Clark’s Strategic Partnership Program (SPP) – An Experiential Learning

• Ronnie Gor

I am pleased to say I recently completed the prestigious Clark Construction Strategic Partnership program. Designed for small businesses in the AEC industry (architecture, engineering, and construction) across 10 U.S. states, this program aims to equip businesses with the tools to compete successfully on large-scale construction projects. Each year, around 40 diverse businesses are selected through a competitive application process to join a 9-month curriculum. This includes lectures, discussions, and assignments in a classroom setting. As a member of the 2024 Los Angeles cohort, my goal was to enhance my knowledge in finance and accounting, insurance and bonding, project management, contract review, estimating and purchasing, and other technical and soft skills. The program provided invaluable insights and expertise from industry leaders.

With a commitment to learning and maximizing our time for personal and professional growth, we dedicated ourselves to the program, often enduring a 2-3 hour drive on Tuesdays, with some classes held online. We spent about 3 hours each session listening to speakers discuss carefully selected topics. Over the 9-month course, we transformed into a close-knit family, sharing dinners, mingling, forming relationships, and feeling the absence of anyone who couldn’t attend. The classroom environment was engaging, joyful, and inquisitive, enriched by each participant’s unique expertise, experiences, and enthusiasm.

The building blocks of the program allowed for us to develop an understanding of the foundational elements critical to construction success. They include:

• Accounting and Financing: The cornerstone of any profitable business, ensuring financial stability and growth.
• Bonding and Insurance: A layer of protection and trust, crucial for securing contractual agreements.
• Drawings and Specs: The blueprint of a construction project, detailing every essential component.
• Contracts Review: Defining expectations and responsibilities between parties in a clear, agreed-upon format.
• Estimating: Calculating the costs involved in bringing complex building systems to life, ensuring budget adherence.
• Scheduling: Mapping out the project timeline to ensure everyone follows the rules and stays on track.
• Project Management Fundamentals: Coordinating the right elements, as per the drawings and specs, to achieve the desired outcome on time.
• Safety: The essential language of the construction industry, protecting workers from hazards and ensuring a secure work environment.
• Presentation Skills: Crafting a compelling narrative by effectively connecting written information.
• Capstone Project: Fostering teamwork and collaboration through a comprehensive, hypothetical construction project.

Our Team

Our team name, Adaptive Solutions, was chosen with careful consideration to reflect our flexibility and resilience. Firstly, post-COVID, we’ve all had to adapt to various situations. Secondly, as a team, we are committed to adapting to Clark’s contracts seamlessly. Lastly, as a company, we excel in quickly adjusting to different scenarios and stepping into various roles when needed.

The following are quotes from each of my teammates right after our presentation to the Clark executive team:

• Michael Anant: “I am grateful & honored to have had the opportunity to team up with you over the past several weeks on this project – what an experience! I feel as though we absolutely crushed it tonight! Thank you again for all your hard work, time, commitment & efforts on this project. I am so proud of our team. I’m going to miss you all.”
• James Escudaro: “I know we will all stay in touch and should definitely work on a few (real) bids together. What a team we all make!  Let’s all get together and implement a plan to start making bids.”
• Karen Martinez: “Thank you, it was a wonderful experience. I learned so much…Hopefully we can work together on a future project, we are a great team!”
• Lamont Hollins: “This capstone project has truly been one of the most fulfilling experiences in my academic journey…what sets this group apart is our mutual respect for each other’s opinions, a cornerstone of effective teamwork. I’m immensely proud of the dedication each of you has shown in crafting our presentation to excellence.”

I am thrilled about the work our team did together, and pleased to say that Adaptive Solutions won the Capstone project. Our dedication showed through our well-designed oral and visual presentation, which highlighted our hard work, perseverance, teamwork, and mutual respect. As Michelle Quirante, our excellent SPP coordinator, remarked, “Our team functioned as if we knew each other for several years. Our project considered all the important points needed to win a bid.”

Ending on a high note, Stephen, a senior executive from Clark, commended us during our graduation: “Congratulations to all for your perseverance and for completing the program! You all have day jobs and sacrificed time away from your lives to drive and attend these classes. Hopefully, it was beneficial and can make you even more successful in your careers. Please thank your partners, children, pets, etc., for supporting you through this program.”

In my final thoughts, I want to express my deep gratitude to Clark for their unwavering support of this program. It has provided me with an invaluable experience that words cannot fully describe. I would also like to extend my appreciation to all 40 participating businesses for their engagement and for keeping us challenged and inspired. I look forward to the SPP Encore programming events, networking with fellow participants, the Clark team, and much more.

As a woman in today’s workforce, this experience has reinforced the importance of willpower and strength in pursuing and maintaining success. By repeatedly seeking and holding the light, I hope to inspire other women in the workforce. We all deserve a respectful and fulfilling life. Thank you.