Tag: project management

Foundations for a Successful Facility Shutdown

Posted on January 23, 2024

Construction Executive recently published an article written by HPM’s Chandler Creel detailing the shutdown process. The article entitled “A One-Year Design for a Three-Week Project” can be read here.

A One-Year Design for a Three-Week Project

Intravenous immunoglobulin is a medical treatment that involves the infusion of concentrated antibodies derived from donated plasma, which boosts the immune system in individuals with various immunodeficiency disorders, autoimmune diseases and certain other medical conditions. The increasing demand for IVIG necessitated a strategic approach to bridge the supply-demand gap.

In a real-life scenario, a leading global manufacturer of IVIG faced the significant challenge of enhancing its IVIG production within the confines of its existing facility while adhering to a stringent three-week shutdown window. Aptly named IGMax, this life-sciences shutdown project exemplifies the challenges of contractors to maximize product within the confines of both time and space—even more confined than usual.

The Challenge

The demand for IVIG in the United States witnessed substantial growth over the years, surging from 6.6 million grams in 1990 to an impressive 67.3 million grams in 2015. This growth trajectory is projected to persist at a remarkable 8% annual rate, underscoring the pressing need for expanded production capacity. Consequently, the company confronted a daunting question: How could the existing facility be optimized without encroaching beyond its current footprint?

Given the constant high demand for IVIG, the facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, with a brief shutdown period occurring every other year. This relentless operational schedule left a mere three-week window for any modifications enhancing production. Considering these physical and calendar constraints, a comprehensive analysis of the facility’s processes, equipment and operations was conducted to chart a course toward achieving a 40% increase in production capacity.

Thoughtful Planning

One year of design; a seven-month lead-time; a three-week shutdown. The carefully designed project was finally ready for execution and had to be executed precisely. The equipment had a six-month lead time, thousands of feet of new piping, hundreds of pieces of new equipment such as valves, pumps, fans and all the wiring to connect everything.

When tackling such an intricate design plan, it is crucial to first determine what is necessary to have in place to set the brief shutdown up for success. What can be done ahead of time? What work will have to wait until the shutdown? Certain tasks, such as replacing air handler fans, can’t be started until the facility shuts down. However, equipment such as fans and necessary materials, can be staged in advance, directly within the working area.

Because lab shutdown windows are often extremely tight, contractors don’t have time to waste searching for or moving materials during the shutdown, making proper design-planning crucial.

If vital long-lead equipment such as heat exchangers or clean-in-place skids were to be late, the entire project would fail. Weekly check-ins with the equipment vendors are important to expedite all equipment as much as possible. By also including client stakeholders in these meetings, solutions can be made immediately.

Prior to shutdowns, creative solutions should be generated to gain access to areas previously thought to be inaccessible. Once the team determines what can be worked on ahead of time and all agree on processes for execution and problem-solving, completing the work is relatively easy. As the shutdown approaches, all team members are prepared and positioned for a successful shutdown, allowing for some short weeks and for much needed rest ahead of the 21-day sprint.

Foundations for Success

The nature of the life sciences industry is marked by its concrete and tangible aspects, where formulas and calculations govern the design, and the final product comprises various materials, ranging from stainless steel piping to silicon chips. However, the cornerstone for success on a shutdown project is the trust cultivated among the team members.

For instance, say on a project you have a partner who has an unnecessarily negative attitude towards you and your responsibilities on site. They don’t like to be told what to do and are laser-focused on just getting their work done without any niceties involved. This leaves a lack of effective communication and respect between you and that partner, making trust hard to come by and possibly affecting the outcome of your project. This is where relationship building and leadership really come into play. Getting to know the people you’re working with on a personal and human level can help instill a sense of trust that is needed to ensure the job gets done most effectively. Do you both have children? Similar hobbies? Establishing these connections can increase the level of respect between two people on a project and ease any challenges with communication that might happen.

Trust plays a pivotal role in transforming individuals from mere problem identifiers to problem solvers. Collaboration and mutual support between team members facilitated the seamless execution of the project, leading to its resounding success.

Lessons Learned

Lab shutdowns like this one can be successful if deadlines are carefully adhered to or even beaten. This underscores the paramount importance of teamwork and trust in overcoming multifaceted challenges, sometimes years before construction even begins. While the decisions to increase production or expand facilities may be made in boardrooms across the globe, the success of those initiatives ultimately falls on the shoulders of a team made up of engineers, planners and workers. These professionals exemplify the ability to achieve substantial results with limited resources. Although demanding and intense, shutdown projects can be gratifying for those who thrive in such environments, transforming challenges into opportunities for growth and excellence. As the world evolves and demand surges, these professionals’ collaborative spirit and trust will remain invaluable assets for industries compelled to do more with less.

City of Lewisville, TX Breaks Ground on New Fire Training Complex

Posted on January 19, 2024

Last week, the City of Lewisville, TX hosted a groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of construction on the John Ashman Fire Training Complex. The facility will include a commercial and residential training facility, located on a 1-acre site. The City of Lewisville will share the facility with Highland Village and Flower Mound. Here, firefighters from the three cities will receive access to hands-on training, equipping them to serve their communities.

HPM’s Role

HPM is providing project controls, ensuring that funding for the facility is maximized and spent with purpose and efficiency. Additionally, HPM will conduct regular schedule analyses, detecting and omitting potential delays before they occur. CORE Construction and Martinez Architects are serving as the design-build team on the project. Together this team will bring the vision of these cities to life.

John Ashman’s Legacy

The facility is named in honor of Lewisville’s former Division Chief of Training, John Ashman. John was a well-known figure in the community who served the city for 40 years before passing away in 2023.

“We’re incredibly proud of Mr. Ashman and what he gave the city,” said Lewisville Mayor TJ Gilmore. “He made so much impact within the region as far as being able to train. I don’t know a firefighter around that doesn’t have kind words to say about his competency and the tools that he gave them. I want to thank Lewisville as a whole for continuing the traditions of the fire department, including training at incredibly high levels. Whoever’s filling the shoes of Mr. Ashman has large ones to fill.”

HPM’s Capabilities

HPM partners with municipalities around the country, providing state-of-the-art facilities and dynamic user experiences. The services offered by HPM benefit athletes, foodies, outdoor enthusiasts, and first responders. From sporting venues to entertainment districts, recreational facilities to critical public safety hubs, HPM excels in maximizing budget capabilities and streamlining schedules, providing peace of mind throughout the life cycle of a project.

The Business Case for K-12 Boundary Realignment

Posted on January 18, 2024

Depending on building operational needs and the district’s enrollment trends, K-12 districts often need a boundary realignment. Boundary changes should occur in areas that have experienced a shift in population or a shift in demographics within the population. Older neighborhoods begin to have more “empty nesters”. Other areas of the district may have vacant land that has begun to be built out. Some new construction areas might have more affordable housing ripe for families, whereas other new housing might be more suited for an older, less family-intensive group of homeowners.

Facility Planning

Understanding the details of student enrollment and the data that impacts the enrollment is critical to Facility Planning. Facility Planning must look at the story the data tells us:

Conditions – has the campus lived its useful life, and is it now cost-prohibitive to keep it open?

Adequacy – is each campus able to reach teaching and learning goals within its current state?

Capacity & Utilization – is each campus maintaining a balance of class size and maximizing the use of the campus?

Programs – are there program changes affecting the functional capacity?

If a campus or campuses can’t effectively support the educational delivery model, then the district must review the demographics, feeder patterns and program profiles and boundaries.

Boundary Realignment Solutions

We have seen districts add classroom wings to campuses for short-term solutions. These short-term solutions, however, create long-term impacts such as overcrowding cafeterias and too many lunch periods, packed hallways, insufficient parking lots and dismissal challenges, and unavailable gym space, in addition to hardships on staff and the increase in the facility’s operational maintenance costs.

Understanding your district’s enrollment and trends is critical to the overall boundary re-alignment analysis. Tracking students as a group or “cohort” over time enables a district to measure changes in student enrollment by grade. These observed trends will typically align with the other data sets, such as live births and macro-level social demographic trends. One common trend is the seemingly counterintuitive declining enrollments, even as your city or county is growing in population. Knowing the enrollment projections supports the facility planning at all campuses in addition to teacher staffing and operational needs.

As programs and enrollments change, a closer review of feeder patterns should be completed. Transportation and operational costs may have increased due to population shifts. Conditions, adequacy, and utilizations also support the efforts to alleviate overcrowding and assist you with balanced enrollment. Accommodations for new programs and learning opportunities will continue to be updated. This establishes the balance between all data sets and may lead your district to a much-needed boundary realignment.

HPM’s Year in Review

Posted on December 22, 2023

2023 has been a year of exponential growth for HPM and the program management industry at large. More than ever, owners are finding immense value in securing a trusted partner to safeguard their interests as complex projects are brought to life. While it is impossible to sum up a very full year in one post, we’re taking a moment to reflect on this HPM’s milestones within the program management industry and beyond.

Awards & Recognition

ENR once again included HPM in their annual Top 50 Program Management Firms as well as their Top 100 Professional Services Firms. This recognition is a result of the many industry-leading clients who continue to entrust HPM with their program management needs.

HPM was honored to be named a 2023 Project Achievement Award winner the South Atlantic Chapter of CMAA in recognition of our work on Auburn University’s Rane Culinary Science Center. Representatives from HPM were able to attend the annual CMAA SAC Project Achievement Awards Gala held in Atlanta, GA. CMAA offers Project Achievement Awards annually to recognize projects that stand out as examples in the construction industry, demonstrating excellence and innovation. These awards are reserved for facilities that push the industry forward and motivate its leaders to push past perceived limitations and pursue what others have deemed impossible.

Rane Culinary Science Center’s Laurel Hotel and Spa received Five Diamond Recognition from AAA, indicating ultimate luxury. The Laurel is the first hotel in Alabama to be given this recognition, and one of only 89 nationwide.

Project Milestones

Among the many exciting project milestones this year was a celebration held at Airbus recognizing their newest expansion in Mobile, AL which will be accomplished through the construction of a second A320 final assembly line. Along with securing Mobile’s status as the fourth largest commercial airline manufacturing center in the world, this addition is projected to create 1,000 jobs for community residents, bolstering the economy in The Port City for years to come. We are proud to partner with Airbus as they continue to represent the best of the aviation industry.

This year brought great progress on the Manor ISD account as multiple facilities within the program opened their doors to students. Great strides of Progress were also made at Round Rock ISD, which are poised to continue successfully in the new year.

In August, HPM celebrated 20 years of supporting Regions Bank. HPM has provided support in capital improvement projects of all shapes and sizes as Regions has experienced exponential growth. Over the course of the last two decades, years, HPM has managed more than $800 million in project volume. This includes 3,000 projects and 10,000 associate moves on behalf of the client.

This fall, The University of Alabama broke ground on the Smith Family Center for the Performing Arts! HPM is honored to help deliver the vision for this state-of-the-art facility for dance and theater programs. Substantial progress was made on the numerous additional projects HPM is managing on behalf of the university as well.

Ground was broken on Ground has officially broken on Leonardo’s state-of-the-art customer support center in Milton, FL. The facility will span 113,000 square feet and include four large hangar bays, major component repair and overhaul, transmission work that will include Dynamic Test Bench, a full-sized paint booth and all associated tooling and equipment.

New Opportunities for HPM

The University of North Alabama to serve as program manager and owners’ rep for Bank Independent Stadium, a state-of-the-art, multi-purposed facility on campus. The stadium will be thoughtfully designed for year-round utilization by UNA and the wider Shoals area. We look forward to leveraging our vast portfolio of stadium experience in partnership with the outstanding university as they realize a much anticipated goal on behalf of students, athletes and the community at large!

Mississippi State University selected HPM to manage construction of new residence hall complex, the Luckyday Tower. The facility will serve as a living and learning community for MSU’s Luckyday freshman Scholars.

HPM also acquired work with The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Beginning in 2024, we will be managing the construction of their new School of Engineering.

Company Initiatives

Early this year, HPM rolled out our company-wide Building Women Initiative this year, along with hosting the inaugural Building Women Forum. We look forward to the program’s continued growth, providing an equitable platform to discuss challenges related to the corporate landscape.

The operations team implemented new “Fourth Friday Training” in 2023, a company-wide cross training opportunity. This equips our professionals with knowledge pertaining to all facets of the company.

In March, HPM celebrated Women in Construction Week with a video highlighting the females comprising our company. It can be viewed here.

In October, HPM launched an updated, reimagined website. The modernized site showcases HPM’s breadth of service offerings, diversity of experience and astute caliber of employees.

Community Impact

Community service is a key opportunity for us to live out the company’s core values. No matter the office location, employees across the footprint were given many opportunities to serve their communities. HPM was honored to sponsor and volunteer at a myriad of community events nationwide. These included chili cook-offs, golf tournaments, school reading days, toy drives and much more!

Company Growth at HPM

This year HPM expanded our footprint with a new, larger office in Huntsville, AL. The new office is located downtown at 200 Clinton Avenue West, Suite 703. The space enables HPM to better serve clients within the Huntsville area and expand capabilities on projects throughout the market. We look forward to finding new opportunities for growth and strengthening our robust team in The Rocket City and beyond.

Thank you!

These highlights are but a glimpse into the transformative HPM has enjoyed. We extend deep gratitude to our clients, industry partners and all following along as the company achieves success. 2024 has big shoes to fill, and we are confident that with our team, it will surely deliver.

Project Management Professional, Will Cather Promoted at HPM

Posted on November 20, 2023

As HPM continues to grow, it is more important than ever to employ individuals demonstrating the highest level of dedication to the projects and clients they are assigned. Since onboarding with HPM, Will Cather has proven his robust work ethic as a project management professional. Because of his outstanding performance and contributions to our team, I am confident in promoting him to the next level as Project Manager.

Will’s Career

Despite being early in his career, Will has developed a well-rounded skillset by the nature of his previous positions at a general contractor and a design firm. He applies this knowledge and experience daily on our Regions Bank account managing facilities maintenance capital projects. These projects include capital replacements/upgrades of elevators, fire alarm systems, HVAC units, HVAC control systems and both exterior and interior LED lighting retrofits.

The FMC team simply would not be successful without Will’s commitment and effort. The nature of the FMC work is for installations to occur on nights and weekends, and Will is always on call and available to support his projects. Will has developed a great relationship with key members of the client’s team, and quickly gaining their trust and confidence. He excels in managing client expectations as he communicates in a clear and effective manner. Will is a team player and fosters a collaborative work environment where his coworkers feel valued and motivated. He understands that if one person on our team succeeds, we all succeed.

Client Praise

Regions Project Manager, David Caulkins heralded Will’s contributions, saying “Will has been such an asset to the team, it’s hard to surmise into a simple statement. He is transparent, available and impactful, all in a timely manner.”

About Will

Will and his wife, Haleigh have a love for travel and most recently visited Switzerland! Among his many hobbies, Will is a coffee connoisseur and loves to cook—he even bakes his own bread! He is a huge sports fan and his favorite teams include Alabama, the Dallas Cowboys, the Atlanta Braves and most importantly, his beloved Tottenham Hotspurs.

Will truly is a “rising star” at HPM, and I’m so proud of what he’s accomplished in only 8 months. I am excited to witness his continued success!

What Does a Project Manager Do?

Posted on November 19, 2023

The breadth of the term “project management” often begs the question, “what does a project manager do?” The HPM team loves to learn through stories and personal experiences. As such, we are introducing you to Project Manager, Justin Adams for a peak behind the curtain into his everyday life.

What project(s) are you currently on?

I am currently working on three municipal projects in the great state of Texas! These include City of Lewisville Public Safety Campus, City of Denton Fleet Services Expansion and City of Denton Fire Station #09.

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

My typical day includes interfacing with our team for project updates and helping develop solutions for project challenges. This involves touching base with our HPM team as well as trade partners and clients/ stakeholders. Generally, we have at least one dedicated project meeting in person or virtually. Days when I am onsite include walking the jobsite with the contractor and reporting meetings with clients.

What is the best part of your job?

The best aspects of my job are getting to learn from clients and trade partners coupled with the opportunity to share this knowledge within our team. I interface directly with various levels of management within the municipalities we support. This exposes me to the many complexities of project management and client satisfaction. There is always something to be learned and my knowledge is ever-growing. This grants me to lead by teaching. Watching team members accumulate new knowledge and develop new skills is immensely rewarding.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest accomplishment was having run the Dallas Marathon twice. My wife and I are avid runners and love to be outdoors. This was recently outdone by becoming a father. Our baby girl was born October 5^th this year!

Tell us about someone who inspires you. What made or makes this person a great leader?

My Grandpa has always been a source of inspiration both personally and professionally. My Grandfather taught me the importance of hard work and taking pride in what you do. He learned to be a hands-on leader working for the Dept. of Transportation building the original Interstate Highway System. He instilled in me the importance of accountability when leading a team, always teach by example. Grandpa is my inspiration for pursuing a career in Engineering / Construction and someone I am still learning from.

What are the characteristics of a great leader?

I find a great leader is often characterized not by personal success and accolades, but by the success of their team. Simply being a manager is not enough. You must gain the trust of your people, foster autonomy and create an environment centered on learning. A great leader is never too busy to work through a question or spend one-on-one time with their team. A leader’s focus should be providing their team the tools necessary for success.

Learn more about HPM’s expertise in Project/Program Management.

K12 School District Leaders Attend HPM’s Executives Summit

Posted on November 16, 2023

HPM recently hosted the inaugural HPM Texas Education Executives Summit, a premiere event connecting executive leaders in K12 school districts to create unique strategies for navigating common challenges. The Summit, held November 1-3, 2023 at The JL Bar Ranch, provided the perfect backdrop for an elevated networking and educational experience. Leaders representing seven districts across the state were in attendance, along with national experts in finance, facilities planning, contract management/auditing and other fields impacting the K12 industry.

About the Event

Attendees gleaned valuable insight on approaches for successful bond planning and execution. Topics included strategies for maximizing bond dollars through comprehensive Planning, best practices for navigating bond elections, tips for developing and maintaining a master schedule. As a highlight, HPM President, Ryan Austin and Senior Vice President of Program Development, Greg Ellis led a discussion on capital program success, offering strategies for managing multiple contractors, efficient program controls strategies, managing delays such as materials availability, change orders and contract disputes. Most importantly, sessions were robust, reality based and designed to foster conversation.

The Summit concluded with a round table discussion of open-ended topics benefiting all attendees with a focus on methods for overcoming operational challenges. Outcomes of the discussion provided thought provoking ideas for participants to take back to their districts, as well as a framework for future Summit topics.

Why HPM?

HPM partners with K12 school districts to create and implement data-driven long range planning initiatives. This team of seasoned planning professionals is comprised of former educators turned facilities conditions and assessment experts. They frequently teach the essential practice of integrated planning into capital improvement programs. HPM’s continuous planning practices consistently yield efficiencies and savings to K-12 clients. In turn, every dollar within a bond program is utilized to its full potential. Learn more about HPM’s extensive resume managing large scale programs on behalf of K12 school districts.

HPM Project, The Laurel Hotel and Spa Earns AAA Ultimate Luxury Five Diamond Recognition

Posted on November 14, 2023

AAA recently awarded The Laurel Hotel And Spa, located in the The Tony and Libba Rane Culinary Science Center on campus at Auburn University with a five-diamond rating, indicating ultimate luxury. The Laurel is the first hotel in the state of Alabama to be given this recognition, and one of only 89 total recognized hotels in the United States. AAA deems five diamond hotels their “crown jewel”, reserving this indicator for only the most extravagant accommodations. In total, 119 hotels worldwide are given this distinction.

The Laurel occupies the fifth and sixth floors of the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center, a facility for which HPM provided the full spectrum of program management services throughout construction, including quality assurance, procurement and preconstruction, schedule and budget controls and safety compliance. HPM oversaw logistics for aspects of the project being managed by numerous vendors, ensuring that cohesion and strategy were cornerstones throughout the entire process.

The Laurel is a key component of one of the Southeast’s most innovative facilities, seeking to blend academia, hospitality, culinary excellence and retail spaces into a marquee location on the Auburn University campus. The hotel provides advanced education and training for students seeking success in hospitality, culinary arts, event management and beverage appreciation.

Housed in the facility is the exclusive 1856, the country’s first tasting-menu-only teaching restaurant- a unique and elevated experience where education meets exceptional dining. The hotel’s rooftop features a beautiful infinity pool, bar and lounge area for guests to enjoy as they enjoy an unmatched view of Auburn’s campus.

Learn more about HPM’s work on the facility here!

HPM to Manage Construction of Mississippi State University’s Luckyday Tower

Posted on November 8, 2023

A $4 million gift from the Luckyday Foundation of Jackson, Miss. was announced on November 1, to aid in funding the construction of Mississippi State University’s new residence hall complex, the Luckyday Tower. The facility will serve as a living and learning community for MSU’s Luckyday freshman Scholars, housing 412 residents in the 159,000-square-foot Azalea Hall.

MSU has tasked HPM with managing the full scope of construction and ensuring project details are implemented accurately in a timely manner. HPM is also slated to oversee the budget throughout the lifecycle of the project, safeguarding every dollar contributed and maximizing funding capability for the facility.

The $96 million campus project, positioned at the corner of Barr Avenue and George Perry Street in Starkville, is projected to open in August 2025. Students participating in the Luckyday Scholars Program will enjoy a lobby and study area, modern classrooms with adaptable seating and tables and a kitchenette. In conjunction with program growth, the scholars will have reservation priority for a large meeting space in the residence hall complex to foster collaboration.

Freshmen Luckyday Scholars will be granted first priority to live in the new hall, along with student mentors helping lead the program. On top of educational and housing space, the facility will include a new campus dining option. All facets of the building will be created with students in mind—fostering engagement, teamwork and group learning.

“As the proud father of a current Mississippi State student and a tenured member of the HPM team, I couldn’t be prouder to partner with the university in achieving their vision for this transformative facility”, said Greg Ellis, Senior Vice President of Program Development. “With two decades of experience managing student housing projects on campuses across the nation, our team is well positioned to ensure excellence in every detail as this project comes to life.”

Learn more about HPM’s experience managing higher education projects.

Mentorship Monday: Jake Chapman and Ben Smith

Posted on September 30, 2023

At HPM, we speak frequently about the ways in which we prioritize mentorship, as well as our reasons for doing so. Mentorship is an integral part of our DNA and culture, and it is rewarding to watch as mentor/mentee relationships produce positive results throughout the company. Today, we would like to introduce you to Jake Chapman, Preconstruction Manager and Ben Smith, Project Engineer, as they discuss the value of effective mentoring.

Why is professional mentorship valuable?

Jake (Mentor): Professional mentorship provides a great opportunity for experience and knowledge to be shared as well as best practices and lessons learned. I have learned a lot from my mentors along the way and they helped shape who I am as a professional in this industry. Having someone you feel comfortable around also makes it easier to ask questions about anything you may not understand or want to learn more about. Knowledge is meant to be shared and mentorship is a great avenue for that. Apart from that, mentorship has helped me grow as a person and a manager and I’m thankful to have a great relationship with my mentee, Ben.

Ben (Mentee): Mentorship is valuable because whether you’re a new employee, new to the workforce in general, or in any other phase of your career it is nice to have someone you can come to with questions or to seek advice. Whether it pertains more directly to personal development or professional development, it is important to have someone you can come to for guidance on situations or decisions that you might feel uncomfortable going to your boss about. Mentors can leverage lessons from their past to equip you to navigate your present and your future with wisdom.

What does mentorship look like within HPM?

Jake (Mentor): In my experience at HPM, mentorship has created healthy, productive and inspiring relationships among co-workers. Often working together, we experience the same highs and lows throughout a project and ultimately learn and grow through the process alongside one another. We share advice and guidance that we have learned along the way and I consider my mentors and mentees good friends.

Ben (Mentee): HPM’s culture of mentorship creates an environment of openness and honesty. It is great to have a professional in my corner that I get to work alongside daily.

What are the hallmark qualities of a great mentor?

Jake (Mentor): A great mentor should know how to set their mentees up for success. They should be able to teach foundations and best practices or provide direction on helpful resources and training classes. Feedback is also a great way to help them improve on what they are working on, as it is important for mentees to understand what they have done correctly and what they can improve on/how to improve on it. Great mentors welcome questions and concerns and help guide mentees as they navigate the professional world and their industry.

Ben (Mentee): My experience has shown me that great mentors are patient and tolerant, embracing opportunities to provide teaching and guidance. Mentors should be transparent, offering honest feedback about growth opportunities and the strengths and weaknesses they see in their mentee(s). The best mentors are those that see mentorship not as a burden, but as a chance to strengthen their industry, their company and their profession.

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

Jake (Mentor): Being a mentor has taught me many things! I’ve learned how to better communicate and collaborate in a professional environment as well as provide effective feedback. I’ve learned how to become a better manager and leader. Spending time helping Ben learn anything preconstruction related has also helped me better understand everything that we are a part of. Having a healthy working relationship helps us both continue growing and learning along the way.

Ben (Mentee): I have learned that as your personal relationship grows, your work relationship will grow at the same time. Jake is a trustworthy mentor because he cares about my development both personally and professionally. He has shown me what mentorship looks like, and I hope to pass that on and serve as a mentor myself as I continue developing as a professional.