Learn how the Roux Institute partnered with Sebago Technics to drive project execution, better client relationships, and improved profitability.
Background
Sebago Technics is a 100% employee-owned creative engineering collective comprising 110+ design professionals and technical staff, with three offices across Southern and Western Maine. With over 40 years of experience, the company offers expertise in civil engineering, surveying, transportation, environmental services, landscape architecture, and more. Delivering successful projects for their clients has driven significant growth, with the firm doubling its number of employees in recent years.
The Challenge
After experiencing such significant growth, Sebago Technics needed to ensure more consistent implementation of project management best practices across project managers with varied levels of formal training. A strong, reliable project management discipline would help mitigate the risks of delays, errors, and rework as the company scales to support more clients. Sebago Technics’ leadership saw that reinforcing standards would ensure smoother project execution, better client relationships, and improved profitability for the business.
The Collaboration
Sebago Technics recognized the need to invest in its people through a project management training program. They chose to partner with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute for its project management faculty expertise and its capacity to tailor the program. Taking a customized training approach would ensure the development of individual team members’ skills – and establish a baseline for the organization’s project management approach.
Our partnership with the Roux Institute for the Project Management course proved to be a strategic investment. The institute’s academic rigor, combined with their ability to tailor real-world examples to our specific project work, created a relatable learning experience for our team. Our goal at the outset was to foster a unified cohort of project managers across Sebago and we believe we have succeeded by establishing common language and foundational knowledge to build upon.
While each manager naturally gravitates toward different methodologies, everyone emerged with innovative approaches and practical tools to elevate their project management capabilities. Perhaps most valuably, this shared experience deepened their appreciation for diverse perspectives within our team, further strengthening Sebago’s collaborative culture and project execution capabilities.
Kylie Mason
Chief Operating Officer, Sebago Technics
Deliverables
In Advancing Effective Project Management Practices, Sebago Technics employees engaged in 12 hours of live, virtual instruction led by expert Northeastern University faculty with professional experience in the construction industry. The six-week program built a common project language among Sebago Technics’ project managers.
Each session leveraged experiential learning to capture attention, foster engagement, and incorporate real-world projects from Sebago Technics’ portfolio, ensuring immediate application to the day-to-day of learners. Learning and team cohesion continued beyond the coursework, as Sebago Technics’ leaders reinforced learning through debriefs and study sessions.
The Results
Sebago Technics team members gained the skills to better manage projects, which led to higher productivity and customer satisfaction.
Learner feedback demonstrated the impact of the course:
Sebago Technics gained a more highly skilled workforce and a proven approach to project management that they’ll be able to leverage as they grow and serve more clients.
The Roux Institute brings Northeastern’s faculty expertise to develop and strengthen the workforce of partner organizations like Sebago Technics.
Connect with our team to see how Custom Learning programs can help your organization solve its most pressing issues.
Learn more about the Advancing Effective Project Management Practices course.
Learn more about Sebago Technics.