The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) is proud to announce that Carol Holland, PE, CCM, Senior Vice President, Cornerstone Concilium, Inc., became the new Chair of the CMAA Board of Directors at CMAA2025, the association’s national conference in Nashville.
A senior facilities and engineering executive with over 25 years of progressive leadership experience, Carol brings strategic leadership and business development expertise to Cornerstone Concilium, an engineering and management consulting firm that has been serving aviation, transportation, facilities, and technology sectors since 1986.
Carol's distinguished career includes notable achievements such as managing the almost $2 billion Pentagon Wedge 2-5 renovation, overseeing the $500 million International Monetary Fund headquarters renovation project as deputy director, and leading facilities planning for the Department of Job Corps Program's 124 centers totaling 15 million square feet with a $100 million annual construction budget.
A Navy veteran and Naval Academy graduate, Carol’s career began as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer providing full lifecycle management for Navy facilities globally.
Her technical credentials include a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. She is a licensed professional engineer, a Certified Construction Manager (CCM), and LEED Accredited Professional. Carol is also a member of the CMAA National Capital Chapter and previously served as its president.
"My commitment to this role stems from over 25 years managing complex facilities and capital programs first in the United States Navy Civil Engineer corps managing over $2 billion in military construction, maintenance, and repair, and then in the private sector, from the Pentagon's $3.4 billion renovation to the IMF's $1 billion headquarters renewal," Carol said.
"These experiences taught me that successful project delivery requires not just technical expertise, but diverse perspectives, collaborative leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. This is the value proposition we must continue to champion."
In her acceptance speech at CMAA2025 on October 20 in Nashville, Carol suggested the program and construction management profession stands at a pivotal moment. "The infrastructure needs before us are unprecedented, yet we face a significant workforce gap. Recent owner discussions reveal forecasts of tripling construction spend with minimal increases in overhead support," she said.
She also promised that CMAA will remain focused on three priorities:
- Workforce Development - aggressively addressing the talent shortage
- Advocacy Excellence - intensifying efforts for construction management professional recognition and advancing the value of credentialed professionals
- Communication and Value Demonstration - better articulating the measurable value program and construction management professionals bring to project outcomes
"Our tagline remains our North Star: CMAA Builds Better: better buildings, better professionals, better infrastructure. Simply better. This commitment to continuous improvement drives our work ahead," Carol said.
Andrea S. Rutledge, CAE, CMAA President and CEO, expresses her thoughts on CMAA's new Chair, “Carol has made remarkable contributions to both the Board of Directors and the Association. She consistently encourages me — and the entire Board — to think creatively and push boundaries in pursuit of CMAA’s mission and vision. I’m excited to see all that the Board will accomplish under her leadership in the year ahead.”