Tom Michales of A. F. Associates receives 1999 Project Of The Year Award

The Project Management Institute (PMI), New Jersey Chapter, has awarded its 1999 Project of the Year (POY) to Tom Michales of AF Associates, Inc. (AFA) for "Scripps Networks, Home and Garden Television Broadcast Center Rebuild". The award, acknowledging the mastery of project management skills to effect a successful outcome, was presented to Michales and the project team at a formal dinner on June 27, 2000. AFA served as the systems integrator responsible for the design and build of the Scripps Networks facility.

To qualify for the POY, Michales submitted a detailed analyses outlining the challenges encountered and strategies employed by AFA and Scripps to achieve the ambitious goals of a Broadcast Center Rebuild. The original facility was built in Knoxville, Tennessee by AFA in 1994 to accommodate the Home & Garden Television network. Subsequent system expansions, all implemented by AFA, have accommodated the extraordinary growth of Scripps Networks that includes the recent addition of networks such as the Food Network and Do It Yourself (DIY) network.

Michales, senior project manager, supervised all broadcast systems design and implementation of the project. Others serving on the A. F. Associates team included Marc Bressack, VP of sales; Rick Bonstein, VP of operations; John Holt, project engineer; and Mike Polzer, project leader. Bryan Fails and Mike Donovan of Scripps Networks served as project manager and project engineer, respectively, for the overall project within E. W. Scripps/HGTV.

The Broadcast Center Rebuild Project commenced in February 1999 and was completed by October of the same year. One of the fundamental and most challenging requirements of the project was to maintain all phases of on-air operations during construction, installation and integration. The scope of work encompassed rebuilding the Network Operations Center, the Transmission Control and the RF uplinking system. The Dub and Duplication System was moved as was the Graphics department, and a new studio was outfitted and integrated into the existing production control room. The Editing department was expanded into space previously housing the graphics rooms.

An Internet/Web command center was constructed to serve as the host site for E. W. Scripps' entire Internet presence which currently consists of over 1400 web sites with exponential growth potential. The design provides for traditional hosting services and serves as a new distribution channel for content and digital assets.

The Project of the Year Award was established to recognize, honor and publicize the project and project team for utilizing excellent project management techniques and bring a challenging project to a successful conclusion. Former New Jersey Chapter recipients include the Aurora Data Center Conversion for Lucent Technologies, Chase/Chemical Bank Merger Team, PSE&G Bergen Repowering Project, PSE&G Mercer Generating Plant Rehab, and the Port Authority of NY/NJ World Trade Center Bombing Recovery.

The POY report is evaluated by a panel of Chapter members and must meet strict criteria which includes: meeting or exceeding the client's needs, meeting or improving the budget and schedule, applying original, innovative or unique Project Management techniques, advancing the image of the Project Management profession, and successfully addressing the project's complexity with specialized team action or performance.

AFA, a Video Services Corporation company (Amex: VS), is an industry leader in the design, engineering and fabrication of fixed and mobile television facilities. Services include design, engineering, consulting, detailed design, documentation, prewiring, installation, and commissioning for broadcast, cable, satellite, production/post production and corporate video markets.

Founded in 1969, PMI has in excess of 55,000 members worldwide. The Organization establishes Project Management standards, provides seminars, educational programs and professional certification.