Neal Flesner, Author at Velo Group

Construction PartneringJuly 10, 2026July 10, 2026

Finishing the Work Together: The Power of Partnering at China Lake

Seven years after two powerful earthquakes devastated Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, military, government and industry leaders gathered to celebrate a milestone years in the making: completion of the final recovery project. The …

Construction PartneringJune 8, 2026June 8, 2026

Turning Around the Challenged Construction Project – The Imperative of Having Partnership Goals

Jim Eisenhart, Reset Partnering, Ventura, California In our first article of this series (April, 2026), we spoke of why well-intentioned professionals from reputable organizations — even when using a collaborative project delivery method — can …

Construction PartneringMay 23, 2026

11 VELO Group-Facilitated Projects Honored at 2026 IPI Awards

VELO Group is proud to celebrate the recognition of 11 outstanding project teams at the 2026 International Partnering Institute (IPI) Collaborate 2026 Conference and Awards Ceremony. Held on April 30, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif, …

Construction PartneringMay 23, 2026

Supporting Mental Health in Construction Through Partnering

Every May, Mental Health Awareness Month encourages industries across the country to take a closer look at the well-being of their workforce. In construction, that conversation is especially important. Construction professionals work in one of …

Construction PartneringApril 26, 2026May 6, 2026

Pulling the Rope Together: How Partnering Paved the Way at Travis AFB

When the goal is a runway open in time for an airshow, you need more than a great contractor. You need a team that trusts each other enough to solve problems in real time. The …

Congratulations to NAVFAC Southwest and all partners involved in completing the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) China Lake’s portion of work on the historic $2.7 billion, 26 individual projects that made up the earthquake recovery program at Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake. Through the successful delivery of 26 projects and 56 technically complex facilities, this extraordinary effort restored and modernized one of the Navy’s most critical research, development, testing and evaluation installations. Involving eight prime contractors and countless specialty contractors working alongside 150 military and civilian personnel during the peak of COVID-19, the scope and success of this monumental program are a testament to the collaborative spirit, perseverance and expertise of all parties. From the early recovery efforts such as construction of the temporary contractor berthing camp to the completion of the South Airfield Complex and the final close-out and move-in phases, this work showcases how teamwork and innovation can transform challenge into opportunity. “This achievement reflects the dedication and teamwork of our construction, engineering and contracting professionals across the OICC and ROICC teams, our industry partners, and the supported commanders,” said Capt. Cathy Eyrich, Commanding Officer, NAVFAC Southwest. “Their collaboration, expertise and relentless focus on mission success made it possible to transform a devastating event into a modern, resilient capability that will serve the Navy and the nation for decades to come.” VELO Group is especially proud to have supported this critical effort through our partnership with NAVFAC, the federal government, and various contractors over the last five years. As the partnering facilitator, we helped foster communication, alignment, and collaboration among diverse stakeholders throughout the program — ensuring the mission stayed on track through unprecedented conditions and complexity. Learn more about this milestone from NAVFAC Southwest’s announcement.

Construction PartneringFebruary 3, 2026

Bravo Zulu: NAVFAC Southwest Completes Mission at ROICC China Lake

Congratulations to NAVFAC Southwest and all partners involved in completing the Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) China Lake’s portion of work on the historic $2.7 billion, 26 individual projects that made up the …

Construction PartneringJuly 1, 2025July 10, 2026

Why the Construction Industry Still Needs Face-to-Face Meetings

In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s tempting to think we can run every project from behind a screen. Video calls, emails, and messaging apps make it easy to stay in touch without ever leaving the …

Construction PartneringFebruary 18, 2025

Construction Partnering Lesson’s Taken to Heart

By Neal Flesner As the president of Velo Group and an IPI Master Construction Partnering Facilitator, I’ve always been a firm believer that the foundation of any successful construction project is strong collaboration. So, when …

Construction PartneringNovember 5, 2024

Celebrating the Completion of the Seattle Lynnwood Link Extension Transit Line: A Model of Construction Partnering

The grand opening of the Sound Transit Lynnwood Link Extension (L300) on August 30, 2024, represents not only the launch of a vital transit line, but also a significant milestone in construction partnering and collaborative …

Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Ammunition Pier and Anaheim Bay Modernization Project

Construction PartneringOctober 1, 2024October 1, 2024

Building Success Through Collaboration

Building Success Through Collaboration: Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Ammunition Pier and Anaheim Bay Modernization Project The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach recently completed the Ammunition Pier and Anaheim Bay Modernization Project, a significant $157 …

Construction PartneringAugust 29, 2024

The Value of Face-to-Face Meetings in Construction Partnering: Leveraging the 7-38-55 Rule

At Velo Group, we frequently hear, “Should we hold this meeting face-to-face, or can we just get away with a video conference?” The answer isn’t straightforward-it depends on various factors. To shed light on this, let’s …

China Lake Naval Base Earthquake Recovery

Construction PartneringAugust 14, 2024August 16, 2024

China Lake: Celebrating Recovery and Resilience Five Years After the Ridgecrest Quake

It’s been nearly five years since the Ridgecrest earthquakes rocked the Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, a key hub for Navy research, testing, and weapon development. Established in 1943 during World War II, …