IMA Worldwide will deliver a four-day AIM Practitioner Certification program in Portland, Oregon, from October 12 to 15, 2026, at The Bidwell, a Marriott hotel. The program trains change management professionals to apply the company's Accelerating Implementation Methodology (AIM) to organizational change and AI adoption initiatives. The significance of this announcement lies in its direct response to a critical market need: as organizations increasingly pursue AI adoption and large-scale transformation, the demand for skilled change practitioners has surged, and credentials that validate such expertise are becoming essential.
The program is designed for a wide range of professionals, including change managers, change practitioners, change leads, change agents, and transformation leaders. It also serves HR and organizational effectiveness professionals, program and portfolio leaders, technology and AI transformation teams, and practitioners supporting organizational change in broader capacities. By targeting these roles, IMA Worldwide addresses the interdisciplinary nature of modern change efforts, where success often depends on cross-functional collaboration.
Don Harrison, founder and creator of AIM, developed the methodology around four core drivers of sustained change adoption: sponsorship, readiness, resistance, and reinforcement. This evidence-based framework is particularly relevant as organizations grapple with the human side of AI integration, where resistance and readiness are often the biggest obstacles to success.
IMA Worldwide delivers the program through an Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP) Qualified Education Provider, meaning completed hours count toward Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP) requirements. No prior change management certification is required for attendance. This accessibility is crucial because it lowers the barrier to entry for professionals seeking to formalize their skills, potentially expanding the talent pool available to lead transformation initiatives.
Participants are encouraged to bring an active organizational initiative—such as a technology rollout, an AI adoption effort, a reorganization, or a merger integration—and apply AIM concepts directly to it throughout the four days. Sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Tuition is $3,500 per participant, and seating for the in-person cohort is limited. Participants who complete the program earn the AIM Practitioner credential, which includes a digital LinkedIn badge, based on applied work completed during the four days. The hands-on approach ensures that attendees leave with practical solutions tailored to their own challenges, increasing the immediate return on investment for their organizations.
Dr. Jennifer Vernam leads the Portland session. She brings more than 27 years of healthcare experience along with more than 20 years in organizational training, leadership development, and change management. Her extensive background adds significant credibility to the program and ensures participants receive guidance grounded in real-world experience.
Registration and full program details, including hotel booking information, are available at IMA Worldwide AIM Practitioner Certification - Portland. For those seeking a broader overview of the organization's offerings, more information can be found at imaworldwide.com. Additionally, IMA Worldwide maintains a dedicated learning portal at https://lab.imaworldwide.com, which provides access to further resources and certification pathways.
This certification matters because it equips professionals with a structured methodology to navigate the complexities of change, particularly as AI adoption accelerates across industries. By offering CCMP-eligible hours and a LinkedIn badge, IMA Worldwide not only enhances individual career prospects but also helps organizations build internal capacity to manage change effectively. In a business environment where transformation is constant, such credentials can be a differentiator for both individuals and employers.
