Employees
Carmelita Thorndike, President
Carmelita Thorndike is majority stockholder/president of Scheduling Consultants, Ltd. and has been involved in planning and scheduling of more than $8 billion in construction projects. Her construction knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills have put SCL in the forefront of the construction planning and scheduling industry niche. She has worked with such respected clients as JE Dunn Construction, Drahota, Calcon, Haselden, Jaynes Corporation, Kiewet Building Group, S.T. Wooten, Alutiiq, Kisaq, Corrections Corp of America, Turner, Swinerton, and G.E. Johnson. She has extensive experience dealing with rigorous schedule specifications, demanding project logistics, and tough constructability issues. She is also proficient with all Primavera scheduling software applications. Carmelita has developed training programs for best practices in project planning and schedule controls for many of her clients.
Highlights of her contributions to the industry would include being a part of AACE's Planning & Scheduling Committee which includes coordinating Recommended Practice documents from industry leaders. She is a guest lecturer for FMI peer groups and conferences. She sat on the AGC Education & Career Development Board which included the creation of a Project Manager Boot Camp and Project Scheduling Seminar for the Oklahoma City chapter. She is also affiliated with AACE, NFIB, and NAWIC.
As a part of the community, Carmelita sits on the Planning Board for Mead, Colorado. In 2009 she was named on the Northern Colorado Business Report's "40 Under 40". Carmelita has been recognized as one of the "Best in Business" by The Coloradoan, and helped lead SCL to be one of the Mercury 100 Fastest Growing Companies for the past four years. "One of my proudest accomplishments is growing and nurturing a successful business. I take great pride in the people I work with and the projects we are a part of."
Craig Olsen, Founder
Craig Olsen is the founder of Scheduling Consultants, Ltd. Craig has been involved in the planning and detailed construction scheduling for more than $21 billion in construction projects. Craig's client base includes contractors and owners such as Athens Development and Solaris; contractors including Kiewit Building Group, G.E. Johnson, JE Dunn Construction, The Weitz Companies, Swinterton Builders, Hensel Phelps, Turner Construction, Skanska, Barton Malow Company, and The Beck Group. Craig has been hired on several projects to work with both the owner and contractor to plan the project's completion after the projects fell behind. His vast knowledge of the construction industry brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to contractors and owners.
In 1998, prior to founding Scheduling Consultants, Ltd., Craig was a consultant facilitating the resolution of complex construction contract disputes, which included the preparation of entitlements/liabilities, quantum, and schedule analysis. Craig's industry career also includes experience as the Vice President of a consulting firm that helped clients identify constraints to construction productivity. Craig started in the industry as a union laborer working his way through the ranks to become a project superintendent before working in the consulting field. His years of hands-on building experience and years of consulting experience make him a valued member of any construction team.
Craig enjoys studying the drawings and then assisting the team in the building of the projects on paper before entering the schedule into the computer. He also enjoys solving complex problems during the construction process.
Aaron Harper, Senior Project Control Specialist
Aaron Harper is a Senior Project Control Specialist at Scheduling Consultants, Ltd. Aaron has been involved in the planning and scheduling process for more than $2 billion in total construction projects. Active as well as past clients of Aaron's include JE Dunn Construction, Jaynes Corporation, The Weitz Company, Solaris Property Owner, Bryan Construction, Heath Construction, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, and R.A. Nelson & Associates.
Aaron's experience in private as well as federal construction projects has enabled him to master variable planning and scheduling requirements including baseline creation, progress monitoring, time-impact analysis, cost and resource monitoring, as well as formal written narratives describing construction changes and progression. His skill to create a plan and communicate that plan to a project team has proven to be an asset on large scale projects such as a $230 million condominium complex in Vail, Colorado, as well as a $142 million high school in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
Aaron has conglomerated his knowledge and expertise into a consistent guest lecturing role at Colorado State University to discuss tips for planning a successful project with detailed examples. He has also delivered CPM scheduling training for superintendents, project managers, and project executives.
Kylee O'Dwyer, Senior Project Control Specialist
Kylee O'Dwyer is a Senior Project Control Specialist at Scheduling Consultants, Ltd. She has been involved in planning and scheduling more than $2 billion in total construction projects, with projects ranging anywhere from $8 million to $325 million. She is the government expert in the office with excellent understanding of the demanding schedule specifications. Her excellent communication skills allow her to be an effective member of every project team enabling her to communicate project plans to all members involved, from management to superintendents.
Kylee's client base includes well respected construction companies country wide including: JE Dunn, Alutiiq, Layton, and Heath Construction, to name a few. She also delivers planning and scheduling training to many companies which have included JE Dunn, Jaynes Corporation, Drahota Inc, and Weitz Company.
Kylee's core strength in the construction industry combines effective scheduling solutions and consulting services with a fresh, innovative approach. She also enjoys her involvement in industry training as an instructor for the Colorado State University Continuing Education program which includes both the Construction Management Certificate Program and the Advanced Planning and Scheduling certification. Kylee also donates her time to undergraduates at Colorado State University by giving guest lectures on her expertise in scheduling practices.
Josh Schaefer, Project Control Specialist
Josh Schaefer is a Project Control Specialist at Scheduling Consultants, Ltd. Josh has been part of the SCL team since March of 2008. Past and present clients of Josh's include GE Johnson Construction Company, Jaynes Corporation, Centerre Construction, Inc., and Alliance Construction Solutions.
Josh has gained experience through working on multiple government and private construction projects. This experience has allowed Josh to master the planning and scheduling process including baseline creation, progress monitoring, cost and resource monitoring, as well as formal written narratives describing construction changes and progression. Josh is also involved as a guest speaker at Colorado State University to discuss what it takes to plan and schedule a successful project.
Anita Vacek, Office Manager
Anita Vacek joined Scheduling Consultants in February 2008. With over 25 years of construction accounting experience, she is a welcomed asset to the company.
Prior to her work at Scheduling Consultants, Ltd., she worked for several homebuilders—Synergy Construction, Amshel Corporation, Geneva Homes, and Storck Development. Her passion has always been the accounting side of business.
Anita has a BS degree in Business Management from the University of Northern Colorado.
SBE – Small
Business Enterprise
DBE – Disadvantaged
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