About the Authors

Kraig Knutson

Kraig Knutson is a senior lecturer in Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, Master of Science Degree in Construction and Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction at Arizona State University. He has held various positions including estimator, safety director, project manager and owner on construction projects ranging from small residential and commercial to large industrial projects.

He has taught construction courses at Arizona State University, ITESM Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico Campus, Mesa Community College and the Superintendent Career Training Program for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. He is a member of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and American Association of Cost Engineers (AACE).

Clifford J. Schexnayder

Clifford J. Schexnayder held the Eminent Scholar position at the Del E. Webb School of Construction, Arizona State University from 1994 to 2003. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Construction Engineering and Management) from Purdue University, and a Masters and Bachelors in Civil Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. As a construction engineer he worked with major construction contractors as field engineer, estimator, and corporate Chief Engineer. Additionally he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on active duty and in the reserves, retiring as a Colonel. His last assignment was as Executive Director, Directorate of Military Programs, Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington, D.C.

He has served as a consultant to the Autoridad del Canal de Panamá for the Third Lane expansion of the Panama Canal; the Secretary, Business, Transportation & Housing Agency, State of California to review the cost and risks of constructing the main East span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge; the California, Georgia, and Minnesota Departments of Transportation on project cost estimating.

He is a registered professional engineer in five states. He served as chairman of the American Society of Civil Engineers’, Construction Division and on the task committee, which formed the ASCE Construction Institute. From 1997 to 2003 he served as chairman of the Transportation Research Board’s Construction Section.

Christine M. Fiori

Christine M. Fiori is the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Programs, Industry Relations and Outreach in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She received her Ph.D., Masters and Bachelors in Civil Engineering from Drexel University. A construction engineer with over 18 years of practical experience, Dr. Fiori has worked with major construction contractors and served with the U.S. Air Force in the Civil Engineering career field on active duty managing military housing projects and major base facility renovations.

She is a certified Occupational Safety and Heath Administration Outreach Trainer, authorized to conduct 10-and 30-hour construction outreach training in accordance with guidelines provided by the OSHA training institute. She has taught construction and safety courses at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Arizona State University, Universidad de Piura in Peru, the U.S. Air Force Academy and various companies.

Dr. Fiori is a registered professional engineer, as well as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. She serves an Assistant Specialty Editor for the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Construction Engineering and Management and writes a regular blog for Engineering New Record.

Richard E. Mayo

Richard E. Mayo (1940–2002) was a Structural Engineer for Communications Services, Inc. (CSI), Mesa, Arizona, and taught in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University. He received his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (Construction Management) from Stevens Institute of Technology. He also held a Master’s of Science degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. He was a 1962 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Dr. Mayo was a construction engineer with nearly 40 years experience. He served in the Corps of Engineers for 22 years, completing his service as the Deputy District Engineer in New York City. Following his retirement from the Army, he was the Director of Construction Services for the RBA Group in Morristown, New Jersey, for seven years. At RBA he supervised the widening of the New Jersey Turnpike and bridge repairs on the Garden State Parkway.

In 1975 Engineering News-Record recognized Dr. Mayo at the Construction’s Man of the Year Dinner for his service in the construction of a fibrous concrete Army tank motor pool pavement at Foot Hood, Texas. At that time the project was the largest fibrous concrete facility in the country.

Dr. Mayo taught Construction Management at Stevens Institute, Roger Williams University, and in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University. He was a registered professional engineer in several states.