 Meet Brandon Bolstad; Mandatory Training and Continuous Learning Updates; Tony Dell'Arciprete Gets Concise; and, How You Can Become an AI Insider
Meet Brandon Bolstad
Brandon Bolstad has been part of GSA’s Mid-Atlantic region for over thirteen years. In 2010 he began working with the region as a on-site contractor. His primary duties were to support ePM. In August 2022, the region hired Brandon as a full-time government employee and named him the region's Kahua Program Manager.
R3 PM Experience Team: You’ve had a very interesting career path! Can you share your background with us?
Brandon: Sure. I started my career working primarily in the BioTech/Pharma construction sector. I held a few different positions along the way as a Cost and Project Engineer, as well as doing some commissioning and validation work. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work on some really interesting and technical projects that took me everywhere from Sweden to Las Vegas to the middle of nowhere in North Carolina. A portion of my experience prior to GSA was managing a project controls/document management system onsite, which was extremely helpful in preparing me for my current position. My experiences from these different sides of the table give me a bit of insight into better understanding project roles and responsibilities.
R3 PM Experience Team: What’s the most interesting project on which you’ve worked?
Brandon: The most interesting in a positive way was a Pfizer biotech facility in Strängnäs, Sweden. It was a collaboration between Skanska Sweden and Skanska USA Building, and included team members from all over the world. It was such an interesting cultural experience and one I'll never forget. The most memorable on the other end of that spectrum was a phosphoric acid plant in Aurora, NC. There were pools of standing acid all over the place and a lot more rust on some very high stairways and steel grating than one would comfortably care to see. Along with that, our job trailer was immediately next to the silicon tetrafluoride plant, and we had to walk around with oxygen bottles in case there was ever a leak since it's fatal if inhaled. It was a great team in a terrible setting.
R3 PM Experience Team: Since becoming a government employee, you were able to pursue the formal training and achieve your certification as a FAC-P/PM program and project manager. Can you tell us about your experience with the certification process?
Brandon: I enjoyed diving into elements of project management in a way I'm not nearly as involved with anymore. It was also interesting to learn about everything from utilization rates to occupancy agreements to procurement steps and strategies. It was a great way for me to better understand GSA processes I'm not typically privy to. I’m looking forward to pursuing training for mid-level certification which is coming up in May.
R3 PM Experience Team: Given your current role as Kahua Project Manager, you’re probably one of the most recognized persons in the PM community. How do you manage your popularity?
Brandon: The way I see it, I'm here to help where I can to meet our collective goals. We're all one team, and I can honestly say Region 3 is the best group of people I've ever worked with. I'm just happy to be doing my part with people I like and respect, and hopefully the feeling is mutual.
R3 PM Experience Team: Successful Program Managers have strong soft skills as well as technical skills. What soft skill is your strongest and which have you worked hardest to develop?
Brandon: I think the ability to adapt is a strong soft skill I have. Everyone has our own preferences and are most comfortable doing things the way we know, but with everything -- from emerging technologies to new administrations and priorities changing, making adjustments is inevitable and very important. My communication skills are and have been for a long time a work in progress for me. Write less, say more is something I tell myself often.
R3 PM Experience Team: How do you stay organized?
Brandon: I take advantage of some of the tools at my disposal, whether that’s using Google Calendar to block off some time for a task I need to get done or asking Siri to set me a reminder. This is another soft skill I'm always trying to develop. In this area, I'll take all the help I can get!
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 Mandatory Training Required by June 30, 2024 and the Continuous Learning Period Is Ending Even Sooner
One thing that connects FAC-P/PM certified PMs to each other is that each was assigned mandatory training recently. If you are a P/PM and / or a FAC COR, the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) has introduced a series of mandatory training classes that must be completed by June 30, 2024, which will be here before we know it. These training courses have been assigned to you in FAI CSOD as a learning assignment and the courses should appear on your active transcript. Refer to this chart in an Acquisition Flash entitled “Mandatory Training Required by June 30, 2024” for more information on each course. If pressed for time, skip the chart and just log into FAI CSOD and complete the courses. Come summer 2024, you’ll be glad you did these early.
And on a related note, don't forget that all certified PMs are now on the same common Continuous Learning (CL) period, which ends April 30, 2024. Visit the updated CL page on InSite to find directions on how you can now submit continuous learning requests as well as general information on the various ways you can earn CLPs.
 A Lesson Most Important
In the case of the project for the Veterans Administration (VA) in Monroeville, many lessons learned can be captured by just one. “Team building at every opportunity is key to project success,” shares Project Executive, Tony Dell’Arciprete.
This recently completed 67,000 square foot project was one of six projects in a pilot program between the VA and GSA to deliver leased community based outpatient clinics throughout the country. The projects were delivered using an innovative source selection process and the overarching goal was to allow the veteran population easier access to healthcare.
As the Project Manager from project inception in October 2018 through building acceptance in March 2023, Tony Dell’Arciprete’s also shared the importance of appreciating the project’s journey and the people you work with along the way. “You don’t need a formal partnering session to achieve great results. Recognizing that every interaction with someone -- team member, customer, contractor -- is a partnering and a team building opportunity can go a long way to helping you and your team achieve a project’s goals.”
 Become an AI Insider
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic appearing in headlines and articles and media coverage in all sectors of the economy. The federal government, GSA included, has started discussions around it. And now you too can know more about the multifaceted government perspective when you join the Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice (AI CoP). This platform attempts to unite federal employees who are active or interested in AI policy, technology, standards, and programs to accelerate the thoughtful adoption of AI across the federal government. Visit this site to learn more about the AI CoP. Access event materials, artifacts and recordings through the Artificial Intelligence Community of Practice MAX.gov Page. And, most importantly, join the AI CoP listserv by emailing AI-subscribe-request@listserv.gsa.gov with an empty subject line. This way you will be sure to receive their newsletter which will also provide you with Working Group updates.
The R3 PM Experience is a quarterly publication. Please submit your news via email: r3.pm.experience@gsa.gov. If you have questions, concerns or feedback; please email r3.pm.experience@gsa.gov.
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