Tag: Program Management

Cost Segregation: Increase Cash Flow and Maximize Investment Potential

Posted on May 30, 2023

Engineers Specializing in the Niche Service Offering of Cost Segregation

At the center of HPM lies a clear and simple mission: acting in the best interest of the owners we represent at all times, so that they might maximize the productivity and profitability of their entity. Underneath this broad umbrella lie numerous service offerings providing owners with practical steps to accomplish their goals. The Audit & Contract Services group within HPM are experts not only in construction but also in the world of finance and accounting. These professionals are able to save millions of dollars on behalf of their clients by applying this unique combination of skills and industry knowledge. Within the Audit & Contract Services group are engineers specializing in the crucial service offering of Cost Segregation.

Maximizing Cash Flow

Cost segregation is a powerful tool in reducing taxes and producing additional cash flow in the early years of property ownership, enabling assets that depreciate more quickly to be separated from the standard depreciation schedule for the property. Within today’s volatile market, many property owners are wishing they had known about cost segregation sooner. For those who have acquired, remodeled, or built a piece of property this year, a cost segregation study is the best way to reduce taxable income and increase your cash flow sooner by identifying components of a project that are eligible for faster tax depreciation.

Bonus Depreciation

Cost Segregation becomes all the more powerful when taking into account bonus depreciation, which is being phased out slowly over the next four years. According to the IRS, some properties qualify for bonus depreciation, which is an additional five-year depreciation and allows these property owners to deduct a specified percentage (usually 30%, 50% or 100%) in the same year the property is placed in service. Customers should take advantage of this extra benefit on top of Cost Segregation while it is still around, as it will start to see a 20% reduction beginning this year.

Choose Your Team Wisely

Due to the many complexities and nuances that accompany Cost Segregation, it is imperative that you choose a partner with an engineering background. Cost Segregation is more of an engineering function than an accounting function, and this is proving to be true as the pool of companies offering Cost Segregation services has become more saturated. The IRS is starting to weigh the validity of firms that utilize an engineering approach over those that take an accounting approach, as it takes a true engineering knowledge of building components to segregate the asset correctly. A firm may claim to abide by IRS guidelines, but it takes specialized experience to accurately understand this. Any study done without this substantial background knowledge could potentially be thrown out or leave money on the table.

Bottom line — if you are thinking about utilizing a Cost Segregation study, consider partnering with HPM and benefitting from our team’s significant experience carrying out these practices. The rewards may be even greater than you think.

The Importance of Effective Mentorship in the Workplace

Posted on May 19, 2023

Heather Lochridge & McKenzie Hosey

HPM believes our people are our greatest asset and that success is ultimately driven by positive connection and support. With this in mind, mentorship is positioned at the helm of our company culture. The best mentorship relationships are the those that are equally valuable for the mentor and the mentee, providing each party with deeper industry knowledge and empowering them to operate out of confidence as they pursue their goals. Continue reading to hear from two of HPM’s finest, Heather Lochridge, Assistant Project Manager and McKenzie Hosey, Co-Op as they expand upon the benefits of this type of professional mentoring.

What does mentorship look like within HPM?

Heather (Mentor): At HPM, mentorship is a way to get sound advice, guidance and encouragement. I have been lucky to work with several people I consider mentors and friends at HPM, and I appreciate their insight and experience.

McKenzie (Mentee): As a co-op student, I have had the pleasure of having multiple different mentors for different work rotations. Growing those relationships before I graduate college has been wonderful, and having already established relationships within the company has made me even more excited and ready to begin my career than I ever was before. Having that work experience and guidance early on makes having a mentor truly amazing.

Why is professional mentorship valuable?

Heather (Mentor): Mentorship is important because it is easier to succeed when you have people supporting you on your career journey. It is important to find people with similar goals and values, so you have a trusted person to share ideas and strategies with, get feedback, and celebrate victories.

McKenzie (Mentee): There is truly nothing greater than having a mentor in the workplace. From my personal experience, it has helped me grow as a person and in my career path much quicker than if I was on my own. It is invaluable having someone that is there to help you succeed in your career and life.

What have the two of you learned from one another in your mentor/mentee relationship?

Heather (Mentor): I have learned to look forward to what the next generation will accomplish. I see so much potential in McKenzie and this age group overall. I love her confidence and willingness to try new things.

McKenzie (Mentee): Being able to watch Heather in her element has been a blessing. I hope to one day be half as hard of a worker as she is. I have learned from her that being an exceptional team player is an important key to success in the workplace.

What are the hallmark qualities of a great mentor?

Heather (Mentor): A great mentor will let you ask questions and give you valuable feedback. The mentors that have helped me grow the most already trusted me to make the right decision but were readily available to talk through options. Their experience helps me to be confident with my decisions. Good mentors provide training, resources and feedback, but ultimately trust me to do the right thing.

McKenzie (Mentee): The hallmark qualities of a great mentor are being knowledgeable about what the mentee is trying to learn and being a great listener. They should be guiding you to achieve your goals while also providing direction.

What inspires you most about one another?

Heather (Mentor): McKenzie has great energy and such a fun personality. She is always eager to learn more. She inspires me to work hard but still find the fun in everyday moments.

McKenzie (Mentee): Heather is such a bright and wonderful person. She is an extremely hard worker and always says yes to anything you ask her to do or help with. She is a light in the office, and she always brightens everyone’s day.

Built to Lead: Matt Jackson

Posted on April 18, 2023

It is universally known that one of the greatest adversaries facing construction projects is scheduling delays. Far too often, progress slows or comes to a halt altogether due to scheduling issues involving people, production or planning. Fortunately, HPM has an excellent resource in Matt Jackson, Senior Schedule Manager (also known as the scheduling mastermind) to protect clients from experiencing these frustrating and costly delays. Combining the knowledge he gleaned from many years in the field and his expertise in scheduling technologies, Matt has developed an unrivaled approach to Project Controls. Continue reading to get to know Matt as you learn more about his career path and leadership style.

HPM: What does a typical day at HPM look like for you?

I don’t know that I have many typical days, seeing as how I work with so many different programs throughout each day. I range from working with teams helping to program schedules, reviewing schedules and project status, monitoring for schedule risk, “nerding-out” on developing data analysis techniques for scheduling and visiting project sites. Sometimes I do several of these tasks all within the same day. My days vary a lot, day to day, but I enjoy the variety.

HPM: What is the best part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is getting to work with so many different people, teams and projects. I get to interact with so many different programs and each one has unique aspects. This has given me a lot of insight into the multitude of methods, processes and personalities it takes to accomplish a program. My role also gives me the opportunity to develop a lot of relationships across HPM’s footprint.

HPM: What is your proudest accomplishment?

This is an accomplishment that I share with my wife, Joanna, and it’s one that’s an ongoing process. But it’s raising our son, Curtis. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to be a father and to watch our child grow, guide them through challenges, teach them and push them to be better every day. Seeing him achieve success academically, learn, adapt and make friends has been a constant source of inspiration and (mostly good) surprises. We’re unbelievably proud of him and feel that it’s our most important goal to help him reach his maximum potential and to guide him through an increasingly complicated world.

HPM: What are the character qualities of a great leader?

I think great leaders have to be great facilitators and decision makers. Leaders may not always know all the answers, but they must orchestrate getting the right people in the room and equip them with the necessary tools to tackle a challenge. Leaders must also be decisive after weighing perspectives and move swiftly in taking action. The world moves rapidly, and leaders must do the same.

Built to Lead: Taylor Thorn

Posted on April 11, 2023

Whether representing clients to ensure success or fostering emerging talent within the company, leadership is woven into all that we do at HPM. Long-term HPMer, Taylor Thorn, Assistant to the President, embodies the humility and servant leadership that characterize stand-out leaders. Having worked his way from Project Engineer to Program Executive, Taylor was promoted to his current position at HPM last year. Taylor is widely respected by his colleagues as a problem-solver and selfless leader, who provides influence and aid while consistently building trust – both internally and externally. Continue reading to hear from Taylor as he expands upon his what leadership means to him.

HPM: What does a typical day at HPM look like for you?

One of the things I love most about my role, is that there really is no such thing as a typical day. Each day brings about new challenges and opportunities, and I enjoy the excitement that comes along with this. In my role, I spend time in every aspect of our business to support our strategic initiatives across the company. This involves regular interactions with sales, operations, program development, audit, and regional leadership.

HPM: What is the best part of your job?

Without a doubt, the amazing people I have the benefit of working alongside daily. At HPM, I work with some of the most talent-driven people in the industry and it is a privilege to witness their successes every day. Together we develop relationships with some of the best clients; from leaders in aviation, to premiere higher education institutions, to flagship sports and recreation, HPM allows me to interact with diverse clients and industries daily.

HPM: What is your proudest accomplishment?

Though my career has been full of rewarding experiences, nothing thus far has matched the pride I felt in the first team I was ever tasked with leading. This group was comprised of hard working, talented individuals, who consistently sought out ways to improve to better serve our clients. Because of their dedication and determination, many of these team members have now become leaders within the company, which has been gratifying to observe. I am also exceptionally proud of HPM and our growth as a company—not merely for the sake of growth, but for the purpose of enhancing the potential of our people and providing them opportunities to develop into new markets and new industries.

HPM: What are the character qualities of a great leader?

The best leaders are those who truly seek to serve their team. They demonstrate flexibility as they have humbly fluctuated in roles based upon the needs of their people. Good leaders understand what motivates team members and chart paths empowering these individuals to realize and maximize their potential. Positivity and a commitment to the continuous improvement of self and those around you are vital qualities for a leader to possess. I strive to be a leader others can trust, knowing that I truly care for them and seek to do the right thing in all facets of life.

GIS Mapping: The Art of Transforming Data to Depiction

Posted on March 13, 2023

Among the most sought-after services offered by HPM is Strategic Planning, a comprehensive approach to the building and maintaining of large-scale capital facilities. Our Planning Services group works alongside clients to establish best practices for operations in a wide variety of professional fields including education, sports and recreation, aviation, hospitality and more. Implementing a wholistic, strategic approach to planning in K12 school systems maximizes the functionality and lifespan of facilities, enabling our clients to better serve their students, faculties and community stakeholders.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software programs prove to be a vital component in taking integrative planning to the next level, as they allow complex, expansive data sets of buildings or campuses across the country to be easily visualized. Within K12, GIS can ease the burden of visualizing student data sets and understanding the demographics of specific school districts, as well as mapping school campuses and locations within cities. This use of digital mapping systems is particularly helpful to clients and decision makers, as it paints a picture of numbers and statistics that are digestible and easy to comprehend. Knowledge is power, and educating vested parties on the project at hand using software of this nature equips them to make decisions that will be in the best interest of the students they serve.

Similar to the digital map kiosks used in airports or shopping malls, GIS can create similar types of functional maps to assist large schools with multiple buildings on campus. These can also be built into mobile apps. With much of the population identifying as visual learners, the ability to create a realistic picture of concepts under discussion can be transformative and unifying. During the K-12 planning process, community meetings are a huge part of gaining public approval and feedback from the people the schools directly impact. GIS can create a facilities dashboard, where all community members can click around a map to easily visualize case studies, facility reports, enrollment projections and other data. This level of interactivity allows individuals to feel that they are a vital part of the planning process rather than mere observers.

“If you can dream it, we can map it.”
Scott Leopold, Director of Planning Services, HPM

GIS plays a vital role in site selection and contractor procurement. Mapping tabular data helps clients easily visualize and perform an analysis on what locations are the best for their projects based on local demographics or whichever factor is important to them. This provides greater detail for districts as they think through ideal options and locations for their facilities. Having a well-rounded understanding of the benefits and negative aspects of the opportunities on the table provides peace of mind and confidence when making weighty decisions that will affect future generations.

HPM has a team of GIS experts who are ready to serve your school system, institution or company as you navigate the complexities of facility planning. Our planning group provides you with the data and tools you will need to make beneficial decisions with lasting impact.

HPM Celebrates Completion of Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University

Posted on February 9, 2023

Team HPM oversees preconstruction and construction services for 142,000-square-foot facility housing learning hotel, restaurant, training labs and more.

We are pleased to announce the grand opening of Auburn University’s Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, an innovative, dual-purpose building that houses a learning environment blended with a luxury boutique hotel, restaurant, food hall and more. HPM served as program manager on the project, providing project management support for Auburn University Facilities Management during the preconstruction and construction phases of the world-class educational and hospitality facility.

HPM Celebrates Completion of Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center at Auburn University

The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center is a 142,000-square-foot complex with the capacity to facilitate hands-on, immersive learning experiences for students pursuing careers in hospitality and culinary sciences. Students will train alongside world-renowned chefs and hospitality professionals in Class-A training kitchens and restaurants, labs, a brewery, retail food hall and boutique hotel. Also located on the first floor of the building is 1856, a tasting-menu-only teaching restaurant. Situated at the corner of East Thach Avenue and South College Street in downtown Auburn, construction on the building began in 2019.

“We have had a wonderful experience working with Auburn University Facilities Management to bring this one-of-a-kind hospitality learning environment to life. The strong relationships we have formed with our partners have driven home success for this project and kept us focused throughout every step, even as we faced a global pandemic. This is another successful project that we are pleased to add to our portfolio of high-profile hospitality and higher-education initiatives across the Southeast.”
– Ryan Austin, President HPM

The project team provided preconstruction and construction services on the project including contract oversight and quality control and assurance, working closely with design teams during the planning stages to ensure the initial drawings aligned with the budget and timeline, while also managing communication with all partners and subcontractors to guarantee that progress remained on schedule. We scoped out and managed the bidding of a separate utility and enabling works package for the building contractor, helping bypass time-intensive utility relocations and keeping the overall project schedule on track. The team also oversaw the construction of a six-story, $10 million parking deck nearby before beginning work on the culinary facility.

“I am proud of our team’s dedication to collaboration and preplanning, which ultimately led to a smooth transition between each phase of the project lifecycle. This facility is a trailblazer in both the hospitality and higher education industries, providing a range of training opportunities that are not offered at other institutions in the country. HPM’s expertise in owner’s representation and construction management maintained cost efficiency and ensured this project was completed to Auburn University’s high standard of excellence.”
-Caleb Camp, Operations Manager HPM

Auburn alumnus and Board of Trustees member Jimmy Rane helped kickstart the project with a $12 million gift dedicated to the building’s construction. The board later approved naming the facility in honor of his parents, Tony and Libba Rane.

Our team helped administer the State of Alabama bid process during the preconstruction phase to select qualified, experienced contractors and partners. Additional project partners include architecture and design firm Cooper Carry, facility operator Ithaca Hospitality Partners, the Auburn Facilities Management department and general contractor Bailey Harris Construction Company. We are thrilled with the finished product of this best-in-class facility.

HPM Promotes David Jones to Program Manager

Posted on January 23, 2023

The culture of HPM is built upon leaders with proven ability to deliver outstanding work products, while also embodying the core values of the company and building meaningful relationships. All who have had the pleasure of interacting with David Jones, know that he fits these criteria and more. Whether it be a client or a colleague, David is sure to ascribe value to all he meets, providing them a sense of belonging and assurance. Along with his personability and leadership skills, David brings astute intelligence and a “can-do” attitude. For these reasons and more, we are pleased to announce the promotion of David Jones to Senior Program Manager.

As Senior Program Manager, David provides leadership to multiple accounts, some of which include Aerojet, Drake State and ALDCNR as he interacts directly with clients and supports teams in their execution of projects. This will be an excellent role for David as a client recently said of him “his leadership style of selflessness and service is both infectious and empowering.” Under David’s leadership, his clients and his teams will be given every resource needed to ensure the completion of successful projects.

When David began his career with HPM in 2018 working as a Project Manager on the University of Alabama account, his willingness to accept new projects of varying complexity and scope quickly distinguished him as a rising star within the company. After proving his ability to navigate challenges with ease, David was promoted to Senior Project Manager in 2021. Before coming to HPM, David worked as a construction manager for Gray Construction and a project coordinator and estimator for KBR. He has over 17 years of total construction experience and a degree in construction engineering technology from the University of Southern Mississippi.

David is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys staying busy partaking in adventurous activities such as hiking and biking when not in the office. He is married to his wife, Laura and is the proud father of eleven-year-old twin daughters, Haley and Ella.

HPM Hires Director of Planning Services

Posted on December 18, 2022

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Scott Leopold as Director of Planning Services at HPM. Scott will work alongside Tracy Richter, Vice President of Planning Services at HPM, to expand our partnerships with K-12 school districts in markets throughout the Southeast, bolster existing relationships with clients and enhance the overall facility planning process for bond programs.

Scott joins the company with more than 17 years of experience in facility planning and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services, having coordinated and led capacity and utilization analyses, educational adequacy assessments, demographic analyses and enrollment projections for K-12 school districts of all sizes. He previously served as partner at Cooperative Strategies, where he worked with school districts across the country to lead successful facilities master planning projects and assist with implementation of GIS programs. Within the past decade, Scott has toured more than 500 schools and worked on projects in 100 school districts. He has also worked as a subcontractor on numerous jobs with HPM previously and collaborated with Tracy on many of these projects.

Using his experience in GIS, Scott will work to enhance the methods used by our planning services team to present data to clients and build new strategies using advanced digital platforms to make the process more interactive and convenient. The creation of online mapping applications and the use of dashboards will allow our clients to visualize large amounts of data in a way that is digestible and easy to understand. He hopes to expand this concept to projects within other sectors in the HPM portfolio, as well.

“My passion lies in understanding the wants and needs of communities that often have strong emotional attachment to their school systems, and turning that into data that can be used to improve education facilities,” said Scott. “As conditions continue to change across our industry and the need for adaptability increases, it is time to move into the next generation of interactive data presentation to make the planning process smoother for these communities. HPM has established a track record of excellence within facility planning, and I look forward to continuing this pattern of success and strengthening client relationships alongside Tracy.”

With the addition of Scott, our planning services team will continue to provide comprehensive oversight and guidance on capital and operational building programs, providing a holistic scope to clients offering a life cycle of services from planning to implementation. Scott will help to lead our client initiatives and engage with new K-12 school districts seeking to begin planning for bond programs.

“In any facilities planning project, our end goal is always to have an informed community that supports its school system and is excited to implement improvements to make those schools function at the highest possible level,” said Tracy. “I believe Scott’s drive to make the entire process as inclusive and community-driven as possible will only take HPM’s planning services capabilities to the next level. His knowledge combined with our experience in successful K-12 planning will continue to drive cost and time savings for our clients.”

We are currently involved in numerous K-12 planning projects across the region, including a $280 million bond program for the Manor Independent School District in Manor Texas, Facility Master Planning for Round Rock ISD and South Bend Community Schools and Pre-Bond Planning Services for Nampa Schools.

With a presence throughout the U.S. and a total management portfolio value of $1+ billion annually, we have established ourselves as one of the industry’s leading program managers and owner’s representative companies. Our recent notable clients and accounts include a program management contract for Airbus’ campus including the A320 and A220 assembly lines in Mobile, Alabama; an assignment to lead the site selection process, planning, design and construction of Boom Supersonic’s first manufacturing facility; project management services for several new minor league baseball ballparks and major league spring training facilities in Florida; a preconstruction services and construction administration contract for facilities owned by Regions Financial Corporation; a partnership with the World Games 2022 as the official program management partner; and program management services for multiple K-12 school districts and higher education institutions throughout the South.

HPM Managed Construction for Buffalo Rock Company North Alabama Distribution Center

Posted on December 1, 2022

In 2020, HPM was presented with the opportunity to represent Buffalo Rock in the construction of their brand-new North Alabama distribution center in Huntsville. Eager to further expand upon our food and beverage portfolio, we accepted the task at hand, and embarked on a two-year project with Buffalo Rock.

Early conversations revealed that the space would occupy roughly 204,000 gross square feet and would demand the capability for future expansion, as the facility would be a consolidation of what was previously two separate buildings. Matthew Dent, CEO and President of Buffalo Rock cast a vision on behalf of the company, stating “As our business grows and expands, we need a facility that could outpace us.” Dent went on to explain that this facility would have distribution impact from the state line of Mississippi to the Tennessee state line and would include the majority of the Northern and Northeastern regions of Alabama.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqNRayF-r28

With the client’s needs at the forefront of their minds, HPM’s preconstruction team began assisting Buffalo Rock in their search for the ideal location to house the facility. As sites were explored, HPM expedited due-diligence and design efforts to ensure the project stayed on target for the established completion date. In due time, 55 acres of land were purchased, allowing space to accommodate 34 loading docks and 89 parking spaces for trucks and trailers and the desired square footage. Ground was broken on December 17, 2020, and construction promptly began.

While monitoring progression on the job site, HPM also ensured the project owner was regularly updated at internal leadership meetings, providing them peace of mind through thorough and transparent communication. Additionally, HPM conducted regular meetings with the City of Huntsville and adjacent projects to coordinate shared roadways, utilities and infrastructure in order to build good rapport with the community. Dent spoke to the company’s emphasis on community engagement, sharing “It’s important to Buffalo Rock that we invest in every community in which we operate. As we make investments across the Buffalo Rock footprint, the project here in Huntsville is a great example of our model—we build first class projects that not only we are proud of, but that the community can take pride in as long-term jobs are created for city residents”.

Unique challenges always accompany unprecedented growth, however HPM was at the side of Buffalo Rock’s leadership team every step of the way. During the site-work portion of the construction phase, an abnormal amount of groundwater was found, contrary to what was shown on the Geotech exploration, due to heavy rainfall. Because of HPM’s expertise in navigating complex projects with successful solutions, water mitigation efforts were enacted, enabling the team to remain on schedule.

Throughout the lifecycle of the project, HPM consistently led in cost reduction and optimization of time management, enabling the facility to achieve completion on July 14, 2022—ahead of schedule and within budget. Dent described HPM’s leadership on the project stating “When we first met with HPM, there was obviously a whole menu of services we could select. We selected the entire menu, which took us from site selection all the way through the completion and delivery of the final product. HPM has been in the driver’s seat from the get-go on this project, and it has been very successful”.

HPM values the trusted relationship we share with Buffalo Rock and looks forward to the continued growth that is to come.

HPM Johnson Brings Holistic Program Management Services to Georgia

Posted on November 29, 2022

HPM and Atlanta-based Johnson Construction Services have announced a structured joint venture as HPM Johnson. The strategic partnership delivers holistic and integrated program management, flexible and scalable owner’s representation, and a range of services across the construction lifecycle for new and ongoing projects throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, throughout Georgia and the Southeast.

Dedicated to all aspects of program management, HPM Johnson provides assessment, planning, contracting and procurement, design and construction management, project controls and move and transition coordination — through to audit, occupancy and closeout. Its approach to program management incorporates a cyclical pattern of assessment and planning to bring about a more effective and efficient program management plan, and ultimately save time and money for its clients.

“Both individually and collectively, the team behind HPM Johnson already possesses a proven track record of program management triumphs within the Atlanta market,” said Johnson Construction Services President and CEO Artis Johnson, an Atlanta native. “Our advantage now lies in our partnership’s ability to execute projects of any size or complexity, while offering access to management and leadership only a firm our size can offer.”

Johnson continued, “Relationships are the driving force behind our business, and our purpose is to represent the interests of owners and bring home success for our clients.”

HPM Johnson brings a combined 55 years of program management experience to Metro Atlanta, having worked with several high-profile clients in the market. Johnson Construction Services was founded in Atlanta in 1993, with a portfolio of projects ranging from education facilities to historic preservation projects. HPM originated out of an 80-year-old Hoar Construction and began our owner’s representation services more than 25 years ago, serving K-12, higher education, local and municipal entities, industrial and manufacturing, and additional sectors throughout the Southeast. After connecting and discovering similarities in each company’s core values and business approaches, HPM President Ryan Austin and Johnson decided to merge services in the Atlanta area and began pursuing partnership opportunities in early 2022.