Every project has risks. The question isn't whether something will go wrong — it's whether you'll see it coming in time to do something about it.
This month, I'm thinking about the systems that separate reactive teams from proactive ones: how you track issues before they become crises, how you build mitigation into the way you manage projects — not just the way you respond to them — and what it really means to have a clear picture of project health across your entire portfolio.
Building Connections Podcast
In our latest episode of Building Connections, Laura sits down with Andrea Rutledge, President and CEO of CMAA — the first woman to hold that role since taking over in 2017, and one of the most respected voices in construction management.
They cover Andrea's journey, her vision for where the profession is headed, and what she believes construction management professionals need to be doing right now to stay ahead. If you've ever wondered what leadership looks like in this industry at the highest level, this is the conversation.
And a note from Laura: Andrea will be retiring this summer after an incredible run leading CMAA. This episode is a chance to hear directly from someone who has shaped this profession — don't miss it.
Upcoming Webinar
COMING MAY 13TH
The Cost Visibility Gap: Why Owners Discover Overruns Too Late
Cost overruns don't appear out of nowhere. They build up — through untracked change orders, budget updates that arrive too late, and the gap between what the project team sees and what leadership has visibility into. That's not a budgeting problem. It's a risk management problem.
On May 13th at 2pm EDT, Laura Nee sits down with Rob Price, PMP — Principal and Construction Project Manager at KPFF Consulting Engineers — for a candid conversation about what's really breaking down in project financial visibility, and what a better approach looks like in practice.
If cost overruns on your program feel like they come out of nowhere, this webinar is for you.
When: May 13, 2026 | 2:00 PM EDT Where: Zoom
Resource: What Is Construction Cost Management
Managing risk on a capital project starts with knowing where you stand — on costs, on schedule, and on scope. But for owners managing multiple projects at once, that picture is rarely clear.
Our guide to construction cost management breaks down what real cost visibility looks like for owners: how to establish a baseline, track actuals against it, and build the kind of forecasting discipline that catches problems before they become overruns.
It's a practical starting point for anyone building better systems around project health monitoring.
Missed A Past Webinar? Catch Up On Demand
We've been hosting conversations with construction leaders on the challenges owners face every day — from budget control to stakeholder alignment to project delivery. All of our past webinar recordings are available to watch on your own time.
See VPO In Action
Want to see how VPO gives construction owners real-time visibility into project health — across every issue, every risk, and every project in your portfolio? Let's show you.
