Scrum Training and Consulting in Richmond, Virginia
I live here, I work here, and people fly me around the world.
Short answer: Yes, I'm available. I'm Michael Vizdos, a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST) since 2006, and I live and work in Richmond, Virginia (Short Pump), even though clients fly me around the world. Call me at +1 262 MVIZDOS (262-684-9367) or email me. I deliver executive advisory, leadership mentoring, and Scrum training through Vizdos Enterprises, LLC.
Are you available, and can you help us?
Yes, and I'd like to hear what's going on. Many of the people who call me learned Scrum with me years ago and now run teams, departments and companies. If you remember when I helped you get started and your current team needs that now, call or email. If I can't solve — or even identify — the real world problems you're experiencing, I'll make recommendations (yes, even to my "competition") if it's not a good fit for either of us.
What does a typical engagement look like?
It starts with a conversation, not a proposal. We talk by phone, on Zoom, or in person, and we question each other before anyone proposes a solution. I reply within one business day. Tell me what's changing and when you need help, and we'll work out a start date on that first call. From there it usually takes one of three shapes:
- Advisory with your leadership team: executive strategic advisory.
- Mentoring: three sessions on your schedule.
- Training: a private workshop, usually two days or four half days, with an optional follow-up a week or two later: Scrum training workshops.
Do you still teach CSM and CSPO?
Yes. Most of it is now private, run for a company's own teams, in person around Richmond or on Zoom. See how the training works.
Why work with someone who's part of the local community?
I'm not parachuting in.
- Co-founder of Agile Richmond (2006) and ScrumRVA (2017).
- Volunteer on the organizing committee of the Virginia Commonwealth Agency Agile Conference (CAAC) from #3 through #19, sometimes presenting.
- Chairman of the Advisory Council at the Center for Information Technology, a Henrico County Public Schools specialty center, and involved with the Center since 2012.
- Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Edvizion, so I'm doing the work every day, not only teaching it.
Where do we meet?
Most people meet me first at a local meetup like ScrumRVA or through a referral from someone who's been in a class with me. After that: your office, a local co-working space, downtown, out in Short Pump, or online. I work with teams in Richmond, Short Pump (23233), Henrico County and Glen Allen, and I'll cross the river or head downtown if that works for both of us.
Who is this not for?
I am NOT the cheapest person out there — if you're looking for the lowest cost provider, please look elsewhere, then contact me in six months and let me know how that's working out.
I do not respond to RFPs — by the time those go out, you already know who you're contracting with. If you want to contract with me for training or consulting in Richmond, email me. It's simple. No games.
I do not like — nor recommend — "one and done" transactional training that leaves you doing the same thing the next week anyway.
There's only one of me, and I'm in your home town. People pay me to fly all around the world to work with their teams; you might even think about flying some other "outside expert" in. If you do, let them know I'm here — funny thing, almost no consultants take me up on grabbing dinner while they're in town.
I'm also not the right fit for a place that isn't interested in real change.
How do we start?
Pick the lowest-pressure way that suits you. You'll speak directly with me, with no sales pitch. Call +1 262 MVIZDOS, email me, or come say hello at a ScrumRVA meetup. I'm always interested in talking with people in the Richmond community.
"Mike is an effective communicator on the art of Scrum. My background is in biochemical research, and Mike helped me realize the value of Scrum, even in applying this framework to my own lab work."
— Joshua Morriss, VCU School of Pharmacy