Valorous Games, an independent developer and producer of Tabletop Roleplaying Games (or TTRPGs), has successfully executed three book development projects over the past seven years (the third project being a reprint and update of their first book), in addition to smaller ancillary projects. In 2023, it was determined that rescoping and restarting their third book, Valor: Villains, Creatures and Foes, would better align with future goals for the company and its proprietor. Initial research showed that little to no academic material exists for study of Project Management (or PM) in the context of the Tabletop Role-Playing Game hobby; thus, it was determined that the project scope would be extended to include building of genericized Project Management resources to aid organization of similar projects, as a start point for academic material around management of TTRPG development projects. The project phases covered by this thesis focused on development of the book’s manuscript alongside PM materials for the project, then genericization of the PM materials for use as a reference for similar projects as a start point for PM skill development for TTRPG writers – or TTRPG development for PM practitoners.

The objective of this endeavor is to demonstrate the intended application of project management's best practices, in the submission of a conventional business plan as administrated by the University of Anchorage Alaska capstone, the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PM BoK), and the Project Management Institute (PMI). Preparations and outcomes encountered within this effort will both initiate and actively assert an economy in discovery or concept use, which coincide with technical simulations capable of breaching and sustaining confidence within continued practice or future findings. The determination within this dynamic effort was inspired by a self-passion for entrepreneurship, within equitable achievements prior to capstone. Although I may have moonlighted as an entrepreneur absent of a business plan in past pursuits, depicting use of project practices was not a requirement before as it must be throughout this undertaking, and given any conscious or unconscious bias for the applied craft(s). In contrast, the critically acclaimed "Pong Now Project Business Plan" seeks to change history using project management's best practices during idea startup and ideal execution. This endeavor would extract from a variety of inter-industrial domains processes, interests, influences, and procedures. Project vision-tiering and strategic-product goals set throughout development phases will milestone or landmark past, general, specific, and future accomplishments to illustrate growth or maturity. Thereafter, project-plan design drafts and details will fuse formatting of all required deliverables from point of conception through pre-completion. A theoretical launch of this business should appear forthcoming and if pursued, materialization of outcomes will reflect the highest probability of success. This project business plan is two-fold; to functionally merge the constitution of project practices and business planning development together. To accomplish this, a system, or systems of designations and dispositions, must encompass the ability to equip resource capabilities or competencies to withstand dormancy and regress in project or product loads and demands. Insurance or assurance of merits relative to the legacy from this study, must exhibit an alumni level of proficiency all-throughout the application and advancement of 10-knowledge areas, and 5-process groups, correlative to foreseen or unforeseen outcomes, given any regularity or irregularities with resourcing relationships, performance levels, estimated or actual predictions, itemized activities, and scrummed technologies or techniques applied. The synchronized framework and standardization devised throughout this multifaceted undertaking intuitively prepares an executable, project-practiced and project-managed business plan upon coalition of efforts.

This project aimed to improve the price estimate preparation process for resurface and rehabilitation highway projects for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities by updating the Professional Service Agreement Manual Chapters 7 and 8, which offer price estimates and figures that engineers need for calculations prior to negotiation for highway projects. This project was initiated due to the ongoing rapid market variation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The inaccuracy of cost estimates in the post-pandemic era has impacted Alaska highway projects, contributing to longer negotiations and higher project costs. To address these challenges, the revised Manual chapters provide detailed guidelines and updated templates for price estimates, incorporating industry standard methodologies and best practices for negotiation, technical issues, and cost price analysis. Insights from the procurement agency, lessons from previous projects, project manager evaluations, and feedback from the highway design team and consultants were incorporated into the Manual revisions. Four pillars of effective project management also guided the revisions: critical success factors, key performance indicators, communications management, and quality management. The project required a thorough assessment of the existing challenges within the Manual, identification of areas for improvement, and the development of new exhibits for the Highway Design Section. This update to the Manual should streamline the price estimate preparation process and establish a consistent framework for the Statement of Services during the negotiation phase. These enhancements aim to improve project budgeting and resource allocation, as well as facilitate the successful delivery of high-quality projects on schedule and within budget. Docusign Envelope ID: C1F10F3E-9FB7-4672-9737-74041A7E0673

The growing need for project management (PM) skills in post-secondary careers presents a significant opportunity for early career preparation. Industry projections indicate that millions of professionals will be needed in project management-oriented roles in the coming years. As the workforce becomes increasingly project-based, the demand for well-trained early career project managers continues to rise. Ensuring that students gain PM skills before graduation provides them with a competitive advantage in the job market. Recognizing this opportunity, the Anchorage School District (ASD) sought to incorporate PM education into its newly implemented Academies of Anchorage, aiming to prepare students for college, career, and life. This initiative created a need for a PM curriculum framework tailored to high school students. This project researched, developed, and secured approval for a PM curriculum framework that aligns with ASD’s goals, equipping students with essential project management skills for future success.

The SWEPP initiative addressed critical inefficiencies in STG Inc.'s wind energy project bidding. Previously, fragmented practices led to unpredictable outcomes and ineffective knowledge utilization. The project developed two key deliverables through stakeholder analysis: a Comprehensive Bidding Guide and a Lessons-Learned Integration System. The Bidding Guide establishes standardized templates and processes while maintaining flexibility for customization. The Lessons Learned System captures and applies insights from past projects, transforming individual experience into organizational knowledge. Despite initial resistance from experienced professionals, an inclusive approach incorporating their expertise helped overcome implementation challenges—the modular design balanced standardization with flexibility to address diverse requirements. Early results show significant time savings, improved team coordination, enhanced quality control, and more effective risk management. Long-term benefits are expected to include better bid success rates, improved alignment between commitments and execution, and the development of a distinctive competitive advantage. By standardizing bidding processes and systematically incorporating lessons learned, STG Inc. has established a foundation for continuous improvement and positioned itself for sustained success in the wind energy sector.

Arctic construction projects face unique challenges such as ice-rich aggregates, severe weather, and limited resources. This project creates an Arctic-specific risk management system for Alaska Arctic Constructors (AAC), featuring a tailored Risk Register, Lessons Learned Archives, Past Performance Register with historical costs and production rates, and ongoing management of these tools. These scalable tools mitigate risk and enhance planning capabilities. Estimating and management teams gain sharper awareness of threats and opportunities for optimization. Leveraging expertise from knowledgeable key stakeholders via surveys and interviews (designers, government professionals, contractors) plays a critical role in developing these tools while addressing threats inherent to Arctic construction projects (e.g. weather, logistics, resources limitations) and will create the early stages of a risk program. This system boosts AAC’s effectiveness and profitability in this competitive market and challenging environment by enabling precise evaluation of exposure, vulnerabilities, and impacts on cost, schedule, and quality. Successfully planning and executing large construction projects in this region requires calibrated risk management planning tools, and integrating stakeholder knowledge with methodology from Hillson, Barkley, and Lam provides the toolbox.

This comparative research project on rural drinking water supply in Mongolia and Alaska aimed to understand the challenges, dynamics, and best practices surrounding water access and utilities in rural communities within these regions. Through meticulous planning and execution, three cities in Mongolia and three cities in Alaska were selected as primary areas of study to capture the nuances and variations inherent in water supply dynamics across diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts. The objectives included investigating rural water supply systems, developing evidence-based recommendations, and fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration. A comprehensive literature review provided insights into existing scholarly works relevant to the study, establishing a foundation for the research. The research findings highlighted common challenges faced by remote communities in both Mongolia and Alaska, including limited access to clean and reliable drinking water, inadequate infrastructure, and socio-economic disparities. Despite these challenges, successful strategies and initiatives were identified, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and context-specific solutions. Interviews with key stakeholders provided invaluable insights into the complexities of rural water supply systems, challenges faced, successful strategies employed, community engagement initiatives, regulatory frameworks, sustainability practices, and lessons learned. The qualitative and quantitative analysis facilitated a comprehensive understanding of rural water supply dynamics, informing evidence-based recommendations and best practices. The study concluded that addressing water access and utilities in rural communities requires concerted efforts, including investment in innovative technologies, fostering community engagement, enhancing policy support, and strengthening cross-sector collaboration. By translating research findings into actionable recommendations, stakeholders can work towards improving the quality of life for rural residents in Mongolia, Alaska, and beyond.

This research paper details the development of a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan for Turnagain CrossFit AK, showcasing a shift from the traditional top-down approach to a more inclusive, stakeholderfocused strategy. Recognizing the limitations of conventional disaster preparedness models, which often overlook the nuanced needs and insights of local communities, this study adopts a participatory approach, engaging directly with the people most affected by potential disasters. The methodology integrates a series of steps, beginning with a thorough literature review to establish a foundational understanding of best practices in disaster preparedness and risk management. The core of the study lies in its stakeholdercentric methodology, involving community members, experts, and local authorities in a collaborative effort to tailor the preparedness plan to the specific needs and resources of Turnagain CrossFit AK. Techniques such as risk assessments, interviews, surveys, simulation training exercises, and cost-benefit analysis were employed to gather comprehensive data and insights. This multifaceted approach ensured the identification and prioritization of local hazards, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies, leading to a culturally relevant and efficient preparedness plan. The outcome is a disaster preparedness plan that not only aligns with the unique characteristics of Turnagain CrossFit AK but also demonstrates the efficacy of engaging local stakeholders in the development process. This research contributes to the field of emergency management by illustrating the benefits of a bottom-up approach in creating practical, resilient , and community driven disaster preparedness strategies.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) in Alaska uses paraprofessionals to determine nutrition risk and provide education for their clients. Through discussions with administration and other staff at Alaska’s state WIC office, it was determined that there was a need for more in-depth nutrition education for paraprofessionals. Specific educational topics were identified by WIC nutrition experts and from client feedback. These topics included vitamin D, iron, portion sizes, picky eating and bottle weaning, and food safety. An e-learning portfolio was developed around these 5 topics to provide further education for paraprofessionals through stand-alone modules. This ePortfolio platform allows paraprofessionals to access nutrition education at their convenience. The modules contain a pretest to determine the paraprofessionals’ knowledge, PowerPoint educational material, resources for both the paraprofessional and client, as well as a posttest to evaluate knowledge gained from the module. Each module counts for 1 hour of continuing education credit. This project ensures that paraprofessionals receive up to date, evidence-based nutrition education. This project also serves the profession of dietetics by ensuring that the nutrition education being provided by paraprofessionals to WIC clients is accurate, in-depth, and up-to-date.

Nutrition is essential for college athletes. However, many athletes may not meet nutrition recommendations for their specific sport due to a lack of knowledge or because they do not believe that proper nutrition is essential for their performance. To ensure that programs best meet the needs of athletes, it is important to understand athletes’ current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) related to sports nutrition to improve nutritional awareness and elicit desired behavior change. The idea that improving KAB can lead to behavior change specific to nutrition is well-studied and has its foundations in social cognitive theory. However, there is a need for more research in dietetics and nutrition using a social cognitive approach. Drawing from social cognitive theory, this cross-sectional study collected baseline data on sports nutrition KAB among collegiate athletes at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) to inform the development of future interventions that may improve diet quality and overall athletic performance among athletes. This study highlights the knowledge gaps and misconceptions surrounding sports nutrition-related topics among college athletes at UAA on the topics of energy requirements, the role of protein, and the use of supplementation. The study participants reported positive attitudes towards nutrition, but fewer positive behaviors associated with good nutrition. Increasing access to nutrition education for student-athletes at UAA is suggested, as participants expressed interest in learning more about nutrition.