From the CEO:
Welcome to fall! What a great time of year where we see the colors changing on the trees, football is back and in full swing, and the taste of pumpkin is everywhere. As we enter this new season, in addition to the aforementioned reminders, fall is time for going back to school for many of us and our families. I remember back in my childhood, one of the things I hated the most was that first day of school when we groggily awake to that blaring alarm clock only to hear my parents singing the song “school days, school days, dear ole golden school days.” You can imagine, as a teenager wishing summer would never end, this singing was not welcomed. However, as I look back now, I am so thankful that my parents instilled in me these two things: the importance of education and continual learning regardless of your age.
To this point, the importance of continuing professional development (CPD) should not be underestimated– it is a career-long obligation for practicing professionals. Although sometimes it is mandated by employers, at its core, it is a personal responsibility of professionals to keep their knowledge and skills current so that they can deliver the high quality of service that meets the expectations of customers and the requirements of their profession.
Well-crafted and delivered professional development is important because it delivers benefits to the individual, their profession, and the public. Here are just some of the benefits of CPD:
- Ensures your capabilities keep pace with the current standards of others in the field.
- Ensures that you maintain and enhance the knowledge and skills you need to deliver a professional service to your customers, clients, and the community.
- Ensures that you and your knowledge stay relevant and up to date. You are more aware of the changing trends and directions in your profession. The pace of change is probably faster than it’s ever been – and this is a feature of the new normal we all live in. If you stand still you will get left behind, as the currency of your knowledge and skills becomes outdated.
- Helps you continue to make a meaningful contribution to your team. You become more effective in the workplace. This assists you to advance in your career and move into new positions where you can lead, manage, influence, coach, and mentor others.
- Helps you stay interested and interesting. Experience is a great teacher, but it does mean that we tend to do what we have done before. Focused CPD opens you up to new possibilities, new knowledge, and new skill areas.
- Helps advance the body of knowledge and technology within your profession.
- Can lead to increased public confidence in individual professionals and their professions.
So, as you can see, I truly believe CPD is an ongoing process and continues throughout your professional career. If you are interested in receiving the country’s only academic certificate in project controls, check out our subsidiary’s website at www.projectcontrolssolutions.com.
Misty Mayes, CEO
|
|
Project Controls Expo is the world’s largest Project Controls event dedicated to the advancement of project controls. The virtual event took place from September 14-16. Management Solutions and its subsidiary, Project Controls Solutions, were delighted to support this global event as Gold Sponsors and hosted a session each day.
Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions' priorities are to address issues through drawing from decades of engineering expertise. We specialize in improving organizational performance through proven, sustainable solutions customized to meet our clients' needs.
Among the topics covered at the Project Controls Virtual Expo, many are pertinent to the services Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions offers. The sessions hosted by Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions included digital opportunities in construction, a forensic analysis case study and soft skills in relation to the project management industry.
The Masterclass Zone at Project Controls Expo featured Diego Guevara, Regional Manager at Deloitte, and Misty Mayes, CEO of Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions. They shared the evolution towards Industry 4.0 and the digital disruption that is occurring in the construction industry around the world. This session covered the consequences of trends that were born out of this evolution and looked at different digital innovations through the project lifecycle.
“Because of our experience in construction management and specifically our expertise with construction scheduling/BIM 4D best practices, we were able to really compliment all the technological capabilities Deloitte has,” Mayes shared. “It made for a great team presentation.”
|
|
Another session was part of the Case Studies Zone and was hosted by Carlos Ortega, Lead Partner at Capital Projects S-LatAm for Deloitte, and Michelle Banner, Principal Project Controls Trainer at Project Controls Solutions. Together they walked through a forensic analysis case study conducted by Management Solutions and explored what might have happened had a solution not been reached. Both Carlos and Michelle shared their significant industry experience with the delegates, highlighting the key principles of good delay and forensic analysis, and what projects can do to achieve good outcomes.
Michelle Banner, Principal Project Controls Trainer at Project Controls Solutions, wrapped up Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions’ sessions for the Project Controls Virtual Expo. This presentation, "Soft Skills Don't Make Money?" was in the Masterclass Zone and explained how combining essential soft skills with the technical skills needed in the project management industry increases the likelihood of projects delivering significant cost reductions, improved efficiencies, expedited project completion and increased business value.
Engagement from delegates during the session consisted of insightful questions and advice about leveraging softer skills in their environments. The feedback and comments acknowledged Project Controls Solutions’ passion and commitment to teaching both technical and behavioral aspects of project controls.
The delegates shared the following feedback:
- “Excellent presentation, thank you! A refreshing addition to the usual and predictable project presentations.”
- “Fantastic talk, thank you very much. We need more people like you in business!”
Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions are honored to have taken part in the 2021 Project Controls Virtual Expo. We are thankful for the opportunity to support the world’s largest Project Controls event as Gold Sponsors, as well as having the opportunity to showcase what we offer and deliver talks in the Masterclass and Case Studies zones.
The goal of the world’s largest Project Controls event, Project Controls Expo—both virtual and in-person—is to be recognized globally as a platform in leading the development and continuing the advancement of the Project Controls profession through creating opportunities to bring the global community together. The expansion and enhancement of their offerings to a range of professionals enables them to view project controls as a career opportunity and focus on growth to close the skill gaps in the industry for the future.
At Management Solutions and Project Controls Solutions, all of our service offerings support these goals by continuing to bring together professionals, trainees and professional organizations to help the industry and understand the skills needed for future generations.
Although this year's virtual expo ended, we are looking forward to continuing the excitement at the UK Project Controls Expo at Wembley Stadium on November 15th and 16th. Register for this event at https://projectcontrolexpo.com/register.
|
|
Opportunities for project controllers frequently exist in rural, de-industrialized, or disadvantaged communities undertaking projects such as environmental cleanup, infrastructure development, or waste management. Yet oftentimes, these projects are staffed with non-local project controllers because the local workforce doesn’t have the project controls competencies necessary to staff the projects.
Management Solutions recognized the need to develop and deliver a holistic project controls training program that could provide communities with well-paying, stable jobs and entities with a verified process for hiring well-trained individuals and set up Project Controls Solutions.
Our goal was to design and then deploy a holistic project controls training program that created jobs in disadvantaged communities. To do this, we:
- Identified the 25 most important project controls competencies.
- Built a curriculum that taught each student all 25 competencies over a 15-week, case-based course.
- Developed an assessment tool that measured each student’s progress. This has all been completed in less than six months!
One of our Clients said our assessment and program caused them to rethink their entire staffing model and they’ve now signed a long-term partnership agreement because of the cost savings, value, and delivery of our programs. Read more about our impact here.
|
|
September is here and there's something for everyone: the last days of summer and the first days of fall!
Welcome fall with a fresh, homemade apple pie! Check out the recipe here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
