Tag: construction

How Does HPM Help School Districts Like Yours?

By Anna Sullivan, Senior Program Development Manager

When a capital bond program becomes inevitable due to growth or change, school districts seek out an advocate who will work with them, teach them, and support them through the entire process. HPM is ready to assist and, as K-12 advisors and managers, we’re here to help.

Anna Sullivan

Experienced in the various facets of bond measures and planning for such, we understand the complexities and tasks required. We are here to ensure a successful outcome and allow you and your staff to focus on your day job- educating students.

Program Management is the process of managing several related services and projects. The intent and deliverables are to provide transparency with reporting, consistency with processes and performance, and streamline the outcomes.

HPM works as an extension of your internal staff and can be engaged at any time during the process. Some may believe we should be embedded at the time of a bond measure to execute construction and fiduciary oversight, but this is not necessarily the best solution. HPM can provide more valuable input when we are involved earlier in the process for planning and then throughout the program.

Here is a brief summary of how we can help you and your district:

Facility Assessments

Our team will review and document the physical state of all site work, buildings, and systems, and provide cost estimates for repair or replacement. We will make recommendations of life cycle cost and ADA accessible evaluations, as well as provide capacity and utilization analysis of existing spaces. We will assess the educational adequacy of your facilities and whether or not they align with the district’s visions and goals. In the end, we will provide prioritization of facility needs with cost projections of each.

Long-Range Facility Planning

Strategic planning for facilities and operations is an essential component of short and long-term efficiency models. When engaged in the long-range planning stage, we provide demographic analysis of past and current projections, review and recommend potential boundary changes, and offer recommendations of facility use and improvements.

Preconstruction Services

Before construction begins, HPM’s Preconstruction Services team can develop conceptual budgeting and master program budgets for your district. We provide detailed cost estimates for proposed designs or options and program and project schedules. We will also review all design documents for constructability.

Audit and Contract Services

HPM’s Audit and Contract Services provide you with the expertise you need to be confident you haven’t overpaid on your construction projects. We offer contract language preparation and assistance with procurement methods, including pre-bid documentation and vendor RFQ/P. We complete construction audits, delay claims, and change order audits.

Program Management

HPM is dedicated to leading clients to success by managing all the intricacies of capital bond programs. When we manage a district’s construction program, we provide design management and coordination of all proposed projects in the program. We provide project construction management, coordination, and oversight of all project activities in the program. We also provide post-construction management, coordination, and warranty oversight, including coordination of all of the district’s vendors (ie. technology, AV, furniture, and security).

HPM provides an objective and thorough analysis for the district to make efficiently timed and knowledgeable decisions. The details in the data bring the confidence of transparency and reporting for the school board, administration, and community.

We can bring a flexible team of professionals at any time during the life of your program. HPM consistently delivers savings equal to, or in excess of our cost to you, due to our efficiencies and effectiveness. We are your advocate in every step of the process and will work closely with your architects, engineers, and additional vendors in a relationship-driven environment so that we can develop a win-win solution for your district.

To learn more about our services and our K-12 experience, click the button below.

5 Tips for First-Time Interns

By Justin Smith, Summer 2021 Marketing Intern

As a marketing intern at HPM this summer, I have been motivated by the work done at HPM to further push the envelope in the construction management industry. Serving as an intern reminds me of a fact we don’t talk about enough: we should all work an internship before we go into the workforce. I believe the skills, techniques, and valuable lessons I have picked up during my internship have been copious and seriously valuable in my career journey, so I decided to note my top five most beneficial tips for first-time interns. 

1. Ask questions, literally, every single one of them! 

If you are unsure about something, make sure your supervisor knows it. One of the best advantages of being an intern is that any questions related to the work of your employer are fair game because you are technically there to learn and grow within your role. I started off my internship at HPM by asking about everything I could and took it upon myself to do further research on the topic at hand. By jokingly introducing myself as the Chief Crazy Question Asker, I built a new level of affability, which is not required but extremely worth building with your team. 

2. Watch and learn. 

Understanding how to navigate corporate circles is said by many to be one of the most challenging skills to master in a new job, right alongside public speaking. Watching and listening to what is being said and done around you allows you to navigate in virtually any space. I believe it is important to read each room you walk into to successfully understand the mood and overall “vibe.” This tip is important because it teaches you to be yourself in all situations, while still respecting the boundaries of your coworkers and moving the company forward.  

3. Learn to fail if you want to succeed.

Being mindful of how you present yourself to your team is key to mastering your internship experience. This comes along with learning the overall culture of your workplace, which is critical because you must understand and trust the people you work with. Being an intern gives you a low-risk chance to experience almost all aspects of being in the corporate workplace, from the many different personalities present to the varying work styles. Internships also give you a chance to pick up on techniques that you would have had to otherwise learn through trial and error later in your career. As an intern, you aren’t expected to know everything. You are there to learn and take it from me. If you mess up, it is okay. 


 4. Go Out for Lunch with your Contacts.

Either during the time of your internship or afterward, be sure to ask members of your team, your supervisors, and others within the company if they have any time within their day for a coffee run or lunch break with you. People are more than happy to talk about their path to success, so come prepared with questions and conversation kick-starters. If you ever forget the prepared questions, be real. You can never go wrong talking about the food or one’s goals. The key to remember is that each of us chose a different path to reach the level of success we’ve been able to reach, so make it your personal mission to reach out to as many people as possible so that you can learn from their experiences.

5. Reflect on Your Experience. (Maybe even write a blog post about it!) 

I’ve always embraced the idea of writing everything down, so if there was ever another witness needed, I’d have my notebook. It is encouraged to meet with your supervisor throughout the internship to receive feedback on your work. This allows you to grow and it challenges your usual way of doing things. It is always best to build some form of mental and emotional toughness before reaching out for feedback, though, because it may not always be what you want to hear, but that’s okay. Always take what you need from the conversation, apply it, and go be better. 

Attaining an internship is an amazing opportunity to see what does and does not work for you in your career path. It is important to learn about the company you work for and to build upon every connection you make, but you must also remember to always be yourself. Your internship experience will prove to be far more worthwhile and beneficial if you be who you truly are and believe in your voice, in all rooms. Remember to always embrace the difference, stay true to who you are, and know that this is just the beginning for you! 


Interested in an internship or co-op experience at HPM? Click the button below to learn more!

HPM Campus Ambassadors

HPM’s Emerging Leaders Program provides students with more than the typical co-op or engineering internship experience. They are not only exposed to a career in construction management, but they learn about business acumen, accounting, marketing, and business development, as well. The program seeks to develop leadership skills through mentorship and through the Summer Seminar, a two-day learning-to-lead workshop. We are excited to announce a new component of the program this year, the Emerging Leaders Campus Ambassadors.

 Emerging Leaders Program
Iriana Molusky

HPM will have student representatives on two university campuses beginning this fall. Iriana Molusky, a senior civil engineering student from Lexington, South Carolina, will serve as campus ambassador at the University of Alabama. Ben Smith is a senior civil engineering student from Cullman, Alabama, and will represent HPM at Auburn University.

“Iriana and Ben have excelled in the Emerging Leaders Program, so it was a natural transition that they now serve as ambassadors when they return to campus,” said Medora Gaddes, HPM Project Manager and Talent Development Coordinator.

HPM Intern

Ben Smith

As campus ambassadors, Iriana and Ben will promote the firm and the Emerging Leaders Program through campus events and social media. They will assist our recruitment efforts at career fair booths, recruitment dinners, interview days, and more.

“As ambassadors, these students are representatives of HPM on their college campus,” Gaddes said. “They have the ability to bridge geographic and generational gaps between HPM and demographics on campus including students, professors, faculty, and student organizations. One of the most asked questions during career fairs is ‘What is a typical day for a co-op or intern at HPM?’ I think the answer to that carries more meaning to students when they can hear from one of their peers who is in the same stage of life.”

HPM Ranks Among Top 30 on ENR’S Program Management Firm List

HPM was named one of the top 30 program management firms in the U.S. by Engineering News-Record (ENR), ranking No. 27 on the annual list. This is the 6th year in a row we have landed among the top 50.

“We have continued to strengthen our capabilities while growing our reach and our team over the past year, enabling us to better serve the clients who entrust us to lead their capital projects,” said Ryan Austin, HPM chief operations officer.

HPM attributes this success to its clients and the recent expansion of staff and service offerings. Our planning services division is led by facilities planning expert Tracy Richter and is focused on providing a comprehensive approach to capital and operational building programs. Joining HPM as vice president of planning services, Richter launched the division in July 2020 to expand HPM’s business lines to better serve clients at every stage of development. This move strengthened client engagements through a variety of new offerings, including demographic analysis, standards and specifications development, GIS services, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, client facilitation, and facility master planning.

This year, HPM bolstered its planning services division with the hiring of Gary Rademacher as director of planning services and Tim Kelleher as GIS analyst. Rademacher is a 30-year veteran of architectural planning and design, with specialized expertise in K-12 education. His deep relationships throughout North and Central Texas also strengthen our Texas footprint, as we continue to strategically grow our presence throughout the south. Kelleher has worked to incorporate the GIS framework into HPM’s planning efforts through geographic data analysis, 3D mapping, and GPS development, helping more of HPM’s clients leverage technology and data to make smarter business decisions.

“This recognition by ENR demonstrates our relentless pursuit of improvement and excellence, despite the challenges our industry has faced throughout the pandemic,” Austin said. “We’re proud to rank among the top program management providers in the country and celebrate the exceptional performance of all of our team members.”

HPM Talks Webinar: Emerging Leaders

HPM’s Emerging Leaders Program offers undergraduate students a unique perspective of the planning, design, and construction process through hands-on experience at our projects across the country. Medora Gaddes oversees the program and, as a former HPM co-op herself, recognizes the immense value of experiential learning. During this HPM Talks webinar, Gaddes and co-ops Iriana Molusky and Ben Smith discuss their experience in the program and what they’ve learned along the way.

Webinar Details:

July 29, 2021 at 11AM CST

MEET THE HOST

Medora Gaddes, Assistant Project Manager and Talent Development Coordinator at HPM
Medora is not only an Assistant Project Manager at HPM, but also our Talent Development Coordinator and heads up the Emerging Leaders Program. She herself was a co-op with HPM before becoming a full-time employee. After graduating from Auburn University with a degree in civil engineering, she joined HPM as a project engineer and as a full-time HPM team member in the Huntsville office.

Q&A from Webinar

  1. We heard about precon and program management. What is field coordination like as a co-op?

Ben Smith: During the field rotation as a co-op, a day usually consists of walking with the Field Coordinator (FC) as he makes his rounds around the job site to track the progress of construction and look for items that might need to be addressed with the owner/general contractor. For me, this was a time to pick the brain of the FC and ask as many questions as possible about what is happening on the job site and why/how they are doing it. You can be given miscellaneous tasks that help the FC with his job. For instance, one of the tasks I was given was keeping track of the progression of concrete pours and ceiling paint in a large warehouse. The FC used this information to update the weekly report that was sent to the owner. Other things I experienced were on-site meetings with the general contractor and the owner, taking meeting minutes to send to the HPM team on your specific project, site walks with the general contractor and owner about issues that need resolving, and much more. The field rotation is a good way to get a feel for what a construction site looks like and how things are run during construction both from the Construction Management side and the General Contractor side of things.

2. My major is Architectural Engineering. I have learned that very few companies are hiring ArchEs or understand what ArchE is. Does HPM recruit ArchE’s and how are they used?

Medora Gaddes: HPM is less focused on your specific major and more focused on what you are interested in doing upon graduation. Obviously your major plays a role in that, but I’ll give you an example. I have a bachelor’s in civil engineering and if I wanted to do structural design as a career path, HPM would likely not be the best fit for my interests because HPM does not have engineers designing and stamping drawings. HPM has been a good fit for me since I was interested in the management of design and construction upon graduation. My civil engineering degree has supported my ability to manage, understand, and communicate the civil aspects of design and construction. So ask yourself if you want to work for a company that will utilize the technical skills of architectural engineering and likely the skills you’ve learned in school? Or do you see your architectural engineering degree as a foundation or launching pad into a different career path? I think every engineer can ask themselves this question and it will help you be intentional with your job search. Does HPM hire architectural engineers who are going to use their technical engineering skills? Not at this time. Does HPM hire architectural engineers interested in the management of design and construction? Absolutely!

HPM Talks Webinar: The World Games

All eyes will be on Birmingham, Alabama, when it hosts The World Games in July 2022. An anticipated 3,600 athletes from around the world will compete in more than 30 different sports at venues across the city, and with that much attention comes the pressure to highlight the very best of Birmingham. Headquartered in Birmingham, HPM is proud to serve as the Official Program Management Partner of The World Games. During our June 2021 HPM Talks webinar, HPM Chief Operations Officer Ryan Austin and special guest Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games, discussed the impact of The Games on Birmingham, what athletes and fans can expect, and how hiring a program manager makes a difference when preparing a city’s historic venues to welcome the world. 

SPEAKERS

Nick Sellers, CEO of The World Games
Nick Sellers has deep roots in sports and service to the State of Alabama. And he brings that experience and passion to bear in his leadership on loan from Alabama Power as CEO of The World Games 2022.

As former Chairman of the Alabama Sports Council, he led a board that oversaw the growth of several regional and national sporting events including the SEC Baseball Tournament, the Magic City Classic, and the Davis Cup Birmingham.

After beginning his career in sports marketing and as an advisor to the Governor of Alabama for economic development and policy, Nick joined Alabama Power in 2003 where he has held management positions both at Alabama Power and Southern Company including executive leadership of Business Origination, Project Management & Construction, Division Vice President, and Vice President of External & Regulatory Affairs.

In addition to the Alabama Sports Council, his other previous community involvement includes serving on the boards of the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Foundation, Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, and Board Emeritus member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

After earning his undergraduate from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, Sellers went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the Birmingham School of Law.
Ryan Austin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at HPM
Ryan Austin leads the strategic vision, growth, and development of HPM – one of the top 25 program management firms in the US (as ranked by Engineering News Record magazine). Ryan has helped grow HPM into a 150-person company that manages more than $1 billion annually in facilities during planning, design, and construction for clients located throughout the country.   

Ryan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Auburn University, and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Construction Auditor. Ryan joined Hoar Construction in 2004. He was promoted to the role of Vice President, Accounting and Controller, before taking over as Chief Financial Officer for HPM in 2015. 

Ryan serves on the boards for Associated Builders and Contractors, Cornerstone School, The World Games, and Ingram State. In 2020, he was named a member of Leadership Alabama, an organization comprised of the state’s most accomplished and forward-thinking leaders who share a strong commitment in serving the people of Alabama.

Working Together to Get the Job Done

As program managers, we serve as the eyes and ears of the owner, ensuring that their best interests are at the heart of every decision. We manage all resources as if they were our own – which includes holding designers, suppliers, contractors, decision makers and ourselves accountable to the commitments made. Sometimes, other project partners involved come from previous experiences where working with a program management firm felt more like an additional layer of red tape.

This was the case for Carmon Construction Inc. (CCI), a construction company based in Albertville, Alabama, which had previously worked with firms that either forbid them from corresponding with the owner or architect or added a fee for doing so. When we partnered with CCI on the City of Albertville’s Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater, they found HPM to be quite different.

“To begin, HPM stayed on top of every problem or change requested by the owner, analyzed how it would affect the schedule and produced an independent cost breakdown with written analysis to the architect and owner,” said Carmon Smith, founder of CCI. “This proved to be very helpful. With this being a large project, site-wise, and with the owner choosing to contract with 10 or more separate contractors, orderly coordination of these was almost impossible. HPM did everything they possibly could to coordinate and get each contractor to do their part at the time it was needed.”

The Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater is a big deal in every sense of the word. The park includes five softball fields with one championship field, four baseball fields with one championship field and five multi-purpose fields, each with all-weather turf. It includes a 100,000 plus square foot recreation center with an indoor eight-lane competition pool, multiple basketball courts and an outdoor water park with a lazy river feature.

The park also features four miles of hiking trails, open grass areas, an RV Park and a 7,000+ seating capacity amphitheater equipped to host national touring acts and regional or community events. The 135-acre sports, leisure, wellness and entertainment venue is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs while generating an economic impact of $120 million annually.

No matter the size or scope of any project, clear communication among the various teams involved is a requisite of success. HPM furnished a complete table of contents for close out of the project in the first third of the project and CCI came to consider us as a partner in building the recreation center and amphitheater. The complex program schedule featured numerous logistical challenges ranging from complications due to the pandemic to one of the rainiest winters in North Alabama history, but our teams worked together to ensure that the program was a success.

“Carmon Construction was driving their work from day one,” said Caleb Camp, HPM project manager. “They had strong field leadership, obviously developed over a long career in the construction industry. Carmon Smith held his company to high standards and represented Albertville with class. The City of Albertville has a reputation and history of providing excellence to its citizens, and Carmon Construction delivered the facilities to continue this tradition.”

We strive to be the perfect partner, helping every group on every project achieve its goals. Together with CCI, we put the owner first and got the job done, delivering a remarkable recreation destination to a region that will enjoy its benefits for many years to come.

HPM Talks Webinar: Women in Construction

To coincide with Women in Construction Week, HPM Talks brings together a panel of HPM women leaders to discuss why they pursued careers in the industry, and the successes and challenges they have experienced along the way. The panel will explore the power of mentorships, managing work/life balance, and why having a seat at the table as a woman matters now more than ever.


Panelists:

Questions & Answers from the Webinar

Q:

Hi! I am extremely interested in breaking into the construction field as an APM (to grow into a PM role).  My skill set is not quite what a construction company would be looking for. Do you have any suggestions to help grow the correct skill set?

A:

  • Medora Gaddes, HPM Project Manager and Talent Development Coordinator: Experience! You likely have the foundational skill set to work in the construction industry so don’t sell yourself short. Qualities like drive, ability to learn and take initiative, communication skills, time management, and attention to detail are the skills the construction industry is looking for. You likely simply need to gain the construction knowledge, and that is something you can gain with experience. All you need is to find that first opportunity and build from there – like a lot of us who are in the field now have done! I would be happy to have a follow-up call to discuss and answer any questions you might have. Send me an email to connect at mgaddes@hpmleadership.com.
  •  
  • Mary Kathryn Holt, HPM Project Manager: Without knowing your skill set or background, I’m not convinced that you do not already have some qualities that would make you a successful candidate for an APM position. Nevertheless, I would suggest investing your resources, whether that be time or money, into growing some marketable skills that would qualify you for an entry level position. Find a job description for an entry level position and use it almost as a checklist. If there are technical skills required (i.e. BIM or scheduling software) take a class to begin learning. Also, join a professional organization and attend meetings to get exposed to the industry and other professionals. All of this can be done with a minimal financial investment. Lastly, apply for some jobs. Interviewing is a great way to learn more about your strengths and weakness as they relate to the job you want. 

HPM Talks Webinar: The Art and Science of Facilities Master Planning

When a Board of Trustees begins a facilities master plan, the common directive is that the process be “data driven.” But what data should be used to make informed facilities decisions and how should it be combined? Gathering the data is but the first step in a thorough planning process. 

In this webinar, Terry Worcester, Round Rock ISD’s Chief Operating Officer, and HPM’s VP of Planning Services Tracy Richter explored the data elements of a comprehensive facilities planning process. They discussed how the approach of using the science of data and the art of data integration will allow your decision makers to move forward in a well-informed and transparent process.


Speakers:

Terry Worcester
Chief Operating Officer, Round Rock Independent
School District

 

Terry Worcester has more than 30 years of experience in architectural design and currently serves as Round Rock ISD Chief Operating Officer, where he is charged with oversight of construction projects within the $508 million 2018 Bond. Before coming to Round Rock ISD in May 2017, Worcester served in two Arizona school districts, leading and collaborating on several multi-million construction projects and restructuring operations departments for maximum production and efficiency. He worked in the architectural design and construction industry for more than 25 years as a project manager, associate, partner, and director in architectural firms before making the move into education administration.

Tracy Richter
Vice President, Planning Services at HPM

Tracy Richter is Vice President of Planning Services for HPM and has over 25 years of teaching and planning experience. Richter has worked in 26 states and with hundreds of school districts across the country to create educational standards and long-range facilities plans that assist districts in successful facilities improvement programs.

 

 


 

 

Q&A from Webinar

  1. What is your top recommendation for engaging communities today given a global pandemic and competing priorities faced by school districts?

Transparency in facilities decision making may be more important than ever.  Parents, Teachers, and students want to be assured that the building they are walking into is well prepared and conditioned to be a healthy environment.  Although there are limitations to in-person meetings, there are very effective virtual platforms that allow for large and small group and individual interaction.  Platforms like “Thought Exchange” allow for interactive conversation for stakeholders to rate and respond to suggestions and recommendations for facilities processes and actions.  Frequent website updates on school improvement process and actions will be more necessary also.  We understand that there is a sense of some virtual weariness, but we must remain diligent in any and all forms of communications to keep in touch with those who use our facilities and keep them informed of ongoing processes intended to keep our school facilities as safe and as healthy as possible.

  1. We are all familiar with the disruption that COVID has presented over the past year. As we come out of the pandemic, what long-term impacts do you foresee for facilities planning in the post-COVID world?

This is the question most pressing in the minds of many in our industry, how will this impact the use and utilization of our school facilities?  There is no doubt adjustments will be made in future design, system types, and operational processes within schools, but I think one of the biggest impacts will be how we define capacity and utilization of our facilities.  We have talked for several years about alternative approaches to increase capacity and utilization of facilities without ‘bricks and mortar’ solutions and the fact remains that these tools have been out there and utilized by districts all over the country.  We obviously have seen that virtual capabilities have been part of the solution this past year, and we also know that this has some drawbacks, but this isn’t the only solution. 

  •  
  • – Districts should explore time alternatives to capacity such as year-round schedule approaches that offer several schedule tracks thus reducing the utilization of a facility at any given time by 25%-30%, but maintaining the ability to house as many students over a calendar year.
  •  
  • – Secondary schools (primarily high schools), that offer extended time blocks of learning.  Career and Technical schools around the country for years have offered high school students the opportunity to learn in facilities that offer courses over a 12-hour school day, but we are reluctant to keep our high schools open longer than 7-8 hours for classroom instruction.  Certainly there are challenges to this such as staffing resources, maintenance and custodial, athletics, and transportation to name a few, but all of these obstacles can be overcome, if we just think differently about the school day. 

These are just a couple of ideas around how to think differently about how we use schools and how planning has changed in our current times.  I encourage all school communities to have a constructive conversation about the benefits and challenges of the future use of our school facilities and understanding that no one answer is the “right” answer as all communities are unique in who and how they serve.

HPM Talks Webinar: GMP Contract Negotiations: Recognizing and Understanding Potential Conflicts of Interest

In this HPM Talks, Vince Chapman, Vice President of Audit and Contract Services, talks about GMP Contract Negotiations: Recognizing and Understanding Potential Conflicts of Interest.

As an owner, when you are negotiating the terms of a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract with a construction manager or general contractor, you need to be aware of the CM/GC’s conflicts of interest. Vince examined these hidden conflicts and discusses possible solutions to these issues.

This talk focuses on conflicts due to:

  • – CCIP: Contractor Controlled Insurance Programs
  • – SDI: Subcontractor Default Insurance
  • – Self-Performed Work

 

Each of these above items has built in conflicts of interest for a CM/GC being completely transparent about the additional enhanced CM/GC fee potential. Understanding the nature of each and the various situations that may arise is key in allowing the owner to make a good decision and to negotiate the best GMP contract possible.


Speakers:

Vince Chapman
Vice President, Audit & Contract Services, HPM

 

Vince provides 100 construction audits a year for industry leaders such as Google, FedEx, Hewlett-Packard, Caesar Entertainment, Sutter Health, Genentech, Southwest Airlines and NVidia. He provides services to virtually all industry segments such as K12 education, healthcare, hospitality, sports, airlines, pharmaceuticals, higher education, oil and gas, high-rise residential and office/retail development. In the last 30 years, Vince has managed thousands of construction audits from Canada to Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and in virtually every major city in the continental USA.

 

Ready to discuss your next project?