Project Management Principles

Crystal Richards serves as Principal and Owner of MindsparQ® and instructor at the University of Maryland's Project Management Center for Excellence, where she specializes in preparing professionals for PMP certification and agile project management. After completing her MHA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and working in healthcare administration, she has established herself as a prominent voice in project management education. Her work focuses on training professionals in both traditional and agile methodologies, demonstrated through her development of comprehensive PMP exam preparation programs. As a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), she has trained over 2,000 professionals across healthcare organizations, non-profits, and government agencies. Through her teaching at the University of Maryland and speaking engagements at events like the Digital PM Summit, she continues to advance project management education while helping professionals achieve certification success. Her expertise particularly shines in making complex project management concepts accessible, demonstrated through her development of courses focusing on project principles and power skills. Currently leading MindsparQ® while teaching at multiple institutions, she combines practical experience with innovative training approaches to help project managers transition from "great" to "excellent."