Why you need an independent advocate.

Owners are not always in a position to dedicate the human resources required to manage and execute a construction or development project. In those instances, a qualified owner representative is crucial to meeting project goals and ensuring a successful outcome.

As your representative, the main focus is to protect your interest in the construction process, complete the job, and exceed expectations. For an owner whose organization may not have the resources to look after each component of a project, Rizzo Development Group serves as an extension of your staff.

As the project's "eyes and ears," we ensure that construction proceeds in accordance with contract documents — on time and within budget — while providing guidance through the lifecycle of the project and protecting the owner's interests at all times. Working as your advocate, we enable clients to focus on their core business without distraction.

Unlike a general contractor managing development and construction for their own benefit, we act as an independent advocate for the owner. Drawing on extensive experience and management of projects in a complete range of sizes, our goal is to help deliver the highest quality construction at the best possible price in the shortest period of time.

Service Objectives

What we deliver for the owner.

Every engagement is structured around measurable outcomes aligned with the owner's business objectives.

Align Strategy to Execution

Match the owner's business objectives with the appropriate, executable real estate strategy.

Reduce Risk & Cost

Assist in facilitating planning, scheduling, design, and construction processes. Make recommendations, reduce risk, and value engineer the project.

Independent Advocacy

Be an independent advocate for the owner and the project — not aligned with the contractor, architect, or any other party.

Team Selection

Assist in selecting the most qualified consultants, contractors, subcontractors, and all other vendors associated with the project.

Oversight & Execution

Provide oversight, review budgets, and generally execute the design and construction on the owner's behalf.

Negotiate & Protect

Represent the owner in negotiations with architects, contractors, vendors, and other service providers. Manage risks associated with the construction effort.

Quality & Value

Scrutinize all components of the project to assess cost, durability, functionality, and value. Produce the highest quality construction at the best possible price.

On Time & On Budget

Facilitate completion of the project on schedule, on budget, and in conformance with the owner's expectations. Examine recommendations and change orders to confirm they respond appropriately to project requirements and are cost efficient.

Full scope of services.

From initial programming through post-completion warranty, every phase is managed by one senior principal. No handoffs. No rotating project managers.

01

Programming

Site review and land requirement analysis
Project scope and proforma development
Risk identification and responsibility assignment
Due diligence — ALTA survey, title, soils, environmental, wetlands
Current zoning analysis and limitation identification
Government and community agency requirements
Government relations and media plan
Insurance and bonding requirements
Working relationship procedures and communication plan
Payment, change order, and procurement procedures

02

Planning & Design

Project schedule and long-lead time sequencing
Project budget estimate
Design review and constructability analysis
Value engineering
Final scope, specification documents, and bid package
General contractor pre-qualification and bidder selection
Subcontractor and vendor review
Public meeting assistance for approvals
Architect, engineer, and GC contract negotiations

03

Construction

Contract award oversight
Field observations, improvements, and safety
Regular construction progress meetings
Owner / Architect / GC meetings to review status, issues, and changes
Overall construction progress consultation and completion impact assessment
Change order review on owner's behalf
Design and construction claims settlement assistance
Project invoice review — construction, soft costs, fees, systems, equipment, furnishings, signage
Project cost reporting with tracked line items, expenses, and changes

04

Close-Out & Turnover

Punch-list management and inspections
Records, as-built drawings, and manuals
Signage finalization for interior and exterior
Project team contract reconciliation and closeout
Post-completion warranty claim management

Why early integration matters.

Early integration of an owner representative helps ensure that appropriate schedule and budget objectives are achieved from the start.

The early collaboration assists in identifying critical scope and long-lead time items for project efficiency, and ensures that the owner and project team understand both the design expectations and economic drivers in creating a successful project.

We bring a number of broad-stroke advantages and a proactive approach to the owner's project and requirements. Our goal is not just to react to problems, but to anticipate them — ensuring the owner's interests are protected before issues become costly change orders or schedule delays.

The principal difference.

Large firms assign junior project managers to owner's-rep engagements. Rizzo Development Group assigns the founder.

Todd Rizzo personally manages every owner's representation engagement. The person sitting across from you in the boardroom is the same person walking the job site, reviewing the invoices, and pushing back on change orders. That continuity of leadership is the difference between a service and a result.

With 25+ years of development experience — including managing multi-disciplinary teams of architects, engineers, contractors, attorneys, brokers, lenders, and governmental authorities — Todd brings a developer's judgment to an owner's-rep role. He doesn't just monitor the process. He improves it.

Principal's Career Track Record

25+

Years Experience

5M+

SF Developed

$500M+

Transaction Value

120+

Transactions

Owner's Representation.