Welcome to the AACE Chicago-Midwest Section

Upcoming Community Events List

In Memoriam - Lew Concklin - January 2026

It is with great sorrow we share that long time AACE Chicago-Midwest Board Member and Supporter, Lew Concklin, has passed.

Lew was always passionately involved with AACE.  He was always willing to share his wisdom in Project Controls and Estimating with those that wanted to learn.  Lew’s warm, friendly smile would let new members know they were amongst friends.

Mr. Concklin and his influence will be greatly missed by all.   Thank you for everything. Rest in Peace, Lew.

  -- AACE Chicago-Midwest Board of Directors

RECENT EVENT - Management Reserves: A Necessity for Major Projects - Jan 2026

Thank you to all who attended our recent technical presentation Management Reserves: A Necessity for Major Projects with John Hollman on Thursday, 15 Jan 2026. 

This presentation was a fascinating dive into the havoc high-impact, low-probability events can cause on project budgets/timelines and recommendations to manage them.  John is a deeply well-researched authority on this topic, and it was a welcome opportunity to share his insights.

Thank you, John!

The presentation was recorded and is posted here for reference.

Presentation Recording:

  -- Mario Flores, AACE Chicago-Midwest

THE LAWS OF ESTIMATING - Dec 2025

Thank you to all who attended our recent technical presentation "The Laws of Estimating" with Andrew Kleimola on Thursday, 11 Dec 2025.  This was an engaging and unique presentation covering the well-known and lesser-known patterns of behavior within and surrounding the estimating discipline.  In fact, most of these laws are applicable for other disciplines as well -- these are universal issues we all face, even as schedulers, cost engineers, risk analysts, etc.

The presentation was recorded and is posted here for reference, with the accompanying slide deck.

PowerPoint Slides: The Laws of Estimating

Presentation Recording:

Big thanks again to Andrew Kleimola for presenting this for all of us!

  -- Mario Flores, AACE Chicago-Midwest

FALL SOCIAL 2025 - 390 GOLF EXPERIENCE - Nov 2025

Thank you to all who attended our recent Fall Social event at 390 Golf Experience on Thursday, 13 Nov 2025!  We had a great evening getting to know some local members (and non-members!) from our community.  Some of us even had decent golf swings; others, not so much!

Wonderful to see everyone, we're hoping to plan another event for our Spring Social in 2026.  Thanks again!

  -- Mario Flores, AACE Chicago-Midwest

Announcements

  • 2025-2026 AACE Chicago-Midwest Board of Directors - Election Results

    By: Mario Flores Mario Flores , 8 months ago

    We have the result of our 2025 - 2026 Board of Directors elections!

    Thank you to outgoing Board members Lew Concklin and Bob Ryan for their service as they step down from their active roles within our Section leadership. 

    We welcome the new Board members to the team and look forward to serving our community in the coming term year.

    AACE Chicago-Midwest Section 2025 - 2026 Board of Directors:

    • President: Brian Eckert
    • Vice President: Jignesh Shah
    • Treasurer: Marilyn Wodzinski
    • Secretary: Kim Kozak
    • Webmaster/Historian: Mario Flores

    Board of Directors - At Large Members:

    • Jackie Doyle
    • Sam Nwansi
    • Damian Hanielec
    • Sergio Candelaria

    And a special thank you to all Section community members who took the time to vote in this year's elections!  We hold our positions to benefit this community and hope to bring even more value during the incoming term.

Quick Links

About the AACE Chicago-Midwest Section

Are you a cost estimator, cost engineer, risk manager, scheduler, or project controls professional looking to connect with others in the industry?
Do you want to learn more about design, construction, and project management while growing your professional network?

The AACE Chicago-Midwest Section is part of AACE International — the leading global association for cost engineering and total cost management. We support professionals across the greater Chicago metropolitan area with opportunities to advance their skills, exchange ideas, and connect with AACE’s worldwide community.

Through our technical and informative lunch & learn seminars, construction site visits, informal social events, and community volunteering, we provide members with professional development and networking opportunities that help ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.

AACE membership options are flexible and available to both individuals and organizations. Join today to access tools, certifications, and resources that support career growth and project success.

AACE Membership Benefits

In addition to local networking and professional connections, AACE membership gives you access to powerful technical and career resources, including:

These resources support both career development and project success at every stage of the project lifecycle. Learn more on the Membership Hub.