In this message, I will discuss our SAVE International Board of Directors, the upcoming 2025 Value Summit, insights on membership and affiliates, updates on the U.S. Advocacy for Value (USAV) committee, certification program developments, as well as our marketing and communication strategies.

Announcing the 2025-2026 SAVE Board of Directors

I am pleased to introduce the dedicated members of the 2025-2026 SAVE Board of Directors. This year, we are honored to have an exceptional team leading us:

• Hussien Al-Battaineh - President
• Rob Stewart - Past President
• Al Adelgren - Vice President/President Elect and Director of Education
• Rick Lambert - Secretary-Treasurer
• Laurie Dennis - Director of Certification
• Marc Pauwels - Director of Global Affairs
• Kaitlyn Stewart - Director of Conferences
• Zach Davis - Director of Marketing & Communication
• Jacqueline Fahmy - Director at Large
• Mark Gabel - Director at Large

Each member brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and enthusiasm to the SAVE Board, and I am confident that together we will make significant strides toward achieving our goals.

Upcoming 2025 Value Summit

In collaboration with the Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST), SAVE is thrilled to host the 2025 Value Summit in New Delhi, India, scheduled for September 15-16, 2025. This Summit promises to be a remarkable event where we will share valuable insights and highlight the critical role of Value Methodology (VM) in strengthening the pillars of our economy.

Attendees can look forward to an exciting lineup that includes:

• Inspiring Keynote Speakers who will share their expertise and innovative ideas.
• Engaging Paper Presentations that showcase cutting-edge research and applications.
• Thought-Provoking Panel Discussions that encourage dialogue and exploration of emerging trends.
• An Award Ceremony recognizing exceptional contributions to the field.
• Networking Opportunities allowing participants to connect with peers and industry leaders.

Furthermore, INVEST has organized guided visits to prominent manufacturing industries, as well as an excursion to the NCR Agra, where you can experience the breathtaking beauty of the Taj Mahal. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Looking ahead, mark your calendars for the 2026 Value Summit, which will be held June 8-10, 2026 in Milwaukee, WI. We are also in the process of finalizing the dates and location for the 2027 Value Summit, which will be announced soon.

Membership and Affiliates Update

I am delighted to report that our membership remains vibrant and active. The reorganization of our U.S. chapters has proven to be a success, and I had the pleasure of attending one of our chapter meetings recently. I was incredibly proud of the high level of participation and communication displayed by our members.

In the upcoming months, we will take similar initiatives for our international chapters to ensure they benefit from the momentum we’ve created. We are also planning to conduct elections in various chapters to sustain this vibrant movement and empower our members to actively participate in shaping the future of SAVE.

USAV Committee Initiatives

Building on the impressive success of the U.S. Advocacy for Value (USAV) initiative over the past few years, the SAVE Board is now working to formalize the USAV committee. This committee will focus on sustaining the advocacy efforts that have been instrumental in promoting our objectives. This remains a top priority for the SAVE Board, and I look forward to sharing further details as they become available.

Certification Board Achievements

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank our Certification Board for their incredible efforts to complete what has often been described as an impossible mission. Special thanks go to Laurie Dennis, Ginger Adams, and Anna Bremmer for their dedication.

As highlighted in this issue of Value World, the SAVE Board has approved the reinstatement of the CVS-Life designation to create equitable opportunities for our members and certified individuals. SAVE is actively working on developing an online portal for the CVS application process, which will eventually include renewal applications. We will communicate updates once this portal is ready to launch. Please note that while the portal will change the format and media, the content will remain consistent.

Commitment to Growth

Growth is a vital element for the success of SAVE and it will remain a core focus of our initiatives. To support this goal, we have established two tiger teams responsible for crafting both short- and long-term strategic plans:

• Marketing & Communications Strategic Action Plan
• University Outreach Strategy

These tiger teams will be led by our Director of Marketing & Communication, Zach Davis. The call for volunteers generated an overwhelming response, yielding 51 applications. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who expressed interest in contributing to these initiatives. Due to the high volume of applicants, we had to narrow down the group to a manageable size, ensuring we have a diverse and effective team.

We plan to form additional teams soon to address other priorities within SAVE and your involvement will be crucial.

In closing, I want to reiterate my gratitude for your continued support and dedication to our mission. Together, we can elevate SAVE to new heights and foster a thriving community that embraces the principles of the VM.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Regarding the latter, I am reminded by the wonderful slide deck Muthiah Kasi put together on (U.S.) football and what is an activity and what is a function. Still one of the best overviews I have seen. In his presentation, Kasi walks through events of a football game and describes what is an activity and what is a function. For example, the coach takes an action to call a time-out, but the function of that time-out is unique and open-ended. The function could be to Revise Strategy (change from a run play to a pass play), to Ice the Kicker, or to Change Resources (put in a second tight end), etc. So, if you are like me, enjoy the activity and the functions of football on every given Saturday (college) and Sunday (NFL) for the next six months.

Regarding the Value Engineering business in this issue, the key focus is the upcoming 2025 Value Summit in India (September 15-16), the need for marketing and university outreach tiger teams, requirements and changes to the CVS exam and CVS-Life designation, and fantastic news about a mutually beneficial union between SAVE International and the Dutch Associate of Cost Engineers. Looks like SAVE’s initiatives are moving in the right direction!

For all of you attending the Summit in India, have a wonderful and impactful few days. Take care and be safe out there.

The Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST) has been hard at work for over a year planning this historic Value Summit. The organizing committee is busy addressing all the last-minute details that come with planning an event of this magnitude, and I am grateful for all their efforts. There is still time to register and attend, so visit www.value-eng.org/2025ValueSummit for more details. I hope to see you there.

And speaking of event planning, it is not too soon to begin planning to attend the 2026 Value Summit scheduled for June 8-10, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This issue’s article by Kaity Stewart, Director of Conferences, provides some early information about what attendees can expect from next year’s Summit, so save the date!

We are racing closer and closer to the 2025 Value Summit in New Delhi, India! This is a historic event as it is the first time the Value Summit is being held in Asia - and a big shout out to the Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST) for hosting and organizing the event. It is sure to be a success! There is still time to register and attend so visit www.value-eng.org/2025ValueSummit for more details.

Turning the page to 2026, there are a few exciting events in the works. One of which is the 2026 Value Summit in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! The three-day event is shaping up to be awesome and I am so excited to be working with the talented people on the Summit Planning Committee to bring it all together. Keep in mind, since this will be a three-day event we are looking at bringing on more presenters and speakers. I would encourage you to start thinking of becoming a presenter at the 2026 Value Summit! Don’t have a topic yet? No worries! There is still time to brainstorm.

Speaker and presenter information will be announced in the next few months. More information and details on the Summit itself will also be coming in the next few months as we get them solidified. Remember to keep an eye out and to save the date: June 8-10, 2026. I hope to see you there!

That wraps up my events updates for now but more to come! I am looking forward to serving the SAVE community and carrying this porch passed to me by the ones who have come before. Thank you!

The SAVE Certification Board and multiple volunteers have spent many hours working on developing the Live Facilitation exam process. As practitioners of the Value Methodology (VM), we evaluated the goals and objectives prior to implementing this program, the function of which is to Test (Facilitation) Skills. This was the intent as defined and approved by the SAVE Board. Facilitation is a Core Competency and Part 2 of the CVS exam was intended to meet the function. Adding this program has the potential to elevate the skills and status of a CVS and addresses concerns for this Core Competency.

That said, implementing this new program results in added risks and costs. A primary risk is introducing the judgement of the assessors evaluating the candidate. Even with defined criteria, the potential exists for inconsistencies. One of the reasons for the online exam was to reduce and potentially eliminate this element. The new CVS exam does address all the Core Competencies, including facilitation.

The cost and schedule for organizing these events would require additional staff. Coordinating the assessors, participants, and candidates is a challenge, especially with everyone’s schedules, even for a virtual event. This could potentially delay a candidate completing the process.

Reviewing the benefits along with the risks and challenges, the SAVE Board agreed with the Certification Board’s recommendation to eliminate Part 2 (Live Facilitation) of the CVS exam; however, this program will be evaluated at a later date.

Those candidates that have already taken and passed the CVS exam Part 1 will be notified and granted CVS certification. The CVS application process and exam remain intact and are active.

Thank you to all those who volunteered to participate in the process. The Certification Board appreciates all the enthusiastic support to further the certification program.

Under this new program, new CVS-Life designees will be required to comply with the following:

• Any CVS who has continuously recertified, maintained, and/or renewed their CVS certification for a minimum period of 12 years will be eligible to apply for the CVS-Life designation.
• New CVS-Life applicants must be in good standing with SAVE certification requirements. They must apply for CVS-Life designation, comply with prorated PDUs in effect for current CVS, and pay fees as indicated.
• CVS-Life renewal is required every 4 years following the rules outlined in the SAVE Certification Program Manual.

Existing CVS-Life designees are encouraged to contribute to SAVE through participation in society and Value Methodology (VM) related events, e.g., conferences, chapter gatherings, and to the extent possible, teaching VM courses to share their knowledge with those new to the field and/or those interested in expanding their knowledge.

After implementation, existing CVS-Life designees will:

• Complete the CVS-Life renewal documentation indicating they have satisfied renewal requirements, as outlined in the table below
• Pay certification renewal fees, as set by SAVE

Subsequent renewals will be in accordance with the SAVE Certification Program Manual.

Existing CVS-Life designees are required to renew their designation every 4 years and shall maintain records and documentation of meeting the requirements.

CVS-Life, Retired

Inactive CVS-Life designees will automatically be changed to CVS-Life, Retired. CVS-Life, Retired designees are not required to renew their designation. CVS-Life designees who fail to renew or respond will automatically transition to CVS-Life, Retired.

All CVS-Life designees who wish to transition to CVS-Life, Retired must notify the SAVE business office. A CVS-Life, Retired who wishes to return to CVS-Life must follow the then current procedures in the SAVE Certification Program Manual.

In accordance with the SAVE Certification Program Manual, CVS®-Life renewal will require the following:

• Learn VM - 50% of CVS renewal PDUs
• VM Service and Promotion - 50% of CVS renewal PDUs (As valuable knowledge resources, CVS-Life designees are expected to support the society and other SAVE certification holders. VM Service and Promotion PDUs may be achieved through teaching the VM.)

All certification-related documents and forms are available on the SAVE website under Certification/Certification Resources.

SAVE will continue to send certification related updates and reminders via email and in Value World to keep everyone apprised of what’s happening.

The Tiger Teams will be led by Zach Davis, SAVE Director of Marketing & Communication and the missions of each are below:

• University Outreach (UO): Lay the foundation for SAVE’s future University Outreach Strategic Action Plan - clarifying goals, scope, structure, and processes to expand SAVE’s academic presence and promote the Value Methodology (VM).
• Communications & Marketing (C&M): Design the process and framework for a comprehensive, data-informed communications and marketing plan that effectively engages members, promotes VM, and supports global growth.

Both Tiger Teams will begin meeting in early September and conclude their work in November. The focus of their meetings will include the following:

• Kickoff & Context - Establish goals/scope, confirm roles, and align on mission and near-term objectives.
• Creativity - Structured brainstorming on structures/focus areas, stakeholder mapping, and drafting the SAP development process.
• Evaluation - Apply criteria (impact, feasibility, SAVE alignment) and conduct structured voting to prioritize recommendations.
• Development - Translate priorities into a roadmap, build a detailed timeline/resource plan, and stress-test for feasibility and risk.
• Presentation - Finalize materials, rehearse, and approve the Final Tiger Team Report & Presentation for handoff.

Both work plans span roughly September 1 through mid-November 2025, culminating in a board-ready package.

Meet DACE

The Dutch Association of Cost Engineers (DACE) is the Netherlands’ hub for Cost Engineering and Value Management (VM). Within DACE, the Special Interest Group Value Management brings Value Engineers together so they can meet, connect, and share. It’s a place to learn about developments in the field, get support and fresh ideas, and draw inspiration from peers. The aim is simple yet powerful: to help individuals and organizations grow professionally, strengthen their network, and stay inspired to keep advancing the practice of VM.

The Dutch Dike Insight

Centuries ago, when the Netherlands first built its protective dikes, decisions about maintenance weren’t left to distant rulers - they were made by local “water boards.” These communities understood the land, the tides, and the quirks of their specific stretch of dike. Sometimes, a seemingly minor local adaptation (reinforcing a section with a particular type of grass or adjusting the slope) would later be adopted along the entire coastline. It was this mix of central strategy and local know-how that kept the country safe for generations.

Why This Agreement Matters

In many ways, this is exactly how SAVE and DACE can work together:

• SAVE brings the “central strategy” being the largest VM society in the world with a vast knowledge base, worldwide recognized standards, and a network that spans industries and continents.
• DACE brings the “local know-how” that is grounded, culture-rich practices that can make the global playbook even stronger. Examples include the VM Maturity Model for guiding how VM grows in organizations, career pathways that go beyond “training” into long-term mentorship, and training approaches from Value for Europe that align with SAVE’s principles but adds distinctive regional nuances.

Just as a small water board’s innovation might one day protect an entire nation, a local Dutch practice could inspire a global shift in how we approach VM as exemplified by the Dutch Dike Insight noted above.

Looking Forward

This renewed agreement is not just a formality, it’s a bridge - a chance to explore needs we have not yet imagined, to exchange practices we did not know existed, to create training that meets both SAVE and DACE standards, and to weave together the best of both worlds. Like the dikes, our VM “infrastructure” is only as strong as the blend between the global framework and the insights that come from those closest to the work. By combining SAVE’s global reach with DACE’s regional depth, we’re not just expanding services, we’re expanding possibilities.

Here’s to intentions that lead to inspiration, and to partnerships that grow stronger with every conversation. SAVE, DACE and VM practitioners are looking forward to this alliance!

Mr. Craig R. Ailles, longtime SAVE International member and CVS Life, passed away June 19, 2025, in Huntsville, AL.

Craig had either been a commissioned officer serving the U.S. Army or a Defense Contractor supporting the U.S. Army Aviation for over 70 + years. Retired Major Ailles graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1959 and obtained his Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1963 at UC. Major Ailles was trained as a U.S. Army Ranger and assigned to several combat sites in Vietnam, including aviation forward operating base in Laos near Cambodia arming all U.S. and Allied Aviation platforms for the missions in and around Southeast Asia. He continued two tours of the Vietnam War and retired in 1979 in Huntsville, AL.

Craig was hired by SAIC, in the company’s early years, and worked with the founders of the company as a Systems/Value Engineer. He started working with the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), Aviation and Troop Command (ATCOM) as a Systems/Value Engineer of U.S. Army helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and missile systems. Craig managed and continued to manage the delivery orders providing support to the AMCOM Value Engineering (VE) offices.

Craig prepared and taught SAVE Module I VE workshops, Module II VE seminars, and Contractual Aspects of VE workshops to AMCOM and AMCOM, designated Federal and contractor organizations. He conducted independent VE studies and supported AMCOM and their contractors in conducting and processing VE studies. Craig has been a part of VE Savings to the U.S. Army in a conservative estimate of over $1 Billion dollars over his career.

On Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 2015, at the conclusion of the VE Award Assembly, Craig was awarded the “Knight of The Order of Saint Michael” by the Army Aviation Association of America, Tennessee Valley Chapter President. He was honoured for his lifetime achievements with the Army Aviation, his contributions to the Aviation Soldiers, and his VE efforts over the last 56 years.

Craig was still supporting the Army Aviation Warfighter the day he fell ill, at the age 89. He was a Program Manager at SAIC in the same position.

A leader in VE, VE training, VE mentor, singer, and grand speaker - Craig will be missed by all his coworkers, friends, and family.

Mr. Mukhopadhyay was much more than an expert in his field - he was a visionary and mentor whose influence shaped the very foundation of VE practices in India. He dedicated decades to advancing the field through relentless efforts of advocating and promoting VE and thought leadership.

The contributions Mr. Mukhopadhyay made to the Indian Value Engineering Society (INVEST) Certification Board (ICB) and strengthening the society as an institution are invaluable. He had a major role in developing certification programs and courses for INVEST which are driving certification programs in India and abroad.

Mr. Mukhopadhyay’s books and teachings have inspired countless professionals to approach VE with creativity and purpose.