Maelyn Uyehara is a principal cost manager for Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), a global construction consultancy firm. Her more than 25 years of experience in the industry span a variety of project types across Hawaii’s private and public sectors, as well as with US government projects in Japan, Guam, Saipan, Kwajalein, Midway Atoll, American Samoa, Diego Garcia and Korea.

Maelyn is a trusted advisor to clients who rely on her expertise in milestone cost estimating, feasibility studies, cost modeling, elemental cost analysis, bid analysis, value engineering, due diligence, replacement cost assessment, change order review and negotiation and planning studies.

She is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and resides in Kailua Town, Oahu, with her family.

Strong Foundations

Maelyn was born and raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu.  She credits her parents for a well-rounded upbringing, especially her father’s involvement in her early education.  Her father was an electronics technician who is excellent in math and science. Throughout her childhood, Maelyn’s father shared precious moments working with her on her math and science skills, impressing upon her how these subjects were so important and related them to life.  Maelyn and her father bonded over these learning experiences. He taught her “tricks” to help with solving word problems. Maelyn would ask him to create extra worksheets for her because she loved the challenge of working through problems and the sense of accomplishment she would feel upon completing them.

Maelyn recognizes her mother and father as some of her most influential mentors and role models. Both of her parents are second and third-generation immigrants from Japan who instilled humbleness, perseverance, and a strong work ethic among each of their children. As a result, Maelyn and her two sisters were raised not to take things for granted and the importance of working hard to achieve their goals. The principles her parents imparted have driven Maelyn to keep moving forward and are what she attributes to her professional and personal accomplishments to date. Carrying on her parents’ traditon, she passes the same principles and disciplines on to her 38-year-old son and 9-year-old twins.

A graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Maelyn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. While in college, she interned with a contractor that allowed her to gain first-hand experience in cost estimating and on-site project engineering. In between being a student and an intern, Maelyn was also a young mother to her first child. Despite having to balance three demanding roles at once, Maelyn persevered and was offered a position with Rider Levett Bucknall in Honolulu after graduating college.

No Grit, No Glory

Early in her career, Rider Levett Bucknall involved Maelyn in preparing cost estimates and assisting project managers on construction sites – although equipped with site experience, Maelyn prefers estimating in a peaceful office setting and leading a team.  Finding her ideal work environment and doing what she loves has allowed her to raise a family and have longevity with Rider Levett Bucknall for 27 years, though her work ethic and determination are key factors to the successful career she has built over the years.

In the early stages of Maelyn’s career, the engineering and construction industry was very male dominated.  She vividly recalls attending meetings with her male supervisor where the participants only spoke directly to him, assuming that the sole purpose of her attendance was to take minutes and would often times overlook her direct role in the project. This did not deter Maelyn; instead, it was a catalyst for her tenacity. She continued to work hard, hone her expertise in devoping cost estimates, and as her experience level progressed, Maelyn gained the confidence of her clients, which allowed her to advise them in meetings and design workshops where she established strong relationships of her own.

Working in Project Controls has allowed Maelyn to find joy in continously learning as projects are planned, designed, and constructed, and she feels fortunate to work on a variety of project types in different sectors. Fittingly, Rider Levett Bucknall offers a range of specialties to achieve a client’s desired outcome, and therefore, her role changes with each project – from budget cost modeling and providing milestone cost estimates, to supporting contract negotiations, providing litigation support, and more.  As a principal for the firm, she frequently interacts with owners, developers, project managers, contractors, attorneys, and consultants across various disciplines.

Ultimately, Maelyn enjoys her work because when a bid comes in close to her firm’s estimate, it returns a feeling of accomplishment similar to the triumph of completing a difficult math problem in her childhood.  Maelyn shares:

“Navigating the challenge is similar: when assisting a client with budget cost modeling and milestone estimating, it is typically not a ‘one and done’ exercise – it is a process. Some changes arise as the design progresses, and as a consultant, the value we deliver is interacting and advising the design team to control a project’s costs. Many people think that estimating simply involves taking off quantities, counting doors, measuring pipes, and plugging in a price for each component. While It may feel like that to someone new to the job, it is so much more than that – with experience comes more interaction and the ability to advise and create tailored solutions that deliver successful projects.”

Lifelong Learning and the Rewards of AACE

In addition to building a fulfilling career, serving the AACE Hawaii Section and supporting local members in their professional journeys has been an honor for Maelyn.  She has held multiple leadership roles in the local section including president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary where her contributions to the AACE Hawaii Section have been nothing short of rewarding.  Maelyn’s involvement in AACE has also opened doors to other industry organizations, such as the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies, where valuable networking opportunities with influential professionals have proven to be more effective than a cold call.

The AACE Hawaii Section gives Maelyn the opportunity to continue growing professionally while learning and building connections with other professionals. AACE offers an abundance of learning materials including textbooks, study manuals, recommended practices, technical papers and webinars, which she has has relied on throughout her career.  Additionally, she finds the discussions and blogs available through AACE Communities beneficial to making connections with other industry practitioners and posing questions to a broader professional network.  The organization also offers several certifications including the Certified Cost Professional (CCP), a highly respected certification for cost professionals, which has been a qualification requirement for several government contracts. Locally, the AACE Hawaii Section hosts regular events for members and industry partners, such as site visits to construction sites, presentations by subject matter experts, and webinars that provide learning opportunities and generate interest in the project controls field.

Maelyn’s words of inspiration are the following quote: “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Francis of Assisi