Our Mission

The mission of  CFMA San Diego Chapter is to promote the personal growth and professional development of construction financial managers. The Association meets these objectives by sponsoring:

• Management, technical and personal development, educational opportunities designed specifically for construction financial managers.
• Forums at which construction financial managers can become acquainted and form mutually supportive professional relationships.
• The preparation and distribution of technical materials that meet the unique needs of construction financial managers.

Our History

The San Diego Chapter was founded in December 1983 by a Chapter Organizing Committee composed of Jeffrey Platt (Dunphy Construction Company), Douglas Griffin (University Mechanical Contractors), Robert Merrick (R.E. Hazard Jr., Inc.), Donna McGrath (Deloitte & Touche LLP), Jack Lupien (John Burnham Insurance Services), Donald Tartre (KPMG Peat Marwick) and David Bohne (M.H. Golden Company). The Chapter was organized around the idea of promoting the personal growth and professional development of San Diego's construction financial managers.

In March 1984, the Chapter Organizing Committee reorganized as the Board of Directors. In addition to the organizing committee, the board included Keith Eshelman (The Brady Companies), David Larson (Arthur Anderson & Co.) and Karen Zepernick (Trepte Construction Co.).

The Chapter's first meeting was produced by Jeffrey Platt in April 1984. Over 120 construction financial managers attended this meeting, indicating the community's strong interest in CFMA. The April 1984 meeting set the pattern for what was to become the Chapter's basic educational and networking forum - semi-monthly luncheon meetings at which a topic of current interest is presented and discussed.

At the April 1984 meeting, attendees were asked to consider membership in CFMA. Within six months of the meeting, Chapter membership exceeded 100 members, establishing the San Diego Chapter as one of CFMA's leading Chapters nationally.

The first board of directors adopted a practice of identifying and trying new and additional services that could be of value to members. The first such expansion was a half-day training seminar that was held in 1984. At this seminar, a group of construction industry experts presented several topics of interest to construction financial managers. These seminars have been held annually since then.

The Chapter sponsored the first of many roundtable meetings in 1986. Roundtable meetings are used to discuss and review technical topics that are best presented in a discussion format rather than as a formal presentation. This forum also offers attendees an opportunity to create mutually supporting professional relationships.

In 1987, the Chapter made the first of what became annual scholarship donations to educational institutions that serve San Diego construction financial mangers.

The San Diego Chapter was designated the first "Chapter of the Year" by CFMA National Office in 1988. The Chapter went on to win the same designation in 1989 and 1990, and has won numerous service awards since then.

The Chapter sponsored a golf outing in 1990, and has sponsored golf outings each year since then. These outings have become very popular, as they offer members an opportunity to spend time together in an informal setting.

Jointly with San Diego AGC, the San Diego Chapter created the San Diego Construction Industry Compensation Survey in 1990. The Chapter and San Diego AGC have offered this survey to their members annually since then.

In 2001, the Chapter made it's first endowment contribution to San Diego State University's Campanile Foundation to assist in establishing a Construction Engineering and Management Program that will offer a bachelor's degree in construction management at the University. The Chapter continues to donate the proceeds from the Fall Seminar and Golf Tournament to the SDSU Construction Engineering and Management program each year.

As we approach our fourth decade of service, we would like to express our appreciation to the members, officers, directors and many others who have promoted the personal growth and professional development of San Diego's construction financial managers through participation in CFMA. 

We look forward to continuing to serve our members, the construction industry and our community.