Upcoming Program Events
Network Sessions
Throughout the program year, a variety of networking events will be held to encourage relationship building amongst BCDP participants, MMSD staff, and other District vendors.
Network Session 3c: CEO Roundtable
3c, Thursday October 26, 2023 | 09:00 AM to 010:00 AM
This will be a 4-part CEO roundtable discussion tailored to discuss topics that may include company structure, talent acquisition, financials, software, project development, insurance, succession planning, inconsistent workflow, and other aspects of being a business owner. The first three sessions will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. The last session will be an in-person networking event held at a local destination including breakfast for participants.
Veolia Water Milwaukee (VWM) 11th annual Supplier Diversity Symposium
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | 07:30 AM to 012:00 PM
Veolia Water Milwaukee (VWM) is holding its eleventh annual Supplier Diversity Symposium with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and the North Central Minority Supplier Development Council. The VWM/MMSD Supplier Diversity Symposium will be at Veolia Water Milwaukee LLC, 700 East Jones Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207.
Network Session 3d: CEO Roundtable
3d, Thursday November 16, 2023 | 07:00 AM to 08:30 AM (In Person Breakfast)
This will be a 4-part CEO roundtable discussion tailored to discuss topics that may include company structure, talent acquisition, financials, software, project development, insurance, succession planning, inconsistent workflow, and other aspects of being a business owner. The first three sessions will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. The last session will be an in-person networking event held at a local destination including breakfast for participants.
Past Program Events
CONTRACTOR FOCUS CURRICULUM
The construction management series is geared toward contractors or consultants wishing to hone their skills in estimating, bidding, and project management. The construction management series is taught by Tim Poehnelt, P.E., owner and director of Nugen Companies, LLC. Mr. Poehnelt has 20 years of experience in the heavy civil construction industry and an extensive background in project management, estimating, and business development.
Contractor Seminar 1: Contract Opportunities with MMSD
Thursday, February 23, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
New to the 2023 BCDP, this seminar will marry MMSD core responsibilities of wastewater treatment, flood management, green infrastructure, and water quality with the project opportunities in these categories. This seminar will be designed for participants to gain a foundation of knowledge as it relates to MMSD with hopes of drawing a larger contractor interest in those projects. The development of this seminar will include spending time with MMSD personnel to make sure it is closely aligned with MMSD’s vision and mission.
Contractor Seminar 2: Estimating Foundations
Thursday, March 9, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
This seminar will consolidate the best parts of our previous estimating seminars “Before you Bid” and “Estimating Fundamentals”. Topics will include how to budget for insurance, labor, equipment, materials, and subcontractors. Furthermore, we will discuss the difference of margin and markup when budgeting for overhead, profit, and bond fees. If you are using a spreadsheet or estimate software, the fundamentals taught in this seminar are essential to building a reliable estimate.
“The explanations are very clear. Various processes presented if used will help contractors be more successful. The seminar is surely of tremendous value to newer firms with less project experience.”
2022 BCDP Participant
Contractor Seminar 3: Preparing a Bid from Start to Finish
Thursday, March 23, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
This seminar focuses on the task and timeline needed to assemble a bid as a prime contractor and subcontractor. The seminar includes a step-by-step walkthrough of how to estimate a project.
Contractor Seminar 4: Operations & Management
Thursday, April 6, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
This seminar will consolidate our previous seminar “Project Planning” with “Executions and Closeout”. The seminar will be structured to immerse the user in what it is like to be either a general contractor or subcontractor on an MMSD project through the planning, execution, and closeout phases of a project.
Contractor Seminar 5: Documentation, Risk Prevention, and Small Business Tools
Thursday, April 27, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
This seminar will consolidate the best parts of our previous operation seminars “Document Control & Risk Prevention” and “Structuring a Small Business for Success”. This seminar focuses on identifying and preventing risk as it relates to each individual cost category of labor, equipment, material, and subcontractors. Additionally, we will look at some of the available software tools that allow us to properly document and track our projects.
Contractor Seminar 6: Data Workflow for the Small Business
Thursday, May 11, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
New to the 2023 BCDP, this seminar will look specifically at the workflow of using low-cost solutions towards employee time reporting, ability for QuickBooks to perform job/ activity costing, and data analysis tools such as power bi. Topics taught in this seminar are something every construction business needs, but few achieve at an efficient level. This seminar will look at possible solutions that small businesses can perform and afford.
“Honestly, I can’t think of anything to improve. Tim does a great job going through the information.”
2020 BCDP Participant
CONSULTANT FOCUS CURRICULUM
The consultant management series is led and/or hosted by Carrie Bristoll-Groll, PE, ENV SP, Principal Civil Engineer and CEO of Stormwater Solutions Engineering, LLC (SSE). Carrie has nearly 30 years of experience in civil engineering, 20 of which have been as the owner of SSE, a certified Small- and Woman-owned Business. Carrie was also a student of the MMSD Business Capacity Development Program training sessions in the early years of her firm.
For the 2023 Program, the curriculum will be geared to winning work with MMSD. Carrie will prepare sessions on topics that SSE as a company has focused on to advance the business and focus on core aspects. These topics will be held in 6 sessions that are consultant specific, but the beauty of combining the contractor/consultant program will allow more cross-marketing and connection. Topics will include:
Consultant Seminar 1: Contracting opportunities with MMSD
Thursday, March 15, 2023 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Following up from the 2023 Annual Consultant Meeting (scheduled for February 9, 2023), this seminar will introduce new consultants to the project opportunities that may arise in 2023. Using the Annual Consultant Contract list and the Proposed O&M and Capital Budgets report, we will walk through the documents with an eye toward the audience on what projects they might be interested in pursuing in 2023. Featuring guest speaker MMSD Engineering Design Manager Kevin Lyons.
Consultant Seminar 2, Proposal Development Part 1. Team Development
Thursday, March 30, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Just like baking a great batch of cookies, sometimes the winning recipe is in the right combination of ingredients. We will review an RFP along with SSE’s “go/no-go” form to determine when additional resources are needed, how to find and develop relationships with the additional resources, and assemble a winning team.
Consultant Seminar 3: Marketing your Services
Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Going beyond the typical Marketing course, we will speak specifically on how to get in front of your future client, whether MMSD or as a subconsultant to a larger firm. We will discuss successful practices on how to reach the clients, what to offer, and how to secure long-term relationships. Our panel will include invited prime firm consultants, subconsultants, and an MMSD Project Manager.
Consultant Seminar 4: Project Safety and Risk Management on MMSD Projects
Thursday, April 20, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Participants will be provided with an overview and links to the various MMSD safety courses available (training/mmsd.com, PPII Training, etc.) by MMSD Safety Advisor Allyson Weiss. We will have a conversation with MMSD Risk Manager Philip Reimer to discuss risks and insurance requirements for various types of consultant/professional services projects. We will also hear from a general liability and professional liability insurance provider on coverage that is needed and ways to reduce risk and premium costs.
Consultant Seminar 5, Proposal Development Part 2. Resume and Representative Project Examples
Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
MMSD proposals require resumes and previous project examples that demonstrate a firm’s ability to perform the services based upon past history. We will walk through a Request for Proposal (RFP) looking specifically at what the RFP requests for experience and project background, and then build a resume and project example template based upon the desired experience.
Consultant Seminar 6, Proposal Development Part 3. Putting it all Together
Thursday, May 18, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Our last session on Proposal Development will look at the whole package. Pulling teams and documents together from Parts 1 and 2, we’ll assemble a document that can demonstrate to the review panel that your team has what it takes to perform the services.
Network Session 1: Contractor/ Consultant Panel Discussion
Thursday July 20, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
As part of the MMSD BCDP we are pleased to offer you this networking opportunity to attend an in-person Q&A session with two SWMBE firms that have experienced starting, growing, and maintaining successful businesses. With a combination of preplanned questions from our facilitators and questions from you as the audience, this will be our chance to ask our panel guests their business philosophy, tips on growth in our future economies, and the secrets to their success. Following our 1-hour panel discussion, you will have a chance to network over lunch with each other, our panel guests, and key MMSD staff. This is a rare opportunity that we encourage all firms to take advantage of. Attendance is limited to 30 attendees, so sign up soon!
About our Panel Guests:
Mathew Tharaniyil; President of Bloom Companies, LLC. Mathew Tharaniyil has over 30 years of experience as a civil/structural engineer and engineering executive. He is the President of Bloom Companies, an architecture, engineering, and construction management firm headquartered in Milwaukee, WI; and has successfully led a considerable amount of infrastructure projects both in the United States and abroad. Mathew has organized and led both engineering design and construction companies and understands the challenges each team faces in delivering complex projects. Early in his career, Mathew worked in a government organization, and this gives him a unique perspective on the industry.
Mathew holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Calicut, India, and a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He has exceptional knowledge of the properties of concrete, having worked as a Researcher and investigated properties of concrete containing by-products such as fly ash, foundry sand, and slag. He has co-authored several papers relating to this field in nationally recognized journals. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the Heavy Movable Structures, Inc.
Bloom Companies, LLC, organized as a Wisconsin Limited Liability Company, has been providing sustainable, innovative, and quality design services to clients since 1998. The diversity of our staff and our corporate culture is dynamic and encourages professional and personal growth. Our firm brings the right combination of experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to every project. We continually strive to provide superior service to the communities in which we work, live, and play.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Bloom serves clients nationally and internationally. With a diverse group of professionals, we are positioned to meet the demands of our valued clients. We have won several national and international recognitions for our projects over the years. We routinely provide services that include: architecture, interior design, survey, site/civil engineering, structural engineering, bridge engineering, railroad engineering, transportation engineering, and construction engineering.
James Harris, President of Sirrah Construction & Co, LLC. James is a graduate from Carrol University who started Sirrah Construction in 2005 with four employees. Today Sirrah Construction employs 40 employees while specializing in storm sewer and ancillary concrete related work. In the early parts of Sirrah’s development, James benefited from both the MMSD BCDP along with mentor-protégé relationships. Sirrah Construction has successfully performed work for local clients such as MMSD, WisDot, City of Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, West Allis, Milwaukee County, and various other local municipalities. In addition to Wisconsin, Sirrah performs work in Missouri and Minnesota. Sirrah Construction regularly performs work as a subcontractor for general contractors on both building and roadway related projects.
Network Session 3a: CEO Roundtable
3a, Thursday August 24, 2023 | 09:00 AM to 10:00 AM
This will be a 4-part CEO roundtable discussion tailored to discuss topics that may include company structure, talent acquisition, financials, software, project development, insurance, succession planning, inconsistent workflow, and other aspects of being a business owner. The first three sessions will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. The last session will be an in-person networking event held at a local destination including breakfast for participants.
Network Session 3b: CEO Roundtable
3b, Thursday September 21, 2023 | 09:00 AM to 10:00 AM
This will be a 4-part CEO roundtable discussion tailored to discuss topics that may include company structure, talent acquisition, financials, software, project development, insurance, succession planning, inconsistent workflow, and other aspects of being a business owner. The first three sessions will be held virtually using Microsoft Teams. The last session will be an in-person networking event held at a local destination including breakfast for participants.
