 |
 |
|
|
|
| Spotlight on Katherine K. Molly CCE |
 Katherine K. Molly is a managing partner at Blue Marble Risk
Solutions—an advisory firm specializing in the strategic planning,
risk management and dispute resolution for capital projects. Based
in Houston, Texas, Blue Marble’s clients are owners, contractors,
engineers, private equity/VC firms in energy as well as real
estate/infrastructure development.
Katherine is from South Texas where she grew up on a dairy farm and
beef cattle ranch and inherited her family’s hard work ethic. After
high school, Katherine attended Texas A&M University and earned a
B.S. in civil engineering. During college, she worked for Marathon
Oil Company as a co-op in their marketing and transportation group
for three terms. It was then that she discovered her passion for
construction projects.
After graduation, Katherine continued to work in the oil and gas
industry as a facility engineer for Chevron USA Production. However,
it was her next position that turned out to be the turning point in
her career when she went to work for a construction claims firm. She
did not have direct experience working with claims or disputes but
was intrigued by the prospect of working for a small company that
helped large companies recover or defend monetary positions.
According to Katherine, “It turned out to be a wonderful fit because
I was able to use my communication skills in conjunction with my
technical and analytic abilities.” Knowing that she could
significantly increase the client’s chances for a favorable
resolution drove her to develop a particular expertise in
calculating damages, linking entitlement to those damages, and
communicating it effectively.
Frustrated with seeing clients lose or have millions of dollars tied
up with a legal contract dispute, she co-founded Blue Marble Risk
Solutions. Blue Marble is unique in that it not only provides
dispute resolution assistance, it actively promotes claims avoidance
and operations excellence through project portfolio management. “Our
services are designed to maximize the value of capital investments
and minimize the risks of project execution. These project portfolio
management practices have been proven to significantly improve
project cost and schedule performance and deliver better-performing
assets, which is better for all of the stakeholders in a capital
project.”
The main attraction in pursuing a career in the construction
industry was having an opportunity to make a significant impact for
a company. Successful capital projects enable companies to increase
revenue, enter new markets, adapt to changing conditions and improve
profitability. Too often clients are in financial distress or even
on the verge of bankruptcy because of projects not performing as
budgeted or upcoming arbitration/litigation. Katherine gains
significant satisfaction from being an integral part of the client
and attorney team, particularly with strategy development, that
helps companies recover their projects and achieve their business
objectives.
When asked about the impact of a mentor, she mentioned that her
former employer kept pushing her to improve her analytical and
communication skills, particularly by thinking outside of the box.
She stated that the most important characteristic of her success is
believing in herself and constantly stepping outside of her comfort
zone.
Regarding the importance of AACE International, Katherine says,
“AACE International’s certifications have helped validate,
benchmark, and promote project controls and construction claims
within the engineering and construction industry. That in itself is
good for all industries as it maximizes the leverage of capital
investments in construction projects.”
Her plans for the future are to continue expanding the company’s
international presence and build the firms’ reputation as a premier
consulting firm. She is also going to stay committed to AACE
International and continually improve her technical skills.
We asked her what advice she had for other women in the industry.
Katherine stated that she believes women have two particular
strengths in project controls: ability to work effectively within a
team and ability to communicate complex issues. “AACE International
is a good place to gain perspective on the industry because of the
diverse backgrounds and companies present. Most importantly,
networking is vital to a long and ascending career for anyone.”
In conclusion, she mentioned that she gained inspiration by a quote
she read as a child: “A ship is safe in its harbor, but that is not
what ships are built for.” According to Katherine, “Life is too
short to not fully enjoy your work and pursue your dreams. We only
live this life once.”
Article by Dr. Anamaria Popescu PE
|
|
 |
|
|
