Bob Collins Imparts a Lasting Legacy with People and Projects
February, 2026
It would be difficult to quantify the impact of Bob Collins, not only on the public education systems for countless community members across the Pacific Northwest, but also the professional education and growth of many more he’s worked with. A focus on people has been a cornerstone of Bob’s career managing decades of successful school bond programs and it’s something he’s proud to have passed down in reaching retirement.
“When you build a team that cares about both project and personal challenges, it comes back in spades… care for people and they’ll take care of you.”
– Bob Collins, Senior Project Manager
From beginning as a contractor to helping manage them as an owner’s representative, Bob’s perspective on projects has evolved but his role team builder and mentor has always remained. It represents a consistent element across his relationships with school districts, the development of our internal teams, and now in the handoff of that approach to someone with a similarly diverse background. In tandem with a celebration of Bob’s impressive career comes a welcome to Stormy Shanks, who will now build on the foundation he’s built.
This passing of the torch isn’t just a transition of work, but an opportunity to share deep industry knowledge Bob has accumulated over decades.
Two Paths, a Single Aim to Improve Schools and their Communities
While Bob’s career began as a contractor, Stormy started as an engineer. Experience on the other side of projects was invaluable to each as they found their way to the owner’s perspective. And in both cases, that path was motivated by the same goal: having a positive impact on communities.
“One of the coolest things we get to do is work with the community and owner to really answer, ‘what do you value here?’ Sometimes you need to find the “why” first before realizing the most effective solution.”
– Stormy Shanks, Client Service Manager
As a mechanical engineer, education projects were always Stormy’s favorite. A large part of this was recognizing the central role schools play in their communities, especially today when people have fewer “third places” (church, Elk’s Lodge, etc.) where they regularly gather. “Lots of people don’t have third places now, and schools are often that place for many people.” Stormy experienced that importance firsthand, which ultimately shaped the next step in her career.
After working on the design of a Portland Public Schools (PPS) project, Stormy eventually joined the district to help manage that very bond program. The experience was a unique opportunity to work both as a designer and as an owner on the same project. In addition to the social impact of schools as spaces, she’s also drawn to their uncommon versatility as facilities. “[Schools] have a little bit of everything, from performing arts, sports, and labs to commercial kitchens, offices, and common areas. They are an incredible thing to get to work on.”
“[Clients] should expect to have the same level of honesty from our team through the good, bad, and ugly… they’re not working with someone who just wants to make money but wants to get to the end of the line successfully.”
– Bob Collins, Senior Project Manager
According to Bob, an owner’s representative should be more than “a hired gun.” He believes they need to be just as invested in the mission as the client, so they can advise, consult, and even make difficult decisions when needed on their behalf. It’s an approach he’s applied time and again, from completing a series of buildings for Reynolds School District simultaneously when nobody thought it was possible, to the long-standing, close collaboration with Salem-Keizer School District that led to more project improvements than originally planned.
That history has been especially meaningful for Stormy who says her superpower is pattern recognition and an ability to apply that context in making correct adjustments in future situations. Offering that context is just one more example of something Bob has valued his entire career. “It’s been important to relay lessons learned. I know I got that from a few folks… to show not just technically how you get the work done but the right way to go about doing it.”
Above all, this moment offers an opportunity to thank Bob for his leadership, his transparency, and his commitment to doing the work the right way, and for ensuring that what he’s built continues through others.
