Posted by A Structured Approach to CCEA® Certification
Informational Sessions
IS02_Presentation_AStructuredApproachtoCCEACertification_Beavers
Abstract:
The structured approach to SCEA certification details the methods used by Lockheed Martin Chelmsford to prepare employees for the CCEA examination. In 2010, three of us set out to earn certification at the CCEA level and all three of us passed on the first attempt. The session will introduce a generic schedule for studying the CEBoK modules including the time allotted for each, an approach to taking sample tests, and lessons learned. We’ll discuss what worked and what didn’t and share tips and tricks.
Author:
Michael Mahoney
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Mike Mahoney is a Staff Level Multifunctional Financial Analyst at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (LMMFC) in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where he oversees the financial performance of a Radio Frequency (RF) product used in the Patriot Advanced Capabilities (PAC-3) program. He is the site Subject Matter Expert on Learning Curves and a member of the Business Operations Performance Management Team (PMT) which has been recognized as the Chelmsford Support Team of the Year Champion three years in a row (2009 – 2011), with annual cost savings over $1.5-million.
Mikes career began as a Financial Analyst with Raytheon in Andover, Massachusetts shortly after graduating from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, in 1981. At UMass Lowell he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Accounting. At Raytheon Mike held a series of finance positions of increasing responsibility on the PATRIOT and AMRAAM programs before leaving for a stint in private industry. At Progress Pallet Corporation he gained production management experience and at Droste Consultants he wrote and installed custom relational database software and led a team of software support and implementation specialists. Since joining Lockheed Martin he has earned Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and the Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis (SCEA) Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCEA) certifications. In 2011 Mike was recognized as Estimator of the Year by both the New England and National chapters of SCEA for his innovative approach to attaining CCEA certification. In 2012 he was honored with a LMMFC Evening of Excellence Award for sustained superior cost estimating and analysis support on the PAC-3 Exciter program and insightful, forward-thinking contributions.
An instrument rated private pilot and an aircraft owner, Mike enjoys flying in his spare time. He has donated flight time to Angel Flight New England which provides medical flights and to the Young Eagles program which introduces children to the joy of flight. Mike is a member of Grace Fellowship Church in Nashua NH, where he is an ordained Church Elder and licensed New Hampshire Minister.
Rick Beavers (Presenter)
Lockheed Martin
Mr. Beavers is the Senior Business Operations Manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (LMMFC) in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where he manages all aspects of financial performance for the Radio Frequency (RF) electronics design & production facility, serving primarily the Patriot Advanced Capabilities (PAC-3) & Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) programs. He has built an award-winning Business Operations team of seventeen professional employees, with responsibility for Program Finance, Cost Estimating & Analysis, Master Scheduling, Contracts, Business Planning, Property, and IT. His highly-effective Performance Management Team (PMT) has been recognized as Chelmsford Support Team of the Year Champions three years in a row (2009 – 2011), with annual cost savings over $1.5-million, and his team members have received many individual awards for their performance and contributions.
His defense industry career began as a Financial Analyst with General Dynamics Electronics in San Diego, California, shortly after graduating from the University of San Diego, in 1981, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in business economics. He subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility with Lockheed Martin, starting in 1988, including Finance leadership roles at LMMFC facilities in El Paso, Grand Prairie and Lufkin, Texas. His contributions have been recognized over the years by a number of team and individual performance awards, including receiving a Lockheed Martin NOVA Award for teamwork on the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase of the PAC-3 program (2003) and twice being honored with LMMFC Evening of Excellence Awards related to outstanding achievements in cost estimating, analysis and reporting (2004 & 2009). He is a trained and certified LM Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Greenbelt, as are fifteen of the seventeen employees on his team.
Mr. Beavers earned his Certified Cost Estimator/Analyst (CCEA) status in December 2010 and is an active member of the New England (NE) Chapter of the Society of Cost Estimating and Analysis (SCEA). In 2011, as a member of the election committee for the NE Chapter, he was responsible for successfully implementing electronic voting, which simplified and streamlined the process. All nine of his employees who are eligible for SCEA membership are current members, two of them are also CCEAs, and others are studying the Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK) materials to prepare for the exam, which reflects his continuing commitment to developing his team while achieving outstanding results.
In his spare time, Mr. Beavers enjoys playing paintball in the woods with his sons and friends at Nashua Paintball, a fellowship group of Grace Fellowship Church, where he is an ordained Church Elder and licensed New Hampshire Minister.