Successful Public Sector Projects with AG|CM

Mar 31

Episode 52 of The Clear Voice is LIVE!

Summary

What does it take to deliver successful public sector projects, and why do so many municipal projects stall, fall behind, or miss expectations?

In this episode of The Clear Voice, Marty Schmitt and Kendra Hickman of AGCM join James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice, and Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, for a practical conversation on managing complex city and school district projects.

Drawing on extensive experience in owner’s representation, Marty and Kendra explain the common breakdowns that occur in public sector projects, including lack of bandwidth, unclear ownership, misaligned stakeholders, and gaps in communication. The discussion highlights the importance of having a dedicated partner focused on coordination, accountability, and proactive problem solving from the earliest stages of a project.

They also explore the real cost of not having that support, from delays and inefficiencies to increased risk and missed expectations. From building trust and aligning stakeholders to identifying early warning signs, this episode provides a clear and practical look at what it takes to keep public sector projects on track.

Key Topics

Delivering successful public sector projects
Common causes of project delays and failures
The role of an owner’s representative in municipal projects
Stakeholder alignment and communication challenges
Trust and accountability in capital projects
Early warning signs in project management
Financial oversight and risk mitigation

About Marty Schmitt and Kendra Hickman

Marty Schmitt, CCM, is the President and CEO of AGCM, a professional project management firm specializing in owner’s representation for public sector capital projects.

With decades of experience in construction and project management, Marty works directly with cities, school districts, and public agencies to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with the client’s goals. His leadership emphasizes trust, accountability, and guiding organizations through the complexities of large scale public projects.

Kendra Hickman, CCM, PMP, is the Director of Operations for AGCM’s South Texas region, where she oversees project delivery and coordination for public sector clients.

Her role focuses on ensuring alignment across stakeholders, maintaining communication between teams, and proactively identifying issues that can impact project timelines and outcomes. Kendra brings a strong operational perspective, helping organizations manage complex projects effectively, particularly when internal bandwidth is limited.

Leadership Takeaways

Successful public sector projects require more than technical execution. Clear ownership, coordination, and consistent communication across stakeholders are essential to keeping projects on track.

Many projects stall because organizations lack the internal bandwidth to manage complex, multi stakeholder efforts. Without a dedicated point of accountability, delays and misalignment begin to compound.

Trust plays a critical role in project success. Leaders must rely on subject matter experts while also ensuring that decisions are aligned with the best interests of the organization and the community.

The cost of not having focused project oversight extends beyond budget. Time, attention, and stakeholder alignment are often the first areas impacted when projects begin to drift.

Early identification of issues is key. Proactive involvement and clear communication can prevent small problems from becoming major setbacks.

Why This Episode Matters

Public sector organizations are under increasing pressure to deliver complex capital projects while managing limited resources and competing priorities.

Without the right structure and support, projects can stall, costs can increase, and public trust can be impacted.

This episode provides practical insight into how cities and public agencies can improve project outcomes by strengthening communication, accountability, and oversight, while also understanding the value of having the right partner involved from the start.

Guest Links

AGCM Website: https://www.agcm.com/
AGCM LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ag-cm-inc-/

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas-based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States. Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders.

Clear’s approach, known as the Clear Way, is a candidate-focused recruiting model designed to attract both active and passive candidates while maintaining strong communication throughout the process. This includes consistent engagement with applicants, clear expectations, and a commitment to transparency for both candidates and hiring organizations.

In addition to executive search services, Clear provides leadership development and training, organizational reviews, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, promotional assessments, compensation studies, and strategic consulting. These services are built to help cities and counties strengthen internal operations, develop future leaders, and align organizational structure with community expectations.

Clear also produces The Clear Voice podcast and PositionCast™ episodes, which are designed to elevate leadership conversations and bring executive-level career opportunities to life. These platforms provide insight into local government leadership, organizational culture, and the real-world challenges facing today’s public sector executives.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and executive leadership teams seeking experienced professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes.

Website: https://clearcareerpro.com/
Career Opportunities: https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities/
Recruitment Services: https://clearcareerpro.com/recruitment/
Services: https://clearcareerpro.com/services/
The Clear Voice Podcast: https://theclearvoice.podbean.com/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro

James Groom

James Groom works at the intersection of local government leadership, executive recruitment, and modern civic communication. James enjoyed a distinguished 25-year career in public service and municipal public safety, culminating in serving six years as the Chief of Police of the City of Venus, Texas. James has shifted his focus to helping public organizations find the right leaders and tell their stories more effectively.

Currently serving as Vice President with Clear Career Professionals, James supports executive recruitment efforts nationwide. He is also the Host and Producer of The Clear Voice, a show dedicated to the people and challenges shaping local government. His work blends business development with media-driven recruitment, translating complex organizational cultures into compelling narratives that attract high-quality talent.

At his core, James is a problem solver who believes that transparency and leadership development are the keys to building trust in local government.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrgroom/