Certificate Program in Construction Project Management & Finance

Certificate in Construction Project Management & Finance

Strengthen Your Career with the Right Education Now - All Online and on Your Schedule!


Today’s tough economy means an increase in daily challenges, but don’t let them stop you from rising to the top. Demonstrate mastery of your profession and keep adding to your skills. This well established Certificate Program provides proven project management methods you can begin using immediately to ensure profitability, success, and happy clients or stakeholders on every project. The Certificate is designed to help you effectively plan, organize, control, and lead a construction project throughout its entire life cycle. Unlike typical project management training, this comprehensive construction-based series also provides you with the tools you need for your ever-expanding role in your organization, including techniques for winning business, positioning your firm, improving productivity and managing finances. 

This Certificate consists of 34 courses with over 38 hours of training.  The following is a partial listing of the courses.  If the certificate program is not for you - you can also take the courses individually to help you build your skill set.


Online training saves time, travel expenses, and allows you to complete the course at your pace and on your terms.

Courses in Certificate include:

1. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 1: Negotiating Contracts (1 hour)
2. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 2 & 3: Pricing for Profits, Generating Cash and Getting Paid (2 hours)
3. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 4: Accounting & Cash (1 hour)
4. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 5: Strategic Planning & Budgeting (1 hour)
5. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 6 & 7: Financial Controls, Monitoring & Project Budgeting (1 hour)
6. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 8: Controlling Labor Costs (1 hour)
7. Financial Management for the A/E/C Firm, Chapter 9: Purchasing (1 hour)
8. From Project Manager to Principal 1: Foundations of Management (1 hour)
9. From Project Manager to Principal 2: Marketing Your Services (1 hour)
10. From Project Manager to Principal 3: Negotiation Outcomes & Strategies (1 hour)
11. From Project Manager to Principal 4 & 5: Manpower & Quality Management (1 hour)
12. From Project Manager to Principal 6: Financial Management (1 hour)
13. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 1: The Changing PM Role (1 hour)
14. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 2: Managing the Proposal (1 hour)
15. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 3: The Agreement (1 hour)
16. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 4: The Project Management Plan (1 hour)
17. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 5: The Project Schedule (1 hour)
18. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 6: The Project Budget (1 hour)
19. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 7: Managing The Project Team (1 hour)
20. The Ultimate Project Manager, Chapter 8: Managing The Client (1 hour)
21. Plus over 17 hours of additional training.

Online Project Management Training

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Email to Fracktoids Blogspot About a False and Misleading Post

This is the full version of what I intended to send - what I did send should be posted on the blog.   Based on a review on the fracktoids blog - the bulk of the request and contact was immediately removed.  Therefore as stated in this post- the 15 days starts today 7/17/2012 after 15 days a formal request will be sent to Blogger.

http://fracktoids.blogspot.com/2012/07/energy-in-depth-dots.html

http://fracktoids.blogspot.com/2012/07/eid-sees-dead-people.html

I think you proved my point - one of the main problems with dealing with Marcellus Shale is the fact that some only want to hear about the causes for contamination that are associated or caused by Marcellus Shale Development and others only want to talk about everything but Marcellus Shale. This would be fine if we lived in a state where all the water was pure and there was no background or baseline contamination, no history of herbicide and pesticide use, and all private wells were properly constructed. The problem is we do not live in this world, 50% of private wells are contaminated by something that is not related to Marcellus Shale Activities, and it is not appropriate to discuss baseline testing without telling the local private well owners all the facts.

I do NOT conduct this type of biased presentation - my presentations are all fact based and balanced. You can go to my website and see the pdf versions of my talk and see the videos of methane gas migration on my  Y-Tube site. About 8 % or more private wells in Pennsylvania have elevated levels of arsenic - caused by background issues. This was probably known about 10 to 15 years ago - Did anyone tell the Private Well Owners? The primary cause is naturally occurring arsenic in the mineralogy of the bedrock, but others include old pesticides, cemeteries, etc. Also – we raised the warning flag in 2009 about the potential for the natural migration of saline water, concerns related to bromide, and other key parameter – it took PSU until 2011 to finally add key parameters to their list of parameters and Duke University until this past month to come out with a study and took PSU to recommend. I started taking about this is 2009!

For the record - I pointed out the primary concerns related to natural gas development was methane gas migration, proper well casing and cementing,  and surface spills and releases in about 2008 or 2009. I also made specific recommendations to changes to oil and gas law in PA and continue to make suggestions in my presentations. 

In your article and graphics- my connection to Shepstone as an Associate is based on their linking to my companies website and listing me along with a number of others. You did not list all the other companies and municipalities listed on their website and the way the graphic depicts this relationship suggests I am being paid and based on your posting is it clear you did not review any of my presentation or the pdf version of the presentaiton. For the record, I do not have and never had a contractual relationship with Shepstone, Tom, EID, etc.

To the questions you asked - I do not know what the gas companies do - I do not and have never worked for any and this includes EID, Mr. Shepstone, and the others you cited. I am not paid by anyone or company to conduct a presentation and I do highlight the pathways that natural gas drilling could and have affected private wells. I also include videos of natural gas migration, changes in water quality associated with methane gas migration, loss of circulation during natural gas drilling, importance of casing and cementing, and concerns related to surface spills/releases.  (this paragraph posted as a separate email).

In your blog post – you make a statement about what I see - You do not have this knowledge and you have made no formal effort to find out what is my perspective. You have never formally interviewed me and you are making statements about me and my company without making the proper effort to get the facts. 

Finally - your post is very misleading and false about my intentions and my perspective. In addition, you strongly suggest a finance connection and a bias. You are very wrong - this is false! I have never been paid other than by Wilkes University when I worked at the University to conduct talks to private well owners. I would strongly suggest if you want to post more about me and my company - that you contact us first and get the facts. Maybe Next time - send me an email with your questions, attend a talk, or schedule a presentation. This will help you to avoid making false statements that affect my character and business.

Since you are not a professional reporter and you are a concerned citizen, my only action, at this point, will be to send this post to your blog and to post this same content of my blog and facebook account. The falsehoods you post are posing a direct harm to my business and my family, making it an illegal act on your part. This will be considered the required notice that is required I am demanding that you remove these falsehoods and misinformation from your site at once. Please comply with this request before I am forced to take any other action.

If you want my perspective – here it is:

http://pennsylvania-solutions.blogspot.com/2012/07/need-to-work-as-community-shale-gas.html

I am sorry that we do not 100 % agree, but I do not 100 % agree with anyone on either side of this issue. The problem I have is just because we do not agree – it is NOT OK to post false statements and half-truths  about me and my company.  

I have never conducted a presentation as a diversionary measure. My presentations are all fact based and balanced.  I would suggest that you watch or attend.

If the false statements and incorrect graphics are not corrected then I will make a formal report to the owner of the Blogger portal in 15 days and refer this matter to my agent.

Thanks

Brian Oram

The Need to Work as a Community - a Shale Gas, Energy and Environmental Perspective

Need to Work as a Community

by Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist
The Water Research Center and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.

I am not an insider in the natural gas development process, but I am a citizen and professional geologist from Pennsylvania.  I grew-up  in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in the middle of the largest Anthracite Coal Fields in the World and became exposed to environmental issues while playing and living on abandon coal mine lands and near acid impacted streams.  After attending Wilkes University and Pennsylvania State University, I worked as an environmental consultant and then ran a research laboratory at Wilkes University.   After 23 years of running and conducting research, I decided to concentrate on my private consulting practice and other public education programs through B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. and the Water Research Center.  For the record, I have no master service agreements with any natural gas company and the views posted here are mine. 

The phrase “Working as a Community” comes out of my talk titled “Getting the Waters Tested- The Marcellus Shale Factor”.  The development of the Marcellus and Utica Shale has brought to the surface a little known fact that up to 50 % of private well owners are drinking water that would not meet one or more drinking water standards and the existing private wells are improperly placed and poorly constructed.   These pre-existing problems include corrosive and aggressive water, iron, manganese, bacteria, arsenic, salt, saline water, barium, strontium, some organic compounds, radon, and yes Methane Gas.   This fact,   in combination, with inadequate baseline testing has resulted in a significant amount of confusion, misinformation, and un-needed delays to meet the needs of a private well owner.  We need to start working together to move forward as a community.  To start working as a community, I am recommending the following path:

1. Join the Pennsylvania Forum for Private Well Owners (It is not about shale or energy-it is about groundwater quality)- Part of the solution – must include fixing private wells.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/244338025659838/

2. If you have baseline testing data, submit the data to the Citizens Groundwater and Surfacewater Database or if you do not know what the data means you can ask for help –Assistance is Free.

http://www.water-research.net/privatewellPA.htm

3. Participate in the Private Well Owner and Watershed Survey for Pennsylvania- (Another Free Program)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NMG6RQ3

4. Host a local Community Workshop and Education Session for Private Well Owners and for Royalty Owners and Watershed Groups it may be worth helping to Develop a Local Watershed Monitoring Program.

http://www.bfenvironmental.com/natural-gas-exploration.php

5. Get the facts – A well by well review of the data from Dimock, PA – A NO Spin Zone – Fact based Reviews Only.

http://www.water-research.net/dimockwellwater.htm

This is a positive step in the Right Direction.  It is time to start working together.   It is time to get educated, informed, and start working together.  Free information can be found on any of our portals and all of work is funded by us.    For a free booklet on drinking water quality for private well owners – visit our webportal and download a free copy of the 2009 booklet.  We are anticipating a new booklet will be available in a few months.

Thanks for your time,

Brian Oram, PG

Citizen of Pennsylvania

bfenviro@ptd.net

Baseline Water Testing for New York State

This is a list of parameter for wells outside the 1000 foot radius around a well and not along a horizontal leg.  I do not agree with the PSU recommendations from 2008 and the updated listing in 2011 and the recommendations from CSI are still missing some key parameters.    For the record, I still do not understand the chemical oxygen demand and Total Organic Carbon. recommendation by the CSI.

This is a general list of test packages.  Please remember baseline water testing is not a one size fits all program.  The actual testing that you need depends on your health, your water source, your surrounding land-use, the history for your area, and what is planned in the near future.  Also, please note that this list evolved back in 2008 and we had been recommending key parameters like bromide, multiple gases, aluminum, and others since 2008/2009.

This approach ranges in cost from about $ 350 to over $ 1000.00.

Testing Package # 1
This package is recommended as a screening for post gas development or screening for wells that are not a long a major roadway or areas that have not been leased.
Parameters
Total Coliform with e. coli confirmation, chloride, sodium, bromide, barium, pH, ORP, total dissolved solids, MBAS, iron, manganese, and methane/ethane/propane and other gases..

Testing Package # 2
This is the minimum package I recommend for the area- this is based on PADEP recommendations, plus I added Arsenic and Nitrate.  Note- If nitrate is at or greater than 1 mg NO3-N/L - I would recommend adding Nitrite.
Parameters
Package # 1- plus Aluminum, T. Hardness, Magnesium, Strontium, Conductivity, Calcium, Zinc, Alkalinity, Arsenic, Nitrate, Total Suspended Solids, Sulfate, Oil & Grease, 21-VOCs/MTBE, Selenium

Testing Package # 3
More Comprehensive- Assuming the wells are outside 1000 feet of a well site and not along a horizontal leg
Package # 2 - plus Potassium, Sulfide, Ammonia, Acidity, Nickel, Gross, Alpha/Beta, Lead, and Uranium.

Possible Addons- Based on available frac water data- this would be more appropriate for wells within 1000 feet or less.
Radium 226 and Radium 228- if alpha or Uranium is high.
Turbidity- cheap screening test
Phenol and phenolic compounds- located near well or along major road
Chemical Oxygen Demand - DO Not Recommend
Total Organic Carbon- DO Not Recommend
2- Butanone (methyl ethyl ketone)
Naphthalene
Phthalates- this may be a problem already for private wells with PVC casing or substand piping.
Ethylene Glycol and other Glycols- recommend
1,2- Propanediol - I think this is being used by some as an alternative to ethylene glycol
Methylchloride
Acetone - may be source because of a break down in 1,2- Propanediol
Acetophenone
Lithium- Recommend
Thallium reviewing
2-Methylnaphthalene
SOCs

Schedule a Sampling Event

Other Post on the subject
http://pennsylvania-solutions.blogspot.com/2010/07/getting-waters-tested-informational-and.html

Training - Third Party Baseline Samplers

Other Programs
1. Schedule a Private Well Owner Workshop - Learn How to Review Your Water Quality Testing Results, Select Parameters, Screen Your Well Water Quality, and Much More.

2. Well by Well Review of Dimock, PA

Co-Authored - New Publication on Water Quality for Private Well Owners- Website - http://www.bfenvironmental.com/links.php
http://www.bfenvironmental.com/pdfs/Waterbooklet070610.pdf


Website provided for information only and the site is always under development and subject to change.

Thanks

Brian Oram, Professional Geologist
B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
Water-Research.net

Susquehanna River Basin Commission Water Withdrawal Fee Schedule

The purpose of this message is to notify you that on June 7, 2012, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (Commission) adopted revisions to its Regulatory Program Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2012.  Please visit the Commission's website at www.srbc.net to view the revised Regulatory Program Fee Schedule. 

In general, fees were escalated by 3 percent based on the change in the Consumer Price Index over the last 12 months.  Other significant changes include:

·        Separate fees were established for surface water versus groundwater withdrawal applications. 

·        Aquifer testing plans and waiver requests were separated on the fee schedule, and a clarifying footnote (No. 8) was added which states that when a waiver request is denied, the project sponsor will be required to develop an aquifer testing plan and pay a separate fee.

·        A new table was added which establishes fees for renewal applications.

·        The Consumptive Use Mitigation Fee was increased from $0.29 per 1,000 gallons consumed to $0.30 per 1,000 gallons consumed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Commission at (717) 238-0423 or via e-mail at srbc@srbc.net. 

Request

1. How about using a portion of the funds to fix private wells in PA?  This is real protection for our groundwater aquifers !