The BSA’s Young Designers Professional Development Institute (YDPDI) builds the core competencies young designers need most now to improve performance, add value and increase versatility in your firm.
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Topics include Building High-Performing Teams, Managing Finances, Improving Negotiating Skills, HR Issues and Opportunities, Presentation Skills, Marketing and Business Development, Writing Skills, Legal and Ethical Issues Now, Leading Change and From Manager to Leader.
12 Insightful, Pragmatic Seminars to Accelerate Your Career Development
YDPDI enables you to:
The YDPDI program features:
“Our investment over many years in training our young staff in the BSA’s Young Designers Professional Development Institute has contributed significantly to the firm’s success. I heartily encourage any firm that is not yet investing resources in this area to do so."—Jim Collins, Senior Principal, Payette
The first 2020 YDPDI session begins January 29, 2020, and enrollment is now open. Please complete a copy of this registration form for each registrant. Scan/email to Li Lam at [email protected], or mail to YDPDI, c/o BSA, 290 Congress Street, Suite 200, Boston, MA 02210.
Download a registration form available here.
For information about program content, contact William Ronco, program director at [email protected] or 617-686-5005.
Seminars run 2:00–5:00 PM, with light supper, host organization tour, informal networking afterwards.
PLANNING YOUR BEST DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION CAREERJanuary 29, 2020William Ronco, Gathering Pace; Toni Loiacano, Cannon Design; Marc Truant, MIT
Location: Payette, Boston Our industry’s 6 career challenges and opportunities. Clarifying and fully implementing your career goals. Identifying, building on your real strengths and addressing your weaknesses.
BUILDING HIGH-PERFORMING TEAMSFebruary 11, 2020Colin Milberg, ASKM and Associates; Stavroula Birmbas, Tervacorp
Location: Columbia Construction, North Reading Anticipating, addressing predictable team problems. The wisdom of the team v. groupthink. Improving everyday meetings results and follow through. Fully, actively engaging every team member.
IMPROVING YOUR NEGOTIATIONS SKILLSFebruary 27, 2020Robert Ferguson, Esq., Hinckley Allen; Matthew Brett, Mass General Hospital
Location: Hinckley Allen, BostonRecognizing your negotiations style, strengths, weaknesses. Getting beyond Yes. “Never split the difference?” Negotiating to “win” vs. negotiating for synergy.
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS HR ISSUES, OPPORTUNITIESMarch 10, 2020Jess Smith, Bergmeyer; Shelley Kolesar, HR Consultant; Diana Hasan, CE Floyd; Kathy Freitas, Bond
Location: Bond Construction, MedfordHR knowledge young professionals must have: legal rights, boundaries, vulnerabilities. Why, when and how to ask for raise. Getting the most from your performance appraisal.
EFFECTIVE, COMFORTABLE MARKETING/BDMarch 25, 2020Jess Smith, Bergmeyer ; Shelley Kolesar, HR Consultant; Diana Hasan, CE Floyd; Kathy Freitas, Bond
Location: Elaine Construction, NewtonWhy, how to get started with marketing and BD. Getting comfortable with sales tasks. Selling without networking: alternative marketing methods and skills.
IMPROVING WRITING SKILLSApril 7, 2020William Ronco, Gathering Pace; Chris Floyd, CE Floyd
Location: Isgenuity, BostonIncreasing email skills, impact, efficiency, results. Writing reports more clearly, logically, quickly, thoughtfully. Blogs and print, chronicling projects, tasks, experiences.
LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES NOWApril 23, 2020Timothy Grobleski, Cannon Design; Charles Antone, Bldg Enclosure Science
Location: Commodore Builders, WalthamThe top 10 issues that trigger legal and ethical problems for young professionals. Liability and Risk. Negotiating a contract. What happens when you go to court.
WHAT CLIENTS REALLY WANTMay 5, 2020Maggie O’Toole, LabCentral; Jonathan Hayward, Partners Health Care; Ralph DeFlorio, Harvard University; Chris Cronin, Town of Andover
Location: LabCentral, CambridgeHow contractors and architects misunderstand, frustrate clients. What keeps clients up at night. Responding to client needs in different market sectors. How to increase client satisfaction and repeat business.
MANAGING FINANCESJune 4, 2020Scott Lerner, Consigli Construction; Mark Paronich, Delphi Construction; David Sullivan, DGC Accountants
Location: Consigli Construction, Milford, MAIncreasing project cost controls and profit. Spotting, addressing project financial problems quickly. Understanding company finances, your role and impact as a young contractor.
IMPROVING PRESENTATION SKILLSJuly 22, 2020Toni Loiacano, Cannon Design; Kathy McMahon, National Building
Location: Bond Brothers, MedfordIncreasing skills, comfort, confidence and influence. Starting with Why. Presenting more persuasively, easily. Telling a compelling story. Presenting less, discussing more. Improving Q & A for full engagement.
LEADING CHANGESeptember 23, 2020Jason Jewhurst, Bruner Cott; Siggy Pfendler, Columbia Construction ; Shawn Guertin, TG Gallagher
Location: TG Gallagher Fab Shop, AndoverBuilding Forensics. The current state of Lean. Real continuous improvement. Extreme fabrication. 7 reasons why people resist change. How, when and why to initiate change in your own role.
FROM MANAGER TO LEADEROctober 27, 2020Roger Goldstein, Goody/Clancy; Matthew Brett, Partners Health Care; Marc Truant, MIT
Location: Shepley, BostonDefining, achieving the next level in your career growth. Getting, using a 360 survey of your own effectiveness. Building both strategic and collaborative leadership competencies. Identifying and improving key leadership behaviors.
The $3,100 fee for the 12-month program is an excellent and small investment for any firm to make in its employees and in its future:
Training and development are intangible but they can produce very tangible results. Participants’ outcomes from participating in the program include:
Beyond the individual participants, it is also quite possible for sponsoring firms to benefit as organizations from participating in the program:
Young professionals encounter a skills gap several years after they begin their design career: their job responsibilities shift to include many more tasks that involve communications. YDPDI fills this gap, and more. Each monthly YDPDI seminar builds understanding and ability in young designers’ most important communications and management competencies. Participants build both essential skills and relationships with each other. YDPDI provides opportunities to explore alternative paths for professional development and insights to build a highly satisfying career.
"One of the greatest benefits of YDPDI for our firm’s participants is the opportunity to observe and learn from other firms. The architecture community can sometimes be somewhat closed. Interacting with their peers from other companies gives our employees great perspective on things we do well, as well as on things that we can do better. YDPDI also provides them with an outlet for ideas, frustrations and problem- solving in a neutral, supportive environment."—Carol Gillen, Partner, Sierra Architects
"I have heard members of the profession suggest that they would love to do more to support their young designers, but they simply do not have the resources. I think if they step back and look more holistically at their practice and the overall state of the industry, they would realize that they cannot afford not to be involved in the effort.Our investment over many years in training our young staff in the BSA’s Young Designers Professional Development Institute has contributed significantly to the firm’s success. I heartily encourage any firm that is not yet investing resources in this area to do so."—Jim Collins, Senior Principal, Payette
"When I started YDPDI I was acutely aware of the information gap at this phase in my career. I was managing projects and people without any formal management training. YDPDI helps to bridge this gap with classes focused on relevant topics within the design industry. The monthly class format and relaxed atmosphere foster an environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their experiences. As a result of this course I have become a better writer, leader and communicator. Most importantly, I have noticed the positive impact of these improved skills in my career. This course is an excellent resource for young designers looking to move forward in their career."—Jen Taylor, Senior Designer / Manager, Stantec
"My favorite part of YDPDI was having a forum in which to meet colleagues in the engineering and construction industries. Open, friendly communication between the parties that comprise the AEC industry is key to successful building, and YDPDI sets the stage for just that. Bill thoughtfully organized our sessions, fostering meaningful dialogue between industries and mutual understanding of our various points of view. One example of this was using the Myers-Briggs test as a lens through which to understand our own leadership styles. Working with the contractors and engineers, we learned how to adapt our own leadership styles to different situations. This helped us analyze how our unique skills and qualities as leaders influence teamwork and the overall communication process. In addition to learning about the interpersonal skills associated with leadership, we studied financial management, negotiation and IDP. By pushing us to work through personal and work-related challenges, YDPDI strengthened our effectiveness as leaders."—Jenny Ratner, Architect, Safdie Architects
Describing her personal learning experience, recent YDPDI participant Aminah McNulty, a landscape architect, wrote an excellent blog. Some excerpts:
From the What Clients Really Want session:
“Our instructors Kim Plummer, Partners Health Care/MGH; Emma Corbalan, MIT; Chris Cronin, Town of Andover; and Ralph DeFlorio, Harvard University spanned a range of experiences. This session revolved around targeted questions to probe into the minds of these clients and hear their genuine account of the receiving end of A/E/C services.
From the Improving Writing Skills session:
“I found this session incredibly empowering. This summer, I was asked to create a webinar for a local organization. Countless hours of perfectionism, procrastination and self - sabotage were swept off the table as I was able to draft an outline in ten minutes.”
From the Improving Negotiating Skills session:
“My key takeaways are: listen, find shared goals, understand the other side, know your facts, admit fault and reach a common ground. These tools will no doubt prove useful and effective as I hone my skills as a mediator, persuader and negotiator.”
Here is a link to the complete blog, which also includes terrific pictures: gatheringpace.com
President of Gathering Pace, Inc., William Ronco founded YDPDI 17 years ago. He directs the program, collaborating with the Boston Society for Architecture. Dr. Ronco also founded and directs the Young Contractors Professional Institute in collaboration with the Massachusetts Associated General Contractors. Dr. Ronco consults on strategy, leadership and partnering with design, engineering, owner/client, construction, and biotech and science organizations.
He is author of The Partnering Solution (Career Press) and Partnering Manual For Design and Construction (McGraw-Hill). A former professor in Northeastern University’s MBA program, Dr. Ronco earned his B.A. at Rutgers University, his Ed.M. at Harvard and his Ph.D. at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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