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Working as One Reclamation to Deliver Value: Highlights from the Inaugural Project Management Workshop

Media Contact: Steve Higginbottom, ghigginbottom@usbr.gov
For Release: Jan 17, 2025
Jeremiah Bradshaw named the 2024 Project Manager of the Year. Jeremiah Bradshaw named the 2024 Project Manager of the Year.

Reclamation successfully launched its inaugural Project Management Workshop at the end of 2024, centered around the theme “Working as One Reclamation to Deliver Value.” This significant event brought together approximately 130 project management practitioners from across the agency, fostering collaboration and enhancing a collective understanding of effective project management practices.

The workshop, led by the Reclamation’s Project Management Advisory Team and held at the Bureau of Land Management National Training Center in Phoenix, provided essential baseline training in three critical areas: Scope, Schedule, and Budget management. 

Attendees benefitted from insightful seminars led by Reclamation professionals and industry experts, including Mat Maucieri, Reclamation’s Senior Advisor for Operations, and Karla Eidem from the Project Management Institute. Both speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared best practices, reinforcing the idea that effective project management is a collective effort that spans Reclamation.

Additionally, 19 Reclamation professionals shared PM best practices and professional development tips through focused presentations. Discussions included topics such as PM Impact on the Organization, Tips from A Successful PM, Building a Vision, Tips and Tricks for A Well-defined PMP, Budget Development Tools, PM Applications for Generative AI and Incorporating Risk in Projects.

A standout moment during the workshop was the announcement of Jeremiah Bradshaw as the 2024 Project Manager of the Year. This accolade reflects Bradshaw's exceptional contributions to the field and his unwavering commitment to excellence in project management practices.

In Fiscal Year 2024, Bradshaw successfully implemented TSC and Reclamation project management policies and procedures, effectively managing multiple complex projects simultaneously. His innovative approach to project management included the development of tools for precise budget tracking and a Submittal Tracker tool that enhanced the monitoring of construction submittals, peer reviews, and overall project status.

Enhancing Project Management Across Reclamation

Reclamation recognizes that successful project outcomes rely on the effective application of project management knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques. To this end, Reclamation is dedicated to implementing robust project management principles at all levels and across various disciplines, including planning, construction, human resources, acquisitions, and Information Technology. The goal is to continually improve the way we deliver value through our projects.

The recently updated Project Management Guidebook (PM Guidebook) and the Reclamation Manual Directives and Standards (CMP 07-01 Project Management) serve as pivotal resources for guiding project management across the agency. These documents emphasize scalable requirements tailored to the needs of each office, ensuring flexibility while maintaining high standards.

Key Takeaways from the Workshop

Participants engaged in comprehensive discussions on critical project management components, including:

  • The significance of a well-structured project schedule, which aids in planning, monitoring, and understanding task interdependencies.
  • Resource identification and allocation to ensure that project teams can focus on the most critical tasks while managing budgeting and funding needs.
  • Identifying key milestones and assessing project schedule risks to meet stakeholder expectations and enhance team productivity.
  • Tools for effectively reporting project status to leadership and stakeholders, thereby ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

The workshop concluded with practical learning opportunities through optional site visits, allowing participants to observe ongoing major projects managed by the Phoenix Area Office. Attendees had the option to explore several Gila River Indian Community projects or the Salt River Project Intertie at Granite Reef Diversion Dam—both significant undertakings that exemplify Reclamation's commitment to delivering value through innovative solutions. We want to thank our partners at the Salt River Project and Dr. David DeJong, the Director for Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project for providing such great project tours. 

Looking Ahead

We will continue to embrace the spirit of “Working as One Reclamation,” by sharing resources and lessons learned through our SharePoint site, the Project Management Virtual Resource Center. We will continue to foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement through our MS Teams site, Reclamation Project Management, which you can join to access our monthly lunch and learn sessions and engage with our community of practice.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of this inaugural workshop. We look forward to future gatherings that will further enhance our project management capabilities and strengthen our commitment to delivering value across the Bureau of Reclamation.

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