Beatriz Arostegui, PE, SE
Senior Associate, Structural Engineer
Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Seattle, Wash.

AGE: 35

EDUCATION
Master of Science, Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Materials, University of California, Berkeley

Bachelor of Science, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Contributed as a Design Engineer to San Francisco’s 61-story Salesforce Tower—the tallest building west of the Mississippi River and the first PBSD (Performance-Based Seismic Design) commercial office building in California

Advanced from Design Engineer to Senior Associate over 12 years at MKA, with a resume reflecting 120 projects and 40 project management roles; currently serves as Project Manager on the $2.6 billion Los Angeles Convention Center Renovation and Expansion, leading a team of 10+ staff on redevelopment tied to the 2028 Olympic Games

Led the Matson Block Historic Complex as Project Manager, a 593,000-sf historically significant office complex in San Francisco’s Financial District, managing an internal team of eight engineers and presenting directly to clients—work that earned her a promotion to Associate in 2022

Lent seismic and renovation expertise to the retrofits of the iconic Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles and 300 Lakeside in Oakland, one of the largest office buildings ever seismically retrofitted

Serves as a voting member on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) Provisions Update Committee and the Structural Engineers Association of Washington’s Earthquake Engineering Committee, helping shape national and regional seismic code standards

EXTRACURRICULAR
Long-time volunteer with the ACE Mentor Program, serving as an ACE Mentor, ACE Mentor Leader for the Seattle and Bellevue groups, and ACE Online Mentor across nearly a decade

Board of Directors member for the MKA Foundation, reviewing and approving research funding that advances the field of structural engineering

Nominated to participate in the inaugural ACE Women In Engineering Leadership program, focused on women’s leadership training in the field

OFF THE CLOCK
Spends weekends outside walking the Green Lake loop in Seattle and visiting Woodland Park Zoo with her kids

SECRET LIFE
An avid trail runner and backpacker who has completed the 100+ mile Wonderland Trail loop around Mt. Rainier and Section J of the Pacific Crest Trail and the Orcas Island 25km five times

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“Not a piece of advice that was explicitly given to me, but rather one that I picked up through observing a few senior leaders successfully navigate project meetings. What I have learned is that there is power in listening more and saying less. It’s often more impactful to choose your moments to speak when what you have to say provides the most value and isn’t just filler.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“My greatest professional achievement to date has been my ability to maintain an intense and challenging workload managing large and complex projects with construction budgets greater than a billion dollars while becoming a mother and starting a family. I consider this to be my single biggest professional achievement because I am able to show my children what a successful working mom can look like.”

Victoria Brinemugha, PE
Sr. Global Engineering Manager
Amazon
Arlington, Va.

AGE: 31

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s, Architectural Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Advanced from mechanical engineer to Senior Global Engineering Program Manager at Amazon, where she directs the standardization of MEP engineering requirements across 600+ buildings in more than 70+ countries.

Founded a woman-owned engineering practice focused on creating flexible, supportive pathways for women engineers in the AEC industry.

Served as lead mechanical engineer on the HVAC hydronic systems for the 18-story Michigan Central Station Office Tower and as lead MEP construction administrator overseeing 1,500+ RFIs on the historic Book Tower redevelopment, one of Detroit’s most significant restoration projects

Helped establish Osborn Engineering’s Detroit office in 2021 and supported business development that secured the 160,000-sf, $200 million Wayne State University Health Sciences Research Building

Provided technical assistance supporting $60 million in EPA Climate Resilience Hub federal grant requests across Missoula, Mont., St. Louis, Mo., and Detroit

EXTRACURRICULAR
Chaired CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) Detroit’s 2025 Mentorship Program, matching 20 mentors with 20 mentees across engineering, architecture, construction, and commercial real estate

Mentored emerging women leaders in STEM and delivered leadership training to 100-110 participants across Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East through the U.S. Department of State’s TechWomen program

Invited to present at the 2026 ASHRAE Annual Conference in Austin, one of the industry’s largest gatherings, drawing 3,800+ engineers, policymakers, and industry leaders

OFF THE CLOCK
Learned to ride a bicycle for the first time while studying abroad at Tsinghua University in Beijing, commuting to class on crowded streets where locals assumed she was part of a film crew

Hiked the highest peak in Madeira with her family, including a three-month-old and a toddler, and holds nightly family dance parties with her two kids after bedtime

Previously ran small businesses as a wedding planner, event decorator, and travel advisor before pivoting fully into engineering

SECRET LIFE
She and her husband grew up in Nigeria and attended the same secondary school, but didn’t reconnect until years later on LinkedIn while living in different countries, sparking a long-distance relationship between Chicago and Toronto that lasted through pandemic border closures

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“Wherever you go, you water the ground around you—and regardless of your title, you are not truly a leader if others do not grow around you. It reframed how I think about success. Titles and project wins matter, but the real measure of leadership is whether the people around you are growing because you were there.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“My most significant professional achievements span two phases of my career -first, delivering landmark Detroit projects, and now, advancing global engineering excellence at Amazon. Together, these experiences reflect a career built on advancing technical excellence while expanding opportunities for women in engineering.”

Katherine Chan
Principal, Project Manager, Structures Group, Enclosure Engineering
Walter P Moore
New York, N.Y.

AGE: 35

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s, Civil Engineering, Columbia University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Advanced from Senior Associate to Principal at Walter P Moore by age 34, specializing in façade design for high-profile projects, including the University of South Florida Judy Genshaft Honors College, the American Museum of Natural History’s Gilder Center, Dubai’s Sustainability Pavilion at Expo 2020, and Singapore Changi Airport’s Jewel Terminal

Served as lead technical designer for the Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center and Convention Center Expansion, which earned a 2026 ACEC National Recognition Award and the 2026 ACEC Georgia Grand Prize Award

Founded and served as President/Founding Co-Chair of the Society of Façade Engineering North America Hub since its 2023 launch, building a volunteer-run community that hosts 6–8 technical virtual and in-person events annually across New York City and Los Angeles

Serves as Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s GSAPP, teaching façade and structural engineering integration to 60–80 Masters of Architecture students each semester; also teaches at Pratt Institute

Named a 2025 Zweig Group AEC Rising Star; her work on Steelhouse Omaha and the USF Judy Genshaft Honors College earned ACEC Texas Gold and AIA Florida Honor Awards, respectively

EXTRACURRICULAR
Founding member of Walter P Moore’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, spearheading community engagement and industry education initiatives

Leads Walter P Moore’s New York office collaboration with Design Advocates, a pro bono collaborative that has built outdoor dining structures during the pandemic and designed outdoor pavilions for the Concourse House

Regularly collaborates with Build Out Alliance in New York and moderated a Structural Engineers Association of New York panel on building equitable and sustainable communities

OFF THE CLOCK
Explores mixed media sculpture and collage, and is developing a children’s book that encourages young readers to engage imaginatively with the built environment

Draws inspiration from her mother, a former seamstress who emphasized the connection between functional details and aesthetics—a lens Chan says she now applies to how she reads and designs building façades

Her father was among the first generation of computer science engineers, which she credits with socializing her early toward engineering and applied sciences as a field

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“One of my mentors told me that everyone is replaceable. I would add, ‘so make yourself indispensable.’ The connotation is to stay relevant and in demand by taking the initiative, foster your own curiosity, stay engaged, and cultivate community around what you’re doing.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“I’m proud to have worked on a lot of great projects. I’m particularly proud of the American Museum of Natural History Gilder Center by Studio Gang, which I worked on through the design and bid phases. To live so close to a project that was so inspiring to work on is really wonderful. The project itself and the project team were aspirational. Since then, I’m so glad to have worked on the University of South Florida Honors College by Morphosis, and to have become a Principal at Walter P Moore.”

Garrett Gonzalo
Client Executive
IMEG
Ann Arbor, Mich.

AGE: 38

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s, Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Advanced from intern to Senior Mechanical Designer III, then spent seven years as an embedded project manager at a chemical manufacturer before becoming Client Executive for IMEG’s 54-person process industrial team in Michigan—one of the firm’s highest revenue-generating teams since IMEG’s 2020 acquisition of his previous firm

Secured and delivered two multi-million-dollar roofing material manufacturing facility projects, among IMEG’s largest industrial wins, including serving as Project Executive/Manager on the Owens Corning Prattville Greenfield Shingle Manufacturing Plant

EXTRACURRICULAR
Co-led the engagement committee for the Engineering & Construction Community (ECC) Future Leader program in 2024 and co-led content development and speaker selection for the 2025 ECC Perspectives Conference; previously served as Liaison to the ECC Board

Chairman of the Livingston Christian Schools Board for the past three years (fifth year on the board overall), leading initiatives on hiring, governance, and expansion at the school his three sons attend

Supports the Evans Scholars Foundation through the Western Golf Association Leadership Council’s Detroit Chapter as a former Evans Scholar himself, mentoring University of Michigan students through career nights

OFF THE CLOCK
A former gymnast who can still perform a standing backflip and walk on his hands for a long distance

Coaches his sons’ recreational soccer teams and volunteers teaching Sunday school to three- and four-year-olds at his church

Enjoys CrossFit, disc golf, and adult-league soccer, and loves hiking and camping with his family in northern Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes area

SECRET LIFE
His grandfather (“Lolo”) immigrated from the Philippines to work on the Alaskan pipeline in order to earn enough money to bring the rest of the family—including Garrett’s father, who arrived in the U.S. at age 16—to America

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“The best advice came from one of my main mentors—and my former supervisor—who taught me about the importance of humility in how I portray myself and how I treat others. I learned that it was important to be confident in what I know, but equally important to be open about what I don’t know.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“Professional achievement is a journey; there isn’t a point of arrival, but learning throughout a career. In terms of a milestone along the journey, one of the most significant achievements was leading a design team to win a FEL2 design competition for a major greenfield manufacturing facility, which resulted in IMEG being awarded full design services.”

Joëlle Jahn
Director, New England Leader of Deep Carbon Reduction
JB&B, a Trinity Consultants team
Boston, Mass.

AGE: 33

EDUCATION
Master’s, Design Studies, Energy and Environment, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Bachelor’s, Design and Environmental Analysis, Cornell University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Advanced from entry-level Sustainability Strategist to Assistant Vice President and Technical Principal at WSP, leading a Boston Built Ecology team of more than 10 sustainability and energy engineers, before joining JB&B to build and lead its Deep Carbon Reduction Group in New England from the ground up

Grew JB&B’s New England decarbonization practice into a dedicated team in just two years, leading sustainability permitting and decarbonization consulting for more than 20 million sf of real estate in Greater Boston, including the Allston Yards and Dorchester Bay City master plans

Served as Technical Advisor helping shape Boston’s Zero Net Carbon Zoning Code, analyzing building benchmarking data to evaluate the practicality and stringency of carbon-reduction targets for new construction citywide

Delivered Zero Over Time Decarbonization Plans for 12+ mixed-income and affordable multifamily housing properties through Boston’s Building Decarbonization Advisor Program

Holds an unusually broad set of green building credentials: NCIDQ, Certified Passive House Consultant, Living Future Advisor, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP, and Fitwel Ambassador

Won 1st Place and the Fan Favorite Award at the ASHRAE LowDown Showdown Modeling Competition in 2019

EXTRACURRICULAR
Past four-year Co-Chair and current community planning leader of Built Environment Plus’s Carbon and Energy Roundtable

Frequent industry speaker and panelist, participating in 12+ decarbonization panels and conferences over the past two years, including Greenbuild and Decarb NY, and serving as a guest lecturer and design critic at Cornell, Northeastern, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and other schools

Published author with the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) on passive design strategies for climate-responsive disaster relief and emergency shelters

OFF THE CLOCK
Speaks German, French, and English fluently, shaped by growing up in Europe before later moving to the U.S.

Enjoys knitting and sewing—currently making matching sweaters for her husband, Ben, and daughter, Lotte, plus custom cushions for the family’s cargo bike, their preferred way of getting around East Boston

Loves skiing and distance running, and is looking forward to returning to both as she recovers from recently becoming a mother

SECRET LIFE
Her grandfather’s family fled advancing front lines from Danzig to Lübeck during World War II; at one point they nearly boarded a ship to escape but couldn’t get tickets for the whole family and traveled overland instead—they later learned that ship had been sunk

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“When my family moved from Germany to the U.S., I spent a lot of time trying to fit in and not stand out. One of my teachers told me something I’ve never forgotten: Don’t be afraid to be yourself and take your own path. I’ve found that the things that make us different are often our greatest strengths.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“One of my proudest professional achievements was helping advise on Boston’s Zero Net Carbon Zoning Code. Contributing to policy that will influence the performance of an entire generation of buildings was a unique privilege. It reinforced my belief that meaningful climate action requires both project-level implementation and broader policy change.”

Steven Montoni
Associate Director of Engineering
JT Magen
New York, N.Y.

AGE: 37

EDUCATION
Master’s and Bachelor’s, Mechanical Engineering, Manhattan University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Managed all MEP and Technology aspects from pre-construction through closeout for Meta’s 730,000-sf office within the historic Farley Building, coordinating with multiple government agencies while building above the active Moynihan Train Hall and U.S. Post Office

Serves as MEP project manager and technical lead for the $1 billion, 292-acre Netflix Fort Monmouth “mega-studio” production campus, one of the largest construction projects in New Jersey’s history

Led MEP engineering for BlackRock’s 855,000-sf headquarters at Hudson Yards, one of the most technologically advanced office spaces in the country, along with high-profile projects including the Nordstrom Flagship, Standard Chartered, and Davis Polk & Wardwell

Recognized as a finalist for the Joseph J. Gunn Alumni Medal—Manhattan University’s highest undergraduate honor—and recipient of the Draddy Medal for General Excellence in Engineering and the Brother Aubert Medal for Mechanical Engineering

Received the J.T. Magen Safety Award for excellence in construction safety

EXTRACURRICULAR
Serves on the Manhattan University Mechanical Engineering Department Board of Advisors, helping shape curriculum to meet modern industry needs

Mentor and Team Leader with the ACE Mentor Program of Greater New York

Panelist at New York Build Expo on the latest technology changing the construction landscape and how AI and digital construction tools are reshaping product delivery

OFF THE CLOCK
An obsessive coffee enthusiast with a home setup that includes a V60, Chemex, AeroPress, Moka Pot, manual grinder, and digital scale—his family jokes he treats brewing like a science experiment, and he collects whole beans from local roasters whenever he travels

A passionate soccer and Formula 1 fan who follows Inter Milan and Scuderia Ferrari; a major highlight was on a trip to Italy where his wife surprised him with tickets to watch an Inter match at the historic San Siro and tour the Ferrari museums in Modena and Maranello

Loves spending time outdoors with his wife and two sons, whether walking around Hoboken, heading to the Jersey Shore, or teaching his kids how to play sports

SECRET LIFE
His parents grew up in the same small Italian village but didn’t meet until both had separately settled in the U.S.; his mother taught herself English by watching daytime soap operas, and the family still keeps Italian traditions alive each year by dry-curing sausage, making homemade tomato sauce, and pressing their own wine

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“The best career advice I ever received came from my first manager and mentor, who told me that a mistake is only a failure if you don’t learn from it. As a natural perfectionist, I used to put immense pressure on myself to know everything right away. His guidance taught me to drop my pride, ask questions, and confidently step outside my comfort zone.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“Managing all MEP and technology aspects from pre-construction through closeout for Meta’s 730,000-sf office within the historic Farley Building stands as my greatest professional milestone. As the first large-scale project I managed from start to finish, seeing the space finally come together as a vibrant workplace that honors the building’s historic past was incredibly rewarding.”

Arvind Nasit, PE, DBIA, LEED AP BD+C, PMP
Program Manager
Haydan Consultants
West New York, N.J.

AGE: 31

EDUCATION
Master’s, Engineering, Columbia University

Bachelor’s, Civil Engineering, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (India)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Advanced from field supervisor on construction sites in India to Owner’s Program Manager on aviation infrastructure programs worth $14 billion+ combined, in under a decade

Currently serves as Program Manager and client’s representative on the $3.5 billion EWR AirTrain Replacement Program, helping lead strategic planning, design-build integration, procurement, risk management, design coordination, and program controls to deliver safe, resilient, sustainable, and world-class aviation infrastructure for the traveling public

Previously served in construction management on the $1.5 billion JFK Terminal 4 Redevelopment, overseeing project execution, Owner-Architect-Contractor coordination, budgets, schedules, quality, and resolution of complex construction challenges within an active international airport

Led a critical structural foundation design team for the $9.5 billion JFK New Terminal One, coordinating complex foundation systems and multidisciplinary design interfaces for one of the nation’s largest airport redevelopment programs

EXTRACURRICULAR
One of the inaugural members of the Design-Build Institute of America’s (DBIA) Young Professionals Committee, helping shape its early mission, governance, and programming

Mentors university student chapter members through ASCE, connecting academic training to real-world infrastructure practice

Alumnus of the competitively selected Coro Leadership New York program (LNY 42), where he led a team project on NYC’s affordable housing crisis and presented policy recommendations to city leaders

OFF THE CLOCK
Passionate about functional fitness rather than any single sport—combines CrossFit, HYROX-style training, calisthenics, running, and yoga, drawn to parallels between how forces move through a structure and how the human body moves under stress

Teaches Gujarati to U.S.-born children of Indian immigrant families to help preserve cultural roots across generations

Volunteers his engineering expertise in support of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, one of North America’s largest cultural infrastructure projects

SECRET LIFE
Grew up as the youngest member of a large joint family in India, with multiple generations living under one roof—an environment that taught him some of his earliest lessons in teamwork and leadership by watching family members with different personalities and roles learn to make decisions together

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that leadership is not about how many people follow you, but about how many people want to work with you. A title can give you authority, but trust and respect must be earned by listening, valuing different perspectives, and creating an environment where people want to contribute and succeed together.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“My biggest professional achievement has been building a career that spans nearly the entire lifecycle of infrastructure delivery, from working in the field to structural design, construction management, and now owner-side program management. I consider that journey my greatest achievement because it has prepared me to take on increasingly complex infrastructure challenges while never losing sight of the people those projects ultimately serve.”

Sonam Shah, PE, CEM, PMP
Associate Principal - Energy Strategy, Climate and Sustainability
Introba
Oakland, Calif.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION
Master’s, Sustainable Design, Thomas Jefferson University

Bachelor’s, Civil-Construction Engineering, CEPT University (India)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Led development of UC Santa Barbara’s Clean Energy Master Plan, a strategy to eliminate 94% of the university’s Scope 1 emissions and deliver $120 million in operational savings through 2070—recognized by an external peer reviewer as the strongest of all nine UC decarbonization plans reviewed by UCOP, directly contributing to secured funding for an all-electric heating plant

Served as Project Manager and Engineering Lead for San José State University’s District Energy Master Plan, supporting the decision to retire the campus’s 40-year-old cogeneration plant and reallocate $43.5 million in deferred maintenance funds toward electrification

Led utilities planning for Georgia Tech’s Comprehensive Campus Plan that received the 2024 SCUP National Merit Award for Excellence in Planning for Existing Campus

In the past three years, contributed to decarbonization strategies touching more than 9,000 buildings and sites nationwide, including 3,000+ logistics facilities and 5,200+ retail sites, with individual engagements alone identifying savings of up to $2.1 million in utilities and 7,025 MTCO₂e in annual emissions

EXTRACURRICULAR
Lead author of the U.S. DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Central Plant Retrofit Assessment Guide for Owners, providing technical guidance to help building owners evaluate central plant retrofit and decarbonization opportunities

Technical Author and Advisor for NYSERDA’s Higher Education Decarbonization Playbook

Serves as an Industry Partner with the UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment; served on the abstracts selection committee for the Net Zero Conference 2026

Frequent conference speaker; has presented at the ASHRAE Building Decarbonization Conference, Net Zero Conference, SCUP National Conference, and IDEA CampusEnergy

OFF THE CLOCK
Has a reputation among friends and family as a “plant doctor”—people regularly bring her struggling houseplants to nurse back to health, and she spends much of her weekends experimenting with plants in her home garden

A self-described “serial hobby collector” who has gone through phases of swing dancing, ukulele, adult swim lessons, photography, and is currently learning Spanish

Loves exploring new cities, having lived in Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and the Bay Area over 16 years in the U.S.

SECRET LIFE
Her foundation of leadership is deeply influenced by her mother, a social worker in Ahmedabad, India, who helped establish one of the City’s first LGBTQ support networks in 2004. By developing grassroots leadership, she empowered the group to found an independent nonprofit—a framework that was subsequently scaled nationwide

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust the depth of my knowledge and expertise, and own my seat at the table. Earlier in my career, especially as a young woman in a male-dominated industry, it was easy to walk into a room and default to the assumption that others in the room know more. Knowing and trusting that my voice and insight belong in these conversations was a game changer.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“I don’t think my biggest professional achievement has happened yet. So far, though, I’m most proud when something I’ve worked on actually starts to become real—seeing them turn into funding, decisions, and actual projects is incredibly rewarding.”

James Taylor, PE
Co-Founder, CEO, Principal
ACS Group
Las Vegas, Nev.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION
Master’s, Business Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Master’s, Fire Protection Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Bachelor’s, Civil Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Co-founded ACS Group in April 2020 amid pandemic uncertainty, growing it from a two-person startup in Las Vegas into a firm operating in six cities across five states with 25+ professionals, and with revenue growing from $112,000 in 2020 to nearly $6 million in 2025

Since inception, ACS has served 275 clients across more than 770 projects, including 150 projects in Austin, Texas, in 2025 alone, with 2026 revenue projected to reach $7.5 million

Led the commissioning team for MGM Cotai in Macau, China, and holds Professional Engineer licensure across nine states

Serves as an advisor on complex fire protection projects involving performance-based design and emerging technologies, including hazardous materials analysis and high-piled storage for electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery recycling facilities across multiple states

Past President of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers’ Southern Nevada Chapter, and serves as Membership Chair for Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Las Vegas

EXTRACURRICULAR
Serves as an Allied Member and regular sponsor of AIA Las Vegas, and supports educational outreach connecting engineering theory to real-world application for students and first responders

Mentors emerging entrepreneurs through EO Las Vegas and supports team members volunteering with the ACE Mentor Program of America, connecting industry professionals with students exploring AEC careers

Sponsors the Las Vegas Rotary Club, which distributes nearly $500,000 annually to Southern Nevada nonprofits supporting Title 1 schools, low-income students, and heart transplant patients

OFF THE CLOCK
An avid trail runner and skier who has completed the Red Rocks Ultra Marathon and the Mammoth Trail Fest, and regularly hikes with fellow entrepreneurs through Founders Hikes in Southern Nevada

Volunteers at Our Lady of Las Vegas School, assisting with student activities and seasonal festivals

SECRET LIFE
Has never received a speeding ticket

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“Initiative and hard work are superpowers. Taking steps forward, whether on a project or an initiative, are critical. Even if you don’t have all the necessary information, driving progress, then pausing to reassess and pivot if necessary, will make a person stand out in their career.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“My biggest professional achievement, without question, is founding and growing ACS Group; pulling together this amazing group of people and stewarding the achievements that the company has made has been incredibly fulfilling.”

Kate Triplett, PE
Civil Engineer, Senior Vice President
Kimley-Horn
Atlanta, Ga.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s, Civil Engineering, Clemson University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Led civil design and project management for Truist Park at The Battery Atlanta, the new home of the Atlanta Braves, delivering the project on an immovable opening-day schedule faster than any MLB park in history—work that earned both state and national ACEC honors (2018)

Played a five-year role as technical expert on Charlotte’s Commonwealth Neighborhood Improvement Project, guiding stormwater and parking upgrades, enhanced pedestrian connectivity, and road upgrades with shared bike/vehicle lanes

Led major mixed-use and infrastructure projects across Atlanta, including the 80-acre Summerhill Mixed-Use Development, Georgia State University’s 200,000-sf Convocation Center, and Terminal South, which won the 2026 CoStar Impact Award for Redevelopment of the Year in Atlanta

Served as office practice leader across multiple Kimley-Horn Georgia offices, managing a team of 30 and helping lead the 100-person Atlanta Development Services group

Served as the Southeast Region board representative on Kimley-Horn’s Women’s Leadership Group, mentoring 30 women through the firm’s two-year professional development program

Founding board member of the Council for Quality Growth’s Emerging Leaders Initiative (2017); now serving on CQG’s Board of Directors

EXTRACURRICULAR
Practice partner for Kimley-Horn’s South Leadership Exploration and Development Program, directly mentoring 20 participants through facilitated sessions and coaching, and teaches internal technical training programs multiple times a year

Served for two years as a biweekly mentor in an after-school Architectural, Construction, and Engineering Mentor Program in Charlotte, guiding 30 high school students through a real-world engineering project; continues similar mentorship in Atlanta with Cristo Rey High School

Serves as a juror for Clemson University’s annual Spring Charrette and has participated multiple times in a similar career-readiness program at Georgia Tech

OFF THE CLOCK
Has traveled to 24 countries and 34 U.S. states, with a personal goal of reaching all 50 states by age 50—trips this year include a South African safari and Oktoberfest

A devoted Peloton member who works out most days in her home garage gym, and has taken live classes at the Peloton studio in New York

Volunteers regularly with the Atlanta Community Food Bank and, when in Charlotte, with Bethel Men’s Shelter preparing and serving meals

SECRET LIFE
Considers herself accident-prone—she broke her femur at a roller-skating birthday party in second grade and spent five weeks in the hospital relearning to walk (becoming excellent at Nintendo in the process), and more recently crashed her bike in the Galapagos Islands and needed stitches and X-rays at a local hospital

WHAT IS THE BEST CAREER OR BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
“The best advice I’ve received is to say yes before you feel truly ready and be willing to put in the hard work to figure out how to make it successful. I didn’t always feel ready for the roles or tasks that I took on, but each time I figured something new out I gained the confidence to take on the next new or difficult challenge.”

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR SINGLE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
“After relocating to Atlanta, I had the opportunity to lead services for the site civil portion of the development of Truist Park and the Battery. It was a project that pushed me out of my comfort zone and what I thought I was capable of. I became much more confident in who I was as an engineer, who I was as a consultant, and the types of projects that I could excel at.”