The PMI Eastern Idaho Chapter 

Chapter Member Recognition

Member Spotlight: J. Sterling Acree, PMP

Project Management Group Chief | Bureau of Reclamation, Four Corners Construction Office

For over a decade, Sterling Acree has been doing the work of a project manager, long before he ever put the letters PMP after his name. Now serving as Project Management Group Chief at the Bureau of Reclamation's Four Corners Construction Office, Sterling brings a wealth of federal construction experience and a quiet, curiosity-driven philosophy to everything he does.

Sterling earned his PMP in 2024, joining PMI shortly after. Despite more than ten years in the field before certifying, he's candid about the timing: "Knowing what I know now, I wish I'd done it sooner and started participating in chapter events much earlier in my career." Alongside his PMP, he holds a Senior-Level Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) and he's already looking ahead, currently working toward his PMI Construction Professional (PMI-CP) certification.

The centerpiece of Sterling's career is a project that speaks for itself: since 2015, he has been focused almost exclusively on the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project in northwestern New Mexico, a large-scale infrastructure effort that will deliver clean drinking water to thousands of people who currently lack a reliable supply. With the final phase expected to begin delivering water within the next two years, the finish line is finally in sight. "I have been incredibly fortunate to work on such a rewarding, complex project alongside some of the best people in the industry," he says.

That sense of purpose carries into how Sterling thinks about project management more broadly. For him, it's not something that switches on and off at the job site. It permeates everything. "Whether I'm doing 'real' project management on a major construction project or simply organizing daily workflows and future plans, the core principles and skills of a PM shape every aspect of my job."

The East Idaho PMI chapter has been a meaningful part of his continued growth. Sterling credits local seminars and networking with broadening his perspective beyond the federal construction world, keeping him connected to professionals across diverse industries who share the same drive for results.

His advice for those new to project management is refreshingly simple and perfectly on brand: ask questions. "Never assume you know the answer. Constantly question assumptions and never be afraid to seek answers. Stay curious." It's less a study tip than a way of life, and it's clearly served him well.

When he's not managing multimillion-dollar water infrastructure, Sterling and his wife are out exploring the world with their four children including whitewater rafting, camping, hiking, and always planning the next adventure.

We're grateful to have Sterling's experience and perspective as part of the East Idaho PMI community!

Connect with Sterling on LinkedIn