PSMJ's Project Management Bootcamp For Public Works Agencies teaches proven project management skills that help you deliver better outcomes. This training program gives you tools to manage multiple projects while controlling schedules, budgets, and the changes that inevitably happen. Learn project management protocols designed exclusively for the public works environment and solutions to the challenges that hit the sector every day.

Public Works Project Management Success Fundamentals: Keys to a Becoming a Super-Valued Agency Official

Planning Projects for Stakeholder Satisfaction: Schedule, Scope, and Risk Management Tricks that Work!

What separates average public works PMs from the rock-stars? What’s the scope of responsibility the best-run agencies demand of rising leaders? Get specific tips for doing more—and with less stress – as you both manage existing projects and plan for upcoming initiatives … the sign of the best and most sought-after PMs!

  • Project management in the public sector vs. private
  • Defining "success" on public works projects
  • Why so many public works projects fail
  • The role of the successful PM in today’s public works agency
  • Traits of the best project managers
  • Assigning PM duties from planning to construction
  • Workflow management secrets of the most admired public works PMs
  • Impact of project team member personalities on project outcome


Learn the key elements of a great PMP, one that instills confidence from all of your stakeholders and sets you up for delivering on time and budget:

  • Using a Project Charter to manage change
  • Spotting potential changes and unknowns
  • Keep project stakeholders happy
  • How the best agency PMs accurately define the scope of services
  • 3 crucial considerations when dealing with elected officials
  • 7 keys to managing public expectations and concerns
  • Who should prepare the PMP and why
  • 4 budgeting methods, and how to choose the right one
  • Designing and implementing a good project development schedule
  • Managing risk on the front end with contingency planning

Keys to Perfect Public Works Project Design Management: Master Consultant Quality and Fee Challenges

Public Project Construction Management Success: Communication, Leadership, and Conflict Resolution Strategies

Learn how to craft realistic budgets and adjust as changes inevitably occur, reducing the risk of devastating surprises and red ink.

  • When to design in-house, and when to hire a design consultant
  • Criteria for selecting the best design consultant for your project
  • Design contract negotiation techniques that work for all parties
  • How to manage change and risk on a project
  • Establishing project quality standards
  • Matching costs to required quality levels
  • The best way to manage multiple projects
  • 5 pieces of information no public works project can succeed without, and how to get them

Ready to evolve your agency's relationship with the public and officials from combatant to partner – and multiply your value? Want to maximize the productivity of your team members? Learn proven leadership characteristics that increase stakeholder happiness and reduce project risks.

  • Knowing when a project is ready to be released for construction
  • Tools for managing your contractor
  • Success tips for running pre-bid and pre-construction meetings
  • Timing your meetings with your construction team for maximum effectiveness
  • 9 critical written communications during construction
  • How to manage construction claims and change orders

Project Close-Out and Acceptance: Hitting Quality, Schedule, and Budget Targets

Implementing Your New Skills: Your Action Plan for Putting It All Into Practice

Great public works PMs effectively allocate the most precious resource - time - in pursuit of profitable project execution and stakeholder satisfaction. Here you learn how to manage expectations and your own daily activities to hit your agency's most ambitious targets.

  • Detail management when projects enter the close-out "Red Zone"
  • What “completion” really means
  • Proper protocols for project close out
  • Keys to the most effective project post-mortems
  • Improvement steps to execute after the post-mortem review

Now that you've learned how the most successful public works projects are managed by the most admired managers, it's time to put your personal implementation plan in place. In this last session we get down and dirty on how to create a step-by-step approach to applying your new skillset to your agency's next project.

  • 3 ways your personal implementation plan will help you and your agency
  • Digital toolbox features and how to use them most effectively
  • Resources to ensure public works project management success after this Bootcamp


Your PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT MANAGEMENT BOOTCAMP Coaches: Experienced leaders eager to share project management protocols exclusively for the public works environment and solutions to challenges you face every day.

Mary Prescott

Program Coordinator at City of St. Paul


Mary Prescott has over 38 years of experience in leading and managing programs, projects and organizational change efforts. In addition to her work with PSMJ, Mary currently drives 16 innovation projects with the City of Saint Paul in the work areas of business process improvement, customer service, equity, performance management, and technology.


Prior to joining the City of Saint Paul, Mary held numerous executive management positions with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) including: Manager–Enhancing Financial Effectiveness; Fiscal and Administrative Services Manager; Transportation Planning Director; Civil Rights Director; and LEAN Program Director. Mary also worked on teams tasked with project delivery streamlining, innovative construction methods, and activity-based costing/budgeting/management.


She specializes in coaching project management and execution strategies, so professionals can deliver projects easier while managing internal and external pressures using proven methods and tools that can reduce costs, increase delivery times and improve the quality of products and services.


Mary has a BA in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University and a graduate of Minnesota’s first State Senior Leadership Institute from the University of Minnesota, Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She is the recipient of many awards including Excellence in Program Administration from USDOT; Design Build Leadership, and Service and Commitment from the Minnesota Council for the Blind.

Level Up With On-Site Training

Maximize your entire team’s skill level when you bring this dynamic training in-house with a program customized for your department. It’s the cost-effective way to improve project and budget performance, and stakeholder satisfaction, at an agency level.

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