
In a nation where billions of dollars flow into infrastructure each year, from airports to highways to municipal transit systems, there's one often-overlooked role that quietly determines whether these massive investments serve the public interest: the cost engineer.
However, Elvina Bayramova is more than just a cost engineer. She's fast becoming one of the most trusted independent voices in infrastructure consulting today.
Although her firm, Vina Project Advisory, is still in development, her mission is clear: to elevate standards in cost engineering through accuracy, transparency, and data-driven integrity.
Her story spans continents, industries, and languages. It is a powerful example of how technical leadership and immigrant determination can merge to create a real national impact.
From Baku to L.A.
Born and raised in Azerbaijan, Elvina began her career in the oil and gas sector, where she discovered an unexpected passion for systems, numbers, and the hidden frameworks that keep large-scale engineering projects on time and on budget.
"I realized that if cost controls are weak, everything else falls apart," she recalls. "I wanted to be the person who ensured accuracy, accountability, and ethical decision-making in every phase of a project."
That realization launched her reinvention. After moving to the United States, Elvina pivoted fully into cost engineering. She had to rebuild her career from scratch, master U.S. certifications, and prove her value in one of the most complex infrastructure ecosystems in the country: Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)—in a consulting capacity.
Building Trust on a Multibillion Stage
As a consultant supporting Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), one of the country's largest airport authorities, Elvina was entrusted with project controls for infrastructure initiatives valued at several billion dollars. Her job is to ensure financial clarity and operational integrity across sprawling, multi-stakeholder construction initiatives.
One case exemplifies her meticulous approach: while reviewing contractor reporting, she detected a $97,463 inconsistency between contractor submissions and internal records. Her intervention triggered a financial review and correction process, reinforcing the role of independent cost oversight in protecting public funds.
"She became a go-to expert at LAWA," one colleague noted. "Elvina wasn't just checking spreadsheets. She was also protecting public funds."
It's no surprise that Elvina now holds a CPCE certification and is pursuing the highly respected CCP certification from AACE International. However, her real value lies in her mindset. She is part analyst, part auditor, and part reformer.
Infrastructure Consulting for a Transparent Future
While Vina Project Advisory is still in its early stages, the vision is bold. Elvina aims to offer independent infrastructure consulting focused on cost control, risk management, and forecasting—services that bring clarity and accountability to stakeholders across the government and private sectors.
Her expertise also intersects with cybersecurity. "Data accuracy is a security issue," she says. "Taxpayer money must be protected not only from fraud or cyberattacks, but from internal misreporting and failed oversight."
As U.S. cities race to upgrade and decarbonize their infrastructure, Elvina is poised to lead the charge—not through headlines or politics, but through the quiet, consistent application of cost intelligence.
As she looks ahead, Elvina's ambitions extend beyond spreadsheets and forecasts. She envisions Vina Project Advisory growing into a nationally recognized infrastructure consulting firm that works hand-in-hand with city agencies to streamline processes and protect taxpayer dollars.
Equally important is her passion for mentorship, particularly for women and immigrants in STEM.
"When I started, there were so few women in cost engineering. I want to change that," she says. "I want young professionals to know they can rebuild, refocus, and lead with integrity, even if they take the long road."
In an era where cities are racing to upgrade, digitize, and decarbonize their infrastructure, the need for accurate cost controls and risk management has never been greater.
Elvina's approach to infrastructure consulting is about both cost and clarity. It's about creating a framework where data is reliable, timelines are real, and leadership is grounded in accountability.
She may not wear a hard hat on the job site, but her work is foundational to what is built next.
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