Construction Owners Association of America

What Construction Owners Association of America does

The Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) is a US nonprofit professional association founded in 1994 and headquartered in Austell, Georgia. It serves public and private construction project Owners — organizations that continuously build and renovate their built environment, including higher education institutions, healthcare systems, K-12 school districts, and government agencies. COAA's stated mission is to educate Owners and help them improve construction and renovation project delivery through peer knowledge exchange, training, and advocacy. The organization operates through 11 regional chapters across the US and is led by Executive Director Howie S. Ferguson with a small staff of 1–10.

COAA's core products are professional development and community services rather than software. Offerings include the Owner Training Institute (OTI), which delivers project management courses using 3-person instructor teams of Owner, builder, and design professional; the eForum members-only online community for peer Q&A; the eCatalog digital library of templates, tools, and recorded sessions; the monthly eForum xChange virtual town halls; and the semi-annual COAA Connect national conferences. The technology backbone is Novi AMS association management software supporting the Member Compass portal, event registration, and the eForum platform. Recognition programs include the Project Leadership Award (since 2001), the Emerging Professional Award of Excellence, and the Michael E. Kenig Impact and Service Award.

COAA's business model is membership-based, monetized through annual Owner and Associate (service provider) membership dues, conference and OTI course registration fees, corporate sponsorships (8 named 2026 partners including Trimble/e-Builder, Procore, PMWeb, Projectmates, IMEG, Kitch, StoneTurn, and Whiting-Turner), and branded merchandise. Membership requires approval and group memberships are available. The organization distributes through direct membership sales, national and chapter events, its website, webinars, the COAA Way Podcast, and word-of-mouth within the AEC industry.

Name

Construction Owners Association of America

Legal name

Construction Owners Association of America, Inc

Website

https://coaa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

COAA is a 501(c)-style US nonprofit founded in 1994 that serves construction project Owners in higher education, healthcare, K-12, and government through 11 regional chapters. It delivers training, peer networking, conferences, and an online community (eForum) to help Owners improve capital project delivery.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Austell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for Owners and Associate (service provider) members. Membership provides access to eForum, eCatalog resources, webinars, chapter events, national conferences, and the Owner Training Institute courses.
2. Conference Registration: COAA Connect national conferences (Spring and Fall) and chapter workshops generate revenue through attendee registration fees.
3. Owner Training Institute: Educational courses presented 'For Owners, By Owners' using 3-person instructor teams. Revenue generated through course registration fees.
4. Sponsorships: Corporate partnership and sponsorship opportunities allowing products and services providers to showcase offerings to construction project Owners and collaborators at events and on the website.
5. Store/Merchandise: COAA Gear store selling branded merchandise.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

COAA is a national nonprofit membership association that provides education, training, and peer networking for public and private construction project owners. Core offerings include the Owner Training Institute (OTI) courses taught by Owner-Builder-Designer instructor teams, the members-only eForum online community for peer Q&A, the eCatalog resource library, monthly eForum xChange virtual town halls, and the semi-annual COAA Connect national conferences. The organization operates through 11 regional chapters across the United States.

Product overview

The Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) offers a membership-based portfolio of professional development and networking services for construction project owners. The core offerings include the Owner Training Institute (OTI) with courses taught by Owner/builder/designer teams, the eForum online community for peer Q&A, the eCatalog resource library of templates and tools, and the monthly eForum xChange virtual town halls. COAA organizes national COAA Connect conferences, state chapter workshops, and webinars (Brain Food Series). Additional programs include the Small But Mighty Projects initiative, COAA Cares community outreach, an Emerging Professionals track, and recognition programs including the Project Leadership Award and Emerging Professionals Award for Excellence. Members access resources through the Member Compass portal and can connect via the online community platform. The association operates through 11 regional chapters across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COAA Connect: COAA's signature national conference brand for semi-annual conferences (Spring and Fall) bringing together construction Owners, designers, builders, and industry partners.
• Owner Training Institute (OTI)
• The COAA Way
• COAA Cares
• eForum
• eForum xChange

Products and services

• COAA Membership Annual membership providing construction project Owners and Associate (service provider) members with access to the eForum community, eCatalog resource library, webinars, chapter events, national conferences, and Owner Training Institute courses. Membership applications require approval, and group memberships are available.
• Owner Training Institute (OTI) Educational courses taught by Owner-Builder-Designer instructor teams under the 'For Owners, By Owners' model, covering project management, construction delivery methods, and Owner-specific skills. Courses are available to members via registration fees.
• COAA Connect Conferences Semi-annual national conferences (Spring and Fall) providing educational sessions, networking opportunities, and recognition through Project Leadership Awards. Available to members and non-members via attendee registration fees.
• Corporate Partnership and Sponsorship Program Sponsorship and corporate partnership program allowing AEC product and service providers to showcase offerings to construction project Owners at events, on the website, and through dedicated partner pages.
• Chapter Workshops and Events Local workshops and networking events hosted by 11 regional chapters across the United States, providing member pricing and geographically targeted engagement.
• COAA Gear Store Online store selling COAA-branded merchandise to members and supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• COAA advocates for 'freedom of PDM choice' to help Owners select appropriate delivery methods for project success

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMEGcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Corporate partner providing engineering and consulting services to construction project Owners. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner with logo displayed on COAA website.
• TrimblecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Technology partner (e-Builder) providing construction project management software. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner. Trimble's solutions support Owner project delivery and controls.
• Kitch Attorneys & Counselors, PCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Legal services firm providing counsel to construction project Owners. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner with logo displayed on COAA website.
• PMWeb Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Project management software provider for capital project management. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner providing solutions to COAA member Owners.
• Projectmates by SystematescoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Project management platform for construction Owners. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner with dedicated page on COAA website.
• Procore Technologies, Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Construction management software provider. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner serving Owner members with project controls solutions.
• StoneTurncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Consulting firm providing risk management and process optimization for construction. Has provided sponsored content and educational webinars on risk mitigation and construction processes for COAA.
• The Whiting-Turner Contracting CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026General contractor and construction management firm. Listed as 2026 Corporate Partner and Associate member serving Owner projects. Has sponsored COAA chapter events and workshops.
• ConsensusDocsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Industry organization providing standard construction contract documents. Listed under COAA Partnering section for industry resources.
• Construction Users Roundtable (CURT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Premier Owners organization for capital project excellence. COAA leaders collaborate with CURT on industry initiatives including ESG topics.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Professional association for architects partnering with COAA on 'Value of Architecture' discussion series seeking Owner input on design professional services.
• University Research Institute (URI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch organization that authored a report on traits, habits, and characteristics of great construction Owners, referenced by COAA to help define 'good Owner' principles.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities: APPA serves higher education facilities and capital planning professionals, directly overlapping with COAA's largest member segment. Many university members (e.g., Virginia Tech, Radford, George Mason) participate in both organizations for facilities management and construction Owner best practices.
• Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA): DBIA promotes integrated design-build project delivery and serves many of the same institutional Owners COAA targets, including healthcare, higher education, and government. Both educate Owners on alternative project delivery methods, a core COAA topic (e.g., PDM Freedom of Choice).
• Construction Management Association of America (CMAA): CMAA represents construction managers and Owners using CM-at-Risk delivery. It overlaps significantly with COAA's Owner Training Institute curriculum on collaborative delivery methods and shares Owners among its membership base.
• American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE): ASHE is the premier association for healthcare facility professionals, directly serving COAA's healthcare Owner segment. Members like MD Anderson and Nemours Children's participate in both for healthcare-specific construction and compliance expertise.
• Construction Users Roundtable (CURT): CURT is a premier Owners organization focused on capital project excellence — the closest direct peer to COAA. Both serve construction project Owners with advocacy, education, and best-practice sharing; COAA even collaborates with CURT on ESG initiatives per its partner record.

Broad incumbents

• Associated General Contractors of America (AGC): AGC is the largest and oldest construction trade association in the US, representing general contractors and serving as a broader industry body that touches many of the same Owners COAA serves. Its broader mandate and much larger staff set the competitive ceiling in the AEC association market.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC represents commercial contractors and is a leading national construction industry association with overlapping audiences. COAA's general contractor Associate members (e.g., Whiting-Turner) typically also participate in ABC.
• American Institute of Architects (AIA): AIA represents architects and is a documented COAA partner (collaboration on "Value of Architecture" series). It serves as the design-professional counterpart in the Owner-builder-designer ecosystem COAA's training programs are built around.

Emerging players

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): USGBC focuses on sustainable building standards (LEED) and serves many of the same institutional Owners for capital project decision-making. Its specialized sustainability focus complements but also partially overlaps COAA's broader Owner education agenda.

Others

• Engineering News-Record (ENR): ENR is the leading AEC industry media brand covering construction Owners, contractors, and project delivery. While not a peer association, ENR is the dominant information/awards channel adjacent to COAA's Project Leadership Awards and conference programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coaahq
• Xx.com/coaahq
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/construction-owners-association-of-america

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Construction Owners Association of America