The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) is proud to announce that Michael Mendick, PE, CCM, a District Engineer with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), became the new Chair of the CMAA Board of Directors at CMAA2026, the association’s national conference in Denver, Colorado.
Mendick has been with CTDOT for over 30 years, having started as an engineering intern. He is currently overseeing the construction of capital construction projects for public transportation and major facilities throughout his state.
In this role, he leads the department's construction project management efforts overseeing a team of both in-house and outside consultant engineers tasked to deliver projects both on time and under budget. Notable projects include the New Haven Railyard Facilities Improvement Program, CTfastrak, a $700 million project that produced Connecticut’s first Bus Rapid Transit system; as well as the WALK bridge program, a $2 billion program replacing the oldest movable span on the northeast corridor.
A member of the CMAA Board of Directors for five years, Mendick is also very involved in the CMAA Connecticut Chapter, where he previously served as Vice President and President. Mendick has been a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Connecticut since 2000 and a Certified Construction Manager® (CCM®) since 2015. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.
"CMAA is a community dedicated to building better outcomes for our projects and our profession and I am honored to become your board chair," Mendick said. "The needs of the built environment continue to evolve, and we must evolve with them. But it’s not just about keeping pace. We have the opportunity to lead these changes. CMAA builds better by setting standards others choose to follow."
In his acceptance speech at CMAA2026 on October 5 in Denver, Mendick suggested the next chapter of CMAA had not yet been written. But in the coming year, the Board will:
- Develop the association's next strategic plan
- Conduct a comprehensive Brand Identity Study
"CMAA builds better through openness, accountability, and public engagement. And that idea came directly from something I learned at my very first interaction with CMAA. Eleven years ago, I found a home at CMAA. Today, I am filled with optimism for our profession, for our industry, and for this organization. We are builders. We do not simply respond to change — we shape it. We do not simply manage projects — we create infrastructure. And we do all of this because CMAA builds better in how we lead, how we collaborate, and how we serve the public," Mendick shared with attendees. "CMAA’s next chapter begins with us. Let us make it bold. Let us make it purposeful. And let us make it something we will be proud to pass on."
Carol Holland, PE, CCM, Immediate Past Chair of the CMAA Board of Directors, expressed thoughts on CMAA's new Chair, “Mike has made remarkable contributions to both the Board of Directors and the Association. He 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 his leadership in the year ahead.”
Also elected as officers to the CMAA Board of Directors were:
Don Young, PE, CCM, Chair-Elect
Yashar Hooshvar, PE, CCM, Treasurer
Kara Lentz, PE, CCM, Secretary
Katie Choe, CCM, Vice Chair
David Wissmann, CCM, Vice Chair