Cecil Consulting, Inc. is a Maryland-based corporation.

Owned and operated by John Michael Cecil, a seasoned veteran in the industrial, mechanical, and heavy civil construction industry.

0 +

Years of Experience

Building a Legacy of Expertise Construction

He then entered the Baltimore Plumbing Union Apprenticeship program and was the top student for all four years, receiving a prestigious award for that accomplishment. Within two years of graduation from the apprenticeship program and serving as a journeyman, he took and passed the Maryland Master Plumber and Gasfitter test.

Wanting to learn more about HVAC, he entered a 2-year night school program at the RETS Institute of Technology in Baltimore. After that, he passed the test to become a Master HVAC license holder.

Mike’s experience includes extensive industrial work in various factories and steel mills in his early days, followed by extensive work in constructing water and wastewater treatment plants on the East Coast, and one $250m design-build project in Port Said, Egypt, to construct a new wastewater treatment plant and raw water pumping station.

After serving as a superintendent and project manager on projects ranging from several million to $250 million, he was appointed Director of Business Development for three companies. During his 12 years in this position, he either brought in construction contracts on his own or, as part of a team, nearly $1.5 billion in construction contracts for design-build or CMAR delivery methods.

He is currently based out of Maryland. His construction specialties are plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, and heavy civil construction.

Start Your Construction Project

Contact Cecil Consulting today for expert construction advice, accurate estimating, value engineering, and reliable support for complex infrastructure projects worldwide.

A Legacy Built Over 45 Years

Mike has been active in the construction industry for 45 years and has worn many different hats.

He spent much of his youth on his grandparents’ 600-acre tobacco farm in Southern Maryland, where he learned how to fix things and the value of hard work.

His construction career began with a job in Baltimore’s laborers’ union between his college semesters. He worked hard as a young laborer, a 150-lb frame of a man operating a 90 lb. jackhammer all day. He knows what hard work is and understands the life and frustrations of construction workers.

In 1981, he entered the Baltimore Plumbing Union Apprenticeship program and was the top student for all four years, receiving a prestigious award for that accomplishment. After serving as a journeyman for the requisite 2 years, he took and passed the Maryland Master Plumber and Gasfitter test.

To become a Master Plumber in those days required 8,000 hours as an apprentice, then 2,000 as a journeyman.

Industry Leadership & Contribution

Mike was one of the co-authors of the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) first Best Practices book and was on the water and wastewater conference committee for seven years.

Mike’s qualifications include:

Master Plumber – Maryland State 7206
Master HVAC – Maryland State 6888
Master Gasfitter – Maryland State 7206
Class B Limited Master Electrician – Maryland State 6888
Class A General Contractor in Virginia – 2710070354
Associates Degree in Construction Management - UMBC

Complex Projects with Confidence

Mike has provided his services to private General Contractors as well as Governmental agencies, who value his depth of experience in the construction world, including Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC, and Heavy Civil work. Throughout his career, he managed numerous heavy civil projects, including the construction or rehabilitation of water and wastewater treatment plants and pump stations, which have been his primary focus over the past three decades.

Final Delivery Phase

We ensure every detail is completed perfectly before delivering the final project to clients

Advanced Construction Estimating Expertise

Providing real world construction estimating using industry experience, market contacts, and multiple formats including Excel, RS Means, and MII systems

General Requirements

Having managed and estimated numerous projects, he can estimate the cost of a contractor's General Conditions accurately.

Site/Civil

Mike has extensive experience with site and civil, earth-moving, and demolition.

Concrete

Mike has been responsible for crews placing tens and hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of concrete and knows the cost for forming, rebar, placement, etc.

Masonry

Many of his projects required masonry work, and he has subcontractor contacts and historical costs to accurately estimate the cost of this portion of a project.

Metals

Most projects required some form of misc. metals such as handrails, steel buildings, prefabricated metal buildings, and the like. He has the knowledge and experience to provide accurate costs for Division 5.

Experience

Extensive experience with wood, plastics, and composites.

Thermal and Moisture Protection

Mike has several roofing subcontractor contacts and can easily obtain real-world costs.

Openings

Again, many contacts with subcontractors and manufacturers to obtain real-world costs.

Finishes

Mike has several good contacts with painting and coating subcontractors in the commercial and industrial markets.

Specialties

Many vendor contacts to obtain pricing information.

Equipment

Mike has numerous contacts with Equipment manufacturers and vendors/reps to obtain pricing information, and knows how to price installation costs for various technologies such as pumps, filters, or pretty much anything related to a water or wastewater treatment plant or pump station.

Furnishings

Not so much experience, but in his field, it is generally a minor item.

Special Construction

Same as above.

Conveying Equipment

Mike has been responsible for installing many conveyors at wastewater treatment plants, has industry contacts for equipment pricing, and knows how many man-hours it will take to install a specific piece of equipment.

Mechanical

This is Mike’s specialty. He has extensive experience purchasing and installing all types of mechanical equipment, including HVAC, plumbing, gas-related equipment, boilers, heat exchangers, condensers and evaporators, cooling towers, etc.

Electrical

Every project Mike has been involved in has had some type of electrical work. Over the years, he has developed a feel for how much the electrical work will cost based on a project’s scope. Further, he has excellent relationships with several electrical contractors who provide him with accurate conceptual and other estimates.

Instrumentation

Mike has extensive experience with I&C and many contacts among I&C contractors who provide him with accurate cost estimates.

Lastly, Mike attends numerous conferences and keeps up with the latest technological advances and new equipment in the water and wastewater treatment world.

What our clients say about Our Consulting

Hear from our clients about the expertise, reliability, and results Cecil Consulting consistently delivers across complex construction and infrastructure projects.

David Miller Property Owner

Cecil Consulting provided precise conceptual estimates and practical strategic guidance from the earliest project stages. Their clarity and accuracy gave our team the confidence to make informed decisions, align priorities, and move forward smoothly right from the start of development.

Sarah Johnson Business Owner

Mike consistently identified solutions before challenges could escalate, playing a key role in our project’s success. His design-build expertise simplified complex processes, reduced delays, and controlled costs—all while maintaining exceptional quality and delivering outstanding results.

Michael Brown Homeowner

With decades of hands-on experience, Mike brings practical expertise and innovative solutions to complex infrastructure projects. He combines deep industry knowledge with strategic insight and proven leadership, earning a strong reputation as a trusted and results-driven professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our services, project approach, and construction expertise.

1. What types of projects does Cecil Consulting specialize in?

We specialize in plumbing, HVAC, mechanical systems, heavy civil construction, and water/wastewater infrastructure projects, particularly design-build and CMAR delivery methods.

2. What is Design-Build consulting?

Design-Build consulting integrates design and construction under one contract, improving collaboration, reducing risk, and accelerating project timelines.

3. What are CMAR services?

Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services provide early cost control, risk management, and guaranteed maximum pricing for greater project certainty.

4. Can Cecil Consulting assist with conceptual estimating?

Yes. We provide accurate conceptual construction estimates, even with limited design information, helping clients make informed decisions early.

5. Does Cecil Consulting work with public sector projects?

Yes. We have extensive experience supporting municipal and public infrastructure projects across multiple states.

6. Where is Cecil Consulting based?

Cecil Consulting is based in Maryland and serves clients across the United States and internationally.