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<\/p>\n Our Instructor Spotlight is on Bob Mahler,\u00a0<\/span>PMP, PMI-RMP, MBA. From Bob\u2019s time in\u00a0<\/span>the U.S. Special Forces to working on projects for the federal government, he brings a large amount of experience and knowledge to <\/span>UTC\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Project Fundamentals\u00a0<\/span>c<\/span>ourse<\/span><\/a>. Bob\u00a0<\/span>stays busy not only teaching project management but also serving as the senior director of\u00a0<\/span>business development for\u00a0<\/span>Velociteach<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>and<\/span> working<\/span>\u00a0as a<\/span>\u00a0kickbox instructor)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Marah: What professional experience do you have relating to the course you are teaching?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Bob: My experience\u00a0<\/span>dates back to<\/span>\u00a01993 when I was in the Army as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant.\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>y bosses would say, \u201cHere is $5 million. Now deploy <\/span>all<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>these people and equipment into the lowlands of Kenya for 60 days,\u201d or \u201c<\/span>S<\/span>end this material to Saudi Arabia.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>A lot of mi<\/span>litary operations\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0project management. I<\/span>\u00a0began my career outside of the Army in 1998 when I began my first job with Nextel (now Sprint)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0I managed the\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>mergency\u00a0<\/span>r<\/span>esponse\u00a0<\/span>t<\/span>eam\u2019s operations.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Then,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>I<\/span>\u00a0worked as a consultant and for deployments in DC where I gained\u00a0<\/span>a great deal of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>project and risk management<\/span>\u00a0experience before beginning my teaching career<\/span>. I have always had the bug to\u00a0<\/span>teach<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and it thrills me to be able to do so.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M:\u00a0<\/span><\/b>What are key concepts you would like your students to take away from the Project Management Fundamentals course?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B: The funny thing I often find<\/span>\u00a0is that\u00a0<\/span>everyone understands the concept of project management because they do it\u00a0<\/span>constantly\u00a0<\/span>in their personal life.\u00a0<\/span>However, they push back using it professionally because it appears to be tougher and is in a more \u201cformal setting.\u201d Typically, the only difference between using project management personally and professionally is the amount of money you\u2019re able to spend.\u00a0<\/span>Think about it\u2014<\/span>when you\u2019re figuring out how to cover monthly expenses and looking at bank statements, that\u2019s procurement\/budgeting. When you\u2019re planning your upcoming vacation, that\u2019s scheduling. When you\u2019re\u00a0<\/span>looking over your shoulder in a parking lot late at night, that\u2019s risk management. I want students to see that they already know the basic concepts, and<\/span>\u00a0the course will teach them what applying the concepts looks like in a<\/span>\u00a0formal setting.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M: What advice would you give to someone wanting to learn more about project management?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B: Project management is all about organization.\u00a0<\/span>That being said, it\u2019s<\/span> not about being perfect but how to take whatever you\u2019re doing and be better. Even in our personal lives, we make changes for one of two reasons: to either move away from pain or move to<\/span>ward gain. Project management allows you to do so, both on a professional and personal level, in a structured, cost-effective, and time-sensitive manner.<\/span>\u00a0You won\u2019t always be perfect in how you manage projects, but the key is about improving as much as possible.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M: So, besides being organized, what other qualities make a great project manager?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B: First, being proactive as opposed to reactive is always better, even in your personal life. If you respond reactively, it normally costs more.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Second, the ability<\/span>\u00a0to<\/span>\u00a0talk to people well is always helpful.\u00a0<\/span>On the scale of demand and ask, t<\/span>here are<\/span>\u00a0many\u00a0<\/span>ways to get people to<\/span>\u00a0accomplish tasks on<\/span>\u00a0projects<\/span>, but<\/span>\u00a0not every way is\u00a0<\/span>beneficial<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0Over time, I have learned the<\/span>\u00a0art of effective communication\u00a0<\/span>with different people.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Remember that it is your job to make your bosses feel okay with giving you the\u00a0<\/span>responsibility<\/span> of spending, for example, the company\u2019s $700 million. If you can communicate in a way that makes <\/span>your bosses<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>feel at ease with giving you that\u00a0<\/span>responsibility<\/span>, you\u2019ll find greater success as a project manager.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M: Who would you recommend the\u00a0<\/span><\/b>P<\/span><\/b>roject Management Fundamentals<\/span><\/b>\u00a0course to?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B: The course is valuable for anyone involved in project delivery processes or who wants to gauge their interest in\/get an introduction to project management. <\/span>As far as specific groups<\/span>\u00a0of people<\/span>\u00a0go,\u00a0<\/span>you should take the course\u00a0<\/span>if you\u2019re in a specific project management sector such as coordination, scheduling,\u00a0<\/span>analytics<\/span>, etc.<\/span>\u00a0Everyone understands their 5% of the product\/service result<\/span>. When you learn the other 95% of the process and see outside of what you do in your silo, your overall understanding of company objectives will be greatly enhanced.<\/span>\u00a0And, because you understand the broader project management picture, you\u2019ll communicate better, reduce conflict, and save money as you waste less time. Finance folks will benefit because they can reduce problems as they build the bridge between what the project manager is trying to spend and the\u00a0budget\u00a0they have available to spend.\u00a0<\/span>I also recommend the course to executives because they are often at the<\/span>\u00a010k foot level and project managers are at the\u00a0<\/span>5-foot<\/span>\u00a0level. When they understand the \u201cwhy\u201d behind project management,\u00a0<\/span>stakeholder dissatisfaction decreases.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M: What\u2019s something fun you can teach in five minutes?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B: When I teach risk management, I do a fun \u201cfive minutes later\u201d <\/span>drill\u00a0<\/span>where I ask people to imagine what they would do if there was a house fire.\u00a0<\/span>Everyone makes it outside safely\u2014<\/span>so what will you be concerned with\u00a0<\/span>once you\u2019re out<\/span>? For example, I always put my keys, wallet, and my wife\u2019s purse in a certain place every night so we can grab everything vitally important quickly in case of an emergency. It\u2019s a fun <\/span>yet impactful drill.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M<\/span><\/b>: What are three fun facts about you?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n M: Is there anything else you would like to share about <\/span><\/b>project management or the Project Management Fundamentals course you teach?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n B:<\/span>\u00a0The course is great for team building, too. I incorporate interactive yet powerful small group exercises<\/span> into the course. If a company sends three or four different people from different verticals within that company, we can group them together for the exercises to bridge communication and understanding gaps.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Also, everything we do in the course is reality-based. You can walk away with 10, 15, 20 things to implement within your company (as long as\u00a0your company culture allows you to). The more you put in<\/span>to the course, the more you\u2019ll take away!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Marah Whitaker (think Laura with an M) serves as the marketing assistant for the UTC Center for Professional Education. During the workday, she spends time writing blog posts, creating content for social media, developing email campaigns, and building relationships with CPE\u2019s customer base. During her free time, you can find her getting lost in a good book, having spontaneous dance parties, playing piano, and going to Buffalo Wild Wings on Wing Night. Professionally and personally, she aspires to live by Mr. Feeny\u2019s advice, \u201cDream. Believe. Try. Do Good.\u201d She strives to use her passions to serve others and contribute positively to the world around her.<\/p>\n![\"Bob](\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/files\/2021\/04\/Bob-Mahler-headshot.png\")
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\nABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/h4>\n
![\"Marah](\"https:\/\/marvel-b1-cdn.bc0a.com\/f00000000184993\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/files\/2020\/06\/bio.png?x99666\")
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