Project Manager Development Program (PMDP)
NOTE: 2026 PMDP Class dates are To Be Determined
The Project Manager Development Program (PMDP), created by AGC of America, is designed to specifically meet the needs of the construction industry.
The curriculum, along with the activities and shared experiences of course participants, provides the necessary skills and knowledge to increase the participant’s ability to work successfully with others to ensure project success.
While the PMDP is traditionally offered in a virtual format by AGC of America, the AGC of Greater Milwaukee is excited to offer PMDP+ in a live classroom setting. PMDP+ brings a hands-on, interactive learning experience, allows participants to benefit from face-to-face discussion and peer networking, and includes a bonus session on Construction Leadership & Communication.
Instruction is led by Mark Rounds, a distinguished faculty member at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE), who brings over 40 years of industry knowledge and practical insight into the classroom. Over the course of this five-unit program, participants will engage in instructor-led sessions designed to provide foundational project management knowledge, actionable tactics, and leadership strategies for project success.
Each session includes 8 hours of immersive instruction and are as follows:
Unit 1: Intro to Project Management & Leadership
Unit 1+: Construction Leadership & Communication
Unit 2: Initiating & Planning (Part 1)
Unit 3: Initiating & Planning (Part 2)
Unit 4: Executing
Unit 5: Monitoring, Controlling, & Project Closeout
Unit Breakdown
Unit 1: Intro to Project Management & Leadership
Unit 1 will discuss how a successful Project Manager must be competent and efficiently model specific soft and technical skills. Each of these skills are defined and examples provided to highlight the skill’s purpose and its proper implementation during a project. Unit 1 will also provide a high-level overview of construction law, highlighting specific terms, and the PM’s responsibilities. Additionally, there will be an introduction and emphasis on project safety.
Course objectives include:
- The five process groups in Project Management
- Project Managers’ role and responsibilities in the construction industry
- Identify the technical and soft skills critical to the Project Manager role
- Identify State and Federal construction industry safety laws
- Identify the four most common types of project delivery systems
- Explain the purpose of an Estimate during project planning
- Explain the difference between quality assurance and quality control
- Describe the Project Manager’s role in documenting progress throughout the project
- Discuss the importance of project safety and risk
Unit 1+: Construction Leadership & Communication
PMDP+ Exclusive!
Unit 1+ is exclusive to PMDP+ and serves as an introduction to the principles and practices of effective leadership and communication in construction project management. It focuses on equipping project managers with the leadership mindset, interpersonal skills, and strategic communication tools required to excel in dynamic, high-stakes environments.
Course objectives include:
- Discuss the importance of leadership and teamwork
- Leading and motivating others
- The value of effective management
- Summarize the value of communication and ethics
- Discuss the importance of time management and work/life balance
- Effective communication
- Communication on the job site
Unit 2: Initiating & Planning (Part 1)
Unit 2 focuses on the first two process groups of Project Management: Initiating and Planning. This unit introduces the Initiation process group of Project Management. The instructor will cover the types of stakeholders involved in a construction project, from initiation to completion. The process of defining the project objectives, creating the Project Charter, and choosing an appropriate project delivery system will be reviewed. This unit also defines the concept of Project Scope. Instructors explore the purpose of the Project Scope and how it impacts the project during the entire project life cycle. The remainder of this unit focuses on the Planning process group of Project Management. This unit covers the elements of a Project Management Plan in detail. Project Managers learn how to develop a schedule for a construction project.
Course objectives include:
- Define the five process groups in Project Management
- Identify the stakeholders participating in a construction project
- Determine the project objectives
- Explain the purpose of the project scope
- Discuss the importance of a Project Plan to the success of a construction project
- Discuss the differences between planning and scheduling
- List the documents included in a Project Plan
Unit 3: Initiating & Planning (Part 2)
Unit 3 is a continuation of Unit 2, Initiating and Planning, Part 1. This unit covers determining project cost to include Estimates, Bids and final Budget, in depth. Instructors will teach Project Managers how to identify project resources and develop plans for quality, team acquisition, communication management, identifying and managing risk, project procurement, and stakeholder management.
Course objectives include:
- Explain the difference between a Budget, an Estimate, and a Bid
- List the steps to create an Estimate and Bid in chronological order
- Identify the differences between the components of an Estimate
- List the characteristics of an effective Estimate
- List the documents included in a completed Estimate
- Describe the differences between a contractor and a subcontractor
- Determine overhead costs and factor them into Estimates
- Explain the benefits of implementing Value Engineering
- Identify the elements of a Team Acquisition Plan for a construction project
- Identify the elements of a Communication Management Plan, Risk Management Plan,
Project Procurement Plan, and Stakeholder Management Plan for a construction project
Unit 4: Executing
Unit 4 presents the third process group of Project Management: Executing. This unit introduces contract management in the construction industry. Project Managers learn the steps to creating a contract, reviewing contract documents, and identifying the difference between contractors and subcontractors. This section also addresses how to bill during a project, the reason(s) for contract termination, and the steps to contract termination. Section Two of this unit covers effective implementation of the project.
Course objectives include:
- Discuss contract language related to a construction project
- Identify techniques for negotiating contracts and subcontracts
- Identify the circumstances that lead to contract termination
- Discuss the importance of tracking the Estimate against project costs
- Summarize the steps to acquiring and developing a project team
- Describe the process for distributing documentation during a project
- Discuss how to implement risk responses to previously identified project risks
- Identify the process for purchasing and procurement of project materials
- Discuss the challenges of selecting equipment for a construction project
- Identify techniques for managing routine and surprise inspections
Unit 5: Monitoring, Controlling, & Project Closeout
This unit presents the fourth and fifth process groups of Project Management: Monitoring and Controlling; and Closing. This unit focuses on changes that may occur during the life cycle of a project and how to finalize project processes. This unit emphasizes that the Executing, and Monitoring and Controlling process groups are iterative processes. It also addresses topics such as dispute resolution, how to document changes, the impact of changes on the overall schedule and budget, maintaining quality assurance, and change order management. This final unit focuses on the process of closing out a construction project. The instructors review the process for project closeout to include both administrative closure and contract closure. This unit emphasizes customer satisfaction and reviews the required communication with and documentation for the owner during closeout.
Course objectives include:
- Describe how changes to the project impact the overall project scope and estimate
- Manage changes to the project schedule during a project
- Outline the steps to engaging with building authorities
- Oversee the processing of claims for time and cost
- Identify conflict resolution techniques to monitor disputes
- Outline tips for scheduling an effective meeting
- Describe the process of closing out a project with a client
- Explain the additional closeout requirements for a LEED-Certified project