Award Spotlight: Valerie Venters Receives AACE Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognizing more than two decades of extraordinary leadership, mentorship, volunteer service, and contributions to AACE and the cost engineering profession.
AACE International is proud to recognize Valerie G. Venters, ECCP FAACE Hon. Life, as the recipient of the AACE Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest award AACE bestows on an individual. It recognizes members who have served the association in multiple capacities and made significant contributions to the growth and advancement of the cost engineering profession and Total Cost Management.
For Valerie, the recognition represents the culmination of more than 20 years of volunteer service.
“I am truly honored and grateful to have received the Lifetime Achievement Award. It is the pinnacle of my 20+ years of volunteer service with AACE. Thank you for the recognition.”
More Than Two Decades of Leadership and Service
Valerie joined AACE in 1998 and earned her Certified Cost Professional (CCP) certification in 2001. Since then, she has built an extraordinary record of service spanning the section, committee, certification, and international leadership levels of the Association.
She has been an active member of the Houston Gulf Coast Section, serving in a variety of leadership positions and dedicating countless hours to supporting the AACE community.
Valerie has also been a longtime advocate for women and rising professionals within the profession. In 2005, she became a founding member of the Women in Project Controls (WPC) Committee and later served as Chair from 2007–2009. During her tenure, WPC evolved from a task force into a standing AACE committee, helping establish a lasting platform for connection, professional development, and leadership.
Throughout the decades that followed, Valerie has continued to mentor numerous women and young professionals, sharing her experience and helping others develop their careers within AACE and the broader profession.
Certification has been another defining area of Valerie’s AACE service.
She served on the AACE Certification Board from 2003–2005 and again from 2009–2022, returning in 2024 to continue her service. Valerie also served on the AACE Board of Directors as Director-Region 5 from 2005–2007 and as Vice President-Certification Board from 2016–2018.
When AACE established the Certification Institute in 2022, Valerie once again stepped forward to lead, becoming its first Chair and serving from 2022–2023. Her leadership helped support the Institute during an important new chapter for AACE certification.
While the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes Valerie individually, she views her accomplishments as the result of collaboration with the many volunteers and professionals who have served alongside her.
“Although I am the one being recognized, this award truly reflects the efforts of many people who have worked alongside me. Together, we have completed countless tasks, taken on special projects, and achieved important goals in support of AACE and our shared commitment. My thanks to all of you.”
A Legacy of Excellence
Valerie’s remarkable contributions have been recognized by AACE numerous times throughout her years of service.
She was named Outstanding Regional Director in 2006 and designated an AACE Fellow (FAACE) in 2010. She received the O.T. Zimmerman Founder’s Award in 2012, the TCM Excellence Award in 2014, and the Keane Award for Distinguished Service to an AACE Section in 2019. In 2022, Valerie was named an Honorary Life Member.
Together, these honors reflect the breadth of her contributions—from section leadership and certification to mentorship and advancing the profession.
The Lifetime Achievement Award now marks another milestone in a career of service defined not by a single accomplishment, but by decades of sustained commitment to AACE and its members.
The Value of Belonging to AACE
Looking back, Valerie considers joining AACE one of the most valuable professional decisions she made.
“Becoming a member of AACE in the middle of my career was one of the most valuable decisions I made. It strengthened my professional confidence and played a significant role in developing my skills and knowledge.”
Volunteering became an especially meaningful part of that experience, giving Valerie opportunities not only to contribute but also to learn from the many professionals she met along the way.
“Volunteering with AACE has been especially rewarding because it has given me the opportunity to work alongside so many dedicated professionals and learn from their experience. Throughout my career, I have benefited from AACE’s technical and educational resources. Earning my certification was an added bonus, enhancing both my professional credibility and my career opportunities.”
For Valerie, that combination of people, knowledge, professional development, and service is what has made AACE such an important part of her career.
“AACE has been an important part of my professional journey. It is a place where you can connect with knowledgeable people, access a wealth of information, and share ideas and experiences. For anyone committed to professional growth, AACE is the right place to be.”
Valerie’s AACE journey is a testament to the impact of sustained service. Through decades of leadership, mentorship, certification work, and volunteerism, she has helped strengthen the Association while supporting generations of professionals who will continue moving the profession forward.
Congratulations to Valerie G. Venters, ECCP FAACE Hon. Life, on receiving the AACE Lifetime Achievement Award and on this exceptional recognition of more than two decades of service, leadership, and lasting contributions to AACE and the cost engineering profession.