This summer I was honored to receive a grant from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Education and Research Foundation through its Robert L. Bowen Industry Residency program. The residency places construction management faculty on active job sites so we can bring current, real world experience back into our classrooms. 

For the next several weeks, I will be working with Manhattan Construction Company on Phase 1 of the Terminal Expansion Project at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers. My industry mentor is Robbie Tiedeman, Project Director at Manhattan, and I could not have asked for a better place to begin.

Walking onto the site for the first time was a reminder of why this program matters. As a faculty member at Florida Gulf Coast University, I teach courses such as Construction Estimating, Project Planning, and our Construction Capstone. I know the theory well, but there is no substitute for standing on an active project and watching all the pieces come together in real time.

My goal is simple. I want to gather real examples, lessons, and case studies that I can bring straight into my courses, so my students graduate ready for the work that waits for them.

None of this would happen without the three partners who came together to make it possible: the AGC Education and Research Foundation, Manhattan Construction Company, and Florida Gulf Coast University. A big thank you to all of them, and to Robbie and the entire Manhattan team for welcoming me onto the project. This is going to be a great summer, and I will keep sharing updates as the residency continues.