begun focusing on online course development, where he sees tremendous opportunity. He also teaches corporate level courses in Stanford University’s Advanced Project Management curriculum. The CMC has been a differentiator for Doug, even though it might not yet be widely known. "When clients understand what the CMC means, that’s when it makes a difference. That’s when the conversation shifts.”

There was, for example, a consulting opportunity where being certified clearly sped up the process of establishing credibility with his prospect. Recalls Doug, "I was bidding on a project at a college, and once they understood the CMC, they started asking higher level questions. Instead of qualifying me, they started asking advice and how to scope out the work.” Doug was ultimately awarded the project.

As a CMC, he’s not as worried about competition. "It’s more about how much you are concerned for clients. Clients see you are keeping their best interests in mind, and then – Bingo! – you get the credibility over a non-CMC.”

Doug offers some advice to others who are starting the certification process. "Be professional and ethical to start, and then making it through the certification process is not going to be a problem. Deliver the results and develop strong relationships with your clients, so that they are in love with you and can’t help but endorse you.”

A member of the IMC NorCal Chapter, Doug served as Chapter Chair of Professional Development for several years. As a chapter member, Doug has had the opportunity to work with other certified management consultants. "Working with Rogene Baxter [former chapter president] and other CMCs has kept my standards high. We keep each other sharp on projects and it’s been all about collaboration and best practices.”