With more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry, John Dougherty holds the title of managing principal of the PMCM K12 business at Jacobs Engineering in Florida. Prior to this position, John Dougherty spent three years at AECOM, the global infrastructure firm, and he ultimately achieved the title of associate vice president in its offices in West Palm Beach, Florida.

While at AECOM, Mr. Dougherty wrote articles on the topics of new school construction projects and capital improvement programs (CIP), such as “Keeping School Improvement Program Promises.” In the article, he highlighted the importance of prioritizing spending in order to more effectively manage CIP budgets while addressing escalating costs and reduced budgets. Mr. Dougherty warned that, while some CIPs may have correctly calculated their costs, they may not have taken into consideration inflation over time. In such cases, he advised taking steps to first understand the financial challenges. Next, one should look for opportunities to make the CIP more effective by reconsidering its scope, its budgetary needs, or both.