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Thursday, September 02, 2010 ..:: Membership:Benefits/JOIN » Reporter Training ::.. Register  Login

 

 

 

Reporter Training
2010
 
 
 
 
 
As you know IBEE has a contract with Brenda Romano to provide these programs for our members.
 

 
November   - San Antonio- Reporter Training Summit hosted by Brenda at VBX
 
Registration information is coming.
 
 

 

OUR INSTRUCTOR
Brenda L. Romano, Chief Operating Officer of Virtual Builders Exchange,
San Antonio, is a seasoned veteran of construction reporting, including pre-bid, out-for-bid and post-bid reporting. 

 

 

 

She began career in the construction industry over 28 years ago as an Architectural Reporter for the Construction Association of Michigan (CAM).  

 

In 1983, she helped launch Construction Marketing Research, a new weekly Pre-Bid publication, developing marketing strategies and contacts

 

with sources such as owners, developers, realtors, economic development groups, and design professionals. 

 

 

 

In 1984, Romano was named Managing Editor of CAM's Construction Project Information Group, overseeing planning and developing editorial

 

content for two daily construction bidding publications, and one weekly pre-bid publication, both with state-wide circulation; and managing a staff of ten. 

 

 

 

Romano left CAM in 2001 to form Maverick Communications, a consulting firm that provides management services to non-profit and not-for-profit trade associations. 

 

 

Maverick Communications provided management and training services to IBEE from 2002 until April 2009.

 

 

In June 2009 the BXNetwork  Board of Directors hired Romano to provide reporter training to members via an affinity program arrangement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL REPORTER TRAINING

 

 

PROGRAM OUTLINE

 

Getting Organized:

 

v      Evaluating your processes: the “Baling Hay” syndrome

v      Building a work plan

v      Setting personal & team goals

v      Organizing your day

v      Using the Daily Call System

v      Tracking projects

 

Reporting Basics:

 

Five “RULES” of Reporting

 

Rule #1 –The Golden Rule – He Who Has the Gold Rules

What purpose does the Exchange serve?  The owner as a source; information is power; the principle of indispensability; getting to the top of the information chain.

 

Rule #2 - Speak the Language

A primer on basic construction terminology. Including the design, bid process, and contract award process.

 

v      Part I.  Public vs. private work; the owner decision-making process, financing, selecting an architect and/or engineer, and commissioning the work

v      Part II.  Design process, including feasibility study, conceptual design, preliminary plans, working drawings, and contract documents.

v      Part III.  Bid process, including the estimating process, competitive/open bidding, pre-qualified bidding, invitational bidding, negotiated bidding, reverse auctions/on-line bidding.

v      Part IV.   Contractor selection, including differences between general contractors and construction managers, prime bidders, subcontractors and suppliers; evaluating apparent lows, and making the contract award.

v      Part V.  Mock bidding exercise.

 

 

Rule #3 – People are Sources – Not Firms

Establishing networks; forming relationships vs. gathering information; who’s in charge? Calling techniques, i.e. the perils of cold calls; “flipping” the call; the “secretary god”; by-passing technology – the voice mail trap; reading ego styles; peer-to-peer calling strategies/never say “Mr.”; asking the right questions; streamline the calling and data entry process; sources as teachers.

 

Rule #4 – Leads Let You Lead

Reporting on pre-bid.  Using your mental powers – killing the “Stepford Wife”; 3 people and a secret; there’s gold in your database; drowning in pre-bid – how to stay afloat. Where are the leads? Managing newspaper clipping and government documents, understanding the base clientele of architects and contractors, industry events, bidders as a resource.

 

Rule #5 – Verify and Defend

Reporters as professionals - gathering news vs. processing data; know the competition; establishing and maintaining standards; responsibility for accuracy; the “notes” field.

 

 

 

 

REPORTER TRAINING

Registration Fees

 

 

STANDARD SESSIONS: (Training based upon general outline)

 

 

One-Day Session - [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 8 hours of instruction, written evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive and follow-up.

Course Content:  Covers Getting Organized, plus Rule #2 and #3 of the “Rules of Reporting”.

 

Two-Day Session - [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 16 hours of instruction, written follow-up evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive and follow-up.         

Course Content:  Covers Getting Organized, plus all five “Rules of Reporting”.

 

Weekly Session = [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 40 hours of on-site instruction and problem-solving, written evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive, and follow-up.  

 

Course Content:  Covers Getting Organized, all five “Rules of Reporting” and on-site implementation of the techniques. 

 

 

CUSTOMIZED SESSIONS: (Training adapted to needs of individual Exchange)

 

Half-Day Session  - [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 4 hours of customized instruction, written follow-up evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive, and follow-up.                    

 

One-Day Session - [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 8 hours of customized instruction, written follow-up evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive, and follow-up.        

 

Two-Day Session - [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 16 hours of customized instruction and problem-solving, written follow-up evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive and follow-up.       

 

Weekly Session = [*please see below]

Includes travel time to and from location, preparation, 40 hours of on-site instruction and problem-solving, written follow-up evaluation and recommendations for Exchange Executive and follow-up.           

 

*Airfare, hotel accommodations & meals not included. Please contact BXNetwork for more information-  edwalsh@bxnetwork.org or call 203-671-7372.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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