When a company grows rapidly, maintaining consistency in standards gets complicated. For Haskell’s Preconstruction (Precon) department, that challenge is compounded by the variety of technical expertise required across different markets.

Precon teams help shape projects by developing estimates, reviewing drawings and specifications, coordinating scope and aligning pricing strategy before construction begins. Because the work touches cost, constructability and project planning, it requires both technical depth and sound judgment.

To provide team members with a foundational understanding and ensure consistent quality, the department developed a training program that combines live sessions with a library of educational resources. The program is led by the Standards group within Precon, which focuses on four key areas:

• Process defines how Precon work progresses from commencement to completion.
• Data establishes the information teams rely on to make sound decisions.
• Tools represent the platforms and systems used to perform the work.
• Training builds the shared knowledge needed to consistently apply all three.

These focus areas are guiding principles that drive consistency in how work is sequenced, how information is used, how it is executed, and how prepared employees are to meet the various demands across the markets.

“We formed Standards in 2024, within Precon, after we merged from three separate groups into one large Precon department,” said Preston Robinson, Director of Operations Support and founder of Precon Standards. “Before then, building tools, creating workflows, and developing training were largely a ‘nighttime job’ for managers already carrying full workloads. Standards alleviated this additional workload by forming a dedicated team, elevating these efforts from a part-time responsibility to a focused, strategic priority.

“Beyond this, Standards has a culture that is personified by the individuals within it: innovative, thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic. The result is a team that works every day to deliver an environment where people can say that this is the best job of their lives.”

As the department scaled, so did the complexity of onboarding and development. New hires and internal transfers arrived with strong but varied experience shaped by different markets, project types and experiences. From 2023 to early 2026, the Precon team grew from nearly 50 to more than 125 members. This growth created an opportunity to better define and support the foundational knowledge that enables new team members to succeed and managers to lead effectively.

“Learning on the job is inevitable,” said Jimmy Bates, Senior Precon Manager and the program’s training manager. “But we can give our teams a better chance at success from the start. Our live training sessions bring people together around a thoughtfully designed curriculum to share lessons learned and reduce the risk that new team members learn the hard way.

“Training is structured to cover the full scope of each topic to ensure consistency regardless of background or prior experience.”

The QTO Series

The Quantity Takeoff (QTO) Series is at the center of the program. This growing library of more than 30 trade-specific courses covers topics from concrete and masonry to structural steel, glass and glazing, loading dock equipment and more. Session focuses on fundamental questions:

• What scope is being quantified?
• What information is required and where is it sourced?
• How should quantities be measured and structured?
• What assumptions and risks must be considered?
• How do quantities inform cost, schedule, and decision-making?

“We start at a high level, then move into elevations, details and sections,” Bates said. “The focus is on where to look, what to watch for in the plans and how to interpret specifications.”

The series is intentionally software-agnostic. While estimating tools may change, the principles of how construction is measured, priced and documented remain consistent. Training focuses on those fundamentals, including units of measure, how trades are sold in the market and how Haskell’s in-house capabilities and partnerships enhance solutions.

Through Haskell’s Trusted Partner Network (TPN), trade professionals participate as instructors, providing practical insight into how work is performed in the field and how scopes are priced.

Each session combines internal expertise with input from field teams, subcontractors and vendors. This approach strengthens both technical understanding and communication between Precon teams and trade partners.

“Every time I’ve attended a session, I’ve learned something new,” Robinson said. “Understanding what matters to our partners changes how we communicate with them and improves the quality of our estimates.”

The series also provides the chance to strengthen relationships. Through the QTO Series and other touchpoints tied to the TPN, subcontractors and vendors gain access to Haskell teams, while employees gain a clearer understanding of partner capabilities and perspectives.

“The TPN is about relationship-building and providing access to key Haskell contacts,” said Teri Williams, Manager of Vendor Management. “The QTO series gives suppliers and subcontractors face time with our project teams, and advocates help connect them to opportunities across the business. It gives our teams better visibility into partner strengths and gives partners more visibility into how we work.”

Virtual Sessions and Haskell University

Haskell’s Learning & Development team records QTO sessions and converts them into self-led modules for on-demand access through Haskell University, creating a scalable resource that supports both onboarding and ongoing development. Employees can access trade-specific training as needed, while managers can track participation and progress.

“When new team members need to learn a specific trade, they can go directly to that resource,” Bates said. “They don’t have to wait to schedule a session or rely on informal knowledge transfer.”

The QTO series is one component of a broader training program that includes more than 115 classes across six categories:

• Onboarding / Capstone: foundational training for employees new to Precon or Haskell, including a capstone project
• APM Cross-Training: development for assistant project managers
• Software and Tools: training on current platforms and systems
• Soft Skills / Precon Presence: communication and presentation skills
• Process Flow: guidance on how Precon work progresses from start to finish
• Pricing Lead Series: training focused on expectations and responsibilities for pricing leads

By the Team, for the Team

The program draws on subject matter experts across Haskell’s markets, including senior preconstruction leaders, estimators and specialists. This cross-market involvement helps capture and apply a wider range of experience.

Support from the Learning & Development team ensures that live training is translated into structured, repeatable content that can scale with the business.

“It’s a team effort,” Bates said. “Our teams continue to show up and contribute, and that’s what makes it effective.”

Haskell is committed to supporting and developing the people who deliver the work and to providing the best chance of success for every team member and partner in the field.

“We’re trying to make people as effective as possible, as quickly as possible,” Bates said. “The program gives them something they can always come back to. Throughout it all, we cultivate an environment of trust, where everyone can be supported and contribute.”

Learn more about Haskell’s preconstruction capabilities and its investment toward the success of its trade partners.