Tag: project management

HPM’s Medora Gaddes Promoted to Project Manager

Posted on August 11, 2021

Team members who inspire those around them are vital to the success of any organization. Their positivity encourages others to step up and shine. Medora Gaddes is undeniably one of those people. She is not only passionate about leading our clients to success through project management but also serves as HPM’s Talent Development Coordinator, recruiting the next generation of HPM leaders. For her unwavering enthusiasm and leadership, Medora is being promoted from Assistant Project Manager to Project Manager.

“Medora is being promoted due to her hard work and dedication to all things HPM,” said Brennan Bell, HPM Senior Program Manager. “She was put on the Calhoun Community College Sparkman Building project as an Assistant Project Manager (APM) with all of the responsibilities of a Project Manager. Over the course of the project, she has proven to be capable of managing the project with little oversight and has fully gained the trust and respect of the client. She has also been working on building relationships and seeking opportunities with North Alabama-based clients and architects, all while balancing being a new mom.”

Medora first began showing her value at HPM as a Co-Op from 2014 to 2016, assisting with assignments including Walker County High School, Birmingham Intermodal, and even the high-visibility Auburn Pharmacy and Nursing buildings. After her graduation from Auburn with a degree in civil engineering (and a minor in dance), she joined HPM as a Project Engineer in 2017. She immediately began demonstrating leadership qualities, attending events in Huntsville to integrate herself into the local market, and becoming involved with the Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Automotive Women’s Forum. Her project highlights include Calhoun Community College, Abaco, FedEx, Aerojet Rocketdyne Headquarters and Advanced Manufacturing Facility, and the Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater.

In addition to her project management duties, Medora does a tremendous job leading our recruiting efforts for the company. She spends considerable time making sure that the needs for co-ops, interns, and full-time hires are being met. Medora has expanded our recruiting network and can be counted on to put forward qualified candidates who are great fits for HPM.

“Medora is an enthusiastic team player,” said Brooks Ballentine, HPM Director of the East Region. “Not only does she handle her project management duties, she is active in helping with business development, client entertainment, recruiting, and coordinating our Emerging Leaders Program. She goes above and beyond in everything she does.”

We intentionally guide with our values to create a culture that is inclusive, challenging, and supportive at HPM. We’ve been named one of the Best Medium-Sized Companies to Work For in America by Great Places to Work multiple years running. Interested in joining our team? Learn more by clicking the button below.

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Working Together to Get the Job Done

Posted on April 8, 2021

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.

Construction of Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater Complete

Posted on February 2, 2021

The City of Albertville, Alabama, announced in January the completion of its new Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater (SMPA), a transformative project that will spur a new wave of economic development and entertainment opportunities in the region. The 135-acre sports, leisure, wellness and entertainment venue is expected to create more than 1,200 jobs while generating an annual economic impact of $120 million.

HPM served as the owner’s representative for the City and played a key role in bridging the gap between multiple contractors during the various phases of construction. We were tasked with coordinating a complex program schedule that featured numerous logistical challenges ranging from the complications due to the pandemic to one of the rainiest winters in North Alabama history. Our team successfully navigated those hurdles while saving the City over $2 million in total project costs—A testament to HPM’s ability to weather any storm and deliver a successful project that exceeds expectations for our client, no matter the circumstances.

“Sand Mountain Park & Amphitheater will be an economic driving force that will turn Albertville into a family destination for the entire region,” said HPM Project Manager Caleb Camp. “Whether it was finding new avenues for optimizing performance of the park’s sprawling utility network, or collaborating with the owner and contractors on change orders that would increase overall efficiency and keep things moving, the project partners rose to every challenge. We’re pleased to help the City of Albertville turn its game-changing vision into reality.”

The development will become the area’s premier destination for concerts, conferences, sporting events, private parties and recreational activities, featuring:

– 7,500-Capacity Amphitheater
– Two-Story Recreation Center
– RV Park
– 16 Tennis Courts
– 14 Playing Fields
– 4 Miles of Walking Trails
– 2 Dog Parks

The inside of the 103,000-square-foot recreation center features state-of-the-art basketball and volleyball facilities, racquetball courts, an 8-lane indoor competition pool, fitness center, elevated walking track, and meeting and party rooms. Outside, the complex boasts multiple playgrounds and an outdoor competition pool, as well as a recreational pool and water park featuring a lazy river, wave pool, splash pad and slides. The building’s interior includes tongue and groove decking that spans the entire roof, enabling the facility to properly transfer loads to the structure while insulating and eliminating the need for traditionally low ceilings.

“Early on in this process, it became evident that the massive scope of the Sand Mountain Park project, with its vast multitude of partners—from a largescale design and development team, to two general contractors and a host of sub-contractors, a number of consultants, and so on, required us bringing in a firm that had profound experience in management and oversight at this level,” said Albertville Mayor Tracy Honea. “The city landing on HPM to fill this role didn’t come without much deliberation and due diligence, and I can say that we are very pleased with the professionalism and perseverance they have displayed throughout the project’s entirety. From our great relationship with ‘boots on the ground’ Project Manager, Caleb Camp, to our frequent and available access to HPM executive leadership in Birmingham whenever necessary or requested, we have enjoyed a very impactful partnership with HPM that has proven to be integral in bringing our world-class park to a successful completion.”

HPM Valuing Clients through Program Development Services

Posted on August 26, 2019

Starting strong is how dreams turn into reality and how HPM teams lead clients into successful projects.

Our program development services are as established as our company. HPM was founded to build upon our roots of construction and grow more fully into helping clients by managing all the intricacies of planning, design, and construction. By putting our expertise to work, we were able to help owners complete their projects faster – and at a better price – than had they managed the entire process on their own.

We mean it when we say that we’re true advocates of our clients, and that our value of being family-oriented affects the way that we do business. One way that HPM puts our values into action is through program development services.

For a long time, program development has just been the way that our company runs — going above and beyond what’s expected for the sake of the client, taking the time to have and maintain open communication with leadership, and valuing the entire lifetime of a client’s project rather than just our role as program managers.

Our HPM program development team focuses on helping clients on the front end to cast vision and create effective plans before a construction project begins.

“The way that HPM provides program development services doesn’t really exist elsewhere in the industry. Our program development is intentionally customer-driven and customer-focused. We recognize that project management may not be our client’s area of expertise, and that results in clients with many questions and a lack of confidence and clarity. At HPM, we want to help a client move forward with their project in a way that is truly best for the client in the long-term, and program development helps us to do that.”
Greg Ellis, Vice President of Program Development

HPM’s program development services were created to help bring project definition. Often, a client may recognize need for outside assistance, but may not fully understand what direction to take. At HPM, program development services help refine client’s true needs and define what services best fit those needs. Program development is meant to fill in the gap for clients to truly get all that they want out of their project.

“Because we care about our clients, program development services are an effort to match our best skill sets to their actual needs,” said Ellis. “We want our clients to see that they aren’t purchasing unnecessary services so they can trust that we are giving them our highest levels of expertise.”

One success story that resulted from thorough program development is HPM’s work with Airbus to build the A320 Final Assembly Line in Mobile, Alabama in 2015. The aerospace giant deemed HPM “the local experts” because of our knowledge of the community, laws and regulations, and relationships cultivated with local contractors. HPM completed the A320 project four months early and nearly seven percent below budget.

Program development is woven into the fabric of our company and has existed within our values before the services were even defined. Our program development teams and services have strengthened relationships, created strategy and added value to each project they have helped manage. Built on this foundation, HPM has currently begun to expand program development services at a broader pace and scale to both existing and potential clients.

As new geographies and potential clients are pursued, the role of program development is the marrying of our skills and client needs. As we build relationships with our clients, we can together discuss what their project opportunities are and create a plan that adds the most value to their project.

For our existing clients, the main objective of program development is to provide our clients with the consistency of our leadership, quality, and care. As clients complete projects and their needs change, our goal is to have an integrated approach of pursuing potential opportunities into longer-standing programs and adding value to our clients beyond initial projects.

For example, one of our clients in the education sector simply reached out to HPM for a second opinion on their project. But by engaging in our program development services, we then began long-range planning. HPM provided support and assistance in how to plan for potential growth and expansion 10 years down the road. Because of this strategic planning, this client doesn’t have to worry about outgrown facilities or quick fixes but can operate in confidence while looking forward into the future of the school system.

HPM also recently hired Derek McSween, a respected industry veteran, as our first Senior Program Development Manager to coincide with the efforts of expanding program development services. McSween has more than 30 years of technical skills as well as 18 years of experience in program management. His industry experience provides a unique balance of knowledge of how project is to actually be built and how a program is to be run.

“I am honored and excited to join the incredibly talented team at HPM. There is a unique opportunity to cultivate new partnerships through my prior connections and experience in the industry, and also utilize my skills as a professional trainer to help grow the next generation of leaders within. I look forward to playing an active role at the company as we tackle new challenges and build upon an already strong foundation.”
Derek McSween, Senior Program Development Manager

HPM Hires Respected Industry Veteran to Coincide with Push into Major Program Management Markets

Posted on July 3, 2019

At HPM, we’re always looking for ways to pursue excellence within our industry. This pursuit includes not only providing the best program management services but also having the best people on our teams.

As we expand into new markets of program management, we need leaders who are known for their relational skills, determined work ethic, and integrity that will help pave the way for HPM to stand out within our industry.

Currently, HPM has added Derek McSween to our team as our first Senior Program Development Manager.

McSween’s appointment to the newly created position comes as HPM expands its footprint into major program management markets throughout the country. In his new role, McSween will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for new and developing client projects and will serve as the main conduit between business development and the operational phases of an assignment.

With nearly 30 years of program and construction management experience, McSween has established proven processes for assembling highly skilled teams, mitigating risk and driving cost-control and efficiency for an array of signature projects around the globe totaling more than $3 billion.

“Derek is a dynamic leader with an impressive combination of industry experience and technical know-how that made him a natural fit for this position. We’re thrilled to have him on board,” said Mike Lanier, President of HPM. “His ability to pick up new skills, anticipate clients’ needs and connect them with our overall strategy and core values will generate meaningful results for HPM. We look forward to watching Derek apply his passion and expertise as he helps drive our company into the next phase of growth.”

“I am honored and excited to join the incredibly talented team at HPM,” said McSween. “There is a unique opportunity to cultivate new partnerships through my prior connections and experience in the industry, and also utilize my skills as a professional trainer to help grow the next generation of leaders within. I look forward to playing an active role at the company as we tackle new challenges and build upon an already strong foundation.”

McSween will be largely responsible for identifying new opportunities for deploying HPM’s portfolio of services, including facility master planning, space planning, facility assessments, and long-range capital planning, as well as a special emphasis in K-12 programming.

“Derek’s ability to manage high-impact teams and effectively deliver projects will be a valuable asset as we plan and prepare for the next decade ahead. His experience in the field and as an owner’s rep will be invaluable in developing new strategies that are necessary for HPM to cross the next threshold as a company.”
Greg Ellis, HPM Vice President of Program Development

Prior to joining HPM, McSween served as a Managing Director, Director of Diversity and Community Development and Senior Program Manager for Bovis Lendlease. While there, McSween forged new ties with the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System – North Carolina’s second-largest school district – where he provided oversight for the design and implementation for a K-12 bond program. McSween is largely credited for helping to grow the school system’s bond program from $130 million to its present-day total that exceeds $2 billion.

Since 2015, McSween has served as president of Port Saint Lucie Speakers Toastmaster Club, an organization dedicated to improving communication and leadership skills. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Rochester, held an NC General Contractors License and was an OSHA 500 certified trainer.

In addition to McSween’s responsibilities of identifying new opportunities for HPM services to expand into the market, he will also offer professional development opportunities for HPM’s team members, such as teaching public speaking and other leadership skills. McSween will also oversee the growth of the firm’s diversity programming. McSween was awarded the “Catalyst of Diversity” award by the Charlotte Business Journal for his exemplary work in the community and for helping small minority and female owner businesses compete and excel in their respective fields.

HPM is known for having family-like relationships, profitable stewardship and continual pursuit of improvement, and McSween is sure to add value to HPM’s leadership, impact and reputation within the program management industry.

“Derek is a force of positive change. We’re certain he will make a lasting impact on HPM and be an unwavering source of guidance for our firm.”
Mike Lanier, HPM President

Designing the Future of Region Bank’s Growth in Hattiesburg

Posted on May 28, 2019

March marked the beginning of a new chapter for Regions Bank in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, thanks to HPM’s work in creating a brand-new mortgage operations facility. The HPM team oversaw the management and procurement of all design, engineering, and construction for the $23 million project that was Regions‘ largest ground-up construction project in 2018 across its 15-state imprint. As an ever-growing company that also is one of the nation’s largest banks, a commitment to constant evolution in an effort to meet customer and employee needs is central to Regions. Commissioning HPM to manage the Hattiesburg mortgage operations project is a perfect example of that commitment.

The resulting 59,055-square-foot facility was the culmination of 20 months of collaboration between Regions and HPM, since bank officials announced plans to consolidate mortgage operations and move to a larger, more accommodating space back in April 2017.

The new center consolidates 325 employees from three separate downtown Hattiesburg buildings into one centralized mortgage facility. The facility sits on a 10-acre site with the building itself taking up two acres and the remainder of the space being used for parking and walking trails for employees. HPM’s plans also allow for a 20,000-square-foot expansion option, successfully fulfilling Regions’ goal to obtain a long-term expansion solution. Other goals met through the project were a reduction in Regions’ operating footprint and increased efficiency in the company’s account servicing.

On the design end, the project provides a balance of open and collaborative space to support a healthy work environment. The open-concept office layout allows for collaboration between departments in a comfortable, yet energizing environment. Smart design elements and modern furnishings provide functionality without compromising aesthetics. HPM partnered with Kimball furniture company to outfit the office in multi-functional pieces that maximize storage space, comfort, and visual appeal. Other key design features include floor-to-ceiling windows, a lobby skylight, and the use of reclaimed pine for a decorative branded wall.

Building amenities include:

175-seat multi-purpose room comprised of three smaller conference rooms with a moveable wall partition
two large café break rooms with kitchens and micro markets
two exterior patios with outdoor seating
two conference rooms with video conference room capabilities
multiple conference rooms with display monitors
lockers
two wellness rooms
an ATM
a centralized waste station

All in all, the project marks another successful collaboration between HPM and Regions. “We are extremely proud of the new facility and couldn’t be happier with the tremendous work HPM has put in to meet all of our needs for the project, “ says Mortgage Servicing Division Manager Morgan McCarty. “They listened to our vision for the building and executed at every turn. This building is key to Regions’ long-term growth, and we’re proud to have had HPM on board to help make it happen.”

Photos by C Studio Photography

HPM’s Beginnings: A History Built on Standing in the Gap (Part Two)

Posted on May 15, 2019

By Mike Lanier, President

Welcome back as we turn back time with our founding president reminding us in this two-part series about how HPM was founded and how it continues to grow. You can read Part One of this series posted earlier on our blog.https://hpmleadership.com/hpms-beginnings-a-history-built-on-standing-in-the-gap-part-two/

See Part One Here

In 2013, HPM took to the skies and provided the much-needed boots on the ground in the US for the global aerospace company, Airbus. Our expert staff members embedded themselves within Airbus and became the client’s eyes and ears during the design and construction of their first US manufacturing facility, which has led us to other clients in the aerospace and aviation industry.

Along the time that HPM began making its impression in several industries signaled the time for the company to be organized into its own entity, and HPM was officially structured into an LLC, branded itself apart from the construction company, and offered services separate from industry norms.

A few years ago, HPM represented the City of Birmingham by managing the design and construction of a new minor league baseball stadium right in the middle of downtown which sparked a revitalization of the area. Now, we have lead the building of several new major and minor league baseball stadiums across the Southeast as well as numerous collegiate sports venues across the US.

As a part of our growth strategy, HPM acquired a construction audit and contracting firm which serves an impressive list of clients including Google, Caesar’s Entertainment, Southwest Airlines, Facebook and Landry’s. The team criss-crosses the country involving themselves in clients’ contract negotiations; conducting interim and final audits to determine reimbursable costs, fees, savings and savings allocations; reviewing pay applications; calculating scheduled damages; and managing claims analysis and defense. We like to say that our audit and contract services provide clients with confidence knowing you paid the right price on your construction spend.

Today, HPMers serve global clients across the US from offices and project sites dotted throughout the country. Our clients continue to work with us on new projects because we have created deep, long-lasting relationships, and we continue to attract innovative and passionate talent because our work and our teams are meaningful, interesting and fun!

HPM was founded by leaders for leaders who lead at every level. We strive to be the perfect partner in every way so that our clients’ organizations achieve success.

My talented colleagues come from all walks of life and expertise – engineers, builders, estimators and designers work alongside accountants, business managers, communications professionals and administrative experts. Every role is important in HPM’s success and our clients’ success.

I believe HPM employees are relationship-driven, problem solvers, and good stewards. We strive to have purpose in our lives and do the right things for our clients and our community. My colleagues take the time to truly get to know our clients and their businesses to provide that ultimate form of servant leadership – the trusted advisor.

HPM Chosen to Lead Boom Supersonic’s First Manufacturing Facility

Posted on March 28, 2019

Collaboration and Partnership
HPM was recently selected to lead the site selection process, planning, design and construction of Boom Supersonic’s first manufacturing facility in the US and is currently collaborating with Boom’s internal project team to recruit all project team members and providers. Also in partnership with Site Selection Group (SSG), we are developing and implementing the optimal location strategy for Boom’s manufacturing operations.

“Together with our strategic partner, SSG, HPM is proud to work with Boom as it develops the vision to bring supersonic flight back to the global commercial passenger market and lead the way to bring new and advanced manufacturing jobs to its facility,” said Mike Lanier, HPM president.

He continued, “Boom’s vision is to remove the barriers to experiencing the planet: time, money and hassle, and Overture is a step in that direction. With our experience in the aerospace industry, we were a top choice to lead Boom through the site selection process, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

A Revolution in Aviation and Aerospace Technology
Overture, a Mach-2.2 supersonic commercial airliner, is anticipated to serve hundreds of transoceanic routes. The airliner will make the world dramatically more accessible with its travel speeds more than twice as fast as subsonic aircraft. Currently, Boom is assembling XB-1, a Mach-2.2 supersonic demonstrator aircraft. The data collected from XB-1 test flights will prove key technologies in-flight for safe, efficient supersonic travel, as well as help refine the design of Overture. Passenger service is anticipated to begin in the mid-2020s.

Boom Supersonic, based in Denver, Colorado, is known for building the history’s fastest supersonic airliner. In March, they announced that HPM, with its expertise in managing capital building programs, has been selected to lead its one-of-a-kind program to help locate, plan, design and build its first manufacturing facility in the United States.

Tag: project management

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