If you are an owner, contractor, supplier, academic or student within the capital projects industry who is looking to join an organization where you can exchange best practices, resources and opportunities with like-minded individuals, Capital Projects Professional Exchange (CPX) is the ideal one to join.
CPX has been in development since May 2015 by Noé H. Sáenz, who until recently was also leading its research committee.
“My initial idea was to write a guide for capital project professionals mainly to introduce students and professionals to how a capital project works, its lifecycle, its phases and the disciplines involved,” stated Sáenz, who works in process and industrial business development at Burns & McDonnell. “After months of research, initial writings, interviews and feedback, it became evident that there hasn’t been an organization dedicated to capital project professionals across all disciplines. Therefore, this is what started the development of CPX.”
Sáenz said CPX’s purpose is to bring together all capital project stakeholders to focus on one mission: to accelerate professional development and team innovation.
“CPX benefits our members by making them aware of new technologies, best practices, resources, opportunities, etc.,” explained Sáenz. “One of the biggest problems in our industry has been an ‘awareness and knowledge bottleneck’ due to the fact that 99 percent of project professionals cannot attend industry conferences. CPX will change this.”
One way it is narrowing this knowledge gap is by allowing CPX members to contribute to the industry from anywhere they are — at the office, at a jobsite, while traveling or at home.
“It also helps them learn and network,” elaborated Sáenz, whose vision for the organization is to build it to become the premier association of capital project professionals. “Our project professionals will not only benefit from CPX, but it will also accelerate their careers!”
Sáenz said CPX has one main goal this year: Conduct the first crowdsourced research study in the capital projects industry with at least 1,000 professionals focused on three key areas:
1. Professional development interests and the needs of its project professionals.
2. Association models and priorities that best serve the needs of CPX’s membership.
3. Online community platforms that would best fit its membership needs.
“To accomplish this goal my main responsibility is building a great team of volunteer professionals, executives, students and retirees who are passionate about CPX’s purpose and mission,” asserted Sáenz. “They will be the faces of CPX, and those in industry will see the value in joining us to be part of the professional exchange for accelerating our development.”
CPX was officially introduced at the Coreworx Project Excellence Houston Conference on April 21. Industry professionals can become a CPX member by joining its LinkedIn group at www.linkedin.com/groups/8509869, getting involved in the conversation and participating in its research activities.
“If you are interested in being a part of a CPX committee or forming a CPX chapter after becoming an active member, you can register at www.CPXonline.org/JoinUs to receive more information,” said Sáenz. “We are also inviting a select number of companies and organizations to become our sponsors. Sponsorship information can be requested on our website.
“CPX will offer our membership a new approach to a professional association. We will be an online community for our professionals, retirees and students to learn, network and contribute to our industry from anywhere in the world!”
For more information, visit its LinkedIn group page or www.CPXonline.org.
