Cline earned a B.S. in business administration from Oklahoma State University, an M.S. in construction science from the University of Oklahoma, and a Ph.D. in education (adult development organizational learning) from the University of Idaho. His educational research interests are focused on improving construction management processes to facilitate the efficient management of construction projects. His more than 25 years of construction industry experience, which includes work in commercial, industrial, petrochemical, light commercial, and residential construction. He has held positions as Project Manager, Project Engineer, Superintendent, Field Engineer, Carpenter, and laborer.