Debra Barnes, Program Manager at Locke, shares what a typical day looks like in her role. She also touches on her professional journey and the lessons learned along the way. 

For the past two years, Debra Barnes has led the Project Management team at Locke as a Program Manager. She oversees a team of five project managers in the Houston office and two project managers in the Dallas-Fort Worth office who indirectly report to her, ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and above customer expectations.  

No two days look exactly the same for Debra. Much of her time is spent overseeing her team of project managers, making sure projects continue moving smoothly from start to finish. She also meets regularly with the Estimating, Engineering, and Production departments to continuously look for opportunities to improve the project management process. 

In between meetings, Debra makes time for walks through the production facility to check on the progress of larger projects before they ship out. This helps her stay connected to the work being done and ensure company standards are met every step of the way.

Debra started her career in oil and gas as a Project Specialist before taking on a role as a Production Manager/Scheduler in aerospace. When the opportunity here at Locke became available, she saw it as a chance to expand her leadership role and oversee a growing team. 

One lesson she has taken with her throughout her career is the importance of adaptability. “Not everybody listens, learns, hears, and speaks the same way. Adapting and communicating in a respectful way is what makes all the difference,” Debra says. 

According to Debra, strong project management skills can apply across many different industries. “What truly separates a good project manager from a great one,” she says, “is the level of care and ownership they bring to their work. Whatever the product may be, they feel like their name is tied to it. It’s their project, and they see it through.” 

As our company continues to grow and take on new projects, Debra is excited to see her team grow alongside it and continue building strong relationships with customers.