Project Insights

Host Amanda Donovan talks with PMA’s Lowell Knaus, PMIS National Practice Lead, and Jonathan Galuska, Managing Director, about why so many project management information system (PMIS) implementations fall short and what owners can do to get more value from their investment. They discuss why planning should begin well before software configuration, starting with an assessment of current processes, a clear vision for the future, and strong executive sponsorship. The guests also explain how change management, stakeholder engagement, and early wins help build user adoption. They close with the metrics that matter after go-live and why a PMIS should be treated as a continuous process of improvement.

Town Administrator Rob Dolan, DPW Director John Scenna, and PMA's Ian Sheridan discuss Lynnfield's new fire headquarters, police station, and renovated town hall — covering the town-funded budget, the CM-at-risk approach, and unforeseen challenges like PFAS contamination and a two-year staff relocation.

In this episode of Project Insights, host Amanda Donovan is joined by PMA's Saumil Maniar and Terrance Cooper to explore what it takes to build construction cost estimates that owners can actually trust. The two experienced estimators share what high-performing owners consistently get right, how to spot red flags in contractor and consultant estimates, and practical approaches to modeling escalation and risk in today's volatile market. From early conceptual estimating and value engineering to documentation practices that protect all parties when change orders and disputes arise, listeners will gain actionable insights into how rigorous, transparent cost estimating drives better decisions at every stage of project delivery.

In this episode of Project Insights, PMA experts Rick Johnson and Jeff Plant join host Bryan Ritch to explore why value engineering (VE) remains a vital tool for successful infrastructure delivery. Drawing on decades of experience, they explain how true VE goes beyond cost cutting by using a structured, function‑driven approach to improve performance, constructability, and lifecycle value. Through real project examples, the conversation highlights how fresh perspectives and multidisciplinary teams can challenge assumptions and unlock significant savings. Rick and Jeff also discuss common barriers to early VE adoption and why applying VE sooner (not later) leads to better outcomes for owners navigating rising costs and complexity.

In this episode of Project Insights, host Amanda Donovan is joined by Erika Flynn from GovSpend and Kim Varghese from PMA Consultants to explore the importance of market research and pre-positioning. Erika and Kim share how tools like GovSpend and proactive intelligence help firms identify decision makers, anticipate procurement trends, and uncover client priorities. Throughout the episode, our guests help listeners learn strategies for turning data into actionable insights, building capture plans, and aligning marketing and operations to position effectively. Additionally, Amanda and Kim recall examples of when prepositioning and relationship building led to winning work - proven real-world tactics! From identifying clients to determining what projects best suit your team, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how research-driven positioning creates stronger outcomes in a competitive marketplace.

In this episode of Project Insights, host Amanda Donovan is joined by PMA Executive Director Angel Ripepi and Managing Director of Marketing Bryan Ritch to explore the balance between collaboration and competition in construction project delivery. Angel and Bryan share insights on why strategic teaming is essential in today’s market, how early positioning and trust influence project success, and the role of cultural alignment in building lasting partnerships. Moving on to the "how," they also discuss practical strategies for selecting partners, managing relationships with firms that may later be competitors, and positioning PMA as a partner of choice through transparency and shared success. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how reputation, adaptability, and complementary expertise create winning teams in an increasingly complex industry.

In this episode of Project Insights, host Zoe Moschella sits down with Executive Director Chris Carroll as he reflects on his remarkable 33-year career at PMA and his upcoming retirement. Chris shares stories from his early work on Boston’s Big Dig and the Ted Williams Tunnel, as well as his more recent assignments leading transformative school and municipal projects. Through these stories, he highlights lessons learned in project controls, the evolution of PMA’s owner’s project management practice, and the importance of communication, teamwork, and adaptability in the construction industry. Listeners will gain insights into the past, present, and future of project management while celebrating the enduring impact of Chris’s contributions to PMA and the Northeast region.

Learn about PMA's hiring and recruiting process from our Director of Talent Acquisition, Dave DePina, and our Michigan Managing Director, John Zann. Host Amanda Donovan asks our guests how they approach finding the right employees for a people-first company, considering both technical and soft skills. If you are looking to bolster your interview questions to find the perfect candidate for your company's position or if you are job-seeking yourself, this episode provides crucial insights into the world of talent acquisition.

After a meeting, it's a straightforward process to incorporate project members' feedback into a schedule - what's more difficult, but just as essential, is incorporating what wasn't said at all. In this episode of Project Insights, Shane Wilhelmsen and Graham Briggs, two of PMA's Braintree Directors, explore what it takes to be an effective scheduler in the construction industry. Using their real-life experiences as a basis for conversation, our guests share the power of having a critical and inquisitive outlook while creating project schedules, how to foster schedule transparency with a diverse audience, and why a comprehensive schedule is key to project success.

In this episode of Project Insights, host Zoe Mervine welcomes PMA Consultants Founder Dr. Gui Ponce de Leon and Dr. Vivek Puri, Managing Director in PMA’s Innovation Group, for a deep dive into delay analysis and schedule compression. As leading innovators in forensic scheduling and the Graphical Path Method (GPM), Dr. Ponce de Leon and Dr. Puri share the origins of GPM, how it transformed the field, and how PMA integrates it into powerful, user-friendly software. This episode contains stories, expert insights, and practical advice for anyone managing or analyzing project delays.