AACE 2024 Election Results Announced
Results from this year’s annual AACE International Board of Directors election for President-Elect, Treasurer, and Director-At-Large are announced. Voting ended on March 31.
The Winners Are:
AACE International Board of Directors:
- President-Elect: Michael J. Bennink, PE CCP PSP
- Treasurer: Cindy L. Hands, P.Eng. CCP
- Director-At-Large: Omoniyi (Niyi) Ladipo, CCP EVP
Michael J. Bennink, PE CCP PSP
President-Elect
Michael was elected President-Elect. This is a three-year commitment, serving 2024-2025 as President-Elect, 2025-2026 as President, and 2026-2027 as Past President.
Biography
Michael joined AACE in 2002 and became involved through the New Jersey Section. After several roles on the NJ Section Board (learning about AACE!), he was elected section president in 2008 for three terms and again in 2013 for seven terms. In 2019, he served on the NE Symposium Committee and was elected Region 2 Director in 2020, where he was then chair of the 2022 Northeast Symposium. Over these years, he also served on the Certification Board, presented at sections, regionally, and at the annual Conference & Expos, and achieved CCP and PSP certifications.
He was given the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors in 2022 when he was elected Director-at-Large, where he learned of the challenging work that has been accomplished, including developing the AACE strategic plan that continues to be implemented. Through all his AACE involvement, the people he met have been the highlight of his experience.
Outside of AACE, Michael graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) in mechanical engineering and has an MBA from Monmouth University (NJ). He started his career as a gas utility engineer and has been a consultant in construction claims and disputes for the past 20 years. He is a managing director for J.S. Held in New York City. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer and certified PMP, a past board member of the NJ Society of Professional Engineers, serving a term as president, and a long-time coach and chief umpire of his local Little League baseball organization.
Goals/Objectives
If elected, he will champion AACE’s lead as the premier professional society, ensure continued implementation of its strategic plan, and support the tremendous contributions and efforts from its boards, committees, sections, headquarters staff, and all its members. He wants to ensure members get opportunities through the continued growth and purpose of the organization, which cannot be taken for granted. Specifically,
- Support AACE members’ professional and technical development and encourage and enable opportunities within the Association.
- Continue support to sections and headquarters during the ongoing section organizational transition, including working through the diverse challenges each section faces.
- Facilitate the worldwide growth of AACE, recognizing and addressing challenges, like language and economic considerations, faced by members and sections.
- Promote certifications and the elevation of credentials within industry and government.
Continue to advance recommended practices and the abundant outstanding technical resources AACE members have developed.
Cindy L. Hands, P.Eng. CCP
Treasurer
Biography
- Project controls manager with 30 years of experience in the infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, energy, and construction industries.
- Supports mega projects worldwide and works with world-class international construction contractors.
- Has been project controls manager for major EPCM firms, overseeing project controls teams across North America.
- Currently an associate with Hatch Ltd. (18 years).
- Civil Engineering degree from Memorial University, master’s degree in leadership, Certified Cost Professional (AACE CCP), Professional Engineer and Responsible Member (APEGGA, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta).
- In addition to a technical engineering background, has extensive knowledge of project planning and delivery, estimate development, cost management, scheduling, progress measurement, and status reporting.
- Has a passion for project controls, active in the local Calgary-Chinook Section of AACE since 2001.
- 2014-2016: President of AACE Canada (Regional Director 1), overseeing 10+ Canadian sections and serving on the International AACE Board.
- 2020-2021: VP Membership, North America, AACE International Board.
- 2021–2022: Membership Advisory Committee (MAC) Chair, North America, AACE International Board.
- 2022-2024: Treasurer, AACE International Board and the AACE Certification Institute Board.
- Collaborates with industry professionals and university professors to provide training in project controls and AACE certification training across North America (3Targets.com).
- A mom of two active teenage boys.
Goals/Objectives
- As this would be her second term as treasurer, she wants to continue to oversee the organization’s financial operations.
- Ensure budgeting and spending align with the association’s strategic plan.
- Participate in financial reviews/audits.
- Ensure compliance and offer recommendations as appropriate.
- Seek board approval on financial matters.
- Continue to support the growth and evolution of the association.
Omoniyi (Niyi) Ladipo, CCP EVP
Director-At-Large
Biography
Niyi graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1984. Later, she earned a Master of Science in Construction Management and Economics in 1994 from the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom. She has over 35 years of US and overseas experience in construction and construction management. Over the last 19 years, she has been employed with MBP. She serves as vice president and service executive within the Consulting Practice Line.
She has been an active member of AACE since 2005 and has served as National Capital Section secretary, president, chair for scholarships and college outreach, and board member. She has also been actively involved with the Region 2 Symposium, serving as the Region 2 Director, a member of the AACE Marketing Advisory Committee, and a member of the Ethics Committee at the association level.
She has authored papers and presented at AACE Conference & Expo meetings, at AACE Region 2 Symposia, and at other professional association conferences on topics related to cost management, earned value management and schedule reviews in construction, and cost engineering successes and solutions. She has also authored a chapter in the Construction Law Update on earned value management.
Goals/Objectives
- Will work closely with others on the Board of Directors to uphold and promote the mission and vision of our association.
- Will support and collaborate with others on the Board of Directors to execute assignments at the President and Board of Directors’ request to govern AACE successfully.
- Will support the Board of Directors in improvement and outreach initiatives to grow and sustain our AACE membership through the goals and objectives established by the Board.
- Upon direction by the Board of Directors, she will work with others on the policies and procedures related to governing and executing our association’s business.
Congratulations and “Thank You” for taking on such huge responsibilities and setting excellent goals to make AACEI better in the future.