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Tacoma, Wash., Project Star Will Lead $37M Urban Waters Plan

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 15:00 CDT

Aug. 8--When former Tacoma City Manager Ray Corpuz departed for a job in California, he left behind the responsibility of Urban Waters, a $37 million marine research project.

The job will go to J.J. McCament, already known in the City of Tacoma for her expertise in overseeing large-scale projects.

The Urban Waters Board of Directors named McCament as the executive director of the marine research center, which might build offices on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway. Scientists will explore the Puget Sound waters to develop solutions for urban bay communities.

The project has been making steady progress since its first vision in 2002. Urban Waters is a partnership among the city, the University of Washington's Tacoma and Seattle campuses, the Port of Tacoma, SSA Marine and the Russell Family Foundation. These entities have committed a total of $3 million.

But the most important steps are to come for McCament, who is also a partner of a real estate consulting company, McCament & Rogers.

McCament talked to The News Tribune about her role with Urban Waters and her upcoming responsibilities.

QUESTION: What progress has been made on Urban Waters?

ANSWER: I think the project has moved through a very critical stage in the last six months where it's at a point that it can finally become a reality. Ray Corpuz has successfully raised $3 million, and we are currently negotiating for the site location.

Q: What is the importance of Urban Waters?

A: There is nothing today in our community that addresses the issue of water quality in terms of applied research. There are lots of people who understand what is happening to the bay, but the solutions are not there.

We spent $250 million to clean up the Foss Waterway in Commencement Bay, but in 10 years, the soil settlement can reach contamination again. Urban Waters is all about finding the method to prevent the problem.

Q: How were you selected to become the executive director?

A: I got a call from Ray Corpuz and he said the board had met and talked about a replacement for him. My name ended up on the top of that list. I was just dumbfounded and pretty excited, too. I hadn't even given the project a thought. It sparks my natural interest, which is project management.

Q: What are your main goals and priorities as the executive director of a project this large?

A: My job is to manage the organization and to work with different people.

We have to acquire the property, build the building, hire the permanent staff and get all of the funding in place.

We want construction to start within a couple of years, but we don't have a tentative completion year yet.

Q: How will you balance your work with McCament & Rogers and Urban Waters?

A: It's a matter of giving Urban Waters the priority it deserves. I have a very capable business partner. We make sure that we only take the contracts we can fulfill in a professional and timely manner.

Q: What are some of the challenges that you foresee?

A; I think the obstacles are the same as they would be for any large-scale, private development project.

It's about staying focused and understanding what your mission is so you can get there.

THE J.J. MCCAMENT FILE:

--Position: Executive director, Urban Waters

--Hometown: Bayfield, Colo.

--Education: Bachelor of Arts in business from Fort Lewis College in Colorado, Master of Business Administration from University of Puget Sound

--Experience: Co-founder of McCament & Rogers consulting firm; worked on the new Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center and Courtyard by Marriott hotel with the City of Tacoma; loan executive of Weyerhaeuser Real Estate; and member of Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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MAR, WY,

Source: The News Tribune

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