You know the why. Now it's time for the how.

In Session 2 of The Campfire Sessions, the conversation moves beyond the fundamentals and into the practical mechanics of WBS in Deltek Vantagepoint. The panel digs into planning specifics: subconsultants, third-level WBS, project milestones, and the approaches that separate firms that manage WBS well from those that don't.

Consultants Jenny Labranche, Matt McCauley, Rana Blair, and Lisa Ahearn bring different perspectives to the table — including a look at opposing methods for how firms approach WBS in practice. Expect concrete techniques, real scenarios, and an honest conversation about what actually works. 

The session covers the real-world benefits — from tracking multiple contract parts in a single project to unlocking flexible billing and cleaner project reporting. Whether you're a project manager, in accounting, or in leadership, this session gives you the "why" before the series dives into the "how."

You'll see how to:

• Navigate subconsultants, third-level WBS structures, and project milestones

• Understand the difference between internal and billing management — and why it matters

• Number phases and tasks so rollup works correctly in reporting and invoicing

• Track subconsultant budgets without losing visibility

• Use template projects with billing terms and "starter" plans to keep firm-wide setup consistent

• Apply phase grouping and post by phase or task on invoices

• Do a forensic breakdown of past projects to sharpen future proposals

Whether you're a project manager ready to go deeper, an accounting team member handling phase-level invoicing, or an operations lead responsible for firm-wide templates, this session is built for you. 

Check out the first session - Starting the Fire: Goals of WBS