About

Welcome to The Risk Blog!

Connect with The Risk Blog:

Hello! Welcome to The Risk Blog, I am Russ, The owner of Forty-Four Risk PM, LLC.

The Risk Blog is the company’s first initiative, and I’m excited to get started on this journey!

I jumped into this blog due to my passion for learning and writing about Project Management, Project Risk Management, and Leadership, all of which I have gained extensive experience in over my 20-year career in the US Marine Corps and my current role as a project manager within the financial sector.

I truly believe Project Risk Management is a vital topic that is not well represented within the larger project management community. And I plan to help contribute to this under represented group.

Even Lee Lambert, Founder of the PMP, replied in a LinkedIn post:

“This entire topic of Risk Management has never gotten the traction that, in my opinion, it should have. It is one of the most impactful PM capabilities…”

This site won’t just focus solely on project risk management though, the blogging and book reviews will encompass topics across Forty-Four Risk PM’s three pillars: Project Risk Management, Project Management, and Leadership.

I also want to help cover the topics YOU want to hear. So please, connect with me on one of the social media platforms listed below, sign up for our newsletter, and lets get the traction moving on the Risk Management topic!!

If you want to know more about me and my story, check out this post going into more detail about my life and how I got to The Risk Blog.

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The Risk Blog:

What's in The Risk Blog:

Project Risk Management
Project Management
Leadership
Book Reviews

Mission:

To establish a premier blogging platform for Project Managers and Project Risk Managers to learn, grow, and develop themselves as practitioners and leaders.

Career:

I’m a retired US Marine Corps Logistics Officer and current Project Manager in the financial sector with 20 years of experience in planning, project management, and project risk management.

Overview

Who is Russell Parker?

Family Man:

I’m a Father to two beautiful boys and married to a wife that I love and cherish. Aside from my faith, my family is my rock in life – they are my happiness.

Marathon Maniac:

I used to be a running maniac who has completed 3x ultra-marathons, 15x marathons, and 11 half marathons – An area that involves all-around project management and risk analysis to succeed!

Brain Tumor Survivor:

In 2021, I was hit with an unknown-unknown risk event when I was diagnosed with a benign pituitary brain tumor that, when removed, left me with some rare conditions. These conditions ended my Marine Corps career and stopped my running (for now).

US Marine:

I am a Cleveland, Ohio, native who joined the Marine Corps straight out of High School. I’m an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and a “Mustang” Officer who started in the enlisted ranks and retired as a Major.

Project Manager:

I am a project manager w/in a major financial services provider. Coming from the Marine Corps to Finance Technology work has been a shift but challenging and educational experience.

Marine Corps League:

I am the Junior Vice Commandant for the LCpl Robert J Slattery Detachment 206. It’s great staying connected with fellow Marines, even post-retirement. They are a great team to work with and I highly encourage all Marines, past and present, to join the league.

Interests and Hobbies

Passion and Pursuits:

My primary passion revolves around my family. They are my bedrock, for which I find the greatest enjoyment in life.

My goal in life is to provide an example and environment for my sons that is engaging and educational – allowing them to find success in their lives.

My next passion is learning and teaching – when taking the Gallup Strength Finder, my top strength was being a learner. So, for me, learning is something that I love – and I hope to learn as much as I teach throughout this blogging journey.

Hobbies:

My hobbies outside of my day job currently revolve around managing two toddlers, my new company, and building this blogging site – but I also enjoy reading a good book and listening to a podcast (that learner strength!).

I’ve also dabbled with photography over the years without getting too serious.

I’ve been able to grab some great photos over the years when the opportunity does arise. Check out a few below.

Future Plans

Career Aspirations:

We all aspire to where we would ideally like to be one day. For me, that would be to grow this blog into a full multi-faceted educational website while becoming a Project Management Institute Authorized Training Partner for the PMP and RMP.

I loved teaching in the Marine Corps and would love to bring that to my civilian career. Helping people grow their knowledge to meet their goals and seeing them succeed is the most rewarding professional career I could have.

For the future, I also plan to do some collaboration with fellow industry experts to hear how their projects were impacted by the positive or negative effects of risks. If you’d like to collaborate, please message me on social media or use the contact me page!

Success for all is the outcome I strive for as I work to create content for Project Managers, Project Risk Managers, and those aspiring to reduce the negative effect project risks have on their outcomes.

Thank you all, and God Bless! I look forward to engaging with you all in the future of my goal of becoming a PMI ATP for Project and Project Risk Management Professionals!