NASFM's Fourth Project Management Seminar
"Back to Basics"
Hilton Suites Downtown
Nashville, TN
December 2–5, 2001

Event Schedule

Sunday, Dec. 2
5:00–6:30 P.M. Registration
6:30–8:00 P.M. Welcome Cocktail Reception
Monday, Dec. 3
7:00–8:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast & Registration
8:00–8:15 A.M. Welcome & Introductions
By Marc Sagrillo, President, Design Fabricators, and Chairman of NASFM's Project Management Committee
8:15–9:45 A.M. Keynote: "Did I Just Commit to That?"
Speaker: Kathi Becker, consultant, PLB Ventures
This session will address the intricacies of the verbal contract, teach you how to manage commitments to achieve successful project completion, and demonstrate ways to get the right action at the right time from others.
9:45–10:00 A.M.

Break
Sponsored by Bob Silverman Professional Search
10:00 A.M.–12:15 P.M. Discovery: Birth of a Project
Speakers: Marc Sagrillo, Design Fabricators; and Kathi Becker, PLB Ventures
Work begins on a real-world store fixture project that you'll complete in small groups over the course of the seminar.
12:15–1:30 P.M.

Lunch
1:30–3:15 P.M. Resolving Ambiguities
Speaker: Kathi Becker , PLB Ventures
As you review the lists of questions each group has developed relating to the project, you'll discuss methods of clarifying customers' instructions and learn how to uncover obstacles to the project's progress and timeline constraints through clever questioning.
3:15–3:30 P.M.

Break

3:30–5:00 P.M. The Project Kickoff: Go Team Go!
Speaker: James Gram, Marvel
Topics will include: budgeting; supplier selection and criteria; documenting communication; selecting team members; and keeping the focus on the customer.
5:00–7:00 P.M. Cocktail Reception
Sponsored by Saturn Transportation Systems, Inc.
Tuesday, Dec. 4
7:00–8:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:00–9:30 A.M. Timeline Development - Basic to Advanced
Speaker: Paul Saunders, Saunders Systems
Learn how to identify and chart the tasks and milestones critical to a project's success. This session will address methods of charting projects manually and with project management software packages.
9:30–9:45 A.M.

Break
Sponsored by Bob Silverman Professional Search
9:45 A.M.–Noon Enlisting Commitments
Speaker: Kathi Becker, PLB Ventures
How to get the commitments you need from your customer, your vendors, and your team.
12:00–1:00 P.M.

Lunch
1:00–3:00 P.M. Follow-up, Control, and Utilizing the Chain of Command
Panel: James Brewer, Design Fabricators; Jim Englund, Advanced Millwork; and Andy Miller, Design Fabricators
A panel of senior project managers, facilitated by Kathi Becker, will discuss the list of action items in the seminar group project and note how activities affect the rest of the project, ways to avoid procrastination, and simple methods for documenting progress, results, and follow-up. The panel will also examine the benefits of high visibility on a project and on the individuals responsible for each action item, examples of positive and negative reinforcement, methods of correcting problems and poor performance, ensuring accountability, and other reasons for thorough and organized documentation.
3:00–3:15 P.M.

Break
Sponsored by Elderlite Express Inc.

3:15–5:00 P.M. Solving Your Problems: Open Forum Discussion
Panel: Marc Sagrillo, Design Fabricators; James Brewer, Design Fabricators; Jim Englund, Advanced Millwork; Andy Miller, Design Fabricators; James Gram, Marvel; and Micheal London, Fixture Perfect International
Bring your questions and problems to this open discussion led by a panel of senior project managers and facilitated by Kathi Becker.
5:00–7:00 P.M. Cocktail Reception
Open Networking Evening
Wednesday, Dec. 5
7:00–8:00 A.M. Continental Breakfast
8:00–10:15 A.M. Closing the Loop
Speakers: Mary Ghiloni, Astral Carrier Inc.; Micheal London, Fixture Perfect International; Orlando Uriarte, Allstate Installations; and Loretta Reed, American Express Tax & Business Services Inc.
Four experts, one each from the areas of shipping, punchlists, installation, and "getting paid," will tell you key elements (including their secrets) to manage for success. You'll leave with the tools, tips, and tricks that will help you wrap up the loose ends of a project and prepare for the next one.
10:15–10:30 A.M.

Break
Sponsored by Elderlite Express Inc.

10:30–11:30 A.M.

Project Aloha means Goodbye and Hello
Panel: Marc Sagrillo, Design Fabricators; James Gram, Marvel; James Brewer, Design Fabricators; Micheal London, Fixture Perfect International; Orlando Uriarte, Allstate Installations; and Loretta Reed, American Express Tax & Business Services Inc.
A follow-up meeting can mend fences, strengthen the team, and identify areas for improvement on the next project. Learn how the six members of this panel make every project more successful than the last.
11:30 A.M.

Adjourn
3595 Sheridan St., Suite 200, Hollywood, FL 33021
954-893-7300 Fax 954-893-7500
nasfm@retailenvironments.org