Cameron Weinberg of Overaa Construction describes FMI’s Project Manager Academy as an intense, team-driven experience that pushed him harder than he expected and gave him more than he anticipated. He credits the program with helping him develop more confidence in his professional strengths, view his leadership style through a new lens, and return to his project with actionable tools for delegation and time management.

Overaa Construction, a Bay Area general contractor, has been sending project managers to attend FMI's Project Manager Academy (PMA) for years, and Cameron Weinberg was next in line.

When HR reached out as Weinberg was approaching a promotion, signing up for the PMA felt like a natural next step. "It came at a critical reflection point in my career," he said. "I wanted to see how else I could challenge myself to get to that next level."

Weinberg went into the PMA excited about the opportunity, though not without some trepidation about working with people he’d never met. But from the moment he met his team, there was a sense of connection. “We were all there to learn. We were there to work hard and get whatever we could out of that week,” he said.

How a Team-Based Simulation Restored a Project Manager’s Confidence

Before attending, Weinberg had been immersed in a challenging project. At PMA, teams work through a series of competitive construction project scenarios, applying what they learn in the seminars in real time, receiving immediate feedback and leading to tangible results. When his team won their simulation, the reaction surprised even him. “I got very emotional on the last day,” he shared. “I was like, wow, I haven’t had this feeling in so long.”

How Personality Assessments Reveal Leadership Strengths

Weinberg was particularly impacted by the personal development component. He’d always thought of himself as somewhat of an outsider in construction, and over time had internalized that as a disadvantage.

PMA’s personality assessments and 360-degree feedback helped reframe that. "Going through these personality assessments isn't anything new to me," he said, "but seeing it from more of a construction lens was helpful. These are consultants who are more familiar with construction — it was a new lens to look at it through." The one-on-one coaching sessions also provided “a good reminder for me to home in on my strengths and take more pride in my background,” he said.

Delegation and Time Management: What PMs Bring Back to the Field

PMA’s approach to delegation helped reframe how Weinberg assigns work. “Explaining to people why you’re assigning them a certain task, versus just telling them exactly how to do it — that was a real shift,” he said. Delegation and time management were the first work principles he planned to incorporate into his management approach when he returned to work.

He’d also heard of the Eisenhower Matrix before but had never investigated it until attending PMA. Now that he’s back on site, he’s been implementing it deliberately and has built an automated Excel tool that other team members now use to support it.

How PMA Delivers and How to Get the Most Out of It

For Weinberg, the consultants were integral to the program. “They all really cared about the material. If they had put in less energy, I would’ve felt that. But because they were fully invested, I fed off their energy and commitment,” he said.

He also noticed how a fellow participant — a senior leader who was clearly armed with a healthy dose of skepticism — gradually came around over the course of the week. Early on, the two of them had collaborated on a project, and the friction was noticeable. By the end of the program, Weinberg’s peer had embraced a more positive attitude. “Seeing someone who was initially resistant, versus someone like me who’d come in excited, and both of us getting something out of it? It’s a real testament to just how strong of a program it is,” he shared.

Weinberg’s advice to anyone considering PMA is to really commit to it. “Just be excited to learn with your team, know that you’re going to work hard, and be eager to do it,” he said. “Put in the effort it takes.”

For Weinberg, that effort led to renewed confidence, a clearer sense of his own leadership and tools that could be put to work immediately.

Ready to get more out of your next year than your last? Explore the FMI Project Manager Academy and see what a difference a week can make.

FAQs on FMI’s Project Manager Academy

1. What is the FMI Project Manager Academy, and what does it cover? PMA is an intensive, week-long training program for construction project managers that combines hands-on team simulations with personal leadership development. Core topics include delegation, time management, project financials, client communication and self-aware leadership, all delivered through a construction-specific lens, with personality assessments, 360-degree feedback and one-on-one coaching.

2. Who is the FMI Project Manager Academy designed for? PMA is designed for project managers, assistant PMs, project engineers, project executives and superintendents in the construction industry. It's particularly well-suited for those stepping into or recently promoted to a PM role. Companies like Overaa Construction use it as part of a deliberate development track, sending high-potential team members at the point where they can immediately apply what they learn.

3. How is the FMI Project Manager Academy different from other construction project management training programs? PMA doesn't just teach concepts; it places participants inside a competitive team simulation where those concepts get tested under pressure. Facilitators are construction industry experts, not generalist trainers, so the coaching is directly relevant to what PMs face on real jobs. For many participants, that construction-specific lens makes all the difference.

4. What skills do project managers develop at the FMI Project Manager Academy? Participants build practical skills in delegation, time management, project financials and client communication. The program teaches PMs to delegate by leading with the “why” before the “how,” and introduces prioritization tools like the Eisenhower Matrix. Personality assessments and 360-degree feedback help participants identify leadership strengths and recognize the areas where they're ready to assume more responsibility.

5. Is the FMI Project Manager Academy worth it for construction companies? PMA consistently delivers tools participants can apply immediately — not industry platitudes that are forgotten by the time attendees return to work. It’s the reason companies like Overaa Construction have made it a standard part of their PM development track for years. And as Cameron Weinberg's experience shows, the benefits extend even to those who  arrive cautiously optimistic or with conservative expectations.