[Keith A. French]

Giant Bird of Paradise

[Keith A. French]

Yes, I do.

[Keith A. French]

Someone once told me that if you want to be an expert on anything read 10 books about the subject and you will be in the top 80 to 90 % of experts on the subject.
Reading about Project Management is one of those subjects.
Find every bloody book you can (Old and New) about the subject. Key to project management is to develop an understanding of the Relationship of each task to all others. Some task can seem so small and irrelevant but also so key to the project success that they can blow any project.

Think about how discovering the escape Velocity of a Space Capsule changed the game. OMG that was a key that solved the program.

It can be as complex as that example or as simple a understanding what is the purpose of management.

[Keith A. French]

I did not say that internship wasn’t necessary. Because I sincerely believe that my internship with a Civil Engineer was the perfect fit for me.
The major problem I faced as a young Graduate with 2 Children was the Landscape Architects were not paying enough to attract my interest. Leading me to think that rather than be used I wouldn’t waste my time there.

I know I am the exception and I also believe If you say it you own it.
Put it out into the Universe and wait for what your wish to Manifest.
I believe anyone can be what they want. That is my story and my History.

[Keith A. French]

Your experience may overcome that problem.

[Keith A. French]

Microsoft Projects is the best by far.

If you can write a scope of work for your office you can bring that into Project and develop the tools you need.

By adding each project into the you will develop a plan for your office.
Sure, It takes work.

Couple that with an Office Spreadsheet of income, expenses and you are on the Way.

[Keith A. French]

Contrary to the Idea that one should work for x years under a Landscape Architect. I offer my Resume. I never worked under a Landscape Architect until I worked for myself.
It has been a journey and there are many paths. When I graduated with honors from Cal Poly Pomona, Garret Eckbo offered a Position starting at $2.00 per hour. I took a Job with a Civil Engineer at $10/Hour. So much for internship. Check this out.

Summary

Keith A. French
Landscape Designer /Planner/Urban Designer.
Keith has managed Landscape Architectural and Planning Offices ranging from 5 to 80 people and Managed Multi-Disciplinary Planning Teams with Consultants from 4 to 10 separate Companies. Projects have ranged from small Cameo Projects to New Towns. Clients have been served in numerous locations all over the US, in Canada, Japan, Iran and South Africa.

My Professional Experience includes (most recent First):

Landscape Design Consultant to R3 Studios, Oakland, CA
Botanica of Wichita, On-call all as-needed Planner, Landscape Designer
Civica Development LLC, Project Management -Metro Phoenix Area, AZ
Project Design Consultants Director Planning and Urban Design Group – San Diego, CA
NUVIS – Principal, Landscape Architect – San Ramon, CA
The Keith French Group – President, Landscape Architect, San Clemente – Sacramento, CA
Rapp & French – President, Landscape Architect, San Clemente,
EDAW, inc (now AECOM) Chairman of the Board, San Francisco, CA
EDAW, inc (now AECOM) – Officer-in-Charge – Newport Beach, CA
Keith French Associates – President, Landscape Architect – Los Angeles, Washington DC
Bechtel, City of Industry, CA Planner
Oceanic Properties – Landscape Architect – Honolulu, HI
Larwin Company – Planner, Landscape Architect – Beverly Hills, CA
Holzhauer Engineering – Planner, Office Manager – Fullerton, CA

Landscape Architectural/ Planning Experience

Establishment of Keith French Associates (KFA with offices in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, CA. Projects of significance for which Keith was responsible include: Playboy Mansion West, Tierrasanta New Community, San Diego, CA, Westlake and Suzaranko New Towns in Japan, and numerous landscape design projects throughout the United States.

EDAW (an international planning and design firm) to Principal within one year becoming the Officer in-Charge of the EDAW Newport Beach and Chairman of the Board Projects of significance while with EDAW included Principal-in-Charge of several multi-discipline studies include: Burke Mountain New Town, Vancouver, British Colombia: US Navy; Terminal Island Master Plan, Long Beach, CA; El Toro Streetscape and Design Guidelines, El Toro, CA; Lake Skinner Regional Park Master Plan and Construction Documents; Lake Silverwood State Recreational Area Phase III Development plan and Construction Documents, San Bernardino, CA.
Reference: Richard A Moore FASLA former President EDAW, inc

The Keith French Group (TKFG). Projects of significance during this period included: winner, A. J. Chandler Memorial Plaza International Design Competition, Chandler, AZ; Calico Ghost Town Regional Park Master Plan, Barstow, CA; Deukmejian Wilderness Park Master Plan, and Phase 1 Development Plans, Glendale, CA; Midrand New Towne Centre, Master Plan, Midrand, Republic of South Africa; and the Michael Landon Residence, Malibu, CA.

Nuvis Principal Projects of significance during this period included: Phase 2:Deukmejian Wilderness Park Construction Plans, Glendale, CA; Mission College Master Plan and Implementation Documents, (Student Center, Library, Engineering Building) Santa Clara, CA; Rivermark an Urban Development in the City Santa Clara, CA; Deer Creek Community, Brentwood, CA; and Lower Silvercreek Rehabilitation Plan, San Jose, CA

Director of Landscape Architecture and Planning Project Design Consultants San Diego. During that time Keith was responsible for numerous Landscape and Planning Projects in San Diego, Phoenix, Bakersfield and Salinas, CA.

The Keith French Group President Developed a Management Operations plan and Development Schedule for over 120 individual land development projects for Civica Development LLC, Goodyear, AZ.

Secretary San Diego Elks Lodge.

Keith French Group located to Wichita, KS where Keith serves as an ongoing/Design Consultant to R3 Studios located in Oakland, CA

Board of Directors Unity of Wichita

[Keith A. French]

Where There a lot of Calculation Questions. Q=Cia, Q=VA, Stress Questions? Others?

[Keith A. French]

I went on-line a few minutes ago and found that the link had been eliminated.

Now the cheapest link is $598. I believe that Autodesk must be watching these posts. If you had followed the link yesterday……

The next best thing is AutoCAD LT No 3D but still something you could teach yourself. Google AutoCAD LT and check that. Sorry.

Again there are ACAD Clones but I do no recommend that option.

[Keith A. French]

I hve talked to the California Board recently. If you pass the LARE you are qualified to apply for a CA license.

[Keith A. French]

Shawn I just googled: AUTOCAD 13 free download (they will provide a disk if you request one). Cost $210

I don’t recommend other programs because ACAD is the default program, and if you move from office to office you will need to know ACAD. After learning ACAD learn Photoshop, get Sketch up and you will become a STAR.

Have a great weekend.

[Keith A. French]

There are limitations, buy the full ACAD13. I would say that 90% of companies using ACAD have the full version.

[Keith A. French]

I suggest you go on-line search for an purchase ACAD 2013 and ACAD for Dummies and /teach yourself.

if you have had basic drafting you can learn fairly quickly. Ask freinds if they have some non beginning drafting examples.

I taught myself and consider myself to be an “expert”.

Go for it.  

[Keith A. French]

For those interested in this I suggest a review of the following:

Author and Citation Information for “The Concept of the Aesthetic”

The latest version of the entry “The Concept of the Aesthetic” may be cited via the earliest archive in which this version appears:

Shelley, James, “The Concept of the Aesthetic”, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2013 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2013/entries/aesthetic-concept/&gt;.

[Author]

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