AACE International, the preeminent professional society for cost engineering and project controls, has announced the results of its 2026 annual Board of Directors election. Voting was conducted electronically from March 6 through March 31, 2026. These accomplished members were elected to their respective positions and will begin their terms on the Board of Directors in June.
AACE International, the preeminent professional society for cost engineering and project controls, has announced the results of its 2026 annual Board of Directors election. Voting was conducted electronically from March 6 through March 31, 2026. These accomplished members were elected to their respective positions and will begin their terms on the Board of Directors in June.
Cindy L. Hands, P.Eng. MCL CCP — President-Elect
Cindy L. Hands is a senior project controls manager with 35 years of experience in the infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, energy, and construction industries, having supported mega projects worldwide and worked with international engineering, fabrication, and construction contractors. She is currently an associate with Hatch Ltd., where she has been employed for 20 years.
Hands holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Memorial University and a master's degree in leadership. She is a Certified Cost Professional (CCP), a Professional Engineer, and a Responsible Member with APEGA (the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, Canada).
Her AACE service record is extensive. She has been active in the Calgary-Chinook Section since 2001 and has previously served in elected leadership roles, including as president of AACE Canada (Regional Director 1) from 2014 to 2016, overseeing more than 10 Canadian sections and serving on the International AACE Board. She subsequently served as VP Membership from 2020 to 2021, as Membership Advisory Committee Chair from 2021 to 2022, and as treasurer for both the AACE International Board of Directors and the AACE Certification Institute Board from 2022 through June 2026.
As president-elect, Hands will serve from 2026 to 2027, then as president from 2027 to 2028, and as past president from 2028 to 2029 — a three-term commitment to the association's leadership. Among her stated priorities are safeguarding the work of past leaders, ensuring budgeting aligns with the association's strategic plan, and growing the organization to remain relevant for the next generation of members.
Omoniyi Ladipo graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1984 and later earned a Master of Science in Construction Management and Economics from the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom. She brings over 37 years of U.S. and international experience in construction and construction management and has been employed with MBP for the past 21 years, serving as vice president and service executive within the consulting practice line.
Ladipo has been an active AACE member since 2005, serving the National Capital Section as secretary, president, scholarships and college outreach chair, and board member. At the association level, she has served as Region 2 Director, a member of the Marketing Advisory Committee, a member of the Ethics Committee, and, most recently, as Director-at-Large on the board of directors.
She has authored papers and presented at the AACE Conference & Expo, Region 2 Symposia, and other professional association conferences on topics including cost management, earned value management, schedule reviews in construction, and transit sector topics. She has also authored a chapter in the Construction Law Update on earned value management.
As treasurer, Ladipo has outlined a commitment to sound financial stewardship — working closely with headquarters staff and the board to control and report financial transactions, prepare and present an annual budget, oversee investments in accordance with board-approved policy, and support the AACE International Certification Institute Board.
Daniel McCrave-Bessette is a Professional Engineer with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. His career began in heavy civil and high construction, where he worked as a project manager and superintendent for a general contractor managing complex infrastructure projects. He currently serves as a director at JS Held, providing expert services on schedule delays and inefficiencies to help clients navigate construction claims and disputes. He also holds the Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) certification from AACE International.
Since joining AACE in 2018, McCrave-Bessette has been particularly active at the section and regional levels. As president of the AACE Boston Section beginning in 2021, he led the section through 30% membership growth, introduced new networking events, and expanded its LinkedIn presence by 3.5 times. He served on the 2021 Section Task Force and has been part of the Region 2 Northeast Symposium Planning Committee since 2023, leading a scholarship subcommittee that nearly doubled its applicant pool — from 26 to 62 schools.
Beyond his professional work, McCrave-Bessette has been a Boy Scout leader for 15 years, mentoring young individuals and building leadership skills within his community.
As Director-at-Large, his priorities center on enhancing brand awareness and young member engagement, strengthening affiliate relationships with organizations such as CMAA, ABA, and RICS, and supporting section and regional leadership with the resources and tools needed to grow AACE at the local level.
The 2026 Board of Directors will also include President Mark C. Sanders, PE CCP CFCC PSP; Past President Michael J. Bennink, PE CCP PSP; Secretary Barrett Richards, CCP CEP PSP; Director – Technical Jessica Colbert, PRMP PSP; Director – Education William Canterbury, CEP PSP PRMP; Director – Certification Douglas W. Leo, CCP CEP FAACE Hon. Life; Director At-Large David Chigne, CCP CEP PSP; Director At-Large Joao Dias, PSP; and Executive Director/CEO Michael Kobylka, CAE.
With decades of combined experience spanning project controls, construction management, cost engineering, and claims consulting — and leadership histories woven deeply into AACE's sections, regions, and boards — Hands, Ladipo, and McCrave-Bessette are well-positioned to advance the association's mission as they step into their new roles this June.
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