What is an Owner's Rep?

I read this article on the web and certainly explained why some owners who are contemplating a construction project should seriously consider involving an "Owners Rep."

"Once upon a time … most design teams included a
professional called an owner’s representative, or owner’s
rep as they are more commonly referred to throughout
the design and construction industry. That time,
however, is no more. Rather, the role of this individual
in the design process, much like the way I began this
column, is reminiscent of a fairy tale. Although the
owner’s rep was more commonly involved in larger or high
profile projects, their role was (and still is) extremely
valuable for projects of all shapes and sizes. Beginning
in the 1990’s, primarily as a result of pressure to cut
development costs, the owner’s rep was more frequently
being excluded from the design team. Some
experienced owners felt that they were able to manage
those tasks typically handled by an owner’s rep
themselves, and in some cases they were right. As
other developers caught wind of this trend, however,
they also began to exclude the owner’s rep even though
they did not possess the necessary skill set to replace
this professional. This second wave of developers
realized initial cost savings for the development process,
but what they did not understand was the long-term
cost, or downside, resulting from elimination of the
owner’s rep.

I can tell you from personal experience that nearly a
decade and a half after the elimination trend began, the
all too common absence of this vital team member is
taking its toll. The design process, in far too many
instances, has drifted from organized effort into
anarchy. It has become dominated by personalities, and
not by issues. The communication, generally speaking,
has deteriorated from its earlier state. What does all
of this mean? Well, it means that coordination has
suffered, more changes and conflicts arise in the field,
and the cost of construction rises with each of these
occurrences. In the end, the owner foots the bill. So
what was really saved in the end? Was it worth it? "

Owner's Representative: A Missing Link in the Design and Construc... http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_1st/Mar06