Avant IMC Delivers Major South Central Pennsylvania Regional Development Plan
November 30, 2009
(South Central, Pa)—Avant IMC presented the findings of its development strategy to the South Central Caucus of County Commissioners. This major planning initiative outlined regionally-significant strategies for integrating land use, transportation and economic development projects across eight counties in Pennsylvania.
The plan’s strategic goals and objectives were based on requirements for renewed growth and improved prosperity. These requirements rested on the premise that individual counties must work together on a regional basis to compete for state and federal funding to improve the infrastructure, attract private investments, and build community capacity.
The size and complexity of the action plan demanded a comprehensive effort for its development. Avant IMC gained consensus on strategies to manage growth and development through extensive stakeholder outreach and research regarding economic development. The intent of this process was to analyze a broad spectrum of information, share ideas among stakeholders, and agree upon approaches and an overarching strategy for communities and counties in the region.
The plan’s major categories included:
· Workforce and Education
· Regional, County, Municipal Cooperation
· Tourism and Recreation
· Transportation
· Environmental Utilities and Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
· Technology
According to the region’s Caucus of County Commissioners, Avant IMC brought unique expertise in change management, organizational development, inter-governmental cooperation, public-private partnerships and strategy formulation that are uncommon in Engineering, Architectural and Planning firms.
“We expect our clients will increasingly value this type of service as they all face the common denominator of rapid change,” said Gene Koontz, Avant IMC’s chairman.
Major MPO Selects Avant IMC for Strategic Business Plan
September 18, 2009
Avant IMC has been selected to develop strategic business plan for one of the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).
The business plan combines various elements of the organization’s regional transportation plan – based on extensive citizen outreach and work programs with different funding streams – and aligns them with legislative needs and opportunities. In comparison to traditional, independent transportation plans, the business plan integrates multiple assessments and programs.
Using innovative management tools, the Avant IMC team will base their final analysis on key strategic themes that are aligned with the MPO’s mission statement. At a minimum, these measures include financial, customer/stakeholder, operational and employee development perspectives.
“This project creates an opportunity for providing this type of strategic plan for any MPO in the country,” said Keith M. Chase, senior vice president of Avant IMC. “MPOs will play an increasingly important role in regional planning. A strategic business plan makes sense for any organization positioning to lead change.”
Performance Audit Finds Millions in Transportation Savings
August 10, 2009
(Boise, Idaho)—Pennsylvania-based consulting firm Avant IMC, LLC finalized its performance audit of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) earlier this year with good news for Idaho taxpayers.
By improving the department’s internal resource productivity, avoiding excessive financial costs, and delivering projects more efficiently, the state could continually save $30 million in transportation funding over the first five years and an additional $6.6 million in annual savings thereafter.
These findings were based upon a comprehensive state-wide effort to better maintain highway programs in three critical areas: management and performance, contractor selection and oversight, and outsourcing.
The study’s development was characterized by high expectations, strict legislative requirements, and a politically volatile environment. Despite these challenges, Avant IMC was successful in meeting every critical deadline and satisfying every legislative requirement set forth by the transportation department, the Governor’s Office, and the legislature.
House Transportation Chairwoman JoAn Wood, R-Rigby praised the audit’s intentions. “I thought it was very well done - it was exactly what we wanted,” she said. “What I really liked about this audit is the recommendations that came out of it - we should have the best department of transportation in the country if they follow all the recommendations that were made.”
ITD Board Chairman Darrell Manning said the auditors “did a superb job, I think, identifying many of the problems.” The audit, he said, “largely validates the direction the department has been headed for the past two years. … Believe me, we will be looking at it very strongly. Even though we’re in a crisis management situation at the moment with regard to funding, we’re still going to do everything we can … to improve the system.”
The report is available on the ITD Office of Performance Evaluations’ Web site at: http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/ope/publications/reports/r0903.html
Avant IMC Selected in Study of the Idaho Transportation Department
August 9, 2008
(Boise, Idaho)—The Legislative Office of Performance Evaluations announces its contract with a Pennsylvania-based company Avant IMC, LLC to conduct a performance audit of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD).
The Idaho Legislature requested an independent, objective performance audit of ITD, as outlined in House Concurrent Resolution No. 50. The Office of Performance Evaluations, under the direction of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee, is overseeing the contract and plans to release the consultant’s report of findings and recommendations to the Legislature in January 2009.
The performance audit of ITD will focus on the department’s highway programs in three areas: management and performance, contractor selection and oversight, and outsourcing. The detailed scope of the study is available at the Office of Performance Evaluations’ website www.idaho.gov/ope/ScopeITD.pdf.
Avant was one of four consulting firms who went through an extensive interview process with the Office of Performance Evaluations. The four firms were selected from a pool of 14 applicants who expressed interest in conducting the audit. The selection process was based on criteria that focused on finding a team of experts with the required and proven knowledge, skills, and experience to conduct the study and who have no conflicts of interest involving ITD and ITD Board.
Avant IMC is a joint venture between Gannett Fleming, Inc. and Dering Consulting Group, Inc. Gannett Fleming is an international planning, design, and construction management firm, which has been providing engineering services since 1915. Dering Consulting Group, a 21-year-old company, provides multi-disciplinary strategy and management consulting services to improve the performance of individuals, work teams, and entire organizations.
Avant IMC has assembled a very strong team with excellent credentials, complementary knowledge and skills, and many years of experience in management, and performance auditing, transportation, engineering, and construction. Team members include James M. Brock, president & CEO of Avant IMC; Rodney Dawson; Keith Chase; Bill Moyer, P.E; Scott Zeevaart, P.E.; Roberta Manshel; Paul Caulfield; and Ted Poister, Ph.D.
In addition to contracting with Avant IMC, the Office of Performance Evaluations has retained three other highly qualified independent consultants to work on this transportation audit: Michael Huddleston of Woodinville (WA), Robert Thomas of Olympia (WA), and Robert Williams of Clinton (WA). These three individuals bring many years of experience in performance auditing, transportation, operations management, financial analysis, capital planning, and systems analysis.
A number of these consultants will be working in Boise to meet with officials of the Governor’s Office, ITD, and Board.
The Office of Performance Evaluations is a nonpartisan office of the Idaho Legislature. The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee has eight members and is equally divided between the two political parties and the two chambers of the Idaho legislature. The committee is co-chaired by Senator Shawn Keough (R) of Sandpoint and Representative Margaret Henbest (D) of Boise.
Gannett Fleming and Dering Consulting Group Announce Avant IMC Joint Venture
August 30, 2006
(Harrisburg,
Avant IMC has experienced staff, representing diverse professional backgrounds. The unique blend of expertise helps organizations align strategic goals, define new roles, and ultimately achieve success.
Jim Brock, principal of Dering Consulting Group, serves as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Avant IMC. With more than 25 years of organizational development experience, and a certified project management professional (PMP), Brock translates strategy into action through organizational planning and decision-making to improve organizational performance and effectiveness.
Avant IMC is being led by a seven-member Board of Directors, including Brock and several employees of Gannett Fleming – Gene Koontz, P.E., senior vice president and director of the firm's Environmental Resources Division;
"We are especially excited about the combination of Avant IMC's strategic management and technical capabilities", stated Koontz. "Most of the organizations we serve face great challenges and opportunities associated with change in their internal, as well as external, operations."
To learn more about Avant IMC, please contact Jim Brock at (717) 234-5225.