Meet CFMA’s 2024-25 Executive Officers - Articles

These volunteers strategically lead the organization, administer activities, and pursue CFMA’s Vision and Strategic Plan. Discover their stories, motivations, and what goes into shaping CFMA’s path to success.

What drives your passion for working in the construction industry?

Caryl: I love how our work creates a physical and lasting object that we can see and experience. As a team, the company constructs places where we eat, work, and play. We contribute to the quality of life and add beauty to our world in so many ways.

Jennifer: The camaraderie among GCs, subcontractors, and industry partners to genuinely collaborate for the bigger outcome. I have never seen another industry where competitors will work together and help if needed. It has always felt like a giant extended family.

John: I grew up around construction sites, so I have always enjoyed the process from preconstruction to closeout. I enjoy seeing the team of companies come together to deliver a building, and the challenges that come with every project.

Margie: I am passionate about raising the bar and helping contractors with what to expect out of their bonding relationships. I thrive on finding the best solutions to meet my clients’ expectations and business plans.

Kevin: I’ve been able to show people schools, hospitals, churches, temples, manufacturing plants, homes, apartments, and condos and say, “My company built that, or we were part of creating that place.” Construction builds our communities and drives our economy.

What’s the most interesting or unusual construction project you’ve ever been involved with?

Caryl: The Mason Park Bridge in Houston, TX is a beautiful feat of architecture and construction execution, as it required that the pieces fit together perfectly. The Shangri-la Botanical Garden in Orange, TX is another favorite project, as it celebrates nature and offers learning for all ages.

Jennifer: At a prior company, we built an office for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. It had a huge cement mast outside the front of the building, and when you walked inside, there was a big, winding staircase like on a cruise ship.

John: Over the past 14 years, most of our projects have been very similar. However, getting involved on the front-end of a project to assist in its development is always rewarding.

Margie: There have been so many, but the one that stands out was a multi-family tax credit project.

Kevin: One of the significant projects that I’ve witnessed my company building is the Penn Medicine Pavilion in the University City neighborhood of Philadelphia. This project was a JV using integrated project delivery to create a 1.5 million-square-foot patient pavilion — a LEED-certified, state-of-the-art center adaptable to the needs of patients and their families. Part of the facility included an outdoor green space for patients, family, and staff. Because Penn Medicine is a leader in innovative care and research, helping their mission was a gratifying experience.

What inspired your decision to pursue the CCIFP designation?

Caryl: I love to learn, and pursuing the CCIFP designation taught me about construction-specific methods and practices, risk control, HR, and IT. I learned a lot while studying with other prospective CCIFPs and made some memorable connections.

Jennifer: I went right into private industry from college, so I hadn’t obtained my CPA. In 2017, after I had been involved with CFMA for 11 years, I knew it was the industry I planned to retire from, so I wanted to obtain my CCIFP.

John: I knew that I always wanted to stay in construction, so it was an easy decision to sit for the CCIFP exam. It is a great way to validate the knowledge that you have obtained over the years from experience.

Margie: My clients should only expect the best advice from their service providers. The CCIFP and the continuing education that follows gives me that platform to provide the best and most up-to-date solutions for my clients.

Kevin: When the CCIFP designation started in 2004, I knew that I would get the designation to signal to the construction community that what construction financial professionals do is unique and valuable. I took in the exam in 2005 and have been a CCIFP ever since.

What’s the biggest value-add you’ve experienced since earning your CCIFP and/or how has it helped to develop your leadership skills?

Caryl: The CCIFP has opened doors for better positions within construction and has provided more credibility to my opinions on accounting presentations with audit and surety partners. I also developed as a leader when hosting study groups and working with aspiring CCIFP candidates.

Jennifer: Compared to CFMA members, there is an exclusive list of CCIFPs; to have this designation validates that I have exceptional knowledge of the industry and the areas that impact me.

John: The best example of the value of being a CCIFP was during a meeting with a potential new surety. As we presented our financial statements, the surety agent looked to her superior and stated that these figures are very reliable because I am a CCIFP.

Margie: The biggest value-add is that I can provide high-level and sound advice to my clients. I can understand what their needs might be, and I can make recommendations to help expedite the process.

Kevin: I have been engaged in arbitrations twice in my career. Both involved contract provisions and the accounting practices of my company. In each case, I explained the knowledge base required for CCIFPs and provided credibility that I’m not sure would be there otherwise.

What is your advice to others who may want to pursue their CCIFP?

Caryl: Enjoy the process of learning about the construction financial management profession. Don’t over think the process, and be sure to commit to a deadline to take the test. Registering for a particular date made me serious about studying and taking the exam.

Jennifer: Make the time to study, be intentional about it, and find some fellow CFMA chapter members with whom you can form a study group. For me, the personal gratification from becoming a CCIFP it was more than worth it.

John: As you decide to pursue your CCIFP, review the categories of the exam. Focus on the areas with which you are least comfortable. As you review the material, relate it back to your work experience.

Margie: Always keep educating and working hard on yourself. The more education and skills you have, the more value you can give to your organization.

Kevin: You know more than you realize, but you should consider what you need to cover for the exam. The CCIFP Study Guide and study groups are a huge help in sharpening your knowledge. You can do it!