By Anthony Dunams, PE, CVS – Editor, Value World
So, a cool and well-deserved thing happened since the last issue, the acronym after my name changed. It miraculously changed from VMA to CVS after a process that I would like to say took a year, but it was a few years. Just last week I received notice that I met the requirements for becoming certified as a CVS. It was a journey and once getting this certification I can say, after the fact, that it was rewarding to have achieved this certification. To all others that are VMAs or are in the process to become a CVS, keep charging ahead and your hard work and perseverance will pay off. For me, I am pleased to become part of a small but accomplished group.
We are closing in on the end of the reign of our President, Renee Hoekstra, and she is still busy in fostering relationships that should expand and expound the VM message beyond our walls and I think that is the most desirable aspect we all have to do as VM practitioners.
Another great thing happened last week – the Zoom meeting panel on Coming Out of COVID; VE in a New Era of Work. I will tell you I was happy to see some faces I have not seen in a while and also to meet new colleagues and discuss something that is all near and dear to our hearts, the practice and implementation of the Value Methodology. It was an interesting event and one that I hope we implement monthly but also I can’t wait to see all of you face to face in 2022.
One thing that jumped out at me was how I miss the camaraderie and analysis that comes when you are standing at a plan set that was taped to the wall and visually walking the whole alignment of the highway, the rail line, or the stream to discuss and pitch value alternatives that improve the function of that project. We discussed new tools for doing function analysis like Miro but there are also great web tools like a “story map” approach that we used on a recent stream restoration project. As you scrolled down the whole story of the project and a great overview of the project is presented – it gives one the sense of standing in front of a taped project and seeing the whole project and seeing it clear. It was very effective and very visually useful.
Has anyone else come across tools or options like this that have helped the deliberation on a study? If so, be willing to share with others as Renee stated in her article. Let’s continue to be LEADERS in virtual approaches.
Enjoy this edition and be safe out there.
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