Make it Work: The Role of the Owner in Project Success

Only available as part of a package

All players working together on a project want success. The Owner is key to setting the stage for success, starting with how they procure design-build services, and how they contribute to creating and maintaining a positive, collaborative environment. But what makes a good Owner? What attributes do top design-builders look for in finding that “good” Owner? Just as Owners make decisions on which firms to shortlist, industry makes choices on what projects to pursue. Among the many factors considered along with the attributes of the project are the Owner’s approach to the project (for example, what does the RFP look like?), and the reputation of the Owner (has the Owner treated industry fairly as partners all through other projects?).

The panel of experienced design-builders will discuss each phase of a project, from procurement, to contracting to execution and the key Owner attributes industry looks for in a good partner. Further, there will be concrete examples of bad behaviors, practices, and mentalities. This session will be an eye-opening discussion and the presenters look forward to extensive audience engagement so all – Owners and practitioners – can gain new insights.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognizing that Owners are key to a project’s success, attendees will learn about the qualities of an effective Owner.
2. Attendees will learn how an Owner is essential to establishing and maintain a positive, collaborative environment.
3. Attendees will hear about Owner-specific factors that, along with a project, will encourage top design-builders to pursue a project.
4. Attendees will learn about how disengaged Owners increase project risk and can lead to project failure

Stacey G. Barton

Federal Division Leader - VP

Haskell

Stacey Barton leads the Federal Division and is responsible for profit and loss, operations, development of opportunities, engineering partnerships, and project execution. She oversees all ongoing projects, forecasts revenue, and develops the business plan. Prior to her current position, Stacey held several key positions at Haskell, such as assistant project manager, project manager, director of Construction, vice president of Construction, vice president of Operations, and chief of staff to the COO. She has worked in multiple delivery groups and markets executing a broad spectrum of project types, including federal, schools, hospitals, commercial office buildings, water/wastewater facilities, student housing, ports & harbors, and food & beverage facilities (EPC).

John Keith

Vice President

The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

John Keith is a Vice President with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company working out of the Baltimore, MD, office. Keith has worked his entire 28-year career with WT since graduating from Virginia Tech in 1993. Most of Keith’s career has been on federal projects for clients that include the Navy (NAVFAC), GSA, NASA and the Coast Guard. Keith has also worked for non-federal clients such as Lockheed Martin, MGM, University of Maryland and Weller Development. Keith lives in Severna Park, MD, with his two teenage sons.

Jim L. Whitaker, FAIA, NCARB, FDBIA

Shareholder Principal and SVP

HKS, Inc.

Mr. Whitaker is an architect and lifelong design-build advocate, influencer, and educator. He is nationwide speaker and published author. Mr. Whitaker has served in executive leadership roles in both design and construction firms. Based in Dallas, Texas, he currently leads the government practice and all things alternative project delivery at one of the nation’s largest architectural firms, HKS, Inc. Extraordinarily rare, he was elected a Fellow of both AIA and DBIA in 2018. For DBIA, he currently serves as the Chancellor of the College of Fellows, serves as the Chair of the Federal Markets Committee, serves as member of the National Development Board, and serves as liaison to the P3 Committee. Previously, he served on DBIA’s national Board of Directors and was its Chairman in 2014. For AIA, he has served in national roles in its Federal Architects Task Group (FATG) and Project Delivery Knowledge Community (PDKC). Today, he also serves on the board of directors of the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT). Mr. Whitaker lives in North Carolina.