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Darren Comedy

Darren Comedy

Kissimmee, FL, US

 

About 

Highly energetic, goal-oriented and strategically thinking management executive leader who thrives in a fast paced, innovative and results driven culture, with over 28 years of experience in various cross-functional positions, including architectural design, interior design, space planning, and construction management, extremely well-organized, detail-oriented and customer service focused retired military veteran, responsible for the management of government, mixed use development projects, commercial, residential, hospitality and office developments of up to 300M as well as managing a staff of over 60 professional design staff and consultants

Elsewhere:

Employment 

Amtrak, Philadelphia, PA, US, Director of Planning

• Responsible for Precinct master planning and development. The Director will develop, update and oversee Amtrak’s long-range plan for strategic investments into the NYP Precinct, including customer-facing and back-of-house station improvements at New York Penn Station and associated expansion into Moynihan Train Hall, and commercial development opportunities within the Precinct. In addition, oversee conceptual and strategic planning phases of Precinct projects and will work collaboratively with other internal and external groups for the management, design and construction phases.
• Oversee large-scale planning and development programs involving multiple public and private stakeholders and complex, multi-party agreements to implement near- and long-term strategic investments that will result in a quality product for Amtrak’s customers; ensure strategic alignment of station capital improvements and commercial development projects sponsored by Amtrak and/or commuter and transit rail agencies, master developer partners, and other third parties.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, regulators and vendors to facilitate appropriate reporting and consolidation of relevant data sources to enable executive decision support framework
• Partner closely with business partners to analyze new projects and readiness for governance decisions and provides transparency of portfolio investments.
• Supports the intake process of projects through the governance process and manages the financials of the portfolio of work, monitors actuals and works with the project managers to review forecasting against budgets.
• Builds strong relationships within Amtrak to understand the business challenges and opportunities.
• Creates a collaborative partnership among executive leaders and portfolio stakeholders and enables resource demand planning, change management, and project pipeline planning decisions.
• Office space planning and design.
• Project and construction management.
• Specification and procurement of office furniture, furnishings, equipment and supplies.
• Coordinate architectural and engineering design and coordination of construction with Landlord for third-party buildings and with the organizations engineering department and owned buildings.
• Capital and expense planning, budgeting, review and payment processing.
• Interface with all levels of the organization’s management, landlords, tenants, and owners.
• Work with Utilities Management to develop a corporate wide energy plan on a site specific basis.
• Maintain corporate office space standards program to ensure compliance, maintenance of consistent operating cost at each location.
• Coordinate with Executive Committee members to develop and maintain a corporate-wide plan for headquarters and regional office requirements.
• Identify space and furniture requirements for corporate office space acquisitions and/or modification.
• Prepare recommendations for the Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors as required.

Oct 2017 - current
 

Health and Human Services, Washington DC, Sr. Program Manager

• Serves as the Senior Program Manager/Acting Director responsible for planning, designing, and reviewing new and extension, conversion or modernization of existing interiors of buildings and facilities.
• Analyzes and provide design and construction guidance for new interior construction, renovations, and improvements needed to meet new mission and environmental requirements and bring facilities into compliance with construction criteria for various Federal buildings.
• Manage leasing, design, construction and alteration projects involving large and complex special purpose multi-story, multi-million-dollar, office buildings, building complexes, laboratories that involve difficult problems in engineering design, planning, coordination, code/zoning requirements,
• Responsible for assisting in site selection, development, and layout, or other architectural/engineering related matters.
• Review budget estimates and supporting data for projects, and direct the preparation of statistical materials, narrative statements, and other data for review by Department of Interior Officials, the Office of Management and Budget, and Congressional Committees in connection with Federal Budget
• Direct the implementation of action plans, measure progress of staff efforts and performance
• Assign works to subordinates, identify training needs, establish coaching/mentor programs, and coordinate human resources related matters.
• Monitor compliance of building codes and standards. Supervise commercial contracting and Contracting Officer Technical Representatives (CORs/COTRs). Work with GSA on design and construction initiatives, develop space and facilities budget projections for assigned projects or recurring circuit wide space and facilities budget needs.
• Manages programs within the context of the Federal Acquisitions Regulations (FAR) and the OHS Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) policy, rules and regulations and the General Services Administration (GSA) guidelines.
• Attend the ADA working group meetings between internal departments to ensure issues are identified and solved expeditiously
• Responsible to develop a multi-year capital asset management program that identifies life-cycle replacement timeframes and costs.
• Provide overall support for all federal and state supported and real estate initiatives with plans, designs and specifications, ensures design and construction compliance with all federal, state, local building and ADA codes.
• Oversee the management of various corporate office contracts, other support service contracts / programs, and special projects at the corporate and ancillary offices as necessary.
• Review, evaluate, negotiate, and oversee assigned project funds.
• Monitor and report on assigned space and facilities project expenditures.
• Process and recommend payment of assigned space and facilities project invoices.
• Apply guidelines for standard space and facilities allowances.
• Provide quick planning estimates for new construction and/or alterations projects
• Manage all aspects of the project’s finances with the client including establishing project costs, negotiation, presentation, approval, and communication of pricing, occupancy agreements, reimbursable work authorizations, and project budget.
• Participate in the A/E and/or Lessor selection process and in the negotiations for design supervision and post-construction contract award services. Coordinate the activities of the A/E or other appropriate professional service contractors during all phases of the project.
• Ensure that assigned projects are technically correct for both design and construction and are in accordance with the best current practice in the industry; that they are within the technical and administrative constraints of the project and that they are fully coordinated and compatible with other architectural/engineering disciplines of the project.
• Represent the Contracting Officer on Architect/Engineer, Construction Management, and Construction contracts as the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Exercise full delegated authority from the Contracting Officer, reviewing, inspecting and directing the work as it proceeds in compliance with contract requirements.
• Conducts economic analyses to determine feasibility of renovations verses new construction to meet new requirements and ensures compliance with all local and state codes and construction regulations.
• Develops space standards/guidelines for office and workstations
• Calculates Return on Investment for space acquisition and design options

Aug 2014 - Oct 2017
 

AIMCO, Philadelphia Pa, Sr. Director of Construction

• Directed and coordinated construction project management activities associated with the redevelopment and improvement of 1000 apartments and 15,000 s.f. of retail spaces, with construction costs of $130 million.
• Participate in the A/E and/or Lessor selection process and in the negotiations for design supervision and post-construction contract award services. Coordinate the activities of the A/E or other appropriate professional service contractors during all phases of the project
• Developed scopes of work, prepared budgets, solicited bids and proposals from qualified contractors, as well as interaction with local unions and building code officials on zoning and permitting issues.
• Managed all construction activities following project approvals and coordinates work with Property Management Team to include phasing, staging and site logistics.
• Directed assigned construction activities, reviews and approves payment applications.
• Performed daily construction inspections and safety briefings for over 100 construction personnel.
• Ensured compliance with all ADA and OSHA safety policies and procedures.
• Conducted periodic surveys of the properties to identify needs and prepares project estimates and budgets for the needs.
• Responsible for all aspects of the redevelopment process including feasibility, financial analysis, market research, demographic studies, entitlements and other necessary governmental approvals, and the oversight of site, engineering, landscape, and architectural and engineering design professionals.

Jul 2012 - Aug 2014
 

Maryland Air National Guard, Baltimore Corner, MD, US, Sr. Project Manager

• Provided functional direction for 10 staff, including managing project schedules, cost control, dispute resolution, contract administration and quality control, to include LEED certification process.
• Participated in the design process and permit submittal.
• Interviewed, qualified, recommend and select general constructors, design consultants, vendors, and safety consultants
• Provides services to secure spaces to include, Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF) at various military installations and DoD facilities.
• Conducted daily and weekly safety briefings for 100 construction personnel.
• Reviewed and verified submitted construction applications for payment and performed overall fiscal management of multiple construction projects.
• Reviewed and monitored administration of contracts for the architects and related consultants during the design and construction phase.
• Consulted with management regarding project delays or budget challenges and identified alternatives.
• Performed construction and safety inspections.
o LEED Certified Fire Station – Martin Air Base, Middle River Maryland
o LEED Certified Flight Simulator Facility – Martin Air Base, Middle River Maryland
o LEED Certified Operations and Medical Facility – Martin Air Base, Middle River Maryland

Mar 2010 - Jun 2012
 

FILLAT+ Architecture, Baltimore Maryland, Associate Principal

• Managed a staff of 20 design professionals, providing design insight and creative solutions and management for a wide variety of clients that include hospitality, mixed use, government offices, commercial and residential projects.
• Mentored and trained junior staff and intern architects, project managers.
• Served as senior project manager for several large-scale projects, including oversight and management of construction documents, permit submissions, invitations to bid, preparation of project specifications, and construction management/administration on large scale projects up to $300 million in construction contracts.
• Monitored, oversaw and inspected progress of construction through site visits and inspections and ensure that all work is completed in a proper and timely manner.
• Has Expert knowledge of UFAS, ADA and HUD compliance regulations, design guidelines, and approvals as well as LEED certification process.
o LEED certified Silver – Class A Office building – Reston Virginia
o LEED certified Silver – Mixed Use Development – San Antonio Texas

May 2006 - Dec 2009
 

Education 

Howard University, Washington DC, BArch, Architecture

Architecture and Planning

Aug 1977 - May 1981
 

Awards 

Meritorious Service Medal, Award

2019