1

2

THE EPM PROGRAM WILL HELP YOU:· Better prioritize your work

· Appreciate how to manage in a way that is typically only learned through years of on the job training

· Increase your confidence to do what’s right to protect the work and best represent your company on a project

· Improve your relations with general contractors, customers, other subcontractors and most importantly your boss, foreman and employer overall

3

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

MCA of Chicago’s Essentials of Project Management Certificate Program is one of the oldest and most successful programs in the country – a program that has been in place since 2005. Over 100 project managers have completed the program which was updated in 2015.

Essentials of Project Management (EPM) classes will be taught by university-level instructors and/or those acknowledged to be highly experienced project management professionals. It features 72 hours of the highest quality classroom instruction, and can be completed in one year.

The (limited enrollment) program focuses on core skills like, communications, labor, legal, dealing with change orders and project close-out. In recognition of completion, new graduates receive a certificate of completion.

Candidates are required to fill out a formal application that ensures they are ready for the program as well as willing to commit fully to it.

LEARN MORE AT: MCA.ORG/EDUCATION

JOHN R. KOONTZKoontz has more than 30 years of wide-ranging mechanical industry experience that includes contracting, academics and consulting. He is a former Tenured Associate Professor in Purdue University’s Department of Building Construction Management. He is also the founder and former director of Purdue’s Mechanical Construction Management Specialization Program. In addition to his academic career, he spent 15 years in the employment of MCAA contractors in a variety of positions, including senior project manager, project manager, project engineer and estimator. He is also the founder of the first ever MCAA student chapter, which was started at Purdue in 1993.

FACULTY

DAVID ASHCRAFTAshcraft specializes in the training area of financial management. His expertise is taking normally torturous subject matter and converting the content to be educational, engaging, and entertaining. He custom designs and delivers training and keynote speeches for business networks, associations and banks. Ashcraft has been a highly-rated faculty member at Graduate School of Banking Colorado, Southwestern Graduate School of Banking and Graduate School of Banking LSU. He received his BA from Washington State University and is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, where he later served as an associate director.

JONATHAN MRAUNAC Mraunac represents general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and other participants in the construction industry. As a member of Ogletree’s construction practice group, Jonathan advises clients relative to all aspects of the construction process including the prosecution and defense of claims in federal and state court, arbitration, and mediation, the perfection and prosecution of mechanics lien claims, and the formation and negotiation of contract documents.

CATHERINE STAKENAS Catherine Stakenas, President of CPS Corporate Consultants and associate professor of Industrial-Organizational Psychology, provides clients with the tools they need to educate, assess and measure their business and the performance of their employees. As an associate professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Stakenas is an expert in the use and interpretation of dozens of self-assessment instruments, including conflict management, coping and stress.

GINNIE FLORADAY Ginnie Floraday has been consulting and teaching in the computer field for over two decades and has been working with MCA of Chicago for the past several years. Her two primary areas of expertise include corporate training in the Microsoft Office Suite and database development in Microsoft Access. She conducts both group and one-on-one training on-site for her clients. She has developed several hundred custom Microsoft Access database applications. Upon delivery of the application, her custom training includes instruction on how to design queries and additional reports.

5

PROGRAM CURRICULUM 72 TOTAL HOURS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION

NUMBER OF HOURS PER COURSE

FUNDAMENTALS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS

Project management is a pivotal responsibility on every job. Yet, until recently, there was very little training for existing project managers, especially those just starting out. This course is designed for project managers who have less than five years of project management experience, those with little or no formal project management training, or employees who are not presently project managers but have the potential to become project managers. This intensive four-day course will review all the basics of project management, including: material management and site planning, conducting an effective turnover meeting, pre-construction planning, job cost control, project billings and maintaining positive cash flow, understanding and using the contract, managing change orders and project documentation.

FINANCIAL OUTCOMES FOR PROJECT MANAGERS

Project managers will work through a case study and uncover the math mystery buried in the WIP. They will calculate each column by hand to see where the numbers come from and recognize which numbers provide key information. The key information will spotlight problems and opportunities contained within the numbers of a financial report. Project managers will increase their financial fluency and be able to communicate more effectively to get the right information to make their projects more profitable.

DAY 1Fundamentals: Planning Skills for the Project Team J O H N R . KO O N T Z

8

DAY 2Fundamentals: Productivity ImprovementJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

Fundamentals: Job Cost ControlJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

4

4

DAY 3Fundamentals: Contracts BasicsJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

Fundamentals: DocumentationJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

4

4

DAY 4Fundamentals: Change Order ManagementJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

8

DAY 5Financial Outcomes for Project ManagersD AV I D A S H C R A F T

8

DAY 7Essential Management SkillsJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

Time ManagementJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

4

4

DAY 8Negotiation Skills for Project ManagersJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

Mechanical SchedulingJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

4

4

DAY 9High Impact Communication SkillsJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

Project CloseoutJ O H N R . KO O N T Z

4

4

DAY 6Advanced ContractsJ O N AT H A N M R A U N A C

Interpersonal SkillsC AT H E R I N E S TA K E N A S

3

4

1ONLINEComputer Skills AssessmentG I N N I E F L O R A D AY

LEARN MORE AT: MCA.ORG/EDUCATION

TIME MANAGEMENT

Improving time management ability for a project manager is a difficult proposition that takes great personal commitment and self-discipline. This session identifies the greatest time wasters and provides strategies for improving time management skills. Participants will identify and discuss the best practices required for becoming a better manager of multiple projects.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

This course will focus on two areas of interpersonal skills: conflict and stress. The first part focus on conflict prevention & resolution. The five conflict-handling modes discussed are applicable in specific situations and each represents a set of useful social skills. The instructor will discuss the views of conflict, different approaches to conflict situations, and participant’s own preferred conflict management approaches. Transitioning to stress, you will study the different types of stress, the sources of stress, and different strategies for managing stress. A focus will be put on the coping resources and skills that help to manage the different types of stress and sources of stress. This increased awareness will help you to better understand yourself, your coping skills, and develop a stress management action plan.

MECHANICAL SCHEDULING

Attendees of this session will learn the basic steps to follow in scheduling project activities. You’ll learn how bar charts can help the project team visualize the sequence and duration of events and plan manpower loading. In addition, attendees will be introduced to more detailed network scheduling techniques (the critical path method).

ESSENTIAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS

This session offers an opportunity to learn the unique, basic management skills of the mechanical project manager. Participants will gain an understanding of the essential traits, skills and behaviors that allow effective management. Topics include: leadership and management skills, management ability vs. technical savvy, the importance of organization and standardization, motivating others to perform, managing the boss, delegation skills, communication skills, and working with difficult people.

PROJECT CLOSEOUT

The end of a project is usually a challenging and difficult time for the mechanical project manager and the foreman. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula, wand or pill for eliminating the difficulty of project closeout. There are, however, several tactics and strategies the project manager and foreman can implement to improve end-of-job performance and mitigate the difficulties of project closeout. In addition to a review of innovative methods used by MCAA contractors to help reduce the typical end-of-project “profit/productivity drain,” this session will include the following project closeout topics:

Punch list | Warranties | As-built drawings | O&M Manuals | Customer satisfaction | Closeout productivity improvement | Demobilization | Change order finalization | Final payment | Feedback meeting

LIMIT OF 30 PARTICIPANTS

HIGH IMPACT COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS

Due to the complexity of the construction process and the numerous people involved in a project’s completion, excellent communication skills are essential to creating a successful project and a successful career. When communication problems develop, relationships weaken, misunderstandings occur and project failure is imminent. The best project managers know that communication requires constant attention, evaluation and improvement. This session will cover topics such as:

Effective listening | Questioning | Public speaking and presentation | Basic written communication

NEGOTIATION SKILLS FOR PROJECT MANAGERS

Increased pressure on project managers is driven by shorter schedules, less information and higher demands on performance. This requires us to put more effort into looking out for our interests and striving to get what is fair. This seminar provides insights on the topics of interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, negotiation skills, and how to improve and optimize the outcome. Improve and develop these skill sets and learn the practical application of negotiation principles.

7

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSADDITIONAL QUESTIONS CAN BE DIRECTED TO RLINTOW@MCA.ORG

Q. How long does it take to finish the certificate program?A. The program is designed for most people to complete in one year.

Q. What if I can’t make every session?A: We’d prefer that everyone try their best to make each session. However, if you miss a session you will

have to wait until the next year to make it up.

Q. Who is this certificate program geared towards? A: This program is designed for project managers who have less than five years of project management

experience, little or no formal project management training, or employees who are not project managers but have the potential to be a project manager.

Q. What does going through the EPM Program do for me?A: MCA/CEI EPM program is widely recognized in our industry. Completion of the program prepares you for

further and faster advancement in your job, with greater prospects for your future in the industry.

7

ELIGIBILITYThe EPM program is open to persons with any degree of project management experience; however, because some classes are only offered on workdays, participants will need to be sponsored by their employer. Classes are limited to the first 30 persons who apply and are accepted.

SIGNING UPInterested persons are required to submit an application signed by themselves and their employers indicating that they understand that the EPM program consists of 72 hours of coursework, and their commitment to attending all sessions as scheduled (participants who are forced to miss one session may make it up the following year).

COSTThere is a one-time fee of $595 for employees of MCA member and PEC companies, to be submitted with the application. Employees of MCA member companies who complete the program will receive a $200 credit upon completion. There is a one-time fee of $2,000 for members of the Construction Education Institute’s®

education partners.

LOCATIONAll sessions unless otherwise noted will be held at the MCA Construction Education Institute® located at 7065 Veterans Blvd., Burr Ridge, Illinois.

FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT:MCA.ORG/EDUCATION