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Mobilizing stakeholders toward a common goal

Building trust and making decisions

Building schools builds communities. But whether its teachers, families, students, maintenance staff, or the school board, the layers of stakeholders for these projects are complex, and getting everyone moving in the same direction is critical to its success. In today’s Ask the Expert, Rico Dawson-Velez shares his thoughts on how to get everyone on the same page and moving towards a common goal.

B&D: Tell us about your background and what led you to B&D.

Rico Dawson-Velez: I started my career over 30 years ago in the Navy as an engineer’s assistant, working with Navy construction battalions. After leaving the Navy, I stayed in California and worked for a government contractor doing overseas construction projects. Eventually, I started at B&D in 2017, with my first project being Oakland Unified School District.

B&D: You’ve worked with districts that are a complex network of stakeholder groups. How do help everyone move towards a common goal?

RD-V:  Before you move forward, you have to know the players involved. Building relationships early in the process helps to foster trust and communication, which helps stakeholders commit to a shared goal.

B&D: How do you move from stakeholder input to a clear plan of action?

RD-V: In the early stages, open and transparent communication is key. You develop a plan that engages stakeholders and gives them opportunities to provide input, so everyone is aligned around the same goal. When stakeholders understand the why, what, and how, it becomes much easier to move into planning and implementation.

B&D: How do you prevent decision paralysis on complex projects?

RD-V: Transparency is critical. People need to feel that their ideas matter and that constraints like budget, space, and design constraints are communicated early. When stakeholders understand the limitations and feel included, it’s much easier to keep momentum and move forward together.

B&D: Looking ahead, what are the biggest challenges for school districts?

RD-V: School districts are facing uncertainty around enrollment, funding, safety, and changing policies. Bond funding is a major challenge, especially as taxpayers feel economic pressure. As advisors, we help districts with their vision, prioritize projects, stay aligned with voter approved commitments, and adapt as conditions change. Anticipating challenges and helping clients prepare is a big part of what fuels me.

Thank you again to Rico for his participation in Ask the Expert. If you have a topic you’d like a future expert to cover, please submit them here.