The NEXT Leadership Academy

This week in powered by Milwaukee Tool we begin our August focus on Operational & Financial Acumen. In Class 15 "KPI's That Matter" we’re talking about a handful of signals that tell you, in real time, whether your project is headed toward profit, pain, or somewhere in between. FMI and McKinsey’s research on construction performance both point to the same truth: contractors who manage with data instead of gut feel are consistently more profitable and more resilient. For MEP subcontractors, where margins are tight and labor is everything, the way you read and respond to your numbers often matters more than any single change order you’ll ever write.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Fundamentals of project budgeting.
👷 Tracking and managing project costs.
👷 Common financial pitfalls and how to avoid them.

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Build and manage realistic project budgets.
📚 Monitor project costs to stay within financial constraints.
📚 Identify and address financial risks early.

To Learn More about NEXTPM powered by Milwaukee Tool or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm

This week in we kick off our month on Technology & Digital Tools with Class 15 "BIM/VDC for PM's and Estimators." When some people hear the term “BIM,” they immediately think, “That belongs to the VDC department.” Or they think of a coordinator sitting in front of a powerful computer spinning a model around, finding clashes, and producing reports. And yes, that is part of the work.

But for a PM, estimator, project engineer, or field leader transitioning into the office, BIM is much more than a model.

It is a way to see problems earlier.

It helps us see where systems compete for space, where quantities may be different than expected, where the field may struggle, where prefab may help, where access may be limited, and where scope risk may be hiding.

So in today's class, we are going to talk about BIM as a practical project leadership system.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Practical model uses (coordination/quantities)
👷 Clash reports to field actions
👷 Model- vs. plan-based takeoff comparison

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Define BIM uses that matter to your scope
📚 Convert clashes into actionable tasks
📚 Compare model vs. plan quantities for risk

To Learn More about NEXTFTO or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/fto

We have an exciting week ahead for participants as we open our month on . In Class 29 "Disruption and Leadership" we take a closer look at technology adoption, recognizing and maximizing "rebel talent" within your organizations, and answer the questions surrounding your responsibilities as a leader in a VUCA disrupted marketplace!

MODULE TOPICS:
👷 Technological Adoption
👷 The Leader’s Role in Tech Adoption
👷 Rebel Talent

LEARNER OBJECTIVES:
📚 Analyze technologies to understand when they will be impactful.
📚 Assess and implement new talent management strategies.

Join Us Today - Wednesday, 8/5/26 at 7:00PM Est. for this exciting learning opportunity at NEXT!

Let us know if you want to hop in to see what NEXT is like in real time!

We have an exciting week ahead for participants as we close out our month on . In Class 28 "Mastering Real World Disruption" we take a closer look at the electric car industry. What insights can we glean from it? What is on the horizon that we may or may not be aware of? What could continue to impact our industry? How can you capitalize on this time period to become more and contracting companies? Let's Do This!

MODULE TOPICS:
👷 A Disruptive Innovation Case Study
👷 Construction Industry Disruptive Projections
👷 Future Scenarios and Implications

LEARNER OBJECTIVES:
📚 Analyze disruptive technology and its applications in the construction industry.
📚 Analyze disruptive technology and its applications in my own organization.

Join Us Today - Wednesday, 7/29/26 at 7:00PM Est. for this exciting learning opportunity at NEXT!

Let us know if you want to hop in to see what NEXT is like in real time!

This week in powered by Milwaukee Tool we finish up our July focus on Risk Management. In Class 14 "Crisis Management in Construction Projects" we’re talking about something no Project Manager hopes for, but every strong Project Manager must prepare for: the worst days on the job. A crisis is not the normal daily pressure of RFIs, submittals, schedule pulls, or difficult meetings.

And here’s the truth: on the best days, leadership is helpful. On the worst days, leadership is essential. When a serious accident happens, when weather shuts down a critical installation, when a labor disruption stops production, or when a major MEP system fails at the worst possible time, people look for someone who can bring calm, clarity, and direction.

Today is not about fear. It is about readiness. It is about building the systems you will fall to when the day gets hard. My goal is that when crisis shows up—and if you stay in this industry long enough, it will—you don’t freeze, you don’t panic, and you don’t disappear. You lead.”

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Defining crisis management in the construction industry
👷 Responding to on-site accidents, weather delays, or strikes
👷 Legal and regulatory considerations in crisis management
👷 Communication strategies during a crisis

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Understand the different types of crises that can occur during a construction project.
📚 Learn how to respond effectively to crises, from on-site accidents to labor strikes.
📚 Develop skills for crisis communication with teams, clients, and stakeholders.
📚 Examine case studies where crisis management was handled successfully, and identify key takeaways for future projects.

To Learn More about NEXTPM powered by Milwaukee Tool or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm

This week in we finish up our month on Communication & Public Speaking. In Class 14 "Presenting to Executives & Clients" we begin to crystalize that a strong presentation is not a data dump. It is a decision story. It takes field reality, project complexity, cost and schedule pressure, risk, and options, and turns all of that into a message leaders can understand and act on.

Today’s class is about learning how to do that. We are going to talk about the five-slide decision narrative, simple KPI dashboards, and how to handle tough executive and client questions with steadiness, honesty, and structure.

Because the goal is not to sound impressive. The goal is to be useful.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 5-slide decision narrative
👷 Visuals and KPI dashboards
👷 Executive Q&A handling

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Craft a concise decision story
📚 Build a simple KPI dashboard
📚 Handle tough questions with a repeatable framework

To Learn More about NEXTFTO or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/fto

Class 27's Live Webinar Class is here for our Elite Cohort. Today, we're going to dive into our 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲. This class will allow our participants to bring academic theories to life and offer a practical dimension to learning. It will provide a platform for students to analyze real-world situations, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The in-depth exploration of specific scenarios enhances understanding by providing context, relevance, and a nuanced view of complex issues. This module on will bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing individuals to apply learned concepts to authentic situations in the industry. Hop on today's E&A webinar led by Al Rosende who will facilitate this dynamic, engaging, and applicable approach to learning and problem-solving.

See you today at 7:00PM Est!

In today's class "Stop the Bleed: Managing Disruptions" we start with a simple truth: the job rarely gets wrecked by one giant problem. Most jobs bleed out slowly. They bleed in 20-minute delays. They bleed in confusion. They bleed in waiting. They bleed in frustration. They bleed in rework. And if you...as the leader... doesn’t step in the right way, what should have been one disruption turns into a full-day derailment.

So today is about learning how to stop that bleed. Not with panic. Not with yelling. Not with emotion. But with calm, disciplined, field leadership.

Because the best field leaders don’t eliminate disruption. They know how to absorb it, stabilize it, and keep the team moving. My hope is that by the end of this class, you won’t just think differently about disruption. You’ll lead differently in the middle of it.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷Stabilization steps: isolate, protect, re-plan, communicate
👷Managing downtime: micro-resequence and alternate work banks
👷Escalation discipline: what needs approval and what doesn’t
👷Capturing impacts for schedule/cost documentation
👷Resetting expectations after a disruption

To Learn More about NEXTField or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/field

We're so excited to welcome our students as we kick off our month on Problem Solving & Decision Making. In today's class "Field Decisions in 10 Minutes: A Rapid Triage Playbook" we start with a simple truth: The leader in the field does not just manage work — the leader in the field makes decisions in motion. And those decisions affect safety, quality, morale, schedule, and ultimately whether the team keeps moving or starts drifting.

So today is about building a rapid triage playbook. Not guesswork. Not panic. Not “who has the loudest opinion.” A real, repeatable process for making good decisions quickly without losing your standards. Because the goal is not just to decide fast. The goal is to decide well enough that the crew can move with confidence.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Define the problem correctly (symptom vs. cause)
👷 Safety/quality/schedule triage order
👷 Fast option generation: 3 viable paths, not 12 opinions
👷 Decision criteria: risk, cost, time, approvals needed
👷 Communicate the decision and lock the new plan

To Learn More about NEXTField or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/field

This week in powered by Milwaukee Tool we start our July focus on Risk Management. In Class 13 "Identifying & Mitigating Construction Risks" we’re going to move risk from something that ‘happens to us’ to something we actively shape as project managers. When you look back at the ugliest jobs of your career, very rarely was the root cause a single technical mistake; it was usually a risk that was visible early, but never fully named or managed. Research from FMI and McKinsey on capital projects shows that most major overruns can be traced to known, but unmanaged, risks that showed up in preconstruction and early ex*****on. In other words, the risks weren’t invisible—we just didn’t have the discipline or habits to deal with them. Our goal in this class is to give you a practical risk lens and a handful of tools that you can use on any project. Think of this session as building your "risk radar" so you can protect your people, your projects, and your margins.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Types of risks in construction (technical, financial, legal, environmental)
👷 Risk assessment tools and frameworks (e.g., risk registers, FMEA)
👷 Strategies for mitigating and managing risks
👷 Case studies of risk management in major construction projects

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Learn to identify potential risks early in the project lifecycle and assess their impact.
📚 Understand the various tools and frameworks for managing construction risks.
📚 Develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
📚 Analyze case studies of projects with successful risk management to understand best practices and lessons learned.

To Learn More about NEXTPM powered by Milwaukee Tool or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm