News

Written by Sue Dyer, Founder, IPI

Imagine an organization where conflict is rare, trust is pervasive, and teams effortlessly collaborate to consistently deliver extraordinary results. This vision isn't a dream—it's the remarkable reality at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), thanks to their commitment to Collaborative Partnering (CP) and IPI. SFO’s Director, John Martin, was one of the founders of IPI. Today IPI is led by Judi Mosqueda, SFO’s Chief Development Officer, who serves as President. This case study explores how SFO not only achieved extraordinary outcomes in their construction projects but also transformed their entire organization into a cohesive, focused, and high-performing enterprise through IPI’s Collaborative Partnering. 

A Vision for Excellence 

Two decades ago, SFO was ambitious yet faced familiar organizational challenges: conflicting stakeholder priorities, budget overruns, and misaligned teams. Today, SFO is globally recognized, attracting 53 million passengers annually, regularly achieving top rankings for passenger spending, innovation, safety, and sustainability. SFO credits this transformation to their adoption of Collaborative Partnering, initially embraced in their construction projects and later integrated throughout the organization. 

Building a Foundation with Collaborative Partnering 

IPI's Collaborative Partnering is built on values that transform organizations: Trust, Fairness, Transparency, Respect, Cooperation, and Commitment. By embedding these values deeply within the organization, SFO moved beyond individual projects to reshape its entire culture. 

The Collaborative Partnering Hierarchy: SFO's Roadmap to Success

IPI’s Collaborative Partnering Hierarchy provides a clear, scalable pathway for organizational transformation: 

Step 1: Internal Alignment through Collaborative Strategic Planning 

The first transformative step at SFO was aligning internal stakeholders through Collaborative Strategic Planning. Leadership collectively established a shared vision and strategic goals, creating clarity and unity. This foundational alignment became the cornerstone for collaboration, significantly enhancing organizational focus and teamwork. 

Step 2: External Alignment with Strategic Partnering 

Recognizing the necessity of external collaboration, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) proactively engaged critical external stakeholders—airlines, government agencies, and local communities. This alignment significantly streamlined processes such as regulatory compliance, noise abatement, and environmental sustainability, turning potential adversaries into strategic allies. 

Step 3: Structured Project Alignment 

With internal and external alignment firmly in place, SFO implemented Structured Collaborative Project Partnering across its construction projects. This approach revolutionized project delivery, consistently achieving cost savings of 20-30% per square foot compared to industry norms and eliminating costly claims entirely for over a decade. 

Step 4: Comprehensive Program Alignment 

Expanding on project successes, SFO scaled the Collaborative Partnering approach across its entire capital improvement program. Clear expectations, reinforced through collaborative scorecards, ensured sustained high performance and accountability across diverse projects and departments, magnifying success exponentially. 

Steps 5 & 6: Achieving a Culture of Extraordinary Outcomes 

The final steps transformed SFO’s entire organizational culture. Collaboration became ingrained as a core operational principle, yielding innovation, high performance, and continuous improvement. The accumulated momentum and cohesion positioned SFO as a world-class organization admired globally for its innovation, efficiency, and organizational culture. 

Results That Speak Volumes 

By fully embracing IPI’s Collaborative Partnering, SFO experienced profound organizational transformation: 

• Record Passenger Growth and Revenue: By embedding collaboration, SFO boosted passenger growth dramatically, becoming one of the fastest-growing airports globally and regularly topping per-passenger spending metrics. 

• Award-Winning Excellence: Recognition poured in from industry bodies, highlighting SFO’s accomplishments in sustainability, safety, customer experience, and operational excellence. 

• Financial Efficiency and Stability: Significant and sustained cost savings across the capital program freed resources for innovation and service enhancements. 

• Conflict-Free Project Execution: Through Collaborative Partnering, SFO eliminated costly litigation and claims, enhancing predictability, project timelines, and budgeting. 

A Model for Organizational Excellence 

SFO's experience underscores a compelling truth: Collaborative Partnering, systematically applied, not only delivers extraordinary project outcomes but elevates an entire organization's culture and capability. It turns common adversarial environments into collaborative, innovative powerhouses capable of sustaining excellence. 

Start Your Collaborative Journey 

The journey begins with a single step. By following IPI's structured methodology, your organization can replicate SFO’s success—transforming not just your projects but your culture, operations, and overall organizational health. 

Now is the moment to ask yourself: What could your organization accomplish by fully embracing Collaborative Partnering? 

Unlock extraordinary results and organizational transformation with IPI’s Collaborative Partnering. It’s more than a method—it's your pathway to becoming an organization that excels consistently, collaboratively, and sustainably. 

Discover how Collaborative Partnering can transform your projects, teams, and enterprise. Take the first step toward organizational excellence today by getting your team trained in the IPI Project Leadership Certification courses, and by joining IPI today.  

Written by Sue Dyer, Founder, IPI

As the construction industry evolves rapidly towards alternative delivery methods like Progressive Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and others, one thing becomes abundantly clear: collaboration is no longer optional—it is essential. This rings true for low-bid projects as well. As the industry shifts to embrace a new culture, one of trust, open communication, and high-performance collaboration, all projects are and will be impacted. If your organization is feeling the pressure to transition from traditional, adversarial practices to collaborative delivery, then joining the International Partnering Institute (IPI) is not just smart; it's essential. 

Understanding the New Landscape 

Owners, contractors, and project managers alike are increasingly adopting alternative delivery methods because of their proven benefits: substantial cost and schedule savings, improved safety and quality, reduced claims, and significantly enhanced team morale. Yet, for many, the transition remains challenging. Teams using and accustomed to low-bid adversarial environments often find themselves struggling when thrust into collaborative delivery ideas and models. Projects that fail to adapt continue to see disappointing results—delays, claims, stress, and a deteriorating project culture. This is because all projects require collaboration to succeed – no matter what delivery method you use.  

This is precisely where IPI steps in as your essential guide, empowering organizations to not only survive but thrive in the new construction landscape. 

Why IPI is Your Ideal Partner 

Founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, IPI emerged from a coalition of visionary owners, contractors, builders, and construction managers who recognized the immense value of collaboration. With proven outcomes including 5-10% cost and schedule savings, dramatic safety and quality enhancements, and a notable increase in team happiness, IPI quickly became the premier organization advancing the art and science of Collaborative Partnering. 

Since it’s inception, IPI has been dedicated to changing construction's adversarial culture to one of genuine collaboration, trust, and mutual benefit. By joining IPI, your organization gains immediate access to a network of leaders, industry-best practices, educational resources, and tools specifically designed to foster high-performing, collaborative project teams. 

Real Results, Right from the Start 

IPI’s Project Leader Certification Training has been transformational for many teams. Organizations that have taken their teams through this training report immediate and lasting momentum, significantly accelerating project performance. With a common framework, language, and clear intentions, teams become cohesive, aligned, and proactive—consistently overcoming challenges collaboratively, rather than succumbing to them. 

Imagine your next project where the team is fully engaged, communicating openly, and resolving issues rapidly with optimal solutions. Picture projects achieving incredible results, such as delivering a million dollars of work per day and compressing timelines from years to mere months or even weeks. These are not hypothetical scenarios; they are real results from IPI-Collaborative Partnering project teams. 

How Joining IPI Enhances Your Organization 

When your organization joins IPI, you become part of an active, innovative community that continually shares insights and best practices. You benefit from: 

• Cutting-edge Education: Continuous access to white papers, research, articles, webinars, and mini-trainings designed specifically to help your team excel. 

• Direct Connection to Industry Leaders: Engage with experts and peers who have mastered collaborative project delivery and who openly share their lessons and strategies. 

• Proven Tools and Resources: Immediate access to IPI's Collaborative Partnering Framework, Collaboration Buyer’s Guides, and strategic resources to assist your team on every project. 

• Networking Opportunities: Build meaningful relationships with owners, contractors, and project managers committed to collaboration, enhancing both project and career opportunities for your team. 

Begin Your Journey with IPI Certification 

The first, and perhaps the most impactful step, is certifying your project team through IPI’s Project Leader Certification. By training your team members together, you create a shared understanding of collaborative practices that fosters trust and high performance from day one. Organizations that pursue this certification see a remarkable transformation in their teams—confidence replaces uncertainty, and genuine collaboration replaces adversarial attitudes. 

IPI's structured certification process is straightforward and deeply impactful: 

1. Enroll Your Team: Identify and enroll your project team members in the certification courses. 

1. Gain Immediate Momentum: Your team learns the essential skills to implement collaborative partnering effectively, enhancing performance right from the start of the project. 

1. Experience Long-term Success: Watch as your certified project team consistently delivers better results—faster, smarter, and with far greater satisfaction for all involved. 

Join Today, Transform Tomorrow 

The future belongs to those organizations that understand and embrace collaboration. By becoming an IPI member, your team gains the immediate competitive edge necessary to excel in the modern construction landscape. From powerful networking and learning opportunities to access to groundbreaking methodologies, IPI membership provides the critical resources your organization needs to succeed. 

Next Steps to Joining IPI 

Take these immediate steps to ensure your organization remains at the forefront of industry innovation: 

• Join IPI Today: Complete your Organizational Membership application. It’s quick, easy, and the first step towards transforming your approach to project delivery. 

• Certify Your Team: Schedule your project team for IPI’s Project Leader Certification Training and create an immediate, measurable impact on your project’s outcomes. 

• Engage and Lead: Participate actively in IPI’s community—volunteer for committees, attend and speak at events, contribute articles, and leverage the collective wisdom of other industry leaders. Celebrate with your project team their success by winning a prestigious IPI Partnering Award.  

Your Organization Deserves to Succeed 

Your employees, your projects, and your results all deserve the benefits of a collaborative approach. The transition is not only possible—it is essential. Avoid the stress, inefficiency, and financial risks associated with outdated, adversarial methods. Instead, become the organization others aspire to emulate. 

With IPI’s proven support and resources, the journey from apprehension to confidence—from mere survival to thriving success—is not just achievable; it’s guaranteed. Make today the day your organization steps into a brighter, more collaborative future. 

Your projects, your teams, and your results deserve nothing less.  Join IPI now and begin your transformation. 

Written by Sue Dyer, Founder, IPI

In the construction industry, the difference between a high-performing project and one plagued by delays, claims, and conflict often comes down to one critical factor: collaboration.

For decades, Collaborative Partnering (CP) has transformed construction projects by fostering trust, alignment, and proactive problem-solving among stakeholders. But how do you know if Collaborative Partnering is right for your project?

The Collaborative Partnering Potential Indicator (CPPI) is a powerful risk assessment tool developed from insights across 4,000+ projects, ranging in size from $400,000 to $12 billion. By identifying risk factors that increase the likelihood of conflict and inefficiencies, the CPPI helps project leaders make an informed decision about whether Collaborative Partnering (CP) will benefit their project.

What is the Collaborative Partnering Potential Indicator?

The CPPI is a structured evaluation tool that assesses project complexity, team dynamics, stakeholder alignment, and risk exposure. It provides a quantitative score that indicates how much your project stands to gain from Collaborative Partnering.

The assessment consists of 33 key risk factors, covering areas such as:

• Team Relationships & Trust – Have the stakeholders worked together before? Is there a history of disputes?
• Project Complexity & Risk – Is the design complex? Are there environmental, budget, or scheduling challenges?
• Stakeholder Alignment – Are roles and responsibilities clear? Are all organizations committed to the same goals?
• Contract & Procurement Risks – Are contract documents clear? Are payments expected to be prompt?
• External Challenges – Are there political, environmental, or third-party risks that could impact success?

Each risk factor is rated on a scale from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 3 (Strongly Agree).

After scoring, projects fall into one of four risk categories:

• 90-99 (Low Risk) – CP provides an opportunity to enhance innovation and performance.
• 80-89 (Moderate Risk) – CP helps reduce risks and strengthen stakeholder alignment.
• 70-79 (High Risk) – CP is critical to mitigating risks and improving project success.
• Below 69 (Very High Risk) – CP is essential for avoiding major conflicts, delays, and cost overruns.

Why Use Collaborative Partnering?

The CPPI helps identify risks before they turn into costly problems. But beyond risk mitigation, Collaborative Partnering drives measurable performance improvements.

Here’s what teams experience when they embrace CP:

• 5-10% Cost Reduction – Through proactive issue resolution, risk mitigation, and reduced claims.
• 5-10% Faster Project Completion – By eliminating delays, gaining momentum, and streamlining decision-making.
• 12% Greater Stakeholder Satisfaction – Improved working relationships lead to better morale and engagement.
• Improved Safety & Quality – Teams aligned on goals create safer, higher-quality outcomes.

Who wouldn’t want these benefits for their project?

How CP Builds a High-Trust, High-Performing Team

The biggest barrier to success in construction projects is often distrust. Adversarial relationships between owners, designers, and contractors result in misaligned priorities, communication breakdowns, and disputes.

Collaborative Partnering transforms this dynamic by:

• Creating Shared Goals – Aligning all stakeholders on objectives from the start.
• Facilitating Open Communication – Preventing misunderstandings before they escalate.
• Improving Decision-Making – Ensuring accountability and clear resolution pathways.
• Building Resilience – Turning challenges into opportunities for innovation.

By implementing Collaborative Partnering (CP), teams shift from transactional relationships to collaborative, high-trust environments where everyone wins.

Breaking Down the CPPI Risk Factors

The CPPI assessment covers the following areas, each representing a major predictor of project success or failure:

1. Team Relationships & Trust

• Have the stakeholders worked together before?
• Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined?
• Are there past personality conflicts or disputes?

Risk Warning: If your project scores high in this category, expect misalignment, slow decision-making, and potential legal disputes.

How CP Helps: Establishing trust through partnering workshops, team charters, and proactive communication prevents conflicts from escalating.

2. Project Complexity & Risk

• Is the project scope clearly defined?
• Are the design and construction aspects complex?
• Are site conditions or environmental issues a concern?

Risk Warning: Unclear project scope or complex site conditions often lead to delays and costly rework.

How CP Helps: CP facilitates early alignment on scope, preemptive risk management, and real-time problem-solving.

3. Contractual & Procurement Challenges

• Are contract documents well-structured?
• Is there a risk of delayed payments?
• Is a fair dispute resolution process in place?

Risk Warning: Poor contract clarity and slow payments create distrust, reduced productivity, and potential claims.

How CP Helps: Partnering Charters ensure transparent communication and commitment to fair practices.

4. External & Political Risks

• Is this a politically sensitive project?
• Are there third-party stakeholders that could create challenges?

Risk Warning: Political pressures and external risks can derail project momentum.

How CP Helps: CP provides structured stakeholder alignment and proactive risk mitigation strategies.

How to Get Started with Collaborative Partnering

If your CPPI score suggests that Collaborative Partnering is critical to your success, the next step is to integrate CP Best Practices into your project.

IPI’s Collaborative Partnering (CP) Process Includes:

• Partnering Workshops – Align teams on goals, responsibilities, and issue resolution strategies.
• Partnering Charters – Formal agreements to reinforce shared commitments and collaborative problem-solving.
• Regular Check-Ins – Proactive discussions to maintain alignment and resolve emerging issues.
• Dispute Resolution Processes – Systems to address conflicts before they escalate into claims.

To maximize results, IPI’s Project Leader Certification Training equips leaders with tools and strategies to foster collaboration, accountability, and high performance.

Why Leave Success to Chance?

The Collaborative Partnering Potential Indicator (CPPI) is a proven tool that eliminates guesswork and helps teams determine if Collaborative Partnering is essential for their project.

By reducing costs, accelerating schedules, and fostering high-trust, high-performing teams, CP transforms construction projects into predictable successes.

The question isn’t “Should we use Collaborative Partnering?”—it’s “Why wouldn’t we?”

And if you and your team want to be experts in using Collaborative Partnering, sign up for the IPI Project Leader Certification Training. This program equips project leaders with the strategies, tools, and best practices to master collaboration, drive efficiency, and lead high-performing teams.

Take the CPPI assessment today and see how Collaborative Partnering can set your project up for success.

Chandler, AZ, June 17, 2025 — The International Partnering Institute (IPI) proudly announces its 2025 Board of Directors, a dedicated group of professionals committed to advancing collaborative Partnering practices across the construction industry.

Leading the Board as President is Judi Mosqueda of San Francisco International Airport, representing Owners and bringing extensive leadership experience and a strong commitment to IPI’s mission of delivering Partnering that works™.

Newly appointed as Vice President is Darrin Lambrigger, PE, CCM, of the Port of Long Beach. A long-time advocate for effective Partnering and collaborative project delivery, Darrin brings deep expertise and public sector leadership to this executive role.

Continuing in the role of Treasurer is Rob Reaugh of OrgMetrics LLC, whose long-standing involvement with IPI and fiscal leadership provides continuity and strength in financial oversight.

Participating as At-Large Members are:

• Mike Costa, Flatiron
• Shannon Gustine, Hensel Phelps Construction Company
• Ramon Hopkins, California Department of Transportation
• Tom Taylor, Webcor Builders

These professionals bring diverse perspectives and industry expertise, helping to guide IPI’s strategic direction and strengthen its community outreach.

Committee Directors

Serving as Directors, each of whom chairs or liaises with key IPI committees, are:

• Randy Fessler, California Department of Water Resources
  Director, Awards
• Talin Espinoza, Royal Electric Company
  Director, Membership
• Kaity Stewart, Crawford Consulting Services
  Director, Mission & Research
• Lisa Watada, WSP USA
  Director, Conference

These leaders are essential to advancing IPI's initiatives and supporting the growing volunteer community.

Non-Voting Board Members

IPI also recognizes its dedicated non-voting Board members:

• Sue Dyer, Director (Ex-Officio, Education/Certification) and IPI Founder
• Brandy Richardson, CAE, Executive Director

Their ongoing support and institutional knowledge continue to be invaluable to the success and sustainability of IPI programs.

“The 2025 Board brings a wealth of industry insight, passion for collaboration, and commitment to improving project outcomes through Partnering,” said Brandy Richardson, Executive Director of IPI. “We’re excited for the leadership and vision this group brings as we continue to support owners, contractors, and facilitators across the construction industry.”