Chris Carson
Director of Program & Project Controls | VP
Arcadis
United States
About
Chris Carson is a recognized thought leader in the Program/Project Controls and Construction Management industry with over 45 years of experience.
He was the recipient of the 2021 AACE International “O.T. Zimmerman Founder’s Award ” for “… the development of policies, practices, procedures, and projects directed to the advancement of the precepts of total cost management and AACE International”, the 2011 AACE “Technical Excellence” award, the 2009 PMI College of Scheduling award for “Significant Contributions to the Scheduling Industry”, and the “Chairman’s Award” from CMAA in 2006 for contributions to the CM industry. He was on the AACE 2016-2018 Board of Directors and the Board of Advisors for CII for 2019-2020.
Chris Carson was selected as an AACE International Fellow in 2013 “in recognition of professional attainment and significant accomplishment in cost management or cost engineering.” He was selected as the first founding Fellow of Project Controls by the International Guild of Project Controls in 2014, and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in 2015 for his individual achievement “as well as demonstrating significant career achievements and successes…”.
As a top ranked speaker and presenter of over 750 industry sessions, Chris’ credentials include over 90 peer-reviewed publications such as AACE Recommended Practices, “Forensic Schedule Analysis”, “Identifying the Critical Path”, “Recovery Scheduling”, “Development of Cost Estimate Plans”, “Original Baseline Schedule Review”, and “Update Schedule Review”. Mr. Carson was an Author/Editor for the book, “CPM Scheduling for Construction – Best Practices and Guidelines”, 2014, contributing author for “Construction Project Scheduling and Control”, by Saleh Mubarak, 2010, and contributing author for the “Time Management Guidelines” and “Claims Management Guidelines” by CMAA, 2011, 2017, 2018. In addition, in September 2021, AACE published its 100th Recommended Practice and Chris had the eighth greatest number of individual contributions to those Recommended Practices.
Currently, Chris serves as the Enterprise Director of Program & Project Controls and Vice President for ARCADIS U.S. He is the Lead for the Program & Project Controls (PPC) Community of Practice, and the PPC training and best practices development center. He is also an instructor with Project Control Academy, teaching the Forensic Schedule Delay Analysis online training.
To connect with Chris, please visit his LinkedIn profile.
Technical Speaker
Turning Conflict into Collaboration:
Lessons from Mediation for More Successful Projects
Disputes in construction projects are inevitable, but costly legal battles don’t have to be. Mediation consistently resolves conflicts with an impressive 85% success rate—yet by the time disputes reach mediation, relationships have already soured, and project failure is imminent. What if you could apply the same principles that drive successful mediation before conflicts arise?
As a project controls professional, you play a critical role in bridging the gap between owners and contractors—using scheduling and cost analysis as tools for alignment rather than contention. By fostering a culture of collaboration rather than opposition, you can strengthen relationships, mitigate risk, and keep projects on track.
In this session, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the construction dispute landscape and discover how mediation strategies can be implemented early to prevent claims and enhance project success. Drawing from real-world dispute resolution experience, Chris Carson will share key insights into communication, negotiation, and proactive problem-solving—equipping you with the skills to transform how project teams work together from day one.
Here’s what you’ll gain by attending this session:
- Understand the Root Causes of Construction Disputes – Explore the most common breakdowns that lead to claims and how to prevent them.
- Adopt a Mediator’s Mindset – Learn how successful dispute resolution strategies can be applied proactively to project planning and execution.
- Strengthen Owner-Contractor Collaboration – Discover practical ways project controls professionals can support a culture of transparency and teamwork.
- Turn Conflict into Opportunity – Transform how you manage disputes, reduce project risks, and deliver better results.
Presentation Category: Project Management
Competency Level: Intermediate
Technical Workshop
Unleash the Power of CPM Scheduling to Recover Project Delays
At some point in your project’s lifecycle, recovering lost time becomes essential—whether due to contractor delays, unforeseen risks, or evolving owner needs.
When time is slipping away, many schedulers rely on trial and error, endlessly revising the critical path without a clear strategy. This reactive approach often leads to costly inefficiencies, missed recovery opportunities, and even greater project risk.
What if you had a structured, proven methodology to regain lost time—without unnecessary costs or disputes?
In this session, Chris Carson will share time-tested recovery strategies that have helped project teams successfully accelerate schedules while minimizing claims. Through real-world case studies and expert insights, you’ll learn a step-by-step approach to mitigation, recovery, and acceleration—helping you optimize your schedule with confidence.
You’ll walk away with a prioritized checklist of actionable techniques, drawn from 45+ years of industry expertise and AACE Recommended Practice No. 54R-07, that you can immediately apply to your projects. Whether you’re updating a schedule or reviewing one, this session will equip you with the tools to turn delays into opportunities and drive project success.
Here’s what you’ll gain by attending workshop session:
- Learn a step-by-step approach to analyzing delays, optimizing schedule recovery, and achieving time savings with minimal cost impact.
- Discover practical ways to adjust sequencing, resource allocation, and productivity without compromising quality or increasing risk.
- Understand how to document, communicate, and negotiate schedule changes effectively to prevent conflicts and protect project interests.
Panel Speaker
The Great Debate: Old School vs. New School Project Controls
In this interactive and fun panel discussion, panelists will dive into a dynamic debate, with one side defending the Project Controls traditional methods while the other advocating for tech-driven Project Controls innovations like AI, machine learning, and data analytics.
You’ll gain insights into how project controls are evolving and discover how these emerging technologies are reshaping the field. Plus, you will have a chance to vote and determine which side makes the stronger case!
Don’t miss this chance to reflect on the transformation of project controls and what lies ahead!