This Episode

Lessons Learned from Managing an $18M Police Station Build with Paul Buckley

Published On: Apr 7, 2026 9:45:00 AM

In this Episode...

In this episode of Building Connections, Laura Nee sits down with Paul Buckley to unpack the intense story behind the Signal Hill Police Station and Emergency Operations Center. Paul shares his 6-year journey overseeing this highly complex, seismically secure facility in Southern California. From early site selection and navigating strict public contract codes to mitigating a massive crisis when the lowest-bidding contractor went bankrupt, Paul's experience is a masterclass in construction management.

What you’ll learn:

Managing strict requirements for an emergency operations center and jail -
Why ignoring a contractor's litigation history can derail your project -
How to handle mechanics liens, stop notices, and bonding companies
The critical importance of soft skills, communication, and integrity

Introducing Building Connections

Every project has a story. The wins, the challenges, and the lessons that don’t always make it into the final report once the job wraps. In each episode, we sit down with project managers and construction leaders who’ve navigated some of the industry’s most challenging builds. At VPO, we believe that sharing these real-world experiences makes all of us better at what we do.

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Picture of Laura Nee

About the Host

Laura Nee

Laura is the founder of VPO and a longtime advocate for construction project owners navigating complex capital programs. As a 28-year veteran of the construction industry, she’s seen owners repeatedly making high-stakes decisions with incomplete information and tools built primarily for contractors. She founded VPO to change that, giving owners portfolio-level visibility, proactive risk insight, and collaborative workflows.

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