Press Releases

The mission of the CMAA Foundation is to advance and support workforce development to support the future growth of the industry, development of research beneficial to the advancement of technological, educational, or vocational expertise in the industry, and education in the construction management profession.

One of the ways the CMAA Foundation does this is through scholarships. Providing financial assistance through scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education in construction management was one of the original purposes for establishing the CMAA Foundation in 1995.

Under the scope of work approved in 2018, the CMAA Foundation established a Scholarship Program to aid students pursuing postsecondary education that is intended to lead to a construction management career. Criteria for awarding scholarships are set by the Foundation Board of Directors. The Foundation will award at least one, and no more than four, scholarships annually. The total value of the scholarships is limited to $10,000 per year for the first five years.

The CMAA Foundation also administers the Francis M. Keville Scholarship, which was established in 2009 by Christine Keville, FCMAA, through her firm, Keville Enterprises, Inc. It was created in honor of her late father, Frank Keville and honors his lifelong commitment to learning and opportunity, and reflects his values as a leader and a consummate professional. The father of three girls, Frank brought his work home, not only to study it, but also to share it with his children. This is why the scholarship is awarded each year to a female student pursuing a degree in construction management or a related discipline, who has a record of leadership and engagement both on- and off-campus, and who is planning a career in the field.

New this year is the Erica Lynn Scholarship. Administered by the CMAA Foundation, it provides scholarships to first-generation students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in construction management, construction engineering, or civil engineering with an emphasis in construction management. Any student pursuing a post-secondary education that is intended to lead to a career in construction management, and meets other baseline criteria, is eligible to apply. Scholarships are awarded annually, and recipients may reapply for one additional year.

Applications and supporting materials for each scholarship are due by April 30, 2023. More information and applications can be found on the CMAA website. 

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) invites you to share your best practices, successes, and proven techniques by presenting at its fall conference, CMAA2023.

CMAA2023, scheduled for October 29 - 31, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (National Harbor), is CMAA's flagship event. It will include a comprehensive exhibit hall, plenary and breakout sessions, and the annual CMAA Industry Recognition Awards where 2023 CMAA Project Achievement Awards, Person of the Year, and other individual honors are presented.

Planned are three days of education, collaboration, and networking. This year’s event will feature unmatched educational programming, solution and technology providers, invaluable connections and engagement, and recognition of the projects and people that help define the construction management industry. 

CMAA2023 is looking for interactive learning sessions that focus on:

• Best practices used to complete successful projects and programs
• Lessons learned from complex projects and programs
• Inspiring leadership, partnerships, and talent management
• Developing a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and professional workforce
• Key issues facing the industry
• Environmental impacts (sustainability, community, safety, etc.)
• Innovative solutions to old problems
• Industry trends (technology, economic, political, etc.)
• Session proposals that promote attendee engagement, contain attendee learning activities, and have diverse panels will receive selection preference.

All CMAA2023 education session proposal submissions are due by Friday, March 24, 2023.

Get started here. 

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) invites all those in the construction industry to join us in San Antonio, Texas, March 19 - 21, 2023, for CMAA Focus23. This event is truly a must-attend for all leaders of program and construction management and will focus on a variety of issues that are relevant to today's professionals.

New for 2023: Some topics deserve more time. Time to talk to your colleagues. Time to surface new solutions to old problems. Time to ask questions and consider answers more fully.

CMAA Focus23 includes a new education format that allows for that time: The Symposium. Three topics - each one considered over two hours with thought-provoking questions, time to talk to colleagues about solutions, and time to make plans for trying new techniques. In 2023, Symposia will cover claims, workforce development, and creating inclusive work environments. 

The Full Education Program also includes: 

• Plenary sessions such as The Connected Leader from speaker Colette Carlson
• Traditional education sessions in one hour blocks on topics most important to today's professionals
• CMAA Forums on the topics of recruiting, technology, DEIB
• Open Space "Prometheus” Sessions allow participants to choose the topics, design the agenda, and connect with others who share their interests
• Town Hall on Owners' Future Forecasting

CMAA Focus23 is also partnering with several other associations for additional educational content. Attendees can choose to participate in sessions by the:

• Association for International Real Estate Investors (AFIRE)
• National Association of Real Estate Investment Managers (NAREIM)
• National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP)
• National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS)
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) San Antonio Chapter
• Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)
• United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Want to learn more and register? Visit the CMAA Focus23 website.

The Construction Manager Certification Institute (CMCI), a subsidiary of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), announces the release of a new credential for qualified construction managers, the Certified Associate Construction Manager® (CACM). The CACM recognizes mid-career professionals who voluntarily meet the CACM’s eligibility requirements, including formal education, field experience, and passing a written exam. 
  
“CMCI is proud to launch the CACM designation to help retain talent and fill a critical gap within the industry,” said Raoul D. Ilaw, PE, CCM, FCMAA, Vice President at STV Construction Management and CMCI’s Immediate Past Chair. "The CACM helps owners and employers identify professionals who are ready to move beyond entry-level tasks and help lead projects and programs. The CACM provides a path for these mid-level professionals who are ready for more but might not yet be able to lead entirely on their own."
 
Between 2018 and 2022, CMCI conducted a needs assessment and job task analysis which involved hundreds of construction management professionals and conducted a survey to identify the importance of hundreds of topics for mid-career construction management professionals. CMCI then pilot-tested examination questions to ensure that the examination was valid, reliable, and secure. This entire process followed the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 17024 standard. 
  
The CACM has different requirements and is separate from CMCI’s other credentials, the Certified Construction Manager® (CCM®) and the Construction Manager-in-Training (CMIT®) stackable credentials.

• CCM: All candidates must have at least 48 months of responsible-in-charge experience leading all aspects of construction projects or programs.
• CACM: All candidates must have either a minimum of 12 months of responsible-in-charge experience or four years of general design/construction experience.
• CMIT: The CMIT stackable credentials are CMCI’s entry-level designations that require no prior experience to begin and six months of general experience to advance to CMIT Levels 2, 3, and 4.

“CMCI has credentialed qualified construction managers for over 25 years. After the introduction of the CMIT in 2009 and now with nearly 8,000 CMITs, CMAA and CMCI wanted to build a credential for mid-career program and construction management professionals that would fill the gap between CMIT and readiness for the CCM,” said Andrea S. Rutledge, CAE, CMAA’s President and CEO. "The CACM is designed to meet that need. The addition of the CACM is the latest step in CMCI's continuing effort to provide career pathways with various points of entry that lead to the growth and development of the next generation of program and construction management professionals." 
 
See more about the new CACM here.

Christine Oates, CCM, Vice President, Operations Leader PMCM Buildings Northeast, Jacobs, became the new Chair of the Board of Directors of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) at CMAA2022, the association’s national conference in San Diego, Calif.
 
Christine is an industry leader in the construction management profession with over 25 years of experience including leading critical public and private sector buildings and infrastructure projects, providing sales and business development, and currently leading operations for the PMCM Buildings Northeast unit at Jacobs.  

Christine started with CMAA just about 20 years ago volunteering to support the local NY/NJ chapter in a variety of roles including newsletter, student scholarship and outreach, and support of the annual awards banquet. It was through these early engagements, encouragement by the NY/NJ Board of Directors, and her supervisor that she became passionate about wanting to take an active role in CMAA. Christine went on to serve on the NY/NJ Board of Directors and eventually as President of the Chapter. During her tenure as Chapter President, the Chapter received Chapter of the Year.
 
Also during this time, Christine received her Certified Cosntruction Manager (CCM®) and became a course instructor for the Cost Management Module of the Standards of Practice course, where she provided instruction to both the public and private sectors encouraging and supporting construction management professionals to achieve their certification. Christine joined the National Board of Directors in 2017 serving in a variety of roles, including chairing the Strategic Framework Committee.
 
Christine holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Pace University and is a CCM and a Design-Build Professional (DBIA). 
 
“I am excited to be in the role as Chair of CMAA, allowing me to have a more national reach to promote CMAA and all the benefits it provides the membership from professional development, networking, access to advocacy issues and updates, and to be part of an organization that not only provides personal benefits to its membership but an organization that builds better… projects, people, environments, equity, workforce, and diversity," Christine said.
 
“My goal this year is to deploy the tactics that are aimed at meeting the outcomes of the strategic framework that was developed and approved in spring of 2022, which includes Transform Project Execution, Shape the Profession, and Establish CMAA as the Premier Resource.”
 
Serving as CMAA Board of Directors Officers for 2022-2023:

• Chair - Christine Oates, CCM | Jacobs
• Chair-Elect - Khaled Naja, PE, CCM | Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
• Immediate Past Chair - Brian McCarthy, PE, CCM | CDM Smith
• Secretary - Doug McCutchen, CCM | Keville Enterprises, Inc.
• Treasurer - Michael Houston, CCM | The Bowa Group, Inc.
• Vice Chair - Jim Murphy, CCM | STV
• Vice Chair - Anne M. Timmermans, CCM | Parametrix

See more about the CMAA Board of Directors here.

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) is pleased to announce it has recognized 20 projects for outstanding achievements in construction management.

The 2022 Project Achievement Award winners are:
 
Environmental: Construction value less than $50 Million
Soldier Canyon Filter Plant Expansion
Owner: Soldier Canyon Water Treatment Authority
Project Team: Ditesco Services, Stantec, BCER, Houston Engineering
 
Environmental: Construction value less than $50 Million    
Middle Fork Nooksack River Fish Passage Project
Owner: City of Bellingham
Project Team: HDR, Walsh Group, Collins Engineers
 
Education: Construction value greater than $50 Million
Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
Owner: Austin Independent School District
Project Team: AECOM, R-O Construction, O’Connell Robertson
 
Transportation: Construction value less than $50 Million    
Maryland Avenue Reconstruction Project from 2nd Street NE to 14th Street NE
Owner: District of Columbia Department of Transportation
Project Team: Cube Root Corp, Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.; Fort Myer Construction
 
Education: Construction value greater than $50 Million
Omaha Public Schools Westview High School and YMCA Facility
Owner: Omaha Public Schools
Project Team: Jacobs, Sampson Construction, Perkins & Will, BCDM Architects
 
Transportation: Construction value greater than $50 Million
Runway 18R/36L Rehabilitation Project
Owner: Dallas Ft. Worth International Airport
Project Team: AECOM, Austin Industries, RS&H 
 
Transportation: Construction value less than $10 Million    
Rehabilitation of Runway 14-32 and Taxiways J/J1
Owner: Massport
Project Team: Massport, McCourt Construction 
 
Government: Construction value greater than $50 Million
P-440 Pier 8 Replacement at Naval Base San Diego
Owner: United States Navy/NAVFAC
Project Team: Manson Construction, WSP, MA Engineers, Matrix Environmental, Geo Engineers
 
Residential/Mixed-Use: Construction value less than $50 Million
NYCHA Andrew Jackson Houses Electrical Feeder Replacement
Owner: New York City Housing Authority
Project Team: STV, EIA, Lakhani & Jordan Engineers
 
Residential/Mixed-Use: Construction value greater than $50 Million
Park Center
Owner: Lowe
Project Team: The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Bonstra | Haresign, Rathgeber/Goss Associates, JennERIK Engineering, Inc.; Johnson Bernat Associates, Inc.
 
Commercial/Sports/Entertainment/Hospitality: Construction value less than $50 Million
Pepper Family Wildlife Center at Lincoln Park Zoo
Owner: Lincoln Park Zoo
Project Team: Pepper Construction, Goettsch Partners, WSP, Primera
 
Government: Construction value less than $50 Million
Netherlands Carillon Rehabilitation
Owner: U.S. National Park Service
Project Team: AFG Group, Asturian Group, Inc., Consigli Construction, Quinn Evans
 
Water/Wastewater/Utility: Construction value less than $50 Million
Honolulu Board of Water Supply Construction Management & Electrical Engineering Support
Owner: Honolulu Board of Water Supply 
Project Team: RHA Construction Management Group, NORESCO
 
Education: Construction value less than $50 Million
Austin ISD's Rosedale School Modernization Project
Owner: Austin Independent School District 
Project Team: AECOM, R-O Construction, Page
 
Environmental: Construction value greater than $50 Million
Conley Terminal Modernization Program New Berth 10 Construction
Owner: Massport
Project Team: GEI Consultants
 
Healthcare: Construction value less than $10 Million
Torre Medica Otay
Owner: Loma Desarrollos
Project Team: PIZA International, RDLP Arquitectos
 
Healthcare: Construction value greater than $50 Million
AdventHealth - Taneja Center for Surgery
Owner: AdventHealth
Project Team: Jacobs, HuntonBrady, Robins & Morton
 
Residential/Mixed-Use: Construction value less than $10 Million
Safe Water Action Program
Owner: City of Fort Collins, Colo.
Project Team:  Ditesco, Connell Resources
 
Commercial/Sports/Entertainment/Hospitality: Construction value greater than $50 Million
MITIMCo, South of Main “SoMa” |  Site 3 Building
Owner: MIT Investment Management Company
Project Team: Turner Construction, Perkins & Will
 
Water/Wastewater/Utility: Construction value greater than $50 Million
Newark Lead Service Line Replacement Program
Owner: City of Newark, N.J.
Project Team:  CDM Smith, Roman E&G Corp.
 
The award winners will be recognized October 11, 2022, at the CMAA Industry Honors Program and Reception during CMAA2022, in San Diego, Calif. Award winners serve as examples for CMAA to promote professionalism and excellence in the management of the construction process.
 
Photos and narratives of individual projects can be viewed here. 
 

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) has announced the winners of its 2022 Industry Excellence Awards.

CMAA’s Award Program recognizes excellence in construction management practice and honors companies and individuals each year based on merit. A panel of judges reviews each nomination carefully and chooses the best candidate in each category.

Carla Collins, United Engineering Resources, Inc., has received the 2022 CMAA Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This award recognizes a CMAA member with a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, social justice, community, and social responsibility, and a record of acting on that commitment. 
 

Darrin Lambrigger, PE, CCM, FCMAA, Port of Long Beach, has been honored with the 2022 CMAA Distinguished Owner Award. This award recognizes an owner member who understands the value of a professional construction manager on the job and whose consistent actions have made meaningful and extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the construction management profession.
 
 

Michael Courtney, CCM, Cypress Construction Management, received the 2022 CMAA Distinguished Service Provider Award. This honor recognizes a service provider member whose consistent actions have made meaningful/extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the construction management profession, such as mentoring, advocating, promoting, and selecting construction management professionals.

Smita Yamgar, CCM, Capital Project Management, Inc., and Ashish Rajmane, CMIT, APSI Construction Management, have both received the 2022 CMAA Distinguished Young Professional Award. This award recognizes and celebrates a full-time professional for outstanding professional accomplishments and a commitment to the construction management industry early in their career.

Dr. Farzad Shahbodaghlou, California State University East Bay, has been awarded the 2022 CMAA Mark Hasso Educator of the Year honor. This recognition emphasizes excellence in teaching and recognizes a full-time educator for outstanding professional accomplishments and a commitment to construction management education.

 
Ida A. Clair, AIA, California State Architect, has received the 2022 CMAA Leader in Environmental Stewardship Award. This honor recognizes individuals, teams, or organizations, for outstanding leadership in innovation or best practices in guiding and aiding owners as they seek to define and meet their objectives for environmental stewardship throughout a project’s life cycle.

 
Also awarded were the CCM Champion Coin of Excellence winners. The 2022 recipients include John Morse, CCM, Vice President, ATCS PLC; Justine Belizaire, CCM, Associate Vice President, HNTB; and Craig Sweet, CCM, Construction Manager, Parametrix. Each year, CMCI recognizes credential holders by awarding the Coins of Excellence. The coins are given to exceptional individuals who embody the highest standards of professionalism and support a culture of certification within the construction management industry.

“Each of our award winners work hard to make a difference, and we commend each of them for their achievements and contributions to the construction industry,” states CMAA President and CEO Andrea S. Rutledge, CAE.

CMAA will honor its award winners during the organization’s in-person conference, CMAA2022, October 9-11, 2022, in San Diego, Calif. Visit www.cmaanet.org/cmaa2022 for more information.
 
Entries for the 2023 CMAA Industry Honors Awards program will open in March.

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) announces four members have been selected for induction into the CMAA College of Fellows for 2022. They are:

• Robert Bennett, FCMAA | RABCO Engineering
• Darrin Lambrigger, PE, CCM, FCMAA | Port of Long Beach
• David Rathmann, CCM-RET, FCMAA | Parsons, Retired
• Carl Sciple, PE, CCM, FCMAA | Retired

CMAA members are nominated and selected in recognition of their demonstrated leadership in the industry, their significant contributions to the profession, the industry, the association, and their commitment to the future. The FCMAA designation is the highest honor CMAA can bestow on an individual member and this year’s honorees are no exception.

“These individuals were selected for their record of contributions to the success of CMAA, their dedication to CMAA’s core objectives, and their commitment to the future of the organization,” said Gary J. Cardamone, PE, FCMAA, Chancellor of the CMAA College of Fellows. “I look forward to their future success and to the new perspectives they bring to the College’s work.”

The College of Fellows seeks to represent a diverse community of industry leaders who lend their knowledge and insight to the strategic issues facing the industry and the construction management profession, identify and assist in the development of future leaders, and take an active role in supporting the mission of CMAA.

“The selection committee has made outstanding choices for this year’s inductees,” said Andrea S. Rutledge, CAE, President and CEO of CMAA. “These individuals have a clear commitment to CMAA’s success promoting the profession of construction management and the use of qualified construction managers on projects and programs.”
 
See more about the CMAA College of Fellows here.

An original podcast presented by the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), the Construction Leaders Podcast focuses on the latest in capital management and the issues and challenges facing program and construction managers today. The season features a new episode each month with guests discussing what's impacting the construction industry the most.
 
Your hosts are Nick Soto, CAE, and Carly Trout, who are part of the professional development team at CMAA. As vice president of professional development, Nick is all about developing training and credentialing for the construction management industry. Plus, he's an avid Miami sports fan. Talk to him about the Dolphins, or the difference between a certificate and certification… either way, he has some hot opinions to share. Carly has been an active participant in the industry for over 10 years, now as CMAA's senior manager of professional development eLearning. When she isn't assisting construction managers with professional development opportunities, she stays busy raising a future engineer. Together, they chat with guests about today's most important construction industry topics.
 
So far, five episodes have been released. They include:

•     U.S. Construction Outlook: Workforce Worries, Project Prospects and Supply Snags
•     Navigating the Construction Management Industry as a Young Professional (Part 1)
•     Navigating the Construction Management Industry as a Young Professional (Part 2) 
•     Do You Have What it Takes? Starting Your Own Construction Management Firm
•     Talking Standards with ASTM International

Start by listening to the Season 1 Trailer to see how construction managers apply talent, technology, and other tools to help project owners control their risk and achieve their goals.
 
Listeners can subscribe today on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, or wherever they enjoy their favorite podcasts.
 
Listen to the Construction Leaders Podcast

Vienna, VA, USA – The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Foundation announced today that it has received a gift of $250,000 from a CMAA member who is passionate about developing the next generation of construction management professionals.

The gift, the largest in the Foundation’s history, will endow the Foundation’s Chapter Grants program, ensuring the long-term success of the program. In making the commitment, the donor invited anyone willing to match the amount, to name the fund.

The Chapter Grants Program is a key element in the Foundation’s scope of work for achieving its vision of a future workforce that is open, inclusive, and committed to the growth and development of the profession.

Grants are made on a competitive basis to qualified CMAA Chapters to support the early stages of developing and implementing a local, summer, student internship program, or Rising Construction Manager conference. The first grants were made in 2020 and went to CMAA Florida and to a consortium of three chapters in California (CMAA San Diego, CMAA Southern California, and CMAA Northern California). Both grants were for local conferences for students and recent graduates.

“This is quite a remarkable moment in the Foundation’s history,” said, Joel Keels, CCM, Chair of the CMAA Foundation Board of Directors. “It signifies the donor’s trust in the Foundation and commitment to the future of the profession.”

The CMAA Foundation was revitalized in 2019 after a two-year hiatus during which CMAA leaders reconsidered the Foundation’s vision, mission, and scope of work. In addition to the Chapter Grants Program, the Foundation has reestablished its national scholarship program, and is developing a program to support faculty development at post-secondary institutions.

“This donor has set an extraordinary example through their philanthropic choices,” said Andrea S. Rutledge, CAE, President of the CMAA Foundation. “We look forward to advancing the success of the Chapter Grants Program and the Foundation.”

About The CMAA Foundation

VISION: The CMAA Foundation envisions a future workforce that is open, inclusive, and committed to the growth and development of the profession.

MISSION: The CMAA Foundation advances and supports workforce development to support the future growth of the industry, development of research beneficial to the advancement of technological, educational, or vocational expertise in the industry, and education in the construction management profession.

For more information, visit www.cmaanet.org/foundation.