140: I'll Get There On Thursday with Zach Moss

In this episode of The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast, Ryan Gray sits down with Zach Moss, Project Manager in the IT department at Yavapai College, during a live recording at the Arizona Community College Technical Conference in Tucson, Arizona. Zach talks about what project management actually means inside higher education IT, where the work can stretch from campus remodel conversations to ERP replacement, portal launches, vendor coordination, and the daily challenge of keeping complex work moving across teams. The conversation quickly moves beyond timelines and task lists into the reality of leading projects when the technical answers live with subject matter experts, the stakeholders all have different needs, and the role often becomes less about having every answer and more about knowing how to remove the next barrier.Ryan and Zach also dig into transparency, ambiguity, risk tolerance, and the emotional intelligence required to manage technology projects without turning every issue into a crisis. Zach explains how taking good notes, focusing on the problem directly in front of him, building enough runway for timelines to shift, and meeting people where they are helps him keep work moving even when plans change. The episode closes with a wider conversation about accountability, trust, celebrating wins, choosing the right people for the work, and why successful project management in higher education often comes down to taking something that does not exist yet and bringing it together for students, faculty, and staff.Topics DiscussedRecording live at the Arizona Community College Technical Conference in TucsonZach Moss’s role as Project Manager in the IT department at Yavapai CollegeWhy project management looks different depending on the projectBuilding a project management role when the position is new to the departmentCoordinating work across ERP, portal, campus, and IT projectsLeading projects when the subject matter experts know the technical detailsRemoving blockers without personally knowing every system or acronymLiving in a constant state of emergency without treating every problem as a crisisTaking good notes and focusing on the problem directly in front of youKnowing when something is a Thursday problem instead of a Tuesday problemCreating enough runway so timelines can shift without panicThe difference between real imperatives and invented urgencyRecalibrating expectations when plans, features, or deadlines changeUsing transparency to build trust with teams and executive stakeholdersThe “you know everything I know” approach to project communicationWorking through forever projects and vendor implementation challengesWhitewater rapids as a metaphor for constant technology changeBuilding the right project team with the right ownershipMeeting people where they are in communication and work styleDefining project management as taking a scope or goal and bringing it togetherConnect with Zachhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-moss-mba-pmp-4732b1290https://www.yc.eduConnect with Ryanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/[email protected] by Chris DechterHave feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!