Rich Townsend
Rich Townsend, CPA, CIA, CFE, CCA is Co‑Owner of R. L. Townsend & Associates, LLC, a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in construction audit and construction cost control advisory services. His work supports owners and governing bodies in strengthening financial integrity, enhancing transparency, and proactively managing construction cost and risk across complex capital programs.
Rich is also President of the Construction Audit & Cost Control Institute, Inc., where he leads and delivers professional development programs for owners, auditors, and industry professionals nationwide. In this capacity, he is responsible for advancing best practices in construction auditing and cost control through both public offerings and customized in‑house training.
Holding designations as a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Construction Auditor, Rich brings decades of leadership and technical expertise to the construction industry. He currently serves on the advisory board of the National Association of Construction Auditors, contributing to the development of professional standards and the evolution of the construction auditing discipline.
His construction audit experience spans projects ranging from ten million to over a billion in total project cost, with a focus on CMAR and GMP delivery models. His construction audit and cost control advisory experience with higher education, K‑12 school districts, healthcare, industrial facilities, real estate development, and major transportation and infrastructure projects. His perspective reflects extensive hands‑on involvement in high‑risk, high‑visibility projects and a sustained commitment to owner‑focused cost control and governance.
Ashley Humphries
Ashley Humphries is a Senior Construction Auditor with more than a decade of experience advising owners on the financial integrity and risk management of large, complex capital programs. She has led and supported audits of complex capital construction programs across higher education, healthcare, public sector, industrial, and commercial environments.
Her construction audit experience spans projects ranging from ten million to over a billion in total project cost, with a focus on CMAR and GMP delivery models. Ashley specializes in proactive construction auditing, cost validation, contract compliance, and risk mitigation throughout all phases of a project—from procurement and buy‑out through closeout and claims resolution.
In addition to her audit leadership, Ashley has experience providing litigation support and advisory services related to construction cost disputes. She is an active instructor for professional development programs focused on construction audit and cost control, and she regularly speaks at industry conferences nationwide. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas and holds the designations of Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Construction Auditor (CCA). Ashley is actively involved in national professional associations supporting audit, fraud examination, and construction risk management.