Miami - PMA Consultants - Bilingual Construction Consulting

PMA has served Miami-Dade County, the largest county in Florida, since 1999. The office is located on Brickell Avenue in Downtown Miami in a neighborhood lined with popular restaurants, shopping, high-end condos, and entertainment venues. PMA multilingual professionals take pride in providing schedule and cost risk assessments, owner’s representation, and project controls expertise to government agencies, K-12 and higher education, water and wastewater, transportation, pharmaceutical/biotech, and hospitality industries. Additionally, PMA expertise in providing value engineering services to highway authorities stretches from northern to southern Florida. Projects led from this regional office extend into the Caribbean and to Central and South America.

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Francisco Cruz

Chief Knowledge Officer

Leadership

•Private: Noel Alvarez

•Eduardo A. Nazario

•Richard L. Johnson

•Francisco Cruz

PMA People

Learn more about our people and their work.

Francisco Cruz

Q&A with Francisco PMA PEOPLE

Jose Santiago-Diaz

Q&A WITH JOSE PMA PEOPLE

Eduardo Nazario

Q&A with Eduardo PMA PEOPLE

Fernando Villanueva

Q&A with Fernando PMA PEOPLE

Private: John Philbrick

Q&A with John PMA PEOPLE

Ken VanderJagt

Q&A with Ken PMA PEOPLE

Private: Larry Louree

Q&A with Larry PMA PEOPLE

Private: Noel Alvarez

Q&A with Noel PMA PEOPLE

Rick Johnson

Q&A with Rick PMA PEOPLE

John Knox Village

Pompano Beach, FL

Noven Pharmaceuticals

Miami, FL

Johnson & Johnson Worldwide Engineering Department

Various locations, FL

TissueTech Facility Expansion

Miami, Nationwide

Miami Dade College Capital Program

Miami, FL

Miami-Dade Transit Asset Management Plan

Miami, FL

Florida Department of Transportation

Various locations, FL

City of Fort Lauderdale Community Projects

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Jose Santiago-Diaz

Associate, Miami

What current project(s) are you working on?

I am currently working on a program for Johnson & Johnson in Puerto Rico that involves several plants from Puerto Rico, the US, and Latin America. I have been charged with developing cost report analysis for various projects within the program.

Do you get to do something at work every day that you love? If so, what is it?

I love being part of a team and contributing to project success. Each project is different, and everyone has different challenges and opportunities every day that make you have to give your best. That aspect of being part of the success of a project is what motivates me most about my work. Seeing that project completed on time and on budget is like guiding that ship to a safe harbor.

What is your career highlight so far? (at PMA?)

My highlight outside of PMA was working on a project to build a mine in the Dominican Republic for $3.6 billion. This was a very big project where I had to live in a camp inside the mine and work with people from different parts of the world.

For PMA, I had a startup project for Johnson & Johnson in Gurabo, Puerto Rico that on the first day went out of budget and we had to estimate what was left base zero in a time of 3 weeks.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry that makes you excited about the future?

The pharmaceutical industry is going to undergo many changes, and I hope they will be positive since the security in our supply chain can return many companies to the American market and that can bring many projects.

What was a transformative project or challenge that you did at PMA?

My work on the Shire Biologics Biotech facility in Covington, GA was challenging. This project was a $1 billion biotech facility that was built on a 100-acre greenfield. I have worked in scheduling on some projects but my strength for most of my career has always been costs. But this project had to carry the schedule in NetPoint. We had to present the different critical routes and system schedules that would help the project team understand many things about the master schedule that they did not see quickly.

Who/what inspires you to push yourself? (Personal heroes, family members, ideas)

My personal hero is my father who taught me to always give the maximum in everything I do regardless of the result. He always taught me by his example to never give up and I have always applied that to my life.

What university or college did you graduate from?

Much of my youth was spent studying at the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico where I earned two bachelor’s degrees in civil and industrial engineering. Many people tell me that I am a masochist for studying both! I studied the last one while working and it was very challenging.

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?

I do not have a favorite restaurant, but I do like many restaurants in Puerto Rico that have a view or access to the sea. It does not matter if I visit it at night or during the day, but I love them. It is one of the things that I enjoy the most

Provide a fun fact about yourself?

Once working on a project in the Dominican Republic on my first day I met people from different countries such as Dominicans, Venezuelans, Mexicans, Chileans, Bolivians, Filipinos, Peruvians, etc. When I communicated with many Spanish-speaking people thinking that the words mean the same thing because of the same language, it was not like that. The first day after taking the new employee training, I was talking with a Dominican and he asked me what a ride is in my country but the word he use in my country is offensive and I immediately left annoyed, then talking with other people they explained and I realized that my reaction was not adequate. I understood that even if it is the same language, being from different countries, there are differences.

Do you have any secret talents?

In my youth, like any adolescent who likes music, I learned to play bass. Even today, I meet some colleagues from that time, and we play in some local bars recalling music from those days.

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Fernando Villanueva

Senior Director, Orlando

What current projects are you working on?
I have been the project lead for PMA’s work for Orange County Utilities (OCU) for more than 17 years as an extension of OCU construction and engineering department staff. My roles over the years have included project controls, cost validating, cost estimating, value engineering, value analysis, scheduling, change management, claims avoidance, and claims resolution.

Currently, PMA is a subconsultant under a five-year program management contract. My main role is project controls manager. So far, I have worked on all of the Orange County water supply facilities: the Southern Regional Water Supply Facility; Eastern Regional Water Supply Facility; Western Regional Water Supply Facility; Hidden Springs Water Supply Facility; Vistana Water Supply Facility; and the East Service Area Potable Water and Reclaimed Water Storage and Repump Facility; as well as all of the Orange County reclamation facilities: the South Water Reclamation Facility, Eastern Water Reclamation Facility; and Northwest Water Reclamation Facility.

What is your career highlight so far?
Having become a trusted advisor to OCU management.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry?
NetPoint is increasingly used for presentations to OCU management and as a practical tool to demonstrate a point to contractors.

Are you involved with any industry organizations?
I’m a member of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineers, Project Management Institute, and the Construction Management Association of America. I’m presenting at my local chapter, North Florida AACE®, about their new online community. I also received the Canaveral Council of Technical Societies Technical Achievement and the North Florida AACE Star Awards for my role with these organizations.

What was a transformative project or challenge that you did at PMA?
OCU’s South Water Reclamation Facility (SWRF) improvement project has been ongoing for over 15 years. Orange County Utilities provides water, wastewater, and solid waste services to unincorporated areas of Orange County. OCU operates the SWRF, which has a treatment capacity of 43 million gallons per day. I have served as the OCU owner’s representative throughout multiple phases of transformation, including renovation, refurbishment, and new construction. Some of my duties have included assisting the county with contract development and price negotiations for major changer orders, and I have provided construction administration, cost estimating, schedule analysis, and pay request evaluation services. Today, SWRF is undergoing yet another major renovation that will continue into 2019.

Do you get to do something at work every day that you love? If so, what is it?
I really enjoy my work at the county. Over the years, I have developed many professional working relationships that have become long-lasting friendships. I feel like a member of their team and they trust my guidance and advice.

What university or college did you graduate from?
I graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1987 with a bachelor’s of science in mechanical engineering.

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?
As an avid cyclist, when I am not spending time with my family on the weekends, I look for bicycling routes all over Central Florida.

Provide a fun fact about yourself?
I have completed the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, visiting and sampling all the major fine bourbon distilleries on the trail. The trail is a must-try if you like fine Kentucky bourbon.

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Ken VanderJagt

Director, Orlando

What current project(s) are you working on?
Automated People Mover Project at Orlando International Airport, schedule oversight. Schedule development and updating for pipeline projects for Layne Northern Corporation. Schedule oversight of various water and water reclamation projects for Orange County Utilities. Starting a contract time assessment project for Florida Department of Transportation. Cost estimating for various projects at Orlando International Airport.

What is your career highlight so far?
The relationship I gained with Marriott Vacation Club International in Orlando for Primavera Scheduling services that resulted in PMA staffing a half dozen scheduling positions at MVCI and extended scheduling roles with Marriott contractors Hunt Construction Group, Catafulmo Construction and others. I caught the client’s attention at a local Primavera P3 information seminar by asking questions indicating I knew how to run the software. Marriott’s timeshare division was in a major expansion mode at that time and brought PMA in to schedule projects for them throughout the United Stated, Caribbean and Europe.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry?
One of the most innovative scheduling applications I became involved in recently was the application of real-time planning to the implementation of SAP SE (Systems, Applications & Products in Data Processing) a German business enterprise software solution at Marathon Corporation. SAP was implemented as a replacement for legacy mainframe accounting, management and human resource programs. Major IT firms SAP, Deloite, HCL Axon, and Wipro combined with Marathon IT Staff to develop, plan, test, rehearse and cutover to SAP. I was brought in a as “Cutover Manager” to participate in the planning and scheduling of the effort. We had a 6-person scheduling team that ran real-time schedules 24 hrs a day. Cutover planning involves several phases and rehearsals. Phases include “Preparation”, “Downtime”, “Uptime”, “Go-Live” and “Post-Go-Live”. In general, these phases provide for system backups and security, data downloads, data conversions, loading new programs and converted data, system testing, security closures, and account balancing. The Cutover Managers constantly monitored the schedule and updated it with actual activity starts and finishes based on the emails. Cutover Managers also carefully tracked the Critical Path at all times and inquired with Team Leads for progress reports when completions were due. The objective was to send out the next activity email within minutes of its predecessor’s emailed completion notice. Hence “Real-Time” scheduling. Performance improved with each rehearsal and a successful implementation was completed as planned in January 2014.

What university or college did you graduate from?
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, BSCE. Dr. Gui was my professor for CPM Scheduling. I started with PMA immediately after graduation in December 1978, reporting for work on December 26, 1978.

What is your favorite local establishment?
My favorite resort is Marriott’s Ocean Pointe resort in the West Palm Beach area. I stayed there with my wife and daughters several times while I was the scheduler on the successor unit buildings. My family fully enjoyed the beautiful beach, pools and resort amenities. More locally to my residence my favorite feature is the bike trails and bike ways of Orange and Lake Counties. Orange County’s West Orange Bike Trail is just a couple of blocks from my house and provides 30 miles of bike trail as it interconnects with the Lake County trail. Unlike most of Florida, Lake County has hilly terrain, the top hill being referred to as Sugarloaf Mountain. This is a favorite road bike training spot for Fernando Villanueva and I.

Fun Fact!
Is Ken related to politician Guy VanderJagt or NFL kicker Mike VanderJagt? No, but I do like to golf, run, and bicycle and I did complete a sprint triathlon after I turned 50.

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Private: Larry Louree

Associate, Orlando

What are you passionate about and how do you pursue that passion at PMA?

I’m passionate about doing it right the first time: learn everything you can, make a plan, execute it, and only do it one time. I find it counterproductive to do something more than once. I’ve had the opportunity to work with owners to help them make good decisions for their business. Knowing how the components work together, how the stakeholders do things, as well as the nature of the regulatory environment all have an impact on those decisions. Knowing what the rest of the industry is doing is also important. (Always remember that just because somebody else is doing something, it doesn’t mean it’s a good choice for this application.) It’s a challenge; it means keeping aware of all the different disciplines and technologies that are out there and whether they can be integrated into this idea. There is never a dull moment in my world, but it can sure be fun.

What are the most positive aspects of working at PMA?

PMA allows us to manage our clients and work with them in a way we can be the most service to them. PMA encourages us not only to operate within the client’s guidelines and our own PMA standards, but also to provide the best possible service to them.

Who/what inspires you to push yourself?

When Disney first came to Florida 50 years ago, I joined the cast while still in high school. Some of my initial leaders had actually worked with Walt Disney in California before his death. These mentors taught the way that Walt wanted things to be done, how our guests were to be cared for, etc. They run their business according to the four Disney core values: Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. These checkpoints are guidelines on how to make decisions and how to assess the risks associated with a decision. Unless you’ve read the office windows on Main Street USA in Magic Kingdom, you probably wouldn’t know these people’s names, but the guidelines and processes instilled by these Disney legends still guide me today.

What current project(s) are you working on?

For the last year, I’ve been performing the role of Owner’s Representative/Project Manager for two redevelopment programs for a pharmaceutical manufacturer in South Florida. I do everything from selecting design vendors and contractors, working with stakeholders to making sure the space will meet their needs, coordinating the construction around manufacturing, and everything else that goes into this program. In my spare work time, I develop estimates and evaluate change orders for wastewater, reclaimed-water, manufacturing facilities, airport claims, man-made recreational lakes, and other any opportunities that arise.

What is your career highlight so far?

At PMA, my highlight so far is being able to work with some great mentors in the Orlando Office. I also got to help get home mechanical systems back online north of Boston in 2018 when the gas explosion wiped out over 10,000 homes’ kitchens and their hot water and heating systems. It was an amazing opportunity to be part of that effort to get those people back into their homes.

What is something new or innovative happening in your industry (CM or PM related)?

In the Baggage Handling System (BHS) world, the next big thing is using a tote-type conveyor system instead of a belt type. This newer system in North America will provide easier tracking of bags, fewer bag jams, and simpler control designs and operation. One of the initiatives we’re doing with my current client is a collaborative design approach. Instead of the traditional 30-60-90-permit deliverables, our weekly sessions with the design team are to review what they are working on and then adjust the direction as we go. Using Teams, we can look over their shoulder as they are laying out the design and preparing the drawings. We review what they are working on as they are doing it. So far, it’s helped us catch something that would have gone off course and been an expensive error to correct. This approach seems to be going well.

What was a transformative project or challenge that you did at PMA?

My challenge was doing some preliminary feasibility research to determine the load-bearing of a section of floor that was part of the original building built 35 years ago. While the owner had all of the documents on file, it was difficult to find all of the data to confirm that the equipment we wanted to place on the floor would work. This project also involved working with a broad spectrum of stakeholders to get their input into this project so it would meet their needs.

Do you get to do something at work every day that you love? If so, what is it?

Currently I get to work with a client who thinks like I do. Together we can get a little rambunctious, but because we think alike and have the same standards, everything goes much more smoothly and our approvals process is much quicker. I know what he wants, and I figure out how to make things happen within the operational and requirement-driven environment we are working in. Every day is something different. It keeps me on my toes and ready for whatever happens.

What university or college did you graduate from?

I graduated Magna Cum Laude, with an Associates in Computer Science from Orlando College, Orlando, Florida in 1986.

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?

For a family-style meal, we like to go to Vincent’s Italian Restaurant in Mount Dora. It features good food, reasonably priced.

Provide a fun fact about yourself?

We have provided homes to seven Siberian Huskies over the last 42 years. Three were rescues and we had two at one time. Our current fur baby is four-year-old Henry Cooper Whiskey. He is the first boy of our pack and the first puppy in about 25 years. Boys are different from girls. He could be in all of the husky memes on Facebook.

Yes, we live in tropical central Florida, but they have adapted. (I would not bring one of his Alaskan cousins here; it would be too hot for them.) He has learned to run until he gets hot, then come inside and lies on the tile in the bathroom. However, when it’s “Florida cold,” he loves being outside. Huskies are great with kids and very friendly to all. They have the attitude of a four-year-old child, always looking for the next adventure and an opportunity to learn something. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Rick Johnson

Managing Director, Orlando

What project(s) are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on a Risk Analysis for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on the State Road 528 Expressway to Cape Canaveral and the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project in Albuquerque, NM for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Also, in the preparation stage to facilitate a Value Engineering (VE) study for the Volpe Center project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

What are some of your career highlights?
Having facilitated a VE Study for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and then two Risk Mitigation and Value Management workshops for the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center to mitigate costs and recover schedule for the reconstruction of the World Trade Center program.

What is something new/innovative happening in your industry?
The application of the Value Engineering Methodology to organization/agency processes is relatively new to FDOT. In the past they have done process mapping with a flow diagram and the assignment of responsibilities, but District 4 is trying a new and different approach. Francisco Cruz and I have been assisting FDOT District 4 with several of their internal processes. Each one is different and presents its own challenge but methodology helps the team to think about the function of each step within the process and how it affects or may affect other steps within the process.

What was a transformative project or challenge that you did at PMA?
Facilitating the I-95 Express VE workshop that consisted of 30+ people from two different FDOT Districts that have a history of not necessarily working well with each other.

Do you get to do something at work every day that you love? If so, what is it?
I get to the office (when in town) every day at 6:00 – 6:15 am, have a couple of cups of coffee and review my schedule for the day or the coming days and catch up on email. There are very few interruptions at that time of day.

From which university did you graduate?
I graduated with a BSE & MSE in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Central Florida (UFC) (the 18th ranked undefeated UCF Knights)

What is your favorite local establishment/feature (restaurant, museum, stadium, etc.)?
My wife, Nien, and I enjoy going to football and basketball games at UCF and on at least one day of the weekend we try and play golf at Orange Tree Golf Club.

Provide a fun fact about yourself?
I can pull an engine out of any air-cooled Volkswagen in 10 minutes or less. I can then completely disassemble the engine and rebuild it from the crankshaft up. (That takes more than 10 minutes)

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