Adel A. Zadeh is a professor and director at Northeastern University's College of Professional Studies, where he leads research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, project management, and the built environment. With over 15 years spanning industry practice and academic scholarship, his work focuses on how agentic and generative AI systems are reshaping decision-making, competency structures, and organizational governance across construction and engineering contexts. Adel's research has appeared in leading peer reviewed journals, and his scholarly work directly informs his practice as a strategic advisor and consultant to organizations navigating AI-driven transformation. He works with companies across the construction and engineering sectors to design adoption strategies, build internal AI capability, and lead the organizational change initiatives that determine whether AI investments actually take hold. Adel holds a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge and is certified across global project management standards with PMP®, PMI-SCP™, PMO-CP™, and CPMAI™ designations, a combination that reflects both the depth of his technical grounding and his commitment to the future of intelligent project delivery

He brings over 20 years of experience in program management and currently serves as the Regional Program Controls Director for the Americas. His background spans structural engineering, business, and data analytics, enabling a comprehensive approach to managing and delivering complex programs. Over the course of his career, he has worked on major infrastructure initiatives across Egypt, Libya, Qatar, and the Americas. His experience includes landmark programs such as the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access, and the LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment. Throughout his career, he has remained focused on driving program performance, supporting clients in achieving successful outcomes, and contributing to projects that deliver long-term impact and legacy.

Dr. Marwan Abu Ebeid drives digital transformation within the construction industry to implement innovative technologies. Marwan has made a global impact by leveraging digitalization to transform industry enterprise levels, back-end systems, expense tracking, innovation, and automation, resulting in growth and advancement. He has spearheaded major construction projects with global impact, including the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, EXPO 2020, Dubai International Financial Center, Downtown Dubai, and more. In 2022, Marwan received the Excellence and Creative Engineering Award in UAE for efforts to ensure the sustainable prosperity of the UAE while also remaining abreast with evolving methodologies and engineering development. In the same year, he authored 2 of the seven chapters of the National Smart Construction Guidelines for the entire UAE Government. The step-by-step guide outlined BIM and blockchain integration processes applicable to both the private and government sectors of construction. Marwan serves as a founding member of the UK-funded Center of Excellence (CESC) research center responsible for establishing the UK’s CESC within the UAE. His efforts earned him recognition from the Scottish government and a subsequent invitation to view several technology research centers. Marwan also serves as a Board member of the Society of Engineers in the UAE – Digital Engineering Chapter and as an Advisory Board Member for the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and the University of Sharjah (UoS). Marwan received his Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in Construction Project Management from Heriot-Watt University in the UK. He holds a Certificate from Harvard University in Driving Digital Strategies and two certificates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Digital Transformation Smart Cities.

Robert Ameen is a Director for the BDO Government Industry Specialty Service (ISS) and the Program Optimization and Project Controls team. He has over 25 years of experience in a variety of engineering and Government contracting environments, specializing in Project Control and Earned Value Management Systems. Robert has extensive experience with EVMS data architecture, systems implementation, and fully compliant EVMS Reporting. His background in database and tool development, combined with his operational project control experience provides a unique advantage in data integrity and efficiency during implementations and monthly operations. In addition, he has extensive experience developing project baselines and preparing for Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBRs). Robert holds the Earned Value Professional (EVP) certification from the American Association of Cost Engineers (AACEi), the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), and a Graduate Certificate in EVM from the PMI. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and an M.B.A. from Old Dominion University.

Eric is an energetic and charismatic engineer with over 22 years of experience in capital projects delivery. He holds a master’s degree in engineering, MBA as well as PMI-PMP certified. He is currently the Project Management Office Manager in the city of Baltimore, Department of Public Works (DPW). In this role, he oversees project and document controls for USD 2+ Billion capital projects portfolio that spans water, wastewater and stormwater. He is a great enthusiast on application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in the construction Industry.

Mohamed Atia is a Director of Project Controls at Aecon, one of Canada’s leading major infrastructure contractors, specializing in project controls and commercial management for complex transportation and infrastructure megaprojects across North America and the Middle East. He brings deep expertise in cost and schedule controls, commercial strategy, collaborative delivery models, and dispute avoidance and resolution. Under his leadership, project teams have delivered award‑winning outcomes, recognized for excellence at the Project Controls Expo 2025 in the USA. Mohamed is known for transforming controls from reporting tools into decision‑enablers. He was nominated among Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2024

Khaled Aziza is a construction claims consultant with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry. His expertise and core competencies include forensic delay analysis, loss of productivity analysis, risk management, cost analysis, earned value management, and claim management. His experience includes several types of projects, including heavy industrial petrochemicals, oil and gas projects, nuclear power generation plants, water and wastewater treatment plants, highway development, and infrastructure projects. Khaled is a Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP), an Earned Value Professional (EVP), and a Project Management Professional (PMP). Khaled's prior experience includes positions as Contracts Manager and Project Manager for an EPC Contractor, Contract Engineer, and Project Coordinator, Estimating and Technical Office Engineer of several petrochemicals and infrastructure projects in the Middle East and USA.

Saveesna Baskaran, PMP is a capital program management and project controls professional with 11+ years of experience across oil & gas, manufacturing, data centers, and infrastructure. She specializes in controls transformation, project controls, cost management, governance design, and PMIS strategy for large, complex capital programs. Saveesna partners with organizations to modernize project delivery by designing operating models, standardizing controls frameworks, implementing governance structures, and improving portfolio visibility and forecast accuracy. Her expertise spans PMIS selection and implementation, stage-gate governance, executive reporting, and data analytics. She develops decision-support solutions using Power BI, SQL, and Excel, helping leadership teams translate project data into actionable insights. Before consulting, Saveesna spent six years leading manufacturing operations, capital projects, and Lean Six Sigma initiatives, delivering more than $12 million in cost savings. Combining hands-on execution experience with strategic advisory expertise, she helps organizations bridge the gap between people, processes, technology, and successful project outcomes.

Andrew Bates, PhD, is a Senior Risk Manager with more than 30 years of experience leading risk, program, and construction management for complex commercial, transportation, federal, and international projects. His background spans major infrastructure programs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port Authority of NY & NJ, the Architect of the Capitol, the Department of State, and multiple state DOTs. “Dr. Bates is a results-oriented leader with more than 30 years of experience in commercial, healthcare, academic, and military construction projects, including air bases around the world.” He specializes in qualitative and quantitative risk analysis, Monte Carlo modeling, and facilitation of large, multidisciplinary project teams. His project portfolio includes the $3.6B Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion, major MTA and MBTA design build programs, and global U.S. Embassy projects. Dr. Bates holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from NYU Tandon, where he has taught graduate courses in Risk Analysis and Infrastructure Planning since 2009. His dissertation, “The Owner’s Role in Project Success,” examined how owner decisions shape project outcomes. A former Air Force officer and professor, he is recognized for transparent communication, technical rigor, and leadership across all phases of project delivery.

“I lead with structure, act with purpose, and flow with change — guided by integrity, grounded in growth.” With nearly three decades in engineering, construction, project controls, and consultancy, I’ve helped teams bring clarity to complexity and leadership to uncertainty. Whether delivering billion-dollar strategic and capital programs or developing high-performing teams, my focus remains the same: create systems that enable people to excel, not constrain them. I believe great consultancy is both an art and a discipline — the balance between precision and empathy, between frameworks and flow. My leadership style blends the calm rationality of Stoicism, the self-awareness of Jungian psychology, and the adaptability of Taoism — a philosophy I call structured flow with meaning. At my core, I’m driven by a simple purpose: to ignite growth in everyone I meet — individuals, teams, and organizations alike. If you’re leading transformation, navigating recovery, or shaping the future of consultancy in the age of AI, that’s where our worlds align.

Kurt Bendler is the Chairman and Founder of Blue Stone Management, with 25 years of construction industry experience across the Americas, Asia, and Australia. Trained as a quantity surveyor, he brings extensive expertise in cost estimating, cost planning, contract administration, risk management, and project controls, giving him a strong commercial and technical understanding of how cost, scope, schedule, and risk influence project delivery. Building on this foundation, Kurt has developed broad experience in project and construction management, guiding complex projects from early feasibility and budgeting through design, construction, and closeout. He has supported major projects across the aviation, retail, hospitality, commercial, and education sectors and is known for his hands-on leadership style, practical approach, and commitment to helping clients achieve successful outcomes while maintaining strong cost control and alignment with project goals."

Mr. Girish Bhatia is an esteemed Civil Engineer with over a decade of exceptional experience in project management and construction project oversight. He is also the visionary founder of Compass Consult, a pioneering firm that specializes in delivering Enterprise Grade Project Controls, BIM software solutions, and cutting-edge digital project and program management techniques to enhance the profitability of construction projects. Mr. Bhatia holds a degree in Civil Engineering and has continually expanded his knowledge and expertise in the field. As the founder of Compass Consult, Girish has played a pivotal role in shaping the company into a renowned industry player. With a client base exceeding 200 customers, the company has successfully executed landmark projects, including iconic structures like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Snowy 2.0, and Melbourne Airport, among others.In his role as lead consultant and CEO.

I lead the full lifecycle execution of $B+ capital infrastructure programs, aligning utilities, power generation fleets, and hyperscale datacenters around clear financial and engineering outcomes. While AI compute and software scales exponentially, the physical grid requires turning optimistic forecasts into a stable supply of power and high density cooled facilities. To protect these investments, I guide organizations through process optimization and portfolio technology adoption, always enforcing a critical truth: you must fix your underlying data and software first, because layering AI over broken systems just automates chaos at scale. This approach brings predictability to highly volatile asset portfolios, enabling tech developers and power providers to deliver speed with reliability while building antifragile infrastructure.

Dr. Omer Bisen is the Founder and CEO of xPM Solution, an AI-powered construction intelligence platform built on 25 years of field-tested project delivery across 13+ countries and more than $6 billion in combined project value. His doctoral research produced one of the earliest AI applications to construction cost intelligence a neural network and fuzzy logic system for identifying unpredictable indirect costs at scale. He co-established and taught in a masters Construction Project Management program, while directing an international consultancy serving approximately 260 projects across healthcare, infrastructure, power generation, and industrial sectors spanning USA, North Africa, the Gulf, Europe, and the Middle East. His platform, xPM Wisdom AI, is a 7-dimensional decision intelligence system that targets the governance failures, behind project overruns, delivering structured root-cause analysis and leadership-ready communication across 12 strategy domains and 9 decision frameworks. Dr. Bisen speaks on AI-powered `controls, delivery governance, and decision intelligence for owners and programme leaders committed to building with certainty.

Pirouz is a Managing Engineer in Exponent’s New York office, where he advises clients on proactive risk mitigation, change order management as well as assessment of delay, productivity, and damages for complex capital projects. His experience spans projects with construction costs ranging from approximately $500,000 to over $11 billion and includes both hands-on project delivery and delay and damages consulting assignments. Prior to focusing on dispute resolution and advisory services, Pirouz served in field engineering and resident engineering roles on major public infrastructure projects, including roadway, bridge, and stormwater improvement projects for Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. He has since advised on risk mitigation and dispute-related matters involving major airport, rail and transit, oil sands, industrial plant, nuclear facility, housing development, highway, bridge, and utility projects. His experience includes both direct involvement in project execution and the evaluation of complex construction disputes arising from mega projects and large-scale infrastructure programs. Pirouz is the current president of AACE New York Metro Section and holds certifications as a Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Planning and Scheduling Professional (PSP).

Dr. Ekaterina Brancato is an economist, author, and program manager specializing in applied economic analysis for U.S. government decision-making. Over more than a decade of consulting, she has developed models for financial risk, cloud pricing, large capital projects, and social policy challenges. She is also a dedicated economics educator with over fifteen years of teaching experience. Her current work spans AI-supported cost modeling, agile cost estimating, financial risk modeling, and critical minerals supply-chain economics.

Dr. Bill Brantley is a Chief Learning Officer and capability strategist who helps government and enterprise organisations turn technical specialists into business leaders. As founder of BAS2A (Brantley Advanced Social Science Applications), he designs the competency frameworks, leadership development programs, and measurement systems that move professionals from monitoring performance to influencing strategic decisions. His federal career spans the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Navy Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency — giving him a direct line of sight into how capital programs, governance, and workforce capability actually intersect in public-sector delivery. At USPTO, a supervisor certificate program he led produced an independently verified $11:$1 return on investment, anchoring his conviction that capability development is an engineering discipline, not a soft-skills afterthought. Dr. Brantley holds a PhD and the CPTD, CPTM, and PMP credentials, and serves on the part-time faculty at the University of Louisville. He was named a Training Magazine Top 25 Emerging Training Leader and has guided hundreds of thousands of learners through open and enterprise programs. He writes and podcasts regularly on measurable learning, leadership, and organisational capability.

Graham is a senior infrastructure and capital program leader with over 28 years of experience driving excellence across the transportation, transit, life sciences, energy, and telecommunications sectors. A Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and Project Management Professional (PMP), they specialize in the delivery of complex, multi-billion-dollar programs through robust project controls, strategic governance, and enterprise-level program management. Throughout their career, Graham has held pivotal leadership roles across the owner, consulting, and delivery spectrum, including significant contributions to the landmark Central Artery/Tunnel Project. Currently serving as a Director at PMA Consultants, they lead enterprise project controls strategies and provide delivery oversight for large-scale public-sector capital portfolios. Their previous leadership includes serving as East Region Director at Triunity and Director of Operational Excellence at TurbinePros, where they managed nationwide performance and quality governance. An expert in Primavera P6 implementation and integrated master scheduling, Graham is recognized for building high performing teams and frameworks that enhance transparency and predictability throughout the project lifecycle. Their technical proficiency extends to schedule risk analysis, delay evaluation, and the development of executive PMO dashboards for public infrastructure agencies. Beyond their executive roles, Graham is a dedicated educator and industry advocate. They serve as Executive Vice President of the PMI Mass Bay Chapter and are active members of the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). A frequent voice in the field, they have been featured on the Project Insight and Rashad in Conversation podcasts and have served as a guest lecturer at the University of Southern California and Northeastern University. Graham is also a recurring presenter at major industry events, including the CMAA National Conference and the Western Winter Workshop. Graham holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering from Lafayette College.

Shane has been leading successful software deployments for companies executing capital projects for over 2 decades. Shane has been with Omega for over 14 years, the last 12 based in Houston Texas.

Dr. Mona Zoughaib is an Enterprise PMO Architect, transformation strategist, banker-turned-digital governance leader, and Managing Partner of We Grow Minds, bringing over 23 years of experience across banking, aviation, government, and consultancy in the Middle East. Her career spans 20 years in financial institutions leading enterprise technology transformations, 16 years in academia as a professor of project management and HR analytics, and extensive executive advisory and training engagements across GCC institutions. As Head of IT PMO and Advisor to the CIO within a large regulated aviation portfolio, she designed and implemented a system-enforced PMO Control Architecture governing over 148 concurrent initiatives. The model integrated lifecycle control checkpoints, structured artefact validation, EPM (MS Project Server), and Power BI dashboards to provide real-time portfolio visibility, executive reporting, and predictive decision support. Her work transformed fragmented reporting environments into automated governance ecosystems with metadata-driven traceability and disciplined control validation. Dr. Mona advises senior leadership on PMO maturity, governance transformation, portfolio automation, and AI enabled project controls. Her approach combines banking-level risk discipline, academic rigor, and enterprise systems architecture to reposition PMOs from administrative oversight units into predictive governance engines aligned with strategic outcomes. Dr. Mona is a former Board member of PMI Lebanon and UAE chapter. She is a PMI Premier Authorized Training Partner Instructor, PwC Academy Certified Trainer, international keynote speaker at TEDx Dubai 2026, DIPMF 2024, 2025 and GPMF 2025, 2026, SHRM, HR and CIO Leaders Conference, PMI Leadership Institute Meeting Spain, Tunesia, and recipient of the Best Digital Transformation Leader Award (2024) and Top 100 Women Leaders recognition (2023). Dr. Mona speaks 5 languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish, and Romanian. She is passionate about sharing knowledge and upscaling people.

Chris Carson is Director of Program & Project Controls and Vice President at Arcadis. With 50 years of experience in program and construction management, he specializes in cost engineering, planning and scheduling, risk management, contract administration, forensic analysis, claims avoidance, and dispute resolution across transportation, aviation, utilities, industrial, and commercial sectors. Chris leads project controls best practices and training, including Arcadis’s Program & Project Controls Community of Practice, and has delivered more than 850 industry training sessions and seminars. He is widely recognized as a thought leader in project controls and forensic schedule analysis, with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and contributions to numerous industry standards and guidance documents.His professional honors include the 2021 AACE International O.T. Zimmerman Founder’s Award, the 2011 AACE Technical Excellence Award, the 2009 PMI College of Scheduling award, and CMAA’s Chairman’s Award. He is a Fellow of AACE, The Guild of Project Controls, and RICS, and holds multiple professional certifications including PSP, CEP, DRMP, CCM, and PMP

Paul is Chairman and CEO of TDG (the digit group, www.thedigitgroupinc.com), a globally renowned and award-winning architect who is one of the world’s most sought after thought leaders, strategists and integrators of process, technology, and business. As seen on The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg TV, acknowledged by CNBC as one of America's Business Titans and reported by Forbes as “Changing the World”, Paul is a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and a Fellow of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). Paul's current work is as Chairman of TDG Global Ventures, a Smart City real estate development company that provides financing, design-build and innovative technology solutions around the world. Concurrently, Paul is also the co-founder and producer of the critically acclaimed AEC Hackathon (www.aechackathon.com) that launched at Facebook Headquarters. His past successful ventures include Revit Technologies (Sold to Autodesk 2002), Buzzsaw (Autodesk 2001) and TRIRIGA (IBM 2011). His 2 latest books are “Smart Cities: Reimagining the Urban Experience” published by Quality Press, which has been listed by BuiltWorlds and the Smart Cities World Congress Recommended Reading List and “Unlocking the Metaverse: A Strategic Guide for the Future of the Built Environment”, published by John Wiley & Sons, which rated #1 New Release and an Editor’s Pick on Amazon.com. Paul sits on the Advisory Board of John Wiley & Son’s Architectural Graphic Standards. Paul also sits on the Board of Directors of the United Nations International Mayors Communication Center, dedicated to the proper implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals in urban environments.

John is an expert in Systems Management and Portfolio/Program/Project and Performance Management in the federal government, with deep knowledge of the Department of Defense (DoD) Decision Support Systems (DSS) and acquisition policy. John holds faculty positions at Univ of Maryland and American Univ. A PfPM, PMP, CSM, and certified cost estimator. John is currently on ANSI PMI review team for update of Standard for Portfolio Management and ISO Standard for Cost Estimating. He co-authored the PMI paper in 2017 that started the US Department of Defense on a path to moving from Program to Strategic Portfolio Management. The SME on the Congressionally directed Section 809 Panel, he wrote the section on PfM and created the term Portfolio Acquisitions Executive. HIs research resulted in the creation of a Multidimensional strategic PfM approach using Value Chains for guiding organizational structure. A sole proprietor with Olde Stone Consulting LLC. John has 21 years US military program management with 20 plus year in industry.

PMO and Project Controls Director James Fewtrell leads the Mace Center of Excellence in the Americas, providing multidisciplinary management and controls that deliver benchmark results across client projects, programs, and portfolios. James brings 20+ years of experience leading project controls strategy and integrated PMOs, aligning people, processes, data, and technology to drive effective execution of complex programs. From capital planning and integrated cost and schedule management to digital optimization, proactive risk management, earned value, and agile performance management, he leads disciplines that help clients make better decisions and improve delivery certainty for high-stakes capital programs. Throughout his career, James has held key roles delivering mega-scale infrastructure and industrial programs in the aviation, energy, life sciences, transportation, and water sectors. He has worked on landmark projects across the UK and the Americas, including the London 2012 Olympics, Heathrow Terminal 5, HS2, Crossrail, the Hudson Tunnel Project, and major programs for leading pharmaceutical companies across the US.

Daniel Friedman-Brown is a Solutions Consultant who worked at SharpCloud for 3 years before being acquired by Lumivero. He brings a wealth of experience in connecting and visualizing complex portfolios, and creating executive ready connected decision solutions.

Anil is passionate about Project Controls and working in multiple capacities for implementation and enhancement of this growing subject i.e., Managing Director of Projcon Group (Project Controls Consultancy), Founder of Project Controls Online (Global Project Controls e-network and knowledge base), Project Manager for Project Controls Expo (Largest Project Controls event/- show) and finally, Founder and Program Director at Project Controls Institute (Blended Project Controls learning platform), Anil's professional experience spans over 19 years at corporate and field offices offering diverse and in-depth exposure to implementation of Project Controls on a range of EPC Projects (Oil & Gas- upstream and downstream, CCU - Carbon Capture Units, Power Projects and Pipelines). Registrations, Certifications, Publications & Voluntary Contribution. IEng registration with Engineering Council, UK Holds Certified Cost Engineer (CCE) and Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP) certifications.

Dr. David Grau is the Sundt Construction Professor in Alternative Delivery and Sustainable Development at the Del E. Webb School of Construction within the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University. He holds a bachelor and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering, and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Civil and Construction Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Grau has successfully conducted research worth over $4 million for various agencies and industry organizations. Dr. Grau’s interdisciplinary work combines expertise in advanced sensing technologies, data science and artificial intelligence, and systems engineering –i.e., the design, integration, and management of complex systems. During his academic career, he has been the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards, including the Outstanding Researcher Award, Outstanding Instructor Award, and Distinguished Professor Award by the Construction Industry Institute, and the Celebration of Engineering & Technology Innovation (CETI) award by FIATECH in the category of Intelligent and Automated Construction Job Site. Complementing his academic career, he has worked in the private industry for over ten years as a program manager for heavy industrial projects and director of a large engineering design department. He has led large interdisciplinary and multicultural teams to deliver capital projects in Europe, South America, and Africa.

Ferras H. is a project controls professional supporting major public-sector infrastructure programs at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), where he focuses on scheduling, cost tracking, and performance reporting across complex capital projects. He has hands-on experience in schedule analysis, integrated reporting, and project performance monitoring, working across multidisciplinary teams to support delivery of large-scale transit programs. His work includes reviewing contractor schedules, supporting integrated master schedules, and helping identify schedule risks, trends, and performance issues. Ferras is known for his ability to translate detailed project data into clear, actionable insights that support both project teams and leadership decision-making, contributing to improved transparency and project outcomes.

Lisa Hastings has over 20 years of project controls experience in the defense industry. She is the Director of Program Process and Services at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and in this role she is responsible for Program Management training and process, Planning and Scheduling, Data Management and Earned Value Compliance and Tools. Lisa also serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Integrated Program Management Division (IPMD), and is Co-Chair of the NDIA IPMD Planning and Scheduling Committee (PASC) which is responsible for the routine update and publishing of the NDIA Planning and Scheduling Excellence Guide (PASEG).

Dana Hecht brings 35 years of transportation infrastructure experience in planning, funding, capital program delivery and execution. Dana joined H&H January 2026 where she is leading H&H’s Program Delivery services across New York, New Jersey, and beyond, supporting growth and continued operational excellence. Dana enjoyed a 33 year career as a dedicated Public Servant, delivering complex transportation programs for agencies including NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and MTA Construction & Development. Her career has focused on improving how major infrastructure programs are planned, procured, and delivered, while building strong partnerships and high-performing teams. Dana is known for being both a results-driven leader and a trusted mentor, Dana brings a collaborative, agency- and client-focused mindset and her core philosophy is one of teamwork and empowerment. Dana graduated from Temple University in 1991 with a BS in Civil and Construction Technology

Jesse Heimowitz is a Vice President and the Rail & Transit Sector Lead at Tectonic Engineering, with a career dedicated to program, project, and construction management in the rail and transit sector. He has led complex heavy-civil, structural, and rail-systems projects across the NY/NJ tri-state area. Jesse is an active member of AREMA and ACEC committees, as well as a CMAA Lead Trainer for the PCM Course and a long-standing member of the CMAA National Professional Development Committee.

Siavosh Honari is a senior Program Controls and Planning leader with over 20 years of experience delivering major infrastructure, transit, energy, and capital programs. He has held leadership roles with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), AtkinsRéalis, and Mapna Group, specializing in enterprise program controls, planning, governance, and portfolio performance. A PMP-certified professional with a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Siavosh brings a strategic, executive perspective to program controls, aligning performance, risk, and governance with organizational priorities and long-term value. He is passionate about advancing the application of artificial intelligence in project controls, helping organizations enhance planning, decision-making, and portfolio performance through AI-enabled solutions.

Libby J. Goyco is a project controls and AI readiness leader with extensive experience guiding complex projects, operational transformation, and workforce capability development across the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Her work focuses on strengthening the connection between data, project controls, organizational readiness, and human-centered decision-making in AI-enabled environments. She is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an AACE International–certified Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP). She also holds the AI for Leaders Certificate from Harvard Business School Online. Throughout her career, Libby has led project controls teams, developed enterprise improvement initiatives, and helped organizations move beyond traditional reporting toward more strategic, forward-looking decision support. Libby is the author of AI Isn’t Taking Your Job—But This Will (Unless you fix it) and the creator of practical frameworks that help leaders prepare their people, processes, data, and governance for responsible AI adoption. Her proposed Project Controls Expo presentation is based on a technical paper accepted by AACE International, examining why project controls is uniquely positioned to lead the transition from business-as-usual practices to AI-ready project delivery. She is also a frequent speaker on project controls transformation, change readiness, leadership, and the evolving role of professionals in the AI era.

Kelsey Johnikin is a Senior Manager in BDO’s Industry Specialty Services Group within the Program Optimization and Project Controls team. She has more than 10 years of experience supporting major Department of Defense programs as a project controls professional specializing in cost analysis, scheduling, and earned value management. She has used the Deltek PPM suite to track, manage, and report program performance metrics, while developing and maintaining integrated project schedules that support compliant contract execution. Kelsey configures Deltek tools, integrates external data sources, and supports scheduling and project controls activities to enable a seamless earned value management system. She advises clients on earned value management and scheduling best practices that improve efficiency, increase visibility into program performance, and reduce human error through automation. She also assesses business processes to identify opportunities for redesign or augmentation and supports clients in preparing for DCMA surveillance reviews, emphasizing sound reporting, knowledge transfer, and repeatable processes.

Michele Johnson is an Operations Director with Mace and a senior project controls and cost management leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering major and mega capital programs across the United Kingdom and the United States. Michele has held leadership roles on complex infrastructure, rail, energy, and pharmaceutical projects, supporting clients through all phases of project delivery. Michele's experience includes landmark programs such as the Elizabeth Line and High Speed 2 in the UK, major energy infrastructure investments, and multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical manufacturing programs in the US. Throughout a career spanning the public and private sectors, Michele has specialized in project controls leadership, cost management, delivery assurance, and performance improvement. Today, Michele is a leader within Mace's North America pharmaceutical business, advising clients on project controls strategy, performance recovery, and operational excellence. Drawing on experience across both UK and US markets, Michele is passionate about advancing the project controls profession and sharing lessons learned from complex, highly regulated capital programs.

With a 40+ year career built around the latest A/E/C technologies—first CAD/CAM, then BIM, then internet-based PMIS, and now Kahua’s low-code PMIS platform—Nicholas has established a strong legacy of innovation. He began as a design engineer with General Dynamics and later with Heery International (now CBRE). He has held sales leadership positions at Constructware/Autodesk, Trimble Connected Water, Beck Technology, and Trimble e-Builder. Twice, he took two-year working sabbaticals to serve a greater cause: first with Amigos for Christ, a non-profit serving the poorest communities in Nicaragua, and more recently with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, serving the poor in Georgia. Today, he has the honor of serving the industry as Kahua’s Chief Evangelist.

Omkar Kadam is a Senior Consultant at Turner & Townsend based in Houston, Texas, specializing in project controls, cost management, and commercial advisory for complex capital programs. He works closely with owners, developers, and project teams to improve cost certainty, forecast accuracy, and decisionmaking across the project lifecycle. With deep experience in estimating, cost control, planning, scheduling, and risk informed reporting, Omkar supports projects from early feasibility through execution, helping organizations navigate uncertainty while maintaining commercial discipline. He is a Certified Cost Professional (CCP®) and is known for combining analytical rigor with practical, field-tested insights that resonate with both technical and executive stakeholders. Omkar is an active leader within the project controls community and currently serves as President of the AACE International Houston Gulf Coast Section, following prior roles as Vice President and Board Member. Through this work, he contributes to advancing professional practice, thought leadership, and the adoption of consistent cost engineering standards across the industry. As a speaker, Omkar is known for translating complex cost and project management concepts into clear, actionable insights, drawing on real-world project experience. His speaking interests include cost certainty, professional practice in project controls, leadership in technical organizations, and the future of the construction industry. At Project Controls Expo, Omkar’s session explores practical frameworks for reviewing AIgenerated documents, identifying common risk patterns, and establishing review standards that integrate seamlessly with existing project controls processes. His approach emphasizes humanintheloop validation, clarity of assumptions, and traceability—ensuring AI enhances professional effectiveness rather than replacing it.

Jacque Keats serves as Chief Operations Officer at SMA, Inc. and is widely recognized as an industry expertin software system development and project management. With more than 30 years of experience, he has ledthe development and implementation of award winning automated scheduling, resource planning, costing,earned value, accounting, pricing, and enterprise project management systems for Fortune 500 companiesand government agencies. Throughout his career, Jacque has focused on integrating project management andperformance measurement systems with modern ERP platforms and traditional finance systems to aligntechnology solutions with each client’s business objectives. As Chief Technology Officer at Dekker, Ltd., hewas responsible for bringing four commercial software applications to market, TRAKKER, iPursuit,iPortfolio, and Traction, generating cumulative revenues exceeding $50 million. Jacque has also served onthe boards of SGYC and MTAI, where he provided project management and financial expertise thatsupported the growth and strategic direction of both organizations. He has directed engagements anddelivered consulting support to a broad range of clients, including ASA ALT, AT&T, Boeing, theDepartment of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Aviation Administration, General Dynamics, Honeywell, Lockheed, Mitre, Naval Air Systems Command, Raytheon, SAIC, United Space Alliance, Xerox, and others. An accomplished executive and educator, Jacque has conducted hundreds of seminars and served as a guest lecturer for PMI, SCEA, AACE, and the Army Information Management Conference. He has received multiple industry and government awards for excellence in project management and EVMS implementations.

Visionary · Collaborative · Passionate · Adaptable · Honorable · Innovative Problem Solver - High-Energy Leader who creates and implements the roadmaps that accelerate project performance, while driving outstanding efficiency and profitability. - Result oriented with 30 years of direct experience in operations, program management, project and construction management with proven success in delivering programs and projects on time and within budget. - Customer-driven with experience in turning around and managing highly complex and diverse situations across multiple projects and teams. - Reliable leader who builds, motivates and empowers top-performing teams by creating a safe environment where success is rewarded, and innovation is encouraged. - Forward-thinking strategist and relationship builder highly skilled at reading situations and people, identifying issues and resolving barriers to secure the best possible outcome among all parties. - Proactive problem solver with an analytical mindset who thinks outside-the-box in creating, and continually adapting, the most viable solutions to ensure project success.

Mustafa Khalid is a Project Controls Director with a Tier 1 Canadian general contractor and more than 16 years of experience across major infrastructure, heavy civil, transit, marine and complex construction programs. His career includes contractor and advisory roles with Ledcor, Aecon, Deloitte and Kiewit. He specializes in planning and scheduling, cost control, forecasting, earned value management, quantitative risk analysis, commercial management, claims avoidance and project-controls governance. Mustafa has led project-controls functions across pursuits, preconstruction, collaborative delivery, joint ventures and project execution. His work focuses on converting complex project data into practical decisions that improve predictability, protect margin and strengthen accountability. He is particularly interested in estimate-to execution handover, field-to-forecast integration, digital transformation and developing the next generation of project-controls professionals.

Bobby Khullar is a senior project controls and business operations leader with more than 25 years of experience delivering complex capital programs across multiple industries, including utilities, transportation, engineering, telecommunications, power generation, and biotechnology. He currently serves as Section Manager for Construction Project Controls for the West Region at Burns & McDonnell, where he leads project controls strategy, governance, and financial oversight for major infrastructure and life sciences programs. Over the course of his career, Bobby has provided oversight and leadership on capital programs totaling more than $50 billion in project value. He is known for aligning project delivery with financial performance by implementing scalable project controls frameworks that improve forecasting, cost transparency, and executive decision-making. His expertise spans project controls governance, strategic financial planning, portfolio reporting, budget administration, KPI development, and large-scale program oversight. Bobby has led project controls functions for multi-billion-dollar capital portfolios and complex infrastructure initiatives, including major transportation and utility programs. In addition to his role at Burns & McDonnell, Bobby is the Managing Director of Provantage Consulting, a minority-owned consulting firm focused on project controls, operational strategy, and financial performance improvement. Bobby holds an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School and a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a member of AACE International and the Project Management Institute (PMI) and is proficient in enterprise systems, including SAP, Hyperion Planning, Essbase, Primavera P6, and MS Project. Through his work, Bobby is passionate about helping organizations deliver complex programs with greater predictability, transparency, and financial discipline.

Dr. Prasad S. Kodukula, PMP, PgMP, PMI-ACP, DASM, DASSM, BCES, is a PMI Fellow, USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author, entrepreneur, CEO, inventor and internationally recognized project management expert with 35+ years of experience. He has lectured in nearly 50 countries and worked with 40 Fortune 100 companies across all 11 S&P industry sectors. He is an Adjunct Industry Professor of Project Management at Illinois Tech’s Stuart School of Business and has served as an instructor in project management professional education programs at leading universities, including Stanford, Duke, and the University of Chicago. He also teaches NASA professionals how to recover troubled projects. Dr. Kodukula has authored or coauthored 12 books and more than 40 articles, holds four U.S. patents, and recently received the Project Controls Excellence Award. He developed Earned Time Management (ETM), a time-based approach to schedule performance measurement and forecasting grounded in critical path method logic.

Vishwambhara (Vishwa) Kumbharathi is an accomplished cost and project controls professional with over a decade of experience in the construction industry, specializing in cost estimation, project controls, and management of complex, large-scale infrastructure projects. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India, and a Master’s degree in Construction Engineering Management from Clemson University. Currently serving as a Senior Manager, Project Controls at Amtrak, Vishwa leads critical cost and controls functions, supporting the successful planning, monitoring, and execution of major capital programs. He is widely recognized for his ability to deliver accurate, data driven insights, uphold strong cost governance, and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams. Vishwa’s passion for construction was shaped early through hands-on exposure to project sites and geological expeditions alongside his father. He holds CEP, PSP, and PMP certifications and actively contributes as a member and mentor within AACE International. His leadership and professional excellence have earned notable recognition, including the AACE International Outstanding Rising Professional Award (2024). He is also a graduate of the ACEC New Jersey Emerging Leaders Program, a finalist for the Project Controls Expo Awards 2025, and a runner-up at the Project Controls Summit Excellence Awards 2026. Committed to continuous improvement, Vishwa remains dedicated to advancing industry best practices, delivering high-quality outcomes, and mentoring the next generation of project controls professionals.

Asma Lala is a Program Risk Manager and Project Controls professional with experience leading risk management on large-scale, multi-billion-dollar capital programs across pharmaceutical, mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors. She specializes in integrating risk with cost and schedule controls, delivering quantitative and qualitative analysis (including CSRA), and establishing governance aligned with industry standards such as ISO 31000. She has implemented risk frameworks and supported complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Currently supporting a major API pharmaceutical program in Houston, Asma works closely with EPCM partners and leadership to enhance risk visibility, improve predictability, and enable data-driven decision-making. She is passionate about advancing risk management through integration with project controls, digital tools, and emerging technologies.

Saumil Maniar, PE, PMP is a Senior Director at PMA Consultants based in New York, specializing in project controls and cost management. He is a skilled project controls professional with significant experience in cost estimating, cost controls, schedule monitoring, construction management, and construction project control services. His experience includes working with both public and private stakeholders. He brings over 17 years of experience in full life-cycle cost management for major capital programs. His notable clients include NYC MTA, PANYNJ, PSEG, and Princeton University. He is a published author, and serves as Treasurer of the AACE New Jersey Section. His interests outside project controls include participation and contribution to the broader project controls community

Xander Marlette is a Senior Associate at Technomics, Inc. with over three years of experience in Earned Value Management. He has supported both the Department of Energy’s Office of Project Management and, in his current role, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Program Analysis & Evaluation. For PA&E, Mr. Marlette provides strategic decision analysis for the early acquisition of capital line-item projects. He also provides project management support to the Cost Estimating Analysis Group and serves as the Cost Estimating Community of Practice Planning Committee Chair. He holds both MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and is a certified Project Management Professional®.

Zachary is an analyst in the National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Programming, Analysis, and Evaluation. Previously, he was an NNSA Graduate Fellow in the Office of Advanced Simulation and Computing. Zachary earned a dual PhD from Michigan State University in Nuclear Physics and Computational Math, Science, and Engineering.

Brent Miller serves as Project Director within the Capital Projects Development Group at the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA), where he leads the planning, design, and construction of high-profile public infrastructure projects on behalf of the State of Maryland and its local jurisdictions.

Vidya is a transformative Risk Manager with close to 20 years of expertise, delivering innovative, proactive solutions that are indispensable for driving resilience and success in today's high-stakes construction projects. A seasoned professional, Vidya has facilitated more than 100 risk management workshops across diverse sectors, including rail, transportation, airports, residential, and hospitality. She has provided quantitative cost and schedule risk analyses and designed actionable contingency plans that empower project teams to make informed, proactive decisions. As a trusted trainer and leader, Vidya has held diverse roles, including Project Engineer, Scheduler, and Manager, successfully managing projects from $10 million to $2 billion. With mastery of tools like Primavera P6, Palisades @Risk, and Oracle PRA, she excels in solving complex challenges, building cohesive teams, and delivering exceptional outcomes across public and private sector projects.

Umang is a Senior Integrated Planner / Project Controls Lead with Lead with over 12+ years of experience managing cost and schedule performance across $10B+ capital infrastructure programs, including data centers, EV manufacturing, and major transit systems. Expert in Primavera P6, integrated master scheduling (IMS), baseline development, delay/EOT analysis, and earned value management. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, mentoring contingent workers, and driving proactive risk mitigation across fast paced, multi-stakeholder environments. Adept at aligning schedule forecasts with commercial outcomes and supporting strategic decision-making through data-driven reporting and planning. Lead and Managed the team of schedulers and project controls experts.

As a member of the Construction Consulting team, Ms. Nambi specializes in project management, project controls, and construction claims and disputes. With experience across both public and private sector projects, she has worked on infrastructure maintenance planning, sustainability-driven construction initiatives, and the integration of emerging technologies in project execution. Her expertise includes transportation infrastructure management, consulting on large-scale capital projects, and leveraging data-driven insights to optimize project efficiency and mitigate risks.

Rev. Dr. Courtney O. Lackard, DMin, CCP, PSP, CSL, is the retired Director of Project Controls for the MBTA and brings more than 35 years of experience in project controls, leadership, and mentoring. Over the course of his career, he has served as a cost engineer on government contracts with MOCA Systems Inc. and as a scheduler on major airport programs at Logan International Airport and JFK International Airport, helping guide complex projects with precision and care. He is a Certified Cost Professional, Planning and Scheduling Professional, certified Train the Trainer with CMAA, and licensed Construction Supervisor. Dr. Lackard earned degrees from Knox Theological Seminary, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the New York University Tandon School of Engineering, reflecting both his technical expertise and his commitment to faith-based leadership. He is passionate about sharing what he has learned, encouraging others to grow professionally and personally, and using his experience to make a meaningful, positive difference in the lives of individuals and the communities they serve.

Mrs. Palek is a highly accomplished Project Manager and Project Controls professional with more than 20 years of progressive experience delivering complex civil, infrastructure, and vertical construction projects. Her expertise spans the full project lifecycle (from planning and design through construction and closeout) supporting public and private sector clients across multiple market sectors, including aviation, transportation, data centers, utilities, and commercial development. Mrs. Palek brings proven leadership in managing project controls functions, including cost, schedule, risk, and performance management. She has extensive experience supporting major capital programs for agencies such as MassDOT, MBTA, and Miami-Dade Aviation Department, advancing project delivery through disciplined controls, data-driven decision-making, and proactive risk identification. Her experience includes developing and overseeing baseline schedules, conducting time impact analyses (TIA), performing claims analysis and negotiation, and monitoring cost of work performed and productivity metrics across diverse delivery methods, including lump sum, cost-plus, and unit price contracts.

Neal Panchuk is a senior infrastructure and construction leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering complex institutional and infrastructure programs valued at up to $15 billion. He is Senior Director of Continuous Improvement and Preconstruction at Aecon, based in Toronto, where he leads Lean, preconstruction, and collaborative delivery practices supporting large‑scale Progressive Design‑Build projects. Neal is recognized as a Canadian leader in Lean Construction and collaborative contracting, with hands‑on experience delivering landmark IPD and PDB projects. His work focuses on Target Value Delivery, lean project controls, risk management, and preconstruction strategy to drive cost certainty and best‑for‑project outcomes. Neal is a frequent international speaker and founder of the Lean Construction Institute of Canada GTA Community of Practice

Laya Parviz Sedghy is a senior infrastructure and program management professional with more than 20 years of experience specializing in project controls, estimating, project and program-level risk management, commercial strategy, and governance for major capital infrastructure programs. Laya has supported the delivery of multi-billion dollar transportation and infrastructure projects across North America, providing expertise in cost estimating, risk and contingency management, integrated project controls, procurement strategy, commercial negotiations support, and executive decision-making. Working within complex owner, consultant, and contractor environments, she helps organizations improve cost and schedule certainty through risk-informed planning, governance, and data-driven decision support. Her experience spans the full project lifecycle from business case development and procurement through design, construction, and program delivery across both traditional and collaborative delivery models. Laya is a frequent facilitator of quantitative cost and schedule risk assessments, integrated estimating and risk reviews, and executive workshops, helping project teams strengthen governance, improve forecasting, and make informed decisions on complex infrastructure investments.

Jon Pascoe is CEO of UniPhi, having joined in July 2026 to lead the company's next phase of growth and expansion into global markets. He brings more than 20 years of business and technology leadership experience across projects, PMOs, and operations gained in a diverse set of industries such as banking and finance, entertainment, media, and telecommunications. That breadth has shaped a career-long focus on what actually drives project excellence, not just in theory, but in the messy reality of delivering complex programs across very different organizations. Jon speaks regularly on the intersection of project controls, technology, and organizational change and culture, drawing on lessons from both sides of the table: as a practitioner running transformation programs, and now as a software leader delivering technology that supports them.

Arth Patel is a Project Controls professional with more than a decade of experience delivering cost estimating, project controls, and capital program support for some of the nation’s largest transportation and construction organizations. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Wentworth Institute of Technology and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Arth began his career at Shawmut Design and Construction, where he supported commercial construction projects from 2013 to 2017. He then joined the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City, contributing to major infrastructure and resiliency initiatives from 2017 to 2022. Since 2022, Arth has served at Amtrak, where he supports complex rail infrastructure projects through estimating, project controls, and strategic planning. Passionate about improving project delivery through data-driven decision-making, Arth enjoys sharing practical insights on cost management, planning, and the evolving role of project controls in delivering successful capital projects.

Barbara Phillips is the Co-host of Let's Talk EVM, a community-service podcast. When not in the studio, Ms. Phillips is Principal at B Phillips EVP, LLC, providing consulting services to government agencies and contractors including NASA and L3. With over 30 years of experience implementing Earned Value Management Systems, she creates and implements EVM processes, administers key tools in the field, and trains project control staff and project managers. Her services also include quick EVMS assessments, training CAMs to explain their numbers, and ensuring artifacts are traceable end-to-end and practices are followed, not just on paper. She earned the Earned Value Professional (EVP) certification from AACE in 2009 and became a certified facilitator for IP2M METRR in 2025.

Tom Phythian – Principal Account Executive – Data Centers, Omega 365. Former Microsoft project controls lead focused on digital transformation of large-scale capital delivery programs. Hasanthi Wijeratne Principal Technical Program Manager, Microsoft. Co-led the Omega 365 enterprise implementation and platform adoption strategy, with deep expertise in risk, schedule, and cost management for hyperscale data center programs.

As a Solutions Architect for Deltek’s PPM solutions, Tom is an industry authority on project planning, forecasting and risk analysis. He has designed and implemented Project Planning and Risk Management Systems in construction, transportation, space, and defense. His overall mission is to steer Project Controls toward true decision-support and analysis, rather than distracting intricacies of data management.

The founder of PMA Consultants, Dr. Gui is recognized as one of our nation’s foremost planning/scheduling and claims analysis experts. His broad professional experience includes executive roles as investor’s developer, program manager, construction manager, and EPC contractor planner and scheduler. He has provided expert witness testimony before courts and boards.

With more than 27 years of experience in the construction and engineering industry, I am a Principal Sales Consultant specializing in Capital Program and Project Portfolio Management (PPM) solutions. I am passionate about helping owners, general contractors, and public sector organizations improve business outcomes through innovative technology and strategic business process transformation. Throughout my career, I have worked with organizations across a wide range of industries, including federal government, state and local agencies, healthcare, higher education, and K–12. I have extensive experience presenting complex technology solutions to executive leadership, enabling organizations to modernize operations, increase project visibility, and achieve their strategic objectives. I have also contributed to the development of partner strategies and programs that strengthen customer success and expand market reach. Known for my strategic mindset, collaborative approach, and ability to connect technology with business value, I thrive on building trusted relationships and delivering solutions that solve real-world challenges.

Randy Richardson is the Senior Vice President and Regional Business Line Leader (RBLL) for Program Management – U.S. East & Latin America (LATAM) at AECOM, where he leads the strategic growth and delivery of the firm's Program Management business across the region. He is responsible for advancing operational excellence, strengthening client partnerships, driving business development, and leading multidisciplinary teams in the successful execution of complex infrastructure programs. With more than 40 years of experience in program and project management, Randy has delivered some of the world's most significant infrastructure programs across the transportation, water, federal, and vertical infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining AECOM, he held executive leadership positions with Hill International, Jacobs, CH2M, and MWH, and served as a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he developed a strong foundation in engineering leadership and project delivery. Since joining AECOM in 2022, Randy has played a pivotal role in expanding the firm's Program Management practice across the U.S. East Region and Latin America. He is recognized for his collaborative leadership style, strategic vision, and commitment to developing high-performing teams while delivering innovative, client-focused solutions for major capital programs.

Denise Russell is a project controls and scheduling professional with more than 25 years of experience spanning defense, government, national laboratory, and technology sectors. She currently serves as Senior Principal Solutions Engineer and Solutions Engineering Team Lead for Project & Portfolio Management (PPM) at Deltek, where she helps organizations implement and optimize project management solutions with a focus on project scheduling and controls. Denise spent over a decade at BAE Systems, where she developed and managed Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for complex defense programs, applying rigorous project controls methodologies including Earned Value Management (EVM) in support of U.S. Department of Defense/War contracts. Her hands-on EVM experience encompasses schedule development and analysis, performance measurement baseline management, and compliance with DCMA scheduling standards. Prior to BAE Systems, Denise worked as a Program Scheduler at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, supporting high-priority programs with disciplined scheduling practices, and prior to that worked in IT project scheduling and controls, rounding out a career that bridges both government and commercial environments. Her deep expertise spans projects of all sizes and levels of rigor as well as knowledge of a variety of project management related tools. Denise holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint. With a practitioner's perspective and a solutions-oriented mindset, Denise brings real-world insight into the challenges of project scheduling and controls — and practical strategies for overcoming them

Dareen is the co-founder and CEO of Gryps, a New York-based AI platform that unifies data and documents from across the owner’s tech stack for agentic AI, advanced search, and intelligent automation. Prior to founding Gryps, she held leadership roles at Lehrer LLC and STV, contributing to programs such as Mount Sinai Health System and the LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MSc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is a founding board member of NYC’s Contech Alliance.

Mera Shabti is a Risk Manager at Arcadis with 7 years of experience in the construction industry for complex transportation, federal, and infrastructure programs. She specializes in quantitative risk analysis, Monte Carlo modeling, and risk workshop facilitation, helping project teams improve decision-making across design, selection of delivery strategy, procurement and throughout construction. She currently supports the Gateway Program: Hudson Tunnel Project, leading recurring risk reviews and quarterly quantitative risk analyses across multiple construction packages. Mera holds degrees from Columbia University and George Mason University and is a leader in the Arcadis Global Risk Community of Practice.

Kapil Shah is a Senior Associate in Exponent’s Construction Consulting practice based in Oakland, California. He is a civil engineer with more than seven years of experience delivering complex infrastructure, utility, and construction projects across the United States, UAE, and India. At Exponent, Kapil specializes in project controls, program management, schedule and cost analysis, risk management, forecasting, and process improvement for large capital programs. He has supported major utility and electric reliability initiatives, helping clients navigate complex project delivery challenges through data-driven decision making. Kapil is also actively involved in mentoring junior professionals, recruiting talent, and exploring the application of AI and emerging technologies to improve project delivery outcomes.

Tom Shanahan is a project controls and technology executive focused on advancing AI-driven innovation in the construction and infrastructure industries. As a leader at ProjStream PrecisionAI, he helps organizations improve forecasting accuracy, cost control, schedule performance, and executive decision-making through predictive analytics and intelligent project controls solutions. With extensive experience across project management, earned value management, business development, and digital transformation initiatives, Tom specializes in bridging the gap between traditional project controls practices and emerging AI technologies. His work emphasizes practical implementation strategies that help owners, EPC firms, and contractors modernize operations while improving project outcomes. Tom is a frequent industry collaborator and advocate for innovation in project delivery, with a focus on scalable solutions that drive measurable business value. He is passionate about helping project organizations leverage data, automation, and AI to create more proactive, transparent, and efficient project environments

Dr. Charles Streeter is the President Streeter Enterprises, Inc., where he advises public and private sector organizations on project controls, cost estimating, financial management, and program delivery. With over 20 years of experience leading complex initiatives, he specializes in helping organizations improve decision making by integrating cost, schedule, and risk into a cohesive, actionable framework. Prior to founding Streeter Enterprises, Dr. Streeter held an executive role with New York state and was in senior leadership roles within federal programs, supporting large-scale modernization efforts and leading life cycle cost estimating for multi-billion-dollar initiatives. His work has focused on bridging the gap between technical project controls and executive-level decision-making—ensuring that data drives outcomes, not just reporting. In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Streeter serves as an adjunct instructor and curriculum contributor, teaching business and project management courses and helping develop the next generation of professionals. He holds a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration, an MBA, and a Bachelor’s degree in Management. Dr. Streeter is known for his practical, experience-driven approach and his ability to challenge conventional thinking in project controls to improve real-world results.

Venkata Vamsi Emani, PE, PMP, is Chief Estimator at APR Consultants, embedded within DFW International Airport's Capital Development Division. With over a decade of owner-side cost engineering leadership, he manages pre-construction cost controls, budget development, and value engineering across DFW's multi-billion-dollar Capital Improvement Program. He currently serves as sole financial authority on Terminal F's $4B redevelopment and oversees a $6B portfolio of active aviation programs. Vamsi's expertise spans all phases of capital project delivery — from conceptual estimating through final reconciliation — with deep specialization in aviation terminal construction, modular vs. conventional delivery analysis, and scope change valuation. At LiRo Group, he designed a proprietary cost modeling framework adopted firm-wide for New York Transit and LIRR capital programs. He holds active licensure as a Professional Engineer in Texas and New York, is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and has authored 25 peer-reviewed publications in construction cost engineering. He is an active IEEE peer reviewer and has served as reviewer for 10+ international conferences.

Principal Technical Program Manager, Microsoft. Co-led the Omega 365 enterprise implementation and platform adoption strategy, with deep expertise in risk, schedule, and cost management for hyperscale data center programs.

Dr. Scott Willette is a senior cost analyst and Vice President at ITA International, leading its DHS cost-benefit, life-cycle cost analysis, and operations research/systems analysis portfolio with 50+ studies delivered. He previously led major cost analysis efforts for the Marine Corps, Navy, INDOPACOM, and OSD, building high-performing estimator teams and advancing methods that improved analytical rigor, decision quality, and mission impact. His work consistently strengthens strategic investment decisions across government.

Ty Witmer is the Founder and CEO of ProjectTeam, a configurable construction management software platform. With over two decades of experience in construction management, Ty has built ProjectTeam around a simple belief: that the right technology should bring project teams closer together, not add complexity. His work is focused on giving owners, contractors, and project controls professionals a connected platform they actually want to use; one built around collaboration, accountability, and delivering real project value.

Smita is a seasoned construction claims and project advisory professional with over a decade of experience helping owners, contractors, and project stakeholders navigate complex project challenges, risks, and disputes. Her expertise spans construction claims analysis, forensic delay analysis, loss of productivity assessments, project controls, contract administration, project management, and construction management. She has played a key role in the evaluation and resolution of complex delay, disruption, and damages claims on major construction programs, bringing a deep understanding of both contractual entitlement and project execution. By combining rigorous technical analysis with practical project insight, Smita helps clients develop clear, defensible positions and effectively address schedule impacts, project risks, and dispute related issues. In addition to her claims expertise, Smita has successfully led more than 20 major construction projects. Her experience spans a wide range of sectors, including infrastructure, tunneling, industrial facilities, renewable energy, airports, rail expansions, dam modifications, residential developments, hospitals, and data centers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the UAE. Known for her collaborative leadership style and analytical approach, Smita brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective that bridges project delivery and dispute resolution.

Mr. Yu is a Project Controls Manager at Amtrak. He possesses more than 24 years of experience in cost estimation for vertical and horizontal construction projects from conceptual through final design stages, as well as performing associated tasks of risk management, value engineering, and lifecycle cost analysis. He also has experience in compiling proposals for design-build projects, quality control of estimates, bid leveling, labor rate development, identifying cost trends, and management of change orders. Throughout his career, Mr. Yu has worked on projects of buildings, railroads, aviation, roadways, tunnels, bridges, and utilities. Prior to his career at Amtrak, Mr. Yu worked as an Associate Director of Design-Build Projects at Restani Corporation, Principal Estimator at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey in the JFK Redevelopment Program, and as Cost Engineer at MTA Bridges & Tunnels, MTA New York City Transit, Con Edison and STV, Incorporated. He is a Professional Engineer in the State of New York and Canadian Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, a PMI-Certified Project Management Professional, an Associate DBIA, as well as WELL Accredited Professional and LEED Green Associate.

Amber Young is the Co-host of Let's Talk EVM, a community-service podcast. Outside the studio, Ms. Young is a physical scientist with a background in physics and mathematics who serves as PARS System Owner at the Department of Energy's Office of Project Management, Project Controls and Policy Division (PM-30). She applies scientific inquiry to understanding, analyzing, and teaching complex data structures in project management with a specialization in earned value management systems (EVMS). An EVMS professional with extensive experience in both DOE and DOD data structures, she has been pivotal in leading review efforts using new tools like the IP2M METRR and is a pioneer in integrating detailed AI analysis into the Environment and Maturity Assessment process. Ms. Young leads the DOE Office of Project Management AI Strategy board, driving innovation and team building across PM-30.

Mojgan Yousefkhan is Program Controls Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), a Department of the City and County of San Francisco providing retail drinking water and wastewater services to San Francisco; wholesale water to three Bay Area counties; and green hydroelectric and solar power to San Francisco’s municipal departments and residents. Mrs. Yousefkhan has over 30 years of experience in planning, engineering, construction, project controls, and management of infrastructure improvement projects, including the $4.8 billion Water System Improvement Program, the $6.9 billion Sewer System Improvement Program, and the $1.2 billion Hetch Hetchy System Improvement Program. Mrs. Yousefkhan has extensive expertise in capital planning, project financing, cash flow projection, bond sales, grants, and State loans. Mrs. Yousefkhan is a California licensed engineer with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering, and she is a certified Earned Value Professional (EVP).