CMAA Leadership

2013-2014 CMAA Board of Directors

Mark Ballard, PE, AECOM

Mark Ballard is Senior Vice President at AECOM and is responsible for the oversight of all program and construction management-related activities, with an emphasis on client relations, contract management, quality control and business development. Over the past 37 years, he has overseen a wide range of projects, including the construction of the award-winning Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles and the new US Census Bureau headquarters, a GSA Construction Excellence project. He has built a reputation for bringing in projects on time and within cost, and for skillfully negotiating contracts to minimize client risk. Mr. Ballard serves as principal-in-charge and co-chairman of the joint venture executive committee for the $5.4 billion, 20-year Pentagon renovation program. He holds a

similar position for the joint venture formed to execute the Department of Homeland Security Consolidation on the Saint Elizabeths campus. A long-time member of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), Mr. Ballard has three times co-chaired CMAA's National Project Achievement Awards program and is currently serving on the National Board of Directors.

Paul W. Foster, Foster CM Group, Inc. 

Paul Foster is the president/CEO of Foster CM Group, Inc. (FCMG), a Program/Construction Management firm that was established in 1992, and currently has offices in San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, and Houston, TX; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, OK; and Atlanta, GA. Paul has over 30 years' experience in PM/CM and design management. In 2002, FCMG, while in association with 3DI, was awarded the CMAA Construction Management Project Achievement Award / Program Management Project of the Year for the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center Expansion.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Texas Tech University. He has served on a number of civic boards and organizations; and outside of serving on the CMAA Board of Directors, he currently serves on the TTU National Alumni Association board and the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation board.

Paul has been married for 28 years to Anna Foster. They have three children, Briana, Satirah and P.J.

Rebecca Jones, Safework, Inc.

Ms. Jones is the President and CEO of Safework, Inc. a WBE firm specializing in Safety and Construction Management Support Services. Ms. Jones founded the firm over 20 years ago and has extensive experience in the management of construction programs and people in the areas of transportation including ports and airports as well as roadways and bridges, water/wastewater and buildings. She is a long standing member of CMAA currently serves as the chair of the Regional Chapter Committee and is a vice chair on the Standards of Practice Committee. She is a past president of the Southern California Chapter and is currently serving on the Southern California Foundation Board. Ms. Jones has a Masters in Business Administration with an emphasis on marketing and finance.

Julie L. Labonte, PE, San Francisco Water System Improvement Program

Julie Labonte is the Director of the Water System Improvement Program (WSIP), a 10-year, $4.6 billion program to rebuild the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System, which serves 2.5 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The WSIP is the largest infrastructure program ever undertaken by the City and County of San Francisco and one of the largest water programs in the country. Labonte is a registered Professional Civil Engineer with over 25 years of experience in utility engineering and has held positions in both the private and public sectors.

She worked as an engineering consultant for 7 years before joining the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in 1995 as a water quality engineer. Her experience as a consultant focuses on the master planning and design of various public infrastructures. Before being appointed Director of the WSIP, Labonte managed the utility improvements for all redevelopment projects in San Francisco, and initiated and directed the master planning of a 30-year, multibillion dollar wastewater capital improvement program for the City. Labonte holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering from United States International University in San Diego, and dual Masters degrees in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University and in Environmental Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. She is a native of Quebec, Canada, and an inveterate world traveler. She resides in San Francisco, California.

Tim Murchison, Esq., CCM, URS Corporation 

Tim Murchison is Vice President and PMCM Business Line Leader for URS Corporation's Pacific Group. URS is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world. He is the past President of the CMAA Northern California Chapter and former Legal Committee Chair for CMAA.

Mr. Murchison earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Santa Clara University and Juris Doctor from McGeorge School of Law. He is a Certified Construction Manager, and board member for the University of California, Davis, and has delivered talks on Project Delivery Alternatives and Site Safety at CMAA National Conventions. Over the last 30 years he has been in senior management for both general contractors and construction management firms in both private and public works projects.

J. Michael Potter, PE, CCM, RK&K

Mr. Potter, CCM, PE, a Partner of Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP (RK&K), is in charge of the firm’s Construction Management and Inspection division. RK&K has led large CM teams in managing multi-billion dollar programs, and Mr. Potter has taken the lead in substantially expanding RK&K's reach into new geographic markets and new services. He has made CMAA a big part of his firm's strategy to move forward, and his staff have become very involved in the association, including the CCM process.

Although beginning his career as a structural engineer, he found his calling when he moved into construction, and then later into construction management, where for the past 20 years he has represented public owners as an Agency CM on transportation, building and environmental projects.

Mr. Potter earned his BSCE from Virginia Tech and his MBA from Loyola College of Maryland. His CMAA experience includes serving as chapter president, contributor to CMAA publications, teaching Professional Construction Management courses, and chairing/contributing to various Board committees.

Milo Riverso, PhD, PE, CCM, STV Construction

Milo Riverso, Ph.D., P.E. is the chief executive officer and president of STV Group, Inc., one of the nation’s largest planning, design and construction management firms.  Mr. Riverso has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of program management, construction and design management. In September of 2011, he was named chief executive officer of the firm. During his tenure, STV’s CM practice grew exponentially and its range of services expanded.  Under Mr. Riverso’s leadership, STV has become increasingly involved with the CMAA.  He has encouraged the firm’s construction management division to embrace the CMAA’s principles and practices.  STV is involved with many prestigious projects throughout the country, including the program management of 1 World Trade Center (formerly the Freedom Tower) and the construction management of the new NYPD Police Academy, both in New York City.

Sam Sleiman, PE, CCM, Massachusetts Port Authority

Mr. Sleiman has over 25 years of experience in the design and construction industry and serves as Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs for Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). He joined Massport in October 1993 and has held several positions in the Authority, most recently as the Director of Capital Programs and Environmental Affairs. As the head of Capital Programs, he directs the overall management of the Authority's capital investment program, safety program, utilities management, in-house design and environmental permitting and management.

Mr. Sleiman is a licensed, registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is an active member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), and American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). He is a Certified Construction Manager (CCM) and holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering and Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Northeastern University. Sam participates on multiple Boards including: Chairperson for ACI-NA's Operations and Technical Affairs Committee; Vice Chair for the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA); and is a member of the Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) Industrial Advisory Board for 2011-2012.

Mr. Sleiman was named one of Engineering News Record's (ENR), Top 25 Newsmakers of 2009 as well as Person of the Year for 2009 by The New England Chapter of CMAA.

Mani Subramanian, AIA, CCM, Vanir Construction Management Inc.

Mani Subramanian is the Executive Vice President with Vanir Construction Management, Inc. and serves as the Corporate Director of Project Operations. In this position, he is responsible for all project operations to ensure that quality of services provided are maintained and enhanced. He is the past President of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), Northern California Chapter and past chair of the national Construction Management Certification Institute.

Mani Subramanian is a certified construction manager and a registered architect, and holds a Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Jan Turner, LEED AP, Cotter Consulting

Jan Turner is Vice President of Buildings for Cotter Consulting, Inc. a Chicago based Project, Program and Construction Management services firm with offices in Darien and Milwaukee. Since the firm was established in 1990 by Anne Edwards-Cotter, the firm has grown to over 75 employees providing clients with proactive management of the planning, design and construction phases of renovation and new construction projects. For the past eight years at Cotter, Jan has been responsible for business development and operations for the Buildings group.
A graduate of Western Illinois University, Jan has been in the construction industry for 35 years, working for construction managers, developers and owners. In addition to being active in CMAA, Jan is a member of USGBC, the National Association of Women in Construction, and currently is serving her third term on the Northern Region Board for One Hope United, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is protecting children and strengthening families.
Jan has been married for 21 years to Scott Turner. They have one son, Nick, 17.

Palmina Teta-Whalen, CCM, American Airlines

With over 15 years of design, construction, construction management and program management experience for aviation, education, institutional and retail projects. Her expertise lies in management of projects from inception to completion, which includes liaising with consultants, design teams, contractors and construction managers, and providing guidance and oversight on quality control and contract delivery. Currently Ms. Teta-Whelan is heralding the first Integrated Project Delivery in North America for the Aviation industry.

Ms. Teta-Whelan's dedication to the construction industry and the built environment is evident in her involvement with the various industry associations. She currently sits on the National Board of Directors and is the International Vice Chair for Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) International Committee as well as serving as Vice President of the Metro NY/NJ. As an ardent industry practitioner, Ms. Teta-Whelan is focused on building strong collaboration within the industry, both domestically and internationally.