Art Alert: ArtsWestchester calls for Proposals

ArtsWestchester and the Thruway Authority are collaborating and seek proposals from professional artists and artist collectives in New York State to create bicycle racks for the new bridge’s landings and a mural for the underpass on the Rockland County landing.

Deadline for bicycle rack proposals is August 18. Projects/commissions must be completed and ready to install by October 22.

Deadline for mural proposals is September 13. Up to five finalists will be notified two weeks later; the winning mural will be installed by April 2020.

Here’s an opportunity to leave your artistic footprint on the bridge project!

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2019

ArtsWestchester Gala celebrates Bridge Project

At sunset, enhanced by aesthetic lighting/Photo: Kevin P. Coughlin/State of New York

Last Saturday, ArtsWestchester‘s gala 2017 fundraiser celebrated the new bridge as a work of art, honoring project director Jamey Barbas, P.E., and Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC).

Honorees and appreciation award recipients: public outreach coordinator Andrew P. O’Rourke, Jr., project director Jamey Barbas, P.E., TZC president Terry Towle and Business Council of Westchester president and CEO Dr. Marsha Gordon/Photo: Leslye Smith

Appreciation awards were given to Business Council of Westchester president and CEO Dr. Marsha Gordon and public outreach coordinator Andrew P. O’Rourke, Jr.

Arts in the region “brings us closer to our neighbors on the other side of the bridge,” ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam said three summers earlier.

ArtsWestchester CEO Janet Langsam at gala honoring bridge project/Photo: Leslye Smith

The nonprofit was one of four groups collaborating on the 2014 Bridge Art Show that linked the project to creative populations in Nyack and Tarrytown. “It’s symbolic of connections and metaphorically working together.”

Congratulations to those who were recognized as we follow this exciting project.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2017

Protecting, Defending – Learning about the NNYB

CAP members meet with project officials/NNYB Outreach

Last month Civil Air Patrol members got a first-hand look at the New NY Bridge project when Maj. Joseph E. Wooley’s squad and group commanders from Catskill Mountain (from Rockland County to Sullivan County) and New York City converged in Westchester.

An auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, CAP falls under the Department of Defense; its primary mission areas are are emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs. During Hurricane Sandy, CAP took pictures for FEMA, which the agency used for its purpose.

Last September Wooley assumed command of the New York Wing’s South Eastern Group at the Westchester County Airport. Headquartered at Westchester County Airport, the group is comprised of eight squadrons encompassing Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties.

“We were formed in 1941, one week before Pearl Harbor, because they realized many of the people flying airplanes would be flying them overseas and realized they’d have an issue with guarding the (United States) coast,” he explained, adding, “members flew their own planes then.”

CAP’s aerospace education mission is to make presentations to schools and civic organizations. Its cadet program is for ages 12 to 18 years old; some remain until age 21, and many become senior members while in college.

One of its milestones is when cadets become officers and receive the Mitchell Award. “It’s akin to the Boy Scouts’ Eagle Scouts Awards. We’ve also had several Spaatz cadets here,” Wooley explained, referring to the General Carl ‘Tooey’ Spaatz Award that must be presented by either a member of congress or a flag officer.

In December, Speaker of the House John Boehner presented the Congressional Gold Medal to CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Joe Vazquez and former U.S. Rep. Lester Wolff, who served in CAP’s New York Wing during the war.

“We had a lot of questions about the project,” Wooley said. “It always amazes me when a public works project is brought in on time, and they’re a little bit ahead of where they anticipated.”

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2015

PMIW Members Learn Communication is Integral to Managing and Delivering the NNYB Project

Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson speaks
to PMI Westchester members in Mt. Kisco/NNYB Outreach

“This is the largest project in the country, and all our members at one time or another use the bridge,” PMI Westchester (PMIW) member Peter Roggemann said. “This was something we’d all find worthwhile.”

Roggemann, a former treasurer of PMIW, volunteers as an Event Coordinator and is responsible for recruiting the speakers

Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson was keynote speaker for the group’s 5th Annual Professional Development Day (PDD). Held last April 4, the program featured eight presentations around the theme “The Twenty-First Century Project Manager: Delivering Stakeholder Value.”

“Many struggle with delivering a successful quality project safely, on or ahead of schedule and on budget — but it can be done. It will take a collaborative effort working with the design-build team from design refinement through detailed engineering until the final stages of construction.” — Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson

The chapter has almost 600 members from Westchester and Rockland, and is part of of Project Management Institute, the world’s largest not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PMI has more than 200,000 members in 150 countries worldwide.

“We also have 10 monthly chapter meetings with a speaker relating to some aspect of project management,” Roggemann said. “It can be about technical tools, templates for project metrics, leadership, communication, or defining project goals and outcomes,” he said.

PMI West. members and keynote speaker/NNYB Outreach

PMI Westchester’s Job Club meets meet at the Westchester Campus of Fordham University meets bi-weekly; this week features a demonstration on the latest version of LinkedIn 3.0.

““We offer two educational programs for people preparing for project management certification. One offers in-depth technical reviews of the Project Management Book of Knowledge (The PMBOK® Guide), which details the standards created by PMI,” Roggemann explained. “The next course begins April 11 and meets for five full session Saturdays on Iona College’s campus. The next study group begins March 24 and meets for six Mondays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30. p.m.”

In the Study Group members take practice questions in preparation for the Professional Project Manager exam , and the leader discusses their answers. A monthly member-led breakfast roundtable focuses on topics that include “tools people are using, and how they’re using project tools,” he said.

“It is always a pleasure to meet with local professional organizations like Project Management Institute. These gatherings allow us to connect with other construction managers who deal with similar issues on their projects, share ideas, and explain the dynamics of running a complex mega-project like the New NY Bridge.” — Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson

“I was very impressed with the presentation and the process put in place to communicate with stakeholders,” Roggemann said. That the design build team is in the same building “was to us an impressive way to make sure everyone is on the same page so there’s no waiting time for someone to get back with answers.”

The theme for PMIW’s 6th Annual PDD on March 28 is “The Entrepreneurial Project Manager.” For specifics, click here.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2015

For PMI NYC Members, Fascinating Insight into Delivering and Managing the NNYB Project

Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson talks about delivering the state’s mega project/NNYB Outreach

While New York City’s streets buzzed with pre-holiday excitement, another energy filled the room where a prominent speaker discussed a $3.9 billion project less than an hour away.

To say Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson’s presentation was riveting would be an understatement.

“Our members were so engaged,” PMI New York City (PMI NYC) Program Manager Holly Ripley said of the more than 200 attendees. “His presentation was rich with data and easy to follow.”

“It is always a pleasure to meet with local professional organizations like Project Management Institute. These gatherings allow us to connect with other construction managers who deal with similar issues on their projects, share ideas, and explain the dynamics of running a complex mega-project like the New NY Bridge.” — Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson

The topic was also timely: Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) soon begins its third year on the clock, Governor Cuomo recently announced new appointments, and three top executives at the Thruway resigned within weeks.

“We try to bring in a speaker to talk on a mega project,” Ripley said of the annual meetings, which are larger than chapter meetings. “The previous year we had someone from Jones Lang LaSalle talking about the Empire State Building, and the year before that we had MTA Capital Construction talking about the Second Avenue Subway.”

Her takeaway was learning the bridge would be decommissioned when the new bridge opens, and realizing the incredible amount of work involved.

Members of PMI NYC with keynote speaker/NNYB Outreach

“We didn’t see much of the infrastructure early on, and now we’re seeing pillars in the water,” she said. “With a building it’s different because you can see the construction, and the progress is more apparent.”

Another discovery was the methodology: the bridge is scientifically planned and executed to provide support and modern structure. “That was a bit of news, too,” she said, “and learning about the political drivers was interesting for our members.”

Chapter members who attend meetings are professionals in their own industries, and hearing about project management for the bridge “was a whole new world for many of us,” Ripley said. “He (Sanderson) offered us a view of the complexity of a project that will be used by millions of people.”

“Many struggle with delivering a successful quality project safely, on or ahead of schedule and on budget — but it can be done. It will take a collaborative effort working with the design-build team from design refinement through detailed engineering until the final stages of construction.” — Thruway Authority Project Director Peter Sanderson

More than six years after joining the chapter Ripley — Director, Project Management – Worldwide for Omnicom Media Group — will become PMI NYC’s president next January. In 2013, she attended the international convention in Turkey, and this year she’ll head to its Global Congress in London.

Peter Sanderson chats w/PMI NYC member/NNYB Outreach

“Annual regional and international conferences help members within chapters to network and collaborate with one another to gain critical information,” she said. “It’s important to have a network of professionals within your field, especially when you’re seeking certifications.”

They include PMP (Project Management Professional)®, PgMP (Program Management Professional)® and CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management). Members who are working toward certification are encouraged to participate in the chapter’s study groups.

“The most well-known (credential) is Project Management Professional (which demonstrates that someone has the experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects),” she said. “It means you understand how projects are delivered and managed locally and internationally.”

Nearly 3,000 strong, PMI NYC is part of Project Management Institute, the world’s largest not-for-profit membership association for the project management profession. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Philadelphia, PMI has more than 200,000 members in 150 countries worldwide.

I’d like to know what you think.

Copyright © Janie Rosman and Kaleidoscope Eyes 2015