Carla is founder of Gargas Project Solutions. She brings deep experience in organizational skills, operations expertise and customer service to helping groups get organized and get stuff done. Carla’s first “formal” project experience came when she took up the challenge of project manager for building a custom home. With only a home-building consultant to assist (and a husband with really good project management software), Carla interviewed, hired and managed a large array of sub-contractors and suppliers to build a 5000 square foot home in only five and a half months. Professional Builders had estimated this project in the 15-20-month range.
Project Expertise. Carla’s interest in starting a business came about as she became acquainted through her career with a project management methodology which can cut project delivery times by about 30% by sequencing tasks and resources to allow focus on specific activities and best possible use of workforce skills. She became convinced that this methodology should be explained and demonstrated to any business owner who wants to save time, money and resources. And isn’t that every company? Together with her husband Rich, she has formed Gargas Project Solutions (GPS) to help companies find this clear path to success via Critical Chain Project Management. From industrial applications to event planning to a successful product launch, CCPM will map out your route to allow transparency during the project, conquer project uncertainty, and keep your team focused in the right direction.
Operations Excellence. Carla Gargas earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College near Terre Haute, Indiana. She soon found a home for her organizational and execution skills in the banking industry. She was Operations Manager for a number of mortgage lending firms, excelling as a liaison between the sales and underwriting teams to bring the dream of home ownership to responsible homebuyers. Carla used patience and an array of customer service skills to smooth over any hurdles to getting stuff done. She later became a credit and collateral underwriter for FHA, VA, FNMA and FHLMC through Peoples Bank & Trust Company in Indianapolis. After taking time to raise and home educate five children, Carla returned to the workforce as Office Manager for an elder-law office. Before starting her own company, Carla tackled a government customer service assistance role, helping consumers with questions about the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Giving Back. Among Carla’s passions is helping promote positive youth development with an emphasis on leadership. Carla believes that by influencing young adults to be the best version of themselves, she can leave a lasting legacy. She has been a volunteer for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and religious education in order to help young people make ethical and moral choices and see how their decisions affect their future. After shepherding her own children through all the levels of Scouting, she became a trainer for the local council in order to help other adults be great leaders, and saw the close relationship between proper training and a good program that keeps the youth involved and interested. She has been recognized as a Cub Scout Pack Committee Chairman of the Year, Venturing Regional Advisor and has earned the District Award of Merit for her service at the district, council and regional levels in Boy Scouts of America. Along the way she served on the Saint Monica School Board and the Eagle Creek Park Foundation Board of Directors as a nod to her interest in nature and children.