Schedule Control for Owners

Almost every scheduling course teaches contractors how to build a construction schedule. Almost none of them teach construction owners what to require for that schedule. And that's exactly how delay claims, extension-of-time disputes, and acceleration costs are born.

This half-day course is just for owners and owners’ representatives. You’ll leave knowing what to mandate in your contracts, how to review and accept (or reject) a contractor’s baseline, how to catch slippage before it becomes a claim, and how to tie payment to schedule compliance.

Beth Anderson

Beth has spent 28 years training and consulting on Primavera P6 scheduling. She’s a co-creator of VPO, and has been our resident scheduling expert since 1999. As part of our company, which got its start in 1984 as one of the first Primavera resellers, she’s helped owners across manufacturing and industrial, public infrastructure, higher education, and healthcare to define the processes that keep their projects on track. For us, scheduling isn’t a side offering. It’s our roots. And Beth has been here for all of it.

Mike McGreal, CCM

Mike McGreal, CCM, is the Director of Construction Services at Quality Engineering Solutions (QES) and has more than 18 years of experience in water and wastewater infrastructure, roadway and bridge construction, underground utilities, and heavy civil construction. A Certified Construction Manager, Mike has worked from the contractor, public-agency, and consulting sides of project delivery, bringing a well-rounded perspective to construction management and field operations. His expertise spans project controls, schedule and constructability reviews, change management, and quality assurance. Most notably, Mike supports major capital improvement projects involving critical wastewater conveyance infrastructure. His practical field experience and collaborative approach help project teams anticipate challenges, maintain clear communication, and deliver complex construction projects safely and efficiently.

Who is this course for?

Construction owners and owners’ representatives, in both the public and private sectors, who want more control over their project schedules. It’s built especially for owners who don’t have a construction manager, or solid in-house scheduling expertise to lean on. No scheduling background is assumed.

I'm not a scheduler. Is this too advanced for me?

Not at all. We assume you’re starting from zero. You won’t learn how to build a schedule. You’ll learn what to require of your contractor’s schedule and what to look for when you review it. All delivered in plain, owner-focused language.

How is this different from other scheduling courses?

Almost every scheduling course teaches contractors how to build a schedule. Almost none of them teach owners what to require of that schedule. That gap is exactly where delay claims, extension-of-time disputes, and acceleration costs are born. This course is built entirely for the owner’s side of the table.

What will I walk away with?

A clear command of five things:

1. what to put in your scheduling specifications

2. how to review and accept (or reject) a contractor’s baseline

3. how to spot slippage before it becomes a claim

4. how to handle delay and change

5. how to tie payment to schedule compliance

You’ll also leave with an owner’s scheduling-specification checklist that you can adapt and use on your very next contract.

Who teaches it?

Two instructors who’ve lived both sides of this. Beth Anderson has spent 28 years training and consulting on Primavera P6 scheduling and is a co-creator of VPO. Mike McGreal is a Certified Construction Manager with 18+ years in the field, across project controls, schedule and constructability reviews, and change management.

One shows you how it’s supposed to work; the other shows you what actually happens on the jobsite. It's three hours of senior construction-management expertise that most owners only get by paying consulting rates.

Is this a sales pitch for VPO's software?

No. It’s vendor-neutral guidance that you can apply no matter what tools you use. You won’t need any particular software to put what you learn into practice. Think of it as a chance to get to know our team’s expertise, not a product demo.

What's the format, and how interactive is it?

It’s live and online via Microsoft Teams. A working session, not a lecture. Seats are limited, so there’s room for real discussion, questions, and hands-on “what’s wrong with this schedule?” exercises. Plan for about three hours.

What does it cost, and are there team rates?

An individual seat is $795. If you’re sending a group, a Team of 3 is $1,995 and a Team of 5 is $2,995; for 10 or more, contact us for a department or firm rate. Owners often send a few people who all touch the schedule.

Do I get a certificate, and is it recorded?

Yes, and yes. You’ll receive a certificate of completion worth roughly three professional development hours, and every registrant gets the session's recording. Seats are also transferable, so a colleague can attend or watch in your place.

Will I get contract language I can actually use?

You’ll leave with a scheduling-specification checklist that you can adapt for your own contracts. Practical, real-world guidance drawn from decades of experience. It isn’t legal advice, so your counsel should still review your final contract language.

How could this really save us money?

When a job slips, your only protection is what’s written in your contract. Without the right schedule requirements--like milestones, baseline rules, and notice provisions--you have very little leverage for recovering time or pushing back on a claim. Getting those requirements right up front is what prevents the delay and acceleration costs that dwarf the price of a seat.

When is it, and when does registration close?

The course runs live on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET. Registration closes Friday, October 16. Because seats are limited, we recommend reserving early.