Wednesday, 15 June 2016

Gilbert Fontenard - Tips For Completing Your First Real Estate Development

As an experienced civil engineer and real estate developer who has been involved in the industry for more than 25 years, Gilbert Fontenard is able to approach every project he takes part in with the benefit of prior experience. This is an asset that is not always available to those who are making their first forays into real estate development, so try to keep these pointers in mind to ensure your project is successful.

Understand Local Laws

Many countries will require you to meet a number of conditions before they will approve construction on a development project. These can include getting planning permission and ensuring that your development does not violate any zoning laws. Make it a point to visit the relevant people so that you can have face-to-face discussions about what can be done to resolve such issues.

Hire Good Contractors
While your budget will always be a concern, it is crucial that you hire contractors who are actually capable of doing the job. While this may mean spending a little bit more, you will find that you save in the long term and avoid any issues related to mismanagement of the construction aspect of the development. Conduct thorough research and make sure to examine previous projects that interested contractors have been involved in.

Build Relationships
Gilbert Fontenard notes that communication is key to the success of real estate development. You should stay in contact with all key stakeholders and investors to ensure they are up-to-date on recent developments. Make sure to form strong relationships with any contractors, architects and designers that are attached to the project as well.

Monday, 6 June 2016

Gilbert Fontenard - Strategies of Successful Construction Site Managers

Gilbert Fontenard completed his Masters in Construction Engineering and Management at the University of the West Indies in 1993 and has gone on to manage a number of sites during the course of his career as a civil engineer and real estate developer. Managing a construction site can often be difficult, especially when contractors, architects and key stakeholders all need to be taken into account. These strategies will help anybody who is new to the role.

Create Flows of Communication

As with all projects, communication is going to be key if you are to understand every factor that affects the success of the project. Make sure that you set up flows of communication between all key workers and stakeholders, ensuring you receive regular updates from those who are on the ground and can transmit this information to stakeholders as and when needed.

Observe Constantly
As a site manager Regular inspections are necessary. This will allow one to leverage their expertise and experience to achieve maximum efficacy while maintaining quality standards.

Hire Good Contractors

Gilbert Fontenard has experience working with a wide variety of contractors and understands just how much of a difference working with good specialists can make. Make sure you trust the people you’re working with and have researched them thoroughly before hiring.

Sunday, 29 May 2016

Gilbert Fontenard - The Three Important Factors of Highway Design Planning And Development

While working for the Ministry of Communications and Works in Saint Lucia, Gilbert Fontenard was involved in the review and supervision of construction of a new by-pass road to the city, which would be a part of the Millennium Highway. He has also worked on a number of other highways in similar capacities. Highway design and planning is a very involved complex and the initial stages take in three main areas.

Financing

Appropriating the financing required to build or improve an existing highway can often be difficult. This is, in part, due to the fact that the characteristics of highways, considerations of their effects on the environment and the pricing related to materials is constantly changing. This obviously means that the means of securing funding must also constantly change as well. However, without it no highway design project can get off the ground.

Environmental Impact

In an increasingly environmentally conscious world, the impact caused by the construction of a highway must be taken into account during the planning stages. Identification of impacts that could be caused to both the natural and socio-economic environments must be considered, with each of these impacts being evaluated so that measures can be put in place to mitigate or compensate for them.

Safety

Highway designers like Gilbert Fontenard must also consider the safety features that the highway will make use of in an effort to reduce the likelihood of accidents and fatalities. Interaction with road traffic systems needs to be taken into account, with potentially dangerous scenarios being accounted for as well.

Monday, 23 May 2016

Gilbert Fontenard - Qualities An Effective Project Manager Must Possess

In his role as a civil engineer, Gilbert Fontenard has been placed at the helm of a number of construction and engineering projects, which requires him to plan courses of action out for his project teams and interact with a variety of key stakeholders, contractors and Clients. Those who are going to find success in project management must have a number of key qualities, including all of the below.

Communication Skills
Project managers must be able to communicate with people at all levels of the project. They should take the time to get to know their team members, while also communicating instructions to them in a clear and concise manner. The ability to communicate effectively is second to none for project success.

Good Decision Makers
During the course of a project, the manager will be asked to make a number of decisions that may end up proving critical to the success of the project. Decisions must be quick but grounded on sound metrics after evaluation all contributory factors or scenarios. The best project managers are able to do this quickly and effectively to prevent delays from happening.

Technical Knowledge
Ensure that you are well grounded technically. You must be able to demonstrate your knowledge to your team members so that you not only gain their respect, but also have something of value to contribute to the project.
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