RPL Project Manager

Vann Wellmon

RPL Project Manager

Sophomore

@batvan (discord), 434-989-6086, wellmovw@rose-hulman.edu

1: Role

• Report to Treasurer regarding all financial matters

• Maintain budgeting spreadsheet for the subteam

• Maintain a list of team specific sponsors and funding sources

  • Report these to Vice President and Treasurer Respectively

• Preside over subteam-specific OTFRs

• Ensure submitted orders adhere to order standards and are free of error

  • Submit orders at least 1 week before institution breaks

• By default, the Project Manager is the Subteam Treasurer unless otherwise stated

1: Role cont

• As project manager my main resposibilities were handeling administrative tasks, manageing timelines/projects, ordering, and running meetings.

• Administrative Tasks

  • I was responsible for communicating between RPL and Rocketry, EHS, the instiute, funders, and any other party. Much of this responsibility was delegated, such as the Safety Officer handeling some EHS work, but I still had to start these conversations and then delegate.

• Project Management

  • I was responsible for setting the timeline and objectives for the group. Very much the “definition” of Project Manager.

• Ordering

  • We didn’t have atreasurer during my AY 2023-2024 term so I handled ordering as well as finances.

• Meetings

  • Scheduling, running, and taking notes on weekly meetings.

2: What went well

• RPL experinced large member growth. I belive this is in large part due to the group gaining creadability as opposed to it’s first recruitment effort during the capstone times.

• People were excited to be part of the group and work twoards personal and shared objectives.

• The group applied and was admitted into CPLC.

3: What went poorly

• Thinking back I can rember two major failiures both personal and shared by the group.

• Order delay

  • Over winter term, and due to a misunderstanding of ordering, I delayed a number of groups and projects by about a month. This led to huge delays and two members effectively leaving RPL. When I sent the order to Lee I imagined that it had been ordered but never checked for confirmation. When I followed up she had forgotten to order. CHECK FOR CONFIRMATION FROM LEE

• Pintle Manufacturing

  • Our pintle manufacturing (ongoing at time of writing) took about 2 quarters, massively delaying the LE-1 program. I’d recommend outsourcing manufacture when possible.

4: Suggestions

• Recruitment throughout the year.

  • RPL only seriosuly recruited in the fall. This is shortsighted but time constraints stopped me from doing it other times.

• PM Role

  • As RPL grows the PM role will need to become increasingly adminsitrative. I’m already strained trying to both manage the work and help with the engineering side of things. This won’t work long term as the group grows.

5: What do I wish I knew.

• How involved the role was technically and how much it demanded. Also leadership acumen, I did not realize how critical this was.

6: Mentors

• Other leaders in rocketry as well as the capstone team. Anyone outside of the team can provide insight you are simply unable to. The capstone team’s experince was very helpful.

7: Resources

• Technical

  • A number of documents are in the local drive

  • Sutton

  • r/rockety discord, #liquids

  • Youtube playlist (WIP)

• Other

  • I sort of played catchup with leadership and don’t have any formal philosophies on it.

  • No books or anything

8: Tips

• Make sure the team is modivated at all times.

• Ensure that eveyone is working as much as they can (plus a little bit) to keep them engaged.

• Onboarding is crucial, headcount drives growth.