Category Archives: Main

CCFC 2023 Workshops Announcement!

Did you know: Kitchell will be presenting at the upcoming Community College Facility Coalition (CCFC) 30th Annual Conference in Sacramento November 6-8! Our featured workshops include:

“Partnering to Build the Workforce Pipeline,” moderated by Wendy Cohen, CEO and President of Kitchell, is a discussion about the California economy, the workforce shortage and the critical role of community colleges. Wendy will be joined by a distinguished panel comprised of Rueben Smith, Chief Facilities Executive at Los Angeles Community College District, Farrah Farzaneh, Director of Facilities Planning for San Bernardino Community College District, and Hussain Agah, Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities Planning and Development at Riverside Community College District to explore various topics. Attendees will learn and explore subjects including the integration of community colleges and business partnerships as critical development of our future workforce, businesses helping businesses while educating and training, the importance of supporting local, small emerging, disabled veterans and local hire programs, and successful programs within the A/E/C industries which could be a model for the future.

Program Director David Dunn will moderate the workshop “How to get from hard bid to design-build to progressive design-build in 5 years.” This workshop brings together Tim Flood, Vice President, Administrative Services for MiraCosta Community College District, Deborah Shepley, Principal at Gensler and Tyler Steele, Project Executive at Balfour Beatty in a dynamic panel made up of the program, construction manager, architect, contractor and owner to share how they successfully transitioned from the hard bid delivery method to design-build and ultimately progressive design-build in a matter of 5 years while delivering over 35 projects. This panel will discuss their path to success including lessons learned on how they managed and ensured a smooth transition through timelines, contracts, schedules and demands, efforts on pre-planning, educating all stakeholders, getting the consultant teams on board and how they navigated the politics of transitioning.

The owner, MiraCosta Community College District currently serves approximately 25,000 students. The District representative will share why they decided to make the change, and how the new delivery method is creating more controls, savings and helping to reduce risks. Join us to hear from the team that streamlined the many processes and contractual changes that got them to a construction delivery method creating more efficiency, collaboration and risk control and what the industry needs to know before embarking on a complex transition plan.

Visit our Kaptains of the Industry on the trade show floor at booth #118 to visit with Kitchell employee-owners! There are even more opportunities to connect with Kitchell at our Kaptains of the Industry happy hour event at The Mix on November 7. There are plenty of opportunities to link up with our Kitchell team – don’t miss out!  Please be sure to RSVP by scanning the QR code.

Meet Our New Program Director, Daniel Rodriguez for Southern California Inland Empire at Kitchell!

Throughout his career, Daniel has honed his skills in program leadership, learning and growing through various roles. These include his beginnings as an Assistant Project Manager, followed by his tenure as the Assistant Director of Facilities for the Riverside Unified School District, and his recent role as the Director of Construction for a General Contractor.

To gain deeper insights into our newest Program Director for Southern California Inland Empire, check out his interview with Marketing Executive and Communication Director Veronica Delgado.

Veronica: Thank you for joining us today, Daniel. Let’s start by discussing your role at Kitchell. Can you tell us more about your position and what you’re most excited about in this role?

Daniel Rodriguez: Of course, I’m the new Program Director for SoCal, Inland Empire. I’m excited to work alongside the teams and see what we can accomplish together. I’m particularly looking forward to the business development aspect of the role and expanding our Inland Empire portfolio.

Veronica: That sounds like a great opportunity. Now, what initially inspired you to work in the construction industry, and what do you love most about it?

Daniel Rodriguez: My journey into construction was quite accidental. I originally went to school to become an architect, but I decided to get a job in construction, thinking it would make me a better architect. However, after just one year in the construction field, I was hooked. I realized that construction offered something new and exciting every day, with fresh challenges and opportunities for success.

Veronica: It’s fascinating how your career path evolved. As a Program Director, what do you view as the strongest asset you bring to a project team?

Daniel Rodriguez: I strive to provide engagement and guidance as a team lead. Building strong relationships with the team, both professionally and personally, is crucial to me. I also aim to offer mentorship wherever possible, fostering growth and collaboration.

Veronica: What is your favorite type of project to work on, and why?

Daniel Rodriguez: My favorite type of project is when we are both the Program Manager and the Construction Manager. Being involved in the design kick-off and seeing it through to the Dedication Ceremony is incredibly rewarding.

Veronica: Can you share an example of a significant challenge you faced on a job and how you handled it?

Daniel Rodriguez: One of my biggest challenges was being the CM on three new ground-up elementary schools during the 100-year storm in 2005. We lost three months due to the rain, and it was a tight construction schedule. It came down to managing the expectations of the District and site Administration. It was a tough conversation to let them know they couldn’t get what they wanted due to the weather. We had to make creative decisions, like using CAB instead of concrete walks, which we had to replace repeatedly. Despite the challenges, all three schools opened on the first day of school, which was a big relief.

Veronica: Those sound like memorable experiences. What do you believe are the characteristics of a team member that contribute to the greatest level of project success?

Daniel Rodriguez: Passion is the main characteristic I look for. Regardless of experience, if someone has passion and truly cares about what they do, the experience will follow. It’s hard to teach someone who doesn’t care, and you can’t teach someone to care.

Veronica: That’s a great insight into team dynamics. In your opinion, what are five key factors that make a project successful?

Daniel Rodriguez: The five key factors that make a project successful in my view are: 1. Client satisfaction, 2. Staying on budget, 3. Staying on schedule, 4. Achieving profitability, and 5. Fostering community pride.