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Bob Killian, Project Manager of the Month, on Anticipating Clients’ Needs throughout Complex Projects

Headshot of Bob Killian
Tetra Tech CEO Dan Batrack created our Project Manager (PM) of the Month award to honor PMs who demonstrate excellence in supporting our clients and perform projects to the highest standards of quality and fiscal discipline.

Bob’s leadership supports our teams to stay safe and provides high-quality work to our clients.

Andrew Bolt, Unit President

Bob Killian is Tetra Tech’s November 2022 PM of the Month. He has more than 35 years of experience in the geosynthetics industry, including municipal and industrial waste, energy waste, and mining. Over the past six years, Bob has managed a wide array of geosynthetic construction projects in a variety of industries, installing millions of square feet of geosynthetics.

“We are all very proud of Bob and his commitment to our clients and his project teams. Bob’s leadership supports our teams to stay safe and provides high-quality work to our clients,” said Andrew Bolt, Unit President.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Texas A&M University, College Station and is based in our Houston, Texas, office.

“This recognition is a testament to our fantastic team of employees, located both in the office and traveling in the field, who diligently and safely work to provide a quality product for our customer, while meeting production goals and budgets,” said Bob.

We talked with Bob about managing successful geosynthetic installation projects to protect the environment and groundwater supplies.
Question:

What impact do your projects have on the communities you work in?

Our team has installed millions of square feet of geosynthetic material to support our clients’ projects. The geosynthetic installation work we do carries across various industries and includes solid waste landfill liners, mining sites, coal combustion residual landfills, and waste containment facilities.

Geosynthetic installations, such as geomembranes, provide an eco-friendly solution to protecting the local groundwater around mining sites, landfills, and power plants. We collaborate closely with our clients to maximize their budget through our knowledge of the production process and supply chain to deliver high-quality services and achieve their project goals on schedule.

Question:

What is your approach to managing a successful project team?

I prioritize the safety of my team. I act quickly to resolve any safety, production, or quality issues that might arise to achieve zero accidents or injuries on-site.

Respect and appreciation are critical aspects in maintaining a strong team relationship, and I appreciate every team member and the individual work they do. Along with respect, clear and direct communication is necessary in a successful team. We have the ability to provide constructive feedback, recognize achievements, and point out where improvements can be made as a team.

Question:

How do you maintain client satisfaction across a variety of complex projects?

Many projects I lead are difficult, multilayered installation projects. When I meet with clients, I work to understand the challenges certain projects could present and discuss potential options with them throughout the project’s execution. It is important to be transparent and build trust with open communication. As a project manager, I anticipate any issues that may arise throughout the project and proactively find solutions to meet client satisfaction. Every project requires a large amount of collaboration between our team and the client to meet our goals.
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