Jeffrey Kramer
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Mail code: 3005Campus: Tempe
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Jeffrey A. Kramer joined the Del E. Webb School of Construction (DEWSC) as a Faculty Associate in August 2022. Kramer retired from public service in August 2021 after 35 years in the public works industry, and now consults to public and private clients on topics including design and construction procurement, project management and delivery, leadership, and productivity.
At the time of his retirement Kramer worked for the City of Yuma in the role of Director of Engineering/City Engineer. While with the City of Yuma, Kramer developed and implemented a Job Order Contracting program and spearheaded an initiative that resulted in Council adoption of implementing an Intelligent Transportation System to better manage traffic issues in the City.
Prior to joining the City of Yuma, Kramer served as the Deputy City Engineer and the Transportation Department Director for the City of Mesa, as the Operations Division Manager for the Maricopa County Department of Transportation, as CIP Program Manager for the Town of Gilbert, and as the Director of the Alliance for Construction Excellence at ASU. During his career Kramer has been instrumental in promoting and educating about project delivery methods and project procurement, has successfully led over 100 project procurements, and has overseen completion of well over 200 projects via Construction Manager at Risk, Design Build, and Job Order Contracting with an aggregate value of over $2 billion in place.
Kramer is a Registered Professional Engineer in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico. He earned the Certified Construction Manager credential from the Construction Management Association of America in 2010, and the Certified Job Order Contracting Professional credential from the Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence in 2017. He has also earned credentials from the American Traffic Safety Services Association, FEMA, OSHA, and multiple coaching and training organizations, including certification as a Human Behavior Specialist (DISC practitioner) by Personality Insights and Working Genius facilitator by the Table Group (Patrick Lencioni).
Kramer holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona. In 2012 he was named a Public Works Leadership Fellow by the American Public Works Association, and was recipient of the American Academy of Certified Public Manager's Henning Award for Public Manager of the Year. In 2020 Kramer was named the inaugural recipient of the Harry H. Mellon Lifetime Distinguished Service Award from the Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence and was bestowed Emeritus Fellow status in the organization.
Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, 1986
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Certified Construction Manager, #A1877, Construction Management Assn of America
Certified Job Order Contracting Professional, #17-126, Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence
Certified Traffic Control Supervisor, #337410, American Traffic Safety Services Assn
30-Hour Construction Safety, #36-600971174, Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Certified Public Manager, National Certified Public Manager® Consortium
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Certified, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Management Institute
Certified Leadership, Productivity and Personal Development Coach, Speaker and Trainer
Certified DISC and 6 Types of Working Genius Facilitator
The Perfection Paradox, Author Academy Elite (Igniting Souls Publishing Agency), February 2021
"Scheduling: The art of getting work done," APWA Reporter, May 2022
"Great leaders know that challenging the process leads to positive change," APWA Reporter, June 2021
"Encourage the Heart," APWA Reporter, December 2020
Courses
2025 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
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CON 451 | Project Delivery Methods |
CON 551 | Project Delivery Methods |
2024 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
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CON 541 | Public Works Capital Con |
CON 441 | Public Works Capital Con |
2024 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
CON 451 | Innovative Project Delivery |
CON 551 | Alternative Proj Delivery Meth |
2023 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
CON 541 | Public Works Capital Con |
CON 441 | Public Works Capital Con |
2023 Spring
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
CON 451 | Innovative Project Delivery |
CON 551 | Alternative Proj Delivery Meth |
2022 Fall
Course Number | Course Title |
---|---|
CON 541 | Public Works Capital Con |
CON 441 | Public Works Capital Con |
- Alternative Project Delivery Methods Fundamentals
- Alternative Project Delivery Methods Best Management Practices
- CMAR Fundamentals
- Design-Build Fundamentals
- Job Order Contracting Fundamentals
- Procurement & Selection Process for Public Projects
- Certified Construction Project Manager (10 module program)
- Job Order Contracting Certificate Program (6 module program)
- Co-Presenter: BIM for Horizontal Infrastructure Projects, 2010 Arizona Roads & Streets Conference
- Co-Author: Delivering a Critical Raw Water Transmission Line Using Design-Build; The Perspective from the Town of Gilbert, AZ, 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers Pipelines Conference
- Co-Presenter: CIP Program Management – Making Your Shrinking Program Grow Again, 2012 Arizona Chapter APWA Statewide Conference
- Presenter: Implementation of an Asset/Maintenance Management System at MCDOT, 2013 Arizona Chapter APWA Statewide Conference
- Presenter: Leadership in Public Service, Overcoming Government’s Institutionalization of Mediocrity
- Presenter: Leadership and You
- Presenter: Leader Under Construction
- Presenter: CIP Development and Maintenance, Advanced Governmental Financial Management seminar (PAF 591 – ASU MPA Program)
- Presenter: Qualifications Based Selection – What’s Legal, & What’s Just Good Practice
- Presenter: Motivate...Engage...Lead...Succeed, July 2017 National Association of Practicing Accountants National Leadership Conference (Keynote)
- Presenter: The Perfection Paradox
- Presenter: Get Focused
- Presenter: Leadership Fundamentals, 2019 Cepeda Systems & Software Solutions Leadership Retreat
- Presenter: Communicating to Connect
- Panelist: Effectively Managing Remote Teams, 2020 American Public Works Association webinar
- Presenter: Effective Leadership Skills for Public Works, April 2021 APWA AZ Chapter Luncheon
- Panelist: Learning Leadership: APWA's Leadership Framework
- Panelist: Learning Leadership: How to be a Better Leader, 2021 APWA Click, Listen and Learn webinar
- Presenter: Perfectly Unhackable
Eagle Scout
Harry H. Mellon Lifetime Distinguished Service Award, CJE
Public Works Leadership Fellow, APWA
CMAA Project of the Year, projects under $150M - Santan Vista Water Treatment Plant (received a total of seven awards)
Henning Award (National Public Manager of the Year), AACPM
Leadership Award, AACPM
District Project of the Year Award, ADOT (3-time recipient)
American Public Works Association (APWA)
Member of National Leadership & Management Committee
Past Member of National Nominating Committee
Past AZ Chapter Delegate to APWA Council of Chapters
American Academy of Certified Public Managers® (AACPM), Fellow
Past Academy President (7-years national board service)
Past Academy Conference and Communication Committee Chair
Past AZ Society President (8 terms)
Past AZ Society Delegate to AACPM House of Delegates (9-times appointed)
Construction Management Association of America (CMAA)
Past Project of the Year Award judge (3-years’ service)
Instructor in Professional Construction Manager course
Center for Job Order Contracting Excellence (CJE), Fellow, Emeritus
Past Chair of Certified Job Order Contracting Professional (CJP) Credentialing Committee
Past Member of Owner’s Advisory Committee
Instructor in CJP certification course
August 2013 – Present
CEO, Ascension Leadership Group
Founder, Center for Successful Project Delivery
Provide professional consulting, training, coaching and speaking services to entities within and outside the design and construction industry. Topics focus on leadership development, productivity and overcoming perfectionism, design and construction procurement, and project delivery.
August 2017 – August 2021
City Engineer/Director of Engineering, City of Yuma
Led a staff of 28, with a nearly $3 million annual operating budget. Functional areas of responsibility include Transportation Systems Management and Operations, Development Engineering, Field Operations, Engineering Support Services, and Design and Construction Management, which delivered a $40 million average annual CIP including projects in the areas of streets, drainage, water and wastewater, parks, and municipal buildings.
December 2014 – August 2017
Director of Alliance for Construction Excellence, Arizona State University
Developed and delivered a variety of design and construction industry continuing education courses and programming, and provided industrywide leadership on key issues.
August 2012 – November 2014
Operations Division Manager, Maricopa County Department of Transportation
Led a staff of over 200 with a $35 million annual operating budget in planning and executing maintenance of the transportation system for the nation’s fourth most populous county.
December 2006 – August 2012
Municipal Services Director/Senior Program Manager, ARCADIS-US PMCM Division/Town of Gilbert
Led a team varying from two to eight project professionals in developing, managing and implementing the Town of Gilbert’s 5-year capital improvement program (CIP) and infrastructure improvement plan from programming through construction. Delivered approximately $1 billion of construction over six years. Provided administration of the consultant and contractor selection process, contract negotiation, contract management, schedule management, land acquisition (requirements through acquisition negotiations), utility coordination, review of all project documents, participation in project coordination and the public involvement process, GMP negotiations/bid opening and award activities, and progress documentation on applicable projects.
February 2004 – August 2006
Transportation Director, City of Mesa
Led a staff of 160, with a $33 million annual operating budget, responsible for all aspects of operating and maintaining the City’s transportation system.
January 2000 – August 2006
Deputy City Engineer – Design, City of Mesa
Led a staff of 28 responsible for planning, designing, and managing consultant contracts in delivery of the City of Mesa’s CIP program. Program averaged over 100 projects underway continuously, with an average annualized value of $12 million in design contracts and $150 million to $200 million in construction.
July 1993 – January 2000
Project Manager/Project Engineer, Various Consulting Engineers
Served as project engineer, project manager and transportation practice leader for various consulting engineering firms working in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada. Responsible for design of roadway, drainage, traffic and minor structural elements.
August 1990 – July 1993
Project Manager, Arizona Department of Transportation
Managed numerous high profile and critical corridor studies and highway projects throughout Arizona.
May 1986 – August 1990
EIT/Design Engineer, Arizona Department of Transportation
Completed 18-month rotational training program with assignments in all functional areas and was assigned to Roadway Design as assistant team leader.