Foundation Management Workshops

Essentials of Project Management Class

Offered each March, in the Essentials of Project Management class experienced project managers will pick up dozens of new ideas on site management, scheduling, cash flow and finances, marketing and how to manage people. New project managers and foremen who are making the transition from the field to the office gain the know-how they need to manage projects the right way from the start. The course also gives new or future business owners a head start on what they need to know to survive in the construction business.

No – this is not four days of an instructor lecturing. Attendees will be sharing their ideas and working together to solve problems throughout the program. Kirk Alter, Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, is the lead instructor for the Essentials class. His teaching style is highly energetic and interactive, featuring constant dialogue and role-playing exercises with the attendees.

Sessions run from 8 am until 5:30 pm each day, with small group work on a case study project continuing after dinner. The days are long, but also a lot of fun and packed with practical lessons that attendees can put into use immediately when they return home.

Throughout the class, Kirk Alter will call out the attendees on the little things they do every single day that don’t seem like a big deal at the time, but collectively end up costing your company tens of thousands of dollars each year.

It is perfect for new project managers who want to get a head-start on how to handle their projects the right way from the start and for teaching established managers better ways to do what they do every day. Our goal is to teach attendees 100 different things they can do to improve their project management process—then have them commit to actually doing the top 3-5 things that will have the greatest impact when they return to their company.

In short, our class isn’t about feel-good theory; it’s about providing PM’s with the management tools they need to manage their projects with fewer headaches, better productivity and much improved profits.

Registration is Limited – Registration is limited to just 24 participants. Most companies send attendees in pairs to help reinforce strategies learned at the course and take advantage of the special registration discounts for multiple attendees.

Essentials of Project Management Class
Next Session: March 4-7, 2026
Viega’s Training Facility in Nashua, NH

NOTICE: Our classes regularly sell out. To have the best chance at getting a seat for our future classes, please add your name to our notification list. Individuals on our notification list always have the first chance at seats when our class registration opens.

Add your name to the notification list for the Essentials of PM Class

“I should know this, but I was very surprised to see that we all have the same problems. But we are all coming up with very unique and creative ways to solve those common problems.

That was one of the biggest take-aways for me, was how do I solve the same problems that everyone is having.”
— Mark Weaver, Project Manager at COPPERA in Taylor, Texas

This class was very informational and will help me not only prepare me to become a project manager but also be a better well-rounded person, financially and with scheduling. It was an awesome experience that I will be able to put into real life situations. Thank you very much. It was an extensive class and MOST definitely worthwhile.
— Tony Rios, United Mechanical, LLC in Fort Meyers, Florida

Class hosted & sponsored by

Creating Super Foremen Workshop

Workshop Hosted & Sponsored by

The project foreman needs to be much more than just a talented journeyman who knows how to “go fast.” The foreman is the first line of management in the company, and must become the quarterback by learning more than just the technical trade skills required to install the work.

Like a quarterback, he must have a carefully crafted and practiced game plan (or else it’s sandlot football), he must be able to execute the plan, he must be able to adjust the plan when teammates stumble or show less talent, he must provide accurate feedback to the coaches on the bench, and he must AT ALL TIMES keep his eyes on the goal of winning the game.

That’s what this two-day program is about…Winning the Construction Project Game!

Kirk Alter, Professor Emeritus at Purdue University, is the lead instructor for the Super Foremen Workshop.

“In short, a great class. For new and upcoming foremen, it gives guidelines for expectations and the structure to achieve them. For older foremen who have been in the game, gives you great info to improve everything you are doing.” — Foreman Workshop Attendee

Super Foremen Workshop
Next Session: May 1 & 2, 2026
Viega’s Training Facility in Nashua, NH

NOTICE: Our classes regularly sell out. To have the best chance at getting a seat for our future classes, please add your name to our notification list. Individuals on our notification list always have the first chance at seats when our class registration opens.

Add your name to the notification list for our next Foremen Workshop.

Here is a lesson where our course director explains how thinking about materials placement on the jobsite can have a huge impact on productivity.

Planning Your Jobsite Materials Placement

Here is a lesson where our course director explains the best method he has found for managing job site labor bad behaviors.

Construction Field Management: Yellow Card- Red Card System