Meet the 40 Under 40 class of 2019

They're the top young leaders of the commercial design and construction industry—40 outstanding individuals who have excelled not only in their chosen fields of work but also in service to their clients, their firms, their professions, and their communities.

Meet the BD+C 40 Under 40 Class of 2019!

 

See Also: BD+C's 40 Under 40 Class of 2018

 

► Melody Ablola                         ► Paola Moya
► Mike Aziz                                 ► Anita Woolley Nelson
► Jeb Bair                                     ► Luke Newell
► Ryan Calahan                          ► Jonathan Ninnis
► Shaun Carvalho                       ► Stacey Olson
► Michelle Chavey                      ► Jennifer Osei-Abebrese-Heltsley
► Shannon Coomes                    ► Sarah Pearlstein
► Nicholas Fair                            ► Michael Rechnitz
► Kelsey Gauger                          ► Bryan Roof
► Jared Green                              ► Michael Saccone
► James Isom                               ► Peter Schermerhorn
► Luke Johnson                           ► David Snell
► Zack Lamp                               ► Rebecca Sninski
► Andrew D. Lehrer                    ►  Susan Stabler
► Lulu Li                                        ►  Bobby Teachey II
► Erica LiBritz                              ► Kari Thorsen
► Bradley Lockwood                    ► Collin Tsui
► Tyler McManaman                    ► Kristen Tuerk
► Jeffrey Meyers                            ► Mindy Viamontes
► Stephanie Mitrovic                    ►Gia Zapattini

 

engineering Virtuoso

Ryan Calahan, PE, NCEES, ASHRAE, ASPE, LEED AP

Principal

FEA CONSULTING ENGINEERS | Henderson, Nev.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BS, Architectural Engineering, University of Wyoming

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Registered PE in 14 states.

Director, FEA’s M/P/FP engineering department.

Engineered >30,000 hotel rooms.

Supervised engineering of world’s first LEED Gold casino (Rivers Casino, Des Plaines, Ill.)

Board of Governors, ASHRAE of Southern Nevada.

Guest Member, Nevada State Board of Engineers.

EXTRACURRICULAR

ASHRAE chapter trip to Guatemala: installed PVs, battery packs, lights, and ceiling fans in 20 homes.

Mentor, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.

Volunteer, Get Outdoors Nevada trail cleanup.

OFF THE CLOCK

Flag football ("recently retired"); now basketball.

Swim lessons for daughter McKinley (6) and son Ben (3).

SECRET LIFE

Played cornerback forUniversity of Wyoming Cowboys (1999-2002).

He proposed to his wife, Casey, in a Cayman Islands lighthouse.

 

 

GEOTECHNICAL WIZARD

Jared Green PE, DGE, MASCE

SENIOR ASSOCIATE, VICE PRESIDENT

LANGAN | PHILADELPHIA

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

MSCE (geotechnical), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

BSCE, Syracuse University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

One of the youngest ever inductees into the ASCE Academy of Geo-Professionals (2019).

Promoted to Senior Associate/Vice President (2016).

Leads multidisciplinary engineering projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia.

Commencement Keynote Speaker for the Class of 2017, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Syracuse University.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Micropile Technical Committee, Deep Foundations Institute.

Board of Directors, American Council of Engineering Companies, New York.

Advisory Board, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University.

Chair, ASCE Metropolitan Section – Geotechnical Group.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys LEGOs with sons Lukewinston (12) and Jonathan (10) and daughter Cassandra (7) and cooking with his physician wife, Camille.

SECRET LIFE

Red-green colorblind.

Has donated >2 gallons of blood.

 

 

EDUCATION CHAMPION

Michelle Chavey AIA, ALEP 

Partner, Educational Design Director

HOLLIS + MILLER ARCHITECTS | Kansas City, Mo.

AGE: 37

EDUCATION

MS, Architectural Management, University of Kansas

BArch, Kansas State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The firm’s first and only female Partner.

One of only 251 Accredited Learning Environment Planners in the world.

Distinguished Service Award, Association for Learning Environments (A4LE).

Has worked on >200 school projects.

Learning by Design Grand Prize Award for Olathe (Kan.) West High School.

Pursuing EdD in educational leadership at Kansas State.

EXTRACURRICULAR

President, A4LE Kansas City chapter.

A4LE KC Board Member since 2015.

Co-lead, Cookie Construction, AIA Kansas City and Girl Scouts, to help girls explore design and construction.

Fundraiser, Ronald McDonald House.

OFF THE CLOCK

Helped convert her family’s farm to a sustainable hydroponic environment growing 15 varieties of herbs.

Enjoys yoga and baking, plus arts and crafts with daughter Emma (4).

SECRET LIFE

Won the Little Miss Kansas pageant at age 3; voted “most photogenic” in Little Miss USA competition.

 

 

CAPITAL PLANNING MAESTRO

Bryan Roof CCM, LEED GA

Director – Program Management

CUMMING CORPORATION | Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BBA, Business and Marketing, Radford University College of Business and Economics

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Director and Program Executive, Wake County Public Schools System’s Facility Design & Construction and Real Estate Services, which encompasses seven departments.

Manages the school district’s seven-year, $2.5 billion Capital Improvements Plan. Developed its Strategic Improvement Initiatives, revised its cost models, and created a new Strategic Projects Department.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, Construction Management Association of America (N.C. chapter).

North Carolina Star Program, for implementing safety and health management systems.

Participant, Leadership Raleigh (Raleigh Chamber of Commerce).

Member, Association for Learning Environments (N.C. chapter).

OFF THE CLOCK

Youth sports coach.

Enjoys the arts and working the fields on a tractor.

Habitat for Humanity, Wake County Public Schools team; Watchdog Dad Volunteer, Wake County Public Schools.

SECRET LIFE

Both parents worked on NASA’s Space Shuttle program.

Grandfather was a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division whose raid on Los Banos in the Philippines during World War II liberated 2,147 internees.

Wife Katie was enshrined in the Radford Athletics Hall of Fame.

 

 

TRANSIT DESIGN savant

Mindy Viamontes AIA, OAA, NCARB

Senior Project Architect

EXP | Chicago

AGE: 37

EDUCATION

BArch, Kansas State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Senior Project Architect, $2.1 billion Chicago Transit Authority Red and Purple Line Modernization (largest capital project in CTA history).

Project Manager, CTA 95th Street Terminal and five other CTA stations.

Project Manager, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport ETAM Campus Master Site Plan.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Mentor to 12 high school students in the Engineering Futures Program.

Director, AIA Chicago Board of Directors; Chair, AIA Chicago 150th Anniversary Committee.

Past Board Member, Angelic Organics Young Professionals Association Board (promotes sustainable communities).

Past President, Chicago Women in Architecture.

OFF THE CLOCK

Urban hiking with her husband, Mike.

Self-taught fashion designer; creates items for her retired greyhound, Biki.

SECRET LIFE

Has not driven a car in 14 years.

Took up ballet at age 34.

 

 

FORMIDABLE DESIGNER

Lulu Li, AIA

Senior Architectural Licensed Professional

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill | Chicago

AGE: 31

EDUCATION

MArch, Harvard University

BArch, Yale College, Yale School of Architecture

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Envisioned a new environment for cyber security pedagogy for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Hopper Hall.

Helped reimagine the role of the college library for The Milstein Center at Barnard College.

AIA/ALA Library Building Award, The Milstein Center (2019).

One of 24 participants in the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation’s 2018 Emerging Leaders Program.

Prix Versailles Special Prize Exterior Award.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, Society for College and University Planning (North Atlantic Region).

Volunteer supervisor for SOM’s internship program.

Founded and developed Bikenapped, an online, user-generated platform that maps bike thefts.

OFF THE CLOCK

Co-founded and operates Akron Street, a direct-to-consumer furniture brand and studio.

SECRET LIFE

Studied piano for 13 years; ATAM New England Piano Champion (2003).

 

 

LOGISTICS MAGICIAN

Melody Ablola MSC, CMILT

Senior Logistics Consultant

arup | San Francisco

AGE: 36

EDUCATION

MSc, International Transport and Logistics, University of Glamorgan

BS/BA, Industrial & Systems Engineering, University of San Diego

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Helped develop the waste and deliveries management strategy for the 3,000-unit London 2012 Olympic Athletes Village.

Helped deliver first-of-its-kind automation design for the Zappos.com distribution center, Shepherdsville, Ky.

Helped create fully autonomous solutions for Masdar City (Abu Dhabi), including an underground tunnel network for distribution.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Named role model by Connect Out, Arup’s LGBTQ resource group.

Senior Member, Institute of Industrial Engineers.

Chartered Member, Institute of Logistics and Transport.

OFF THE CLOCK

Hosts Bring Your Own Vinyl community events in Oakland.

Avid gold panner.

SECRET LIFE

Can balance a pile of rocks into a towering sculpture.

Played guitar (Fender Sunburst Telecaster) in an all-girl ska band in high school.

 

 

HIGHER-ED PHENOM

Bradley Lockwood AIA, MBA

Vice President/Managing Principal of Higher Education

Moseley Architects | Raleigh, N.C.

AGE: 35

EDUCATION

MBA, Old Dominion University

BArch, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Advanced from new graduate to Vice President in <10 years.

Established relationships and made new inroads with >20 higher-ed clients in first 18 months as VP.

Managing the first-ever design-build project for the North Carolina Community College System.

Managing the largest emergency project in the history of the University of North Carolina System as a result of Hurricane Florence.

Earned MBA while working full time.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness.

Volunteer, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

Volunteer, Cleworth Architectural Legacy of the Denver Architectural Foundation.

OFF THE CLOCK

Latest project is restoring a 1979 Jeep CJ7 Golden Eagle.

Owns 14 guitars; built an acoustic guitar from scratch.

SECRET LIFE

Great-grandfather ran a speakeasy in Newburgh, N.Y., during Prohibition.

Can trick rope; performed at amusement parks as a kid.

 

 

CONSTRUCTION OPTIMIZER

Collin tsui PENG

Global Manager, Performance Solutions

FLUOR | Houston

AGE: 36

EDUCATION

BSc, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Manages group that lowers installed cost via metrics and benchmarking.

Leads Fluor’s “Time on Tools” studies to optimize construction execution.

Global Operations Coordinator for Fluor’s SVP of Construction & Fabrication.

Coach, Fluor “Innovation Unwrapped” hackathon/intrapreneurship event.

Co-author, Fluor Advanced Work Packaging Practice.

Co-founder/Chair, Fluor's Emerging Leaders Group, Calgary.

Founder, Construction Industry Institute (CII) Connect, Houston.

Developed business case for pilot integrated scaffold program (saved $10 million for client).

EXTRACURRICULAR

Industry Advisory Board (Construction Management), University of Houston.

Member, Deployment Committee, CII.

Led Fluor partnership with University of Calgary Engineering Students’ Society.

OFF THE CLOCK

Magic the Gathering card game player.

Chases the family cats with wife Joey and daughters Hazel (6) and Chloe (4).

SECRET LIFE

Learned to fly as a Royal Canadian Air Cadet.

 

 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT WHIZ

Jennifer OSEI-ABEBRESE-HELTSLEY

Senior Project Manager

IU Health | Indianapolis, Ind.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BSCE/SE, Southern Illinois University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Owner’s Technical Representative, $1.1 billion Indianapolis International Airport project.

Project Manager for $100 million IU Health Saxony Hospital.

Senior Project Manager on the multi-billion-dollar Adult Academic Health Center of the Future Project.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Board of Directors/Volunteer Chair, Rebuilding Together Indianapolis.

Committee Member, Junior Achievement JobSpark and Indiana Subcontractor Association.

Ambassador to Indiana Construction Roundtable – Building Your Future.

Habitat for Humanity’s Women’s Build Week (5 years).

OFF THE CLOCK

Met her 104-year-old grandmother for the first time on vacation in Ghana, in 2011.

SECRET LIFE

Known as “The Queen of Pop-A-Shot” among her friends.

Met husband, Josh, while both were working on the Indianapolis International Airport project.

 

 

MEDICAL MARVEL

Susan Stabler

Vice President and Healthcare Division Manager

Brasfield & Gorrie | Birmingham, Ala.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BS, Building Construction, Auburn University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In her 16 years with the firm, has managed ~40 projects totaling >$500 million, notably the $207 million Grandview Medical Center, Birmingham.

Oversees the Birmingham office’s Healthcare Group, which executes $150 million/year in construction.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Board Member, American Heart Associate Go Red for Women Executive Team, Red Mountain Theatre Company, St. Vincent’s Foundation, Ronald McDonald House (operations/strategic planning committee), and Baptist Health Foundation events committee.

Founder, Co-chair, Brasfield & Gorrie’s Operational Women’s Resource Group.

Co-chair of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee.

ABC Future Leaders in Construction.

Managed 500 Brasfield & Gorrie volunteers and 42 subcontractors in a fundraising effort for the YWCA.

OFF THE CLOCK

Volunteered at American Red Cross’s Ground Zero aid station after 9/11.

Married, with three children.

Member, Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.

SECRET LIFE

Her father modeled underwear for a department store while in college.

 

 

EDUCATION REJUVENATOR

Luke Johnson, AIA

Associate Vice President/Design Leader

CANNONDESIGN | Buffalo, N.Y.

AGE: 36

EDUCATION

MArch, BS, University at Buffalo

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Heads design of the firm’s 200-person Buffalo office.

Youngest design leader in the >1,000-person firm.

As chair of education programming, over 980 public school children in Western N.Y. have been engaged in Architecture + Education programming.

Merit Awards, AIA Western New York/Buffalo (2013, 2016).

Community Service Award, AIA Western New York/Buffalo (2015).

EXTRACURRICULAR

Vice President/Chair of Education Programming, Buffalo Architecture Foundation (BAF).

Chair, Buffalo Architecture Foundation Architecture + Education Program, partnering with Buffalo Public Schools, University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, and Villa Maria College.

Chair, Buffalo Architecture Foundation Native American Outreach Program, partnering with Lakeshore Central School District, UB National Organization of Minority Architecture Students.

Panelist, New York State Council on the Arts.

Volunteer, Junior Achievement of Western New York.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys hiking, camping, and outdoor meat smoking.

Studied architecture for five months in Antwerp, Belgium.

SECRET LIFE

Didn’t speak a word until age three; first words: “Watch out, she bite you!” ("she" being the family cat).

Great-great-grandfather was part of the Underground Railroad.

 

 

Adventurous Builder

Luke Newell dbia, leed ap

Vice President, Central Area Manager

DUNN BUILDING COMPANY | Birmingham, Ala.

AGE: 36

EDUCATION

Executive MBA, Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University

BS, Construction Science, Auburn University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Earned MBA commuting 400 miles roundtrip from Birmingham to Nashville while working full time with two children at home.

Trained and hired staff for the addition of satellite offices in Athens and Saraland, Ala.

Helped increase company revenues 58% and profits 168% (2014 to 2018).

Estimated over 200 projects ($682 million of work) and managed 30 projects ($20 million in revenue).

EXTRACURRICULAR

Program Chair, DBIA South Central Region.

Vice President, Firehouse Ministries Shelter Senior Board.

Group Leader, Cahaba Park Church, Birmingham.

Mentor, Cornerstone Schools of Alabama.

Member, Kiwanis Club of Birmingham.

OFF THE CLOCK

Hunts deer, pheasant, quail, and duck.

Golfer, Peloton bike competitor.

SECRET LIFE

Ran a 75-mile adventure race across the Andes in Argentina and Chile.

 

 

HEALTHCARE AUTHORITY

Kari Thorsen IIDA, NCIDQ, LEED AP

Principal

Zgf Architects  | Seattle

AGE: 37

EDUCATION

BS, Interior Design, University of Wisconsin–Madison

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Current projects: Seattle Children’s Hospital, Building Care: Diagnostic and Treatment Facility; and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Critical Care Tower expansion/addition.

Recent behavioral health spaces: Swedish Medical Center–Ballard, Behavioral Health Unit, Seattle; St. Joseph Medical Center Behavioral Health Unit, Tacoma, Wash.

Green Belt, Lean Certification for Facilities Design.

EXTRACURRICULAR

IIDA Mentor, Seattle Pacific University.

Member, Outreach Committee, AIA Academy of Architecture for Health.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys hiking, daily yoga.

Baking with her daughter, Eleanor.

SECRET LIFE

She and her husband met the Dalai Lama on a pilgrimage to India and Nepal.

Was on her college crew team.

 

 

SUSTAINABILITY ADVOCATE

Stacey Olson CID, LEED FELLOW

Associate

Gensler | Newport Beach

AGE: 38

EDUCATION

BA, Art History, University of California, Irvine

AA, Interior Design, Interior Designer’s Institute of Newport Beach

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

One of the youngest LEED Fellows in the world (270 worldwide).

Fitwel Ambassador.

EcoDistrict AP (only 234 worldwide).

Director of Sustainable Design, Southwest Regional Design Resilience Leader and Sustainability Specialist.

Designed systems to conserve >5 million gallons of potable water annually across eight projects.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Stewardship Champion, Asset Network for Education Worldwide (ANEW), for outstanding dedication to social/environmental sustainability.

Director of Education, NEWH–The Hospitality Industry Network.

Has developed >150 education sessions.

OFF THE CLOCK

Loves painting, camping.

Captain of an American Poolplayers Association women's billiards team.

SECRET LIFE

Makes her own vegan butter and makeup remover.

Avid animal rights supporter.

 

 

Construction Innovator

Jeb Bair

Superintendent

HASELDEN CONSTRUCTION | Fort Collins, Colo.

AGE: 32

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction Management, Colorado State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Named superintendent at age 26.

Instrumental in beta-testing and implementing Haselden’s new project management software.

Team leader, Haselden Continuous Improvement Committee; member, Haselden Innovation Committee.

Organized three Sense of Belonging events for the firm’s craft laborers.

Self-funds a scholarship for construction management students, which Haselden matches.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Co-chair, AGC of Colorado Future Leaders Forum steering committee.

Board Member, AGC of Colorado.

Program Leader, AGC Construction Connections (mentor program for high school students).

Mentor/Volunteer, Colorado State University “CM Cares” Service Learning Program (2013-present).

Team leader, Haselden’s Extreme Community Makeover Day (neighborhood beautification in Denver).

OFF THE CLOCK

Slalom water skier.

Camping, off-roading.

SECRET LIFE

Was a semipro snowmobile racer in high school.

 

 

WORKER SAFETY MASTERMIND

Peter Schermerhorn

Former President and CEO

TRIAX TECHNOLOGIES | Norwalk, Conn.

AGE: 36

EDUCATION

JD, Stanford University

BA, History, Brown University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

As CEO, he grew company revenues twentyfold from 2015 to 2019.

Launched Spot-r solution in 2017, which provides real-time worker and equipment location, safety data, and safety and evacuation alerts.

Key partnerships: United Rentals, Bosch Power Tools, Gilbane Building Company, and Travelers Insurance.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, Construction Institute, Professional Women in Construction (New York), and Chief Executive Network.

Board Member, Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York (cofounded by Washington Irving).

Executive Board Member, Children’s Day School, Riverside, Conn.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys skiing, triathlons, golf, trap anskeet shooting, home brewing, and sailing (member, New York Yacht Club).

SECRET LIFE

He comes from an Old Dutch family that has lived in the New York City area since the 1640s.

 

 

HEALTHCARE TRENDSETTER

Rebecca Sninski

Project Manager

CBRE | Washington, D.C.

AGE: 30

EDUCATION

BS, Health Policy & Administration, Pennsylvania State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Managing all phases of delivery for 22 projects totaling $50 million in value.

Youngest female management team member for two healthcare systems.

Creating a Safety Liaison program for >80 employees, three hospitals, and multiple ambulatory sites.

Project Manager on the design of a new type of emergency department entrance with safe, secure access.

EXTRACURRICULAR

President, National Capital Region Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE).

Created a five-year strategic plan to increase ASHE chapter membership.

OFF THE CLOCK

Volunteer, Pet Rescue Alliance.

Gardening, wine tasting, hiking with fiancé and her Anatolian shepherd.

SECRET LIFE

First college graduate in her family.

Can speed read.

 

 

BUSINESS IGNITER

Shannon Coomes

President

HILL FIRE PROTECTION | Franklin Park, Ill.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BS, Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since joining her firm in 2010, has grown revenue in both construction and services from $3.6 million to $29.2 million in 2018.

Often worked three jobs at a time to pay for her college education.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, Vistage peer mentoring organization; nominated for Leadership Award in 2018.

Board Member, Girls in the Game (nonprofit that empowers girls).

Presenter, Purdue University’s Building Construction Management program.

Co-chair, American Cancer Society Black & White Ball: raised $500,000.

Member, National Fire Sprinkler Association Illinois; assisted on committee for a new local chapter (2012).

OFF THE CLOCK

Wife and mother of a daughter (8) and son (5), both into sports.

Skis, takes Pure Barre classes.

SECRET LIFE

Owns—and uses—five Hula Hoops.

 

 

TACTICS SYNERGIST

Michael Rechnitz

Project Executive

CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP | Seattle

AGE: 37

EDUCATION

MS, Construction Management, Colorado State University

BS, Duke University

EMBA, University of Virginia Darden

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Chair, Clark’s Regional Operations Group, Western Region.

Recent projects: Design-build services for the $755 million Sea-Tac International Arrivals Facility, which features a new elevated sterile corridor 32 feet above the aircraft apron level; and CHCF Stockton (Calif.) Health Facility, a first-of-its kind design-build prison/hospital spanning 34 buildings over 50 acres.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Past Member, Economic Advisory Commission, City of Fort Collins, Colo.

Board Advisor, Pullman Firefighters Charitable Foundation.

Volunteer, Lecturer, Competition Host, Associated Schools of Construction.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys baking French sourdough ficelle for his wife and two children.

Participates in the Murph Challenge charity event—one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 pushups, 300 squats, and another mile run wearing a 20-lb vest.

SECRET LIFE

Drove cattle through the Colorado Rockies as a child.

 

 

PROJECT PIONEER

David Snell Aia, LEED AP BD+C

Senior Associate

Prellwitz Chilinski Associates | Boston

AGE: 35

EDUCATION

BArch, MArch, Northeastern University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rose from co-op student to youngest Associate and Senior Associate in the firm.

Recent projects: Allston Green District (sustainably designed multifamily community), including PCA’s first LEED Platinum buildings; and “Serenity,” PCA’s first high-rise apartment building.

Led design of the firm’s first boutique hotel, The Revolution Hotel, Boston.

Has helped bring in 10 projects worth $500 million in construction value in three years.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Committee member, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital “Toast to St. Jude” fundraiser, Boston.

Longtime supporter, Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County.

OFF THE CLOCK

Plays guitar (and ukulele) in the firm’s band, “Revit Clash.”

Enjoys traveling with his wife, Jes, and sons Fitz (4) and Finley (1).

SECRET LIFE

His college band opened for Gavin DeGraw in the mid-2000s.

He’s an Eagle scout.

 

 

MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ARCHITECT

Gia Zapattini AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Project Designer, Associate

PERKINS+WILL | Miami

AGE: 35

EDUCATION

MArch, University of Kansas

Master of Interior Architecture and Product Design, Kansas State University

Kansas City Design Center, Fellow

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

President, AIA Miami—the chapter’s youngest president in >80 years.

AIA Miami Architect of the Year (2016-2017).

Leads Perkins+Will Miami Social Responsibility Initiative.

Helped grow the Perkins+Will Miami Interiors Practice from $80,000 to >$2 million in less than three years.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Board of Directors, AIA Miami.

Board of Directors, ACE Mentors, Miami.

OFF THE CLOCK

500-hour certified yoga instructor.

Has traveled to 41 countries and 39 U.S. states.

Volunteers at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, with her dog, Blue (who serves as a therapy pet).

SECRET LIFE

Speaks Spanish, Portuguese, a little Italian, and Guarani.

 

 

S+T Genius

Stephanie Mitrovic AIA, NCARB, IIDA, NCIDQ

Studio Leader, Science & Technology

SmithGroup | Phoenix

AGE: 35

EDUCATION

MArch, Arizona State University

BFA, Interior Design, Virginia Commonwealth University

Capstone Thesis, “Urbanism and Public Interest,” Universidad Torcuato de Tella, Argentina

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Youngest Studio Leader across SmithGroup’s 15 offices.

Major projects: USDOE LEED Platinum National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Energy Systems Integration Facility, Golden, Colo.; Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency’s Forensic Identification Laboratory, Oahu, Hawaii; $140 million HQ for Axon, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Member, SmithGroup Emerging Leaders Program.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Steering Committee Member, Women United | Valley of the Sun United Way.

TGen Ambassador, Translational Genomics Research Institute Foundation.

Team Leader, Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk.

Council Member, Arizona State University Alumni Foundation.

OFF THE CLOCK

Did “NASCAR Driving Experience.”

Skydiver, scuba diver.

Has visited 52 countries.

SECRET LIFE

Flew to Europe in an Air Force C-5 cargo jet at age 10.

Brother is an F-16 pilot; father is a retired Air Force colonel.

 

 

SAFETY CRUSADER

shaun Carvalho

Vice President of Safety

SHAWMUT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION | Boston

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BS, Safety Studies, Keene State College

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Appointed VP of Safety in December 2018; manages a team of 15.

Since he joined the firm, in 2003, Shawmut has won AGC Safety Awards every year, and won the National AGC Safety Award in 2019.

Formed a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield to develop an opioid toolkit program—only GC firm in the pilot.

Oversaw rollout of innovative safety technologies such as Smartvid.io, which uses AI to achieve desired jobsite behaviors.

EXTRACURRICULAR

OSHA-authorized instructor.

American Red Cross CPR and First Aid authorized instructor.

Certified for hazardous work operations and emergency responses.

Member, Construction Safety Roundtable of Eastern Massachusetts, Safety Executives of New York, and American Society of Safety Professionals (NYC).

OFF THE CLOCK

Attending his four kids’ athletic events.

Golfer, skier.

SECRET LIFE

Captained his high school soccer team, Warwick, R.I.

 

 

FLY FISHING VEEP

Zack Lamp ASSOC. AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Vice President

HKS | Dallas

AGE: 35

EDUCATION

MArch, University of Texas at Arlington

BSc, Architecture, Texas Tech University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Promoted to Vice President (2019).

Leads studio in cross-sector collaboration projects (infusing design strategies and knowledge from all sectors at HKS) totaling $3 billion dollars.

AIA Advanced Leadership Program (2019).

TREC Associate Leadership Council (2017).

Merit Award for Excellence in Design, AIA Maryland Chapter; IES Illumination Award of Merit, both for MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino (2018).

Design Director for the HKS team on the 350-sf Kasita modular micro-home.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Founding Member, HKS Xchange Fellowship Program.

HKS Emerging Leader.

Volunteer, The Real Estate Council Dallas Catalyst Project.

OFF THE CLOCK

Fishing, hunting, golfing, skiing, camping, hiking, kayaking with his family.

SECRET LIFE

Has caught a fish on a fly rod in 14 states (only 36 to go!).

 

 

planner extraordinaire

Mike Aziz AIA, LEED AP

Director of Urban Design

COOPER ROBERTSON | New York, N.Y.

AGE: 38

EDUCATION

MArch Savannah College of Art and Design

BS Architecture, University of Maryland

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Youngest Director-level member at firm.

Project manager for master planning 880-acre Hunters Point/Candlestick Point redevelopment, San Francisco.

Author of Reshaping Gentrification: An Urban Design Proposal for the Redevelopment of Columbia Heights.

Helped draft Mississippi’s first form-based SmartCode early in his career.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Adjunct Professor/Visiting Critic: Columbia University, Bard College, and University of Pennsylvania.

Led planning (with Riverkeeper) that identified 135 projects to restore water and ecosystems for New York’s Newtown Creek and Flushing waterways.

Professional affiliations: ULI, SCUP, Congress for New Urbanism, AIANY Planning and Urban Design Committee, NYC Waterfront Alliance.

OF THE CLOCK

Founded one of the oldest and largest co-ed soccer clubs in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Indoor rock climber.

Married, with two young children.

Rehabbing his family’s 179-year-old Dutch colonial home.

SECRET LIFE

Built a replica of Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon using 1,245 LEGO pieces.

 

 

PRECONSTRUCTION MARVEL

Tyler McManaman

Senior Project Manager

MANHATTAN CONSTRUCTION | Norman, Okla.

AGE: 35

EDUCATION

BS, Construction Science, University of Oklahoma

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since joining the firm in 2016, has been project manager on 10 projects, six as preconstruction leader.

While at Beck, helped renovate the Wayne N. Aspinall Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse, Grand Junction, Colo., the GSA’s first LEED Platinum net-zero energy building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Norman Resource Board Chair, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma (2019); nominated for Big Brother of the Year for Colorado (2014).

United Way of Norman, Young Leaders Society; Norman Rotary Club.

University of Oklahoma Construction Science Professional Advisory Board.

Board Member, Norman NEXT (local Chamber of Commerce branch for under-40 professionals).

Volunteer, Project Search, which offers job experience for high schoolers with disabilities.

OF THE CLOCK

FAA-certified drone pilot.

Married, with two children (6, 3).

Hikes, camps, off-roads in his Jeep.

SECRET LIFE

Has hiked three “14ers” (peaks >14,000 feet) in Colorado: Mt. Elbert, Mt. Bierstadt, and Quandary Peak.

 

 

SUPER STRATEGIST

Anita Woolley Nelson

Chief Strategy Officer

SKANSKA USA BUILDING | New York, N.Y.

AGE: 38

EDUCATION

MBA, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

BA, English/Communication, Wake Forest University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Joined Skanska in June 2019, leading effort to identify, develop, and implement the company’s strategic goals.

Previously at AECOM: Led strategy, marketing, and communications for Construction Services Group, with 14,000 personnel in 25 countries.

Helped quadruple the group’s revenues to $8 billion in 4½ years.

Led strategic analysis, acquisition, and integration of AECOM’s key construction assets.

Promoted five times in 15 years with AECOM and Tishman Construction.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Board Member, Women Builders Council.

Helped create the Women Build New York event.

OFF THE CLOCK

She and husband Eric designed and built their Hudson River Valley house.

SECRET LIFE

Directed a comedy troupe in college.

Can still tap dance.

She was the mascot of the Long Branch (N.J.) High “Green Wave.”

 

 

REPOSITIONING SPECIALIST

jonathan Ninnis

Oc DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT

New York, N.Y.

AGE: 37

EDUCATION

BSArch, New Jersey Institute of Technology

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Founded OCDM in 2015; has grown the firm to >40 employees and $100 million in annual revenue.

Recent projects: retail repositioning of 195 Broadway and redevelopment of 575 Fifth Avenue, a 540,000-sf commercial office building.

Has completed >$800 million in projects across 4.5 million sf in his career, for such clients as JP Morgan, Beacon Capital, and NYU Langone Medical Center.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Dean’s Council, Hillier College of Architecture and Design, New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Board Member, Empire Ball, Diabetes Research Institute Foundation fundraiser.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys skiing, boating, landscaping, and woodworking..

SECRET LIFE

Proud native New Yorker, but now lives in the Garden State.

 

 

HUMANITARIAN DESIGNER

Paola Moya ASSOC. AIA, NOMA

Founder, CEO, Creative Director

MOYA DESIGN PARTNERS | Washington, D.C.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BSc, MArch, Catholic University of America

Finance certificate, Wharton Finance for Executives, University of Pennsylvania

AA, Architecture, Montgomery College

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Founded own firm in 2017; now 20-member staff.

Board member, District of Columbia Building Industry Association.

ULI Washington Leadership Program.

Exhibitor/Presenter, World Humanitarian Summit, Istanbul (2016).

Juror, AIA Innovation Awards (2017).

Speaker, AIA National Conference (2018); Keynote Speaker, NOMA Annual Conference (2014).

Milton F. Clogg Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, Montgomery College (2018).

EXTRACURRICULAR

Supplied pro bono design services to nonprofits addressing homelessness, empowering young women, and supporting victims of domestic violence.

Past Advisory Board Member, Catholic University Graduate Architectural Real Estate Program.

OFF THE CLOCK

Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu enthusiast.

SECRET LIFE

Avid marathoner—and salsa dancer.

 

 

FLEET ENTREPRENEUR

Michael Saccone

Co-Founder, Chief Product Officer

TRUX | Waltham, Mass.

AGE: 27

EDUCATION

BS, Computer Science and Mathematics, Northeastern University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Started TRUX—a software firm that helps dump truck owners manage their fleets—with his cousin, at age 24.

Company has grown from two people to >60 in less than 18 months (currently 80 full-time employees).

TRUX has grown from three metros in 2018 to 19 markets in 2019.

TRUX named a Top 10 ConTech solutions company for 2019 by CIO Applications magazine.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Yoga instructor.

OFF THE CLOCK

Spent five years building a 15-foot wooden rowboat from scratch.

Loves photography, mountain hiking, and camping in remote areas.

SECRET LIFE

Father, two uncles, and grandfather all owned construction companies.

Once took a two-month solo road trip around the country, camping and hiking in national parks.

 

 

ZONING ORACLE

Erica LiBritz AIA, LEED AP

Senior Associate

cetraruddy | New York, N.Y.

EDUCATION

BArch, Syracuse University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

2019 AIA Young Architect Award.

Zoning expert on complex NYC projects.

Helped secure approvals on the assemblages of sites and air rights transfers for 30 East 29th Street, and ULURP approvals for 45 Broad Street and 77 Commercial Street.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Pencil Partnership volunteer, teaching young STEM students about design.

Volunteer, ACE Mentor Program.

Heads CetraRuddy’s involvement in the AIANY Women’s League and ULI NY Women’s Leadership Initiative.

OFF THE CLOCK

Renovates houses on a budget with her architect husband.

SECRET LIFE

Speaks Italian.

Learned to throw pottery from her husband and his grandfather, a professional potter.

 

 

ELECTRIFYING MOTIVATOR

Nicholas Fair

Principal, Senior Electrical Engineer

CONSULTING ENGINEERING SERVICES | Middletown, Conn.

AGE: 34

EDUCATION

BSEE, Norwich University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Rose from Intern to Principal in less than 13 years.

Earned degree at night while working full time.

As Team Leader, tripled the size of the firm’s first remote office in five years.

Helped bring in Boston’s TD Garden arena as an MEP client for the firm.

Instrumental in positioning the firm as an agricultural design specialist.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, Lighting Protection Institute.

HERS-accredited professional.

OFF THE CLOCK

Hunts and fishes; belongs to Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Foundation, and Trout Unlimited.

Hikes and camps with wife, Amy, and children, Hunter and Braelynn.

Mentor, Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

SECRET LIFE

Holds a national title for competitive co-ed cheerleading.

His father set the then–world open sea dive record (1,148 feet) in 1975 as a Navy saturation diver.

 

 

ROCK-SOLID DESIGNER

Kristen Tuerk Aia

Architect/Project Manager

HMC ARCHITECTS | San Diego

AGE: 32

EDUCATION

MArch, California State Polytechnic University

BA Design, University of California, Davis

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Earned California architect’s license before age 30 without having to retake a single exam.

Since joining HMC in 2014, she has completed >40 school and healthcare projects and a women’s detention/reentry facility.

Vice-chair, HMC Emerging Leaders Forum.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Community tutor and mentor.

OFF THE CLOCK

Loves to hike, mountain bike, backpack, snowboard, and snorkel.

Plays golf, disc golf, sand volleyball, tennis, and kickball.

SECRET LIFE

Played “Miss Josephine” in her roommate’s film, “Father’s Day Breakfast.”

Geology nerd and rock-hound.

 

 

DIVERSITY DEFENDER

Bobby Teachey II LEED GA

Project Manager

BROWNSTONE CONSTRUCTION GROUP | Charleston, S.C.

AGE: 36

EDUCATION

MS, Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management

BSCE, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Developed the Brownstone Institute, providing workshops for >40 minority-owned construction firms.

Wrote and implemented a successful Diversity & Local Participation Plan for Small, Women, and Minority-Owned subcontractors.

Managed and built >3.5 million sf and $2 billion of facilities and infrastructure in the Southeast and eastern U.S.

Staff sergeant for eight years in the Army Reserve; served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2004).

EXTRACURRICULAR

College Initiative Chair, National Society of Black Engineers, Charleston.

Board/School Co-Leader, ACE Mentors Program of Greater Charleston.

Leadership Charleston, Class of 2019.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys exotic food history tours with his wife, Shiante.

SECRET LIFE

Played trombone, tuba, baritone, and percussion in high school.

Drove >30,000 miles in Operation Iraqi Freedom with Transportation Battalion.

 

 

HIGH-PERFORMANCE PACESETTER

Andrew D. Lehrer PE, ASHRAe, LEED AP

Practice Leader, High Performance Buildings Group

ESD | Chicago

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BSME, Washington University in St. Louis

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Leads ESD’s work in corporate headquarters, adaptive reuse, building repositioning, and R&D sector.

Major projects: Google HQ, Spertus Institute, Motorola Mobility, Willis Tower podium, Wintrust Arena, 330 N. Wabash & 333 S. Wabash, Obama Presidential Center, all Chicago; Masdar Headquarters, Abu Dhabi.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Executive Board, ACE Mentor Program.

External Advisory Board Member, Washington University in St. Louis Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science.

Fundraising Committee, Rivendell Theatre (women’s theatrical ensemble).

Volunteer, Greater Chicago Food Depository.

OFF THE CLOCK

Completely renovated his family’s 1908 Craftsman Foursquare home.

Exploring forest preserves with his wife, Liza, their children, Benji (5) and Alice (1), and Fergi, their Corgi-Lab.

Photographer, guitar hobbyist.

SECRET LIFE

His father’s uncle, Robert N. Lehrer, chaired the School of Industrial & Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech.

Sings a capella; met Liza at a mixer for a cappella singers in college.

 

 

TECHNOLOGY PATRON

Kelsey Gauger

Director–Smart Labs

SUFFOLK CONSTRUCTION | Boston

AGE: 27

EDUCATION

BA, History/Anthropology, Williams College

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Promoted to Director at age 26.

Oversees regional innovation for >50 teams using latest jobsite technology.

Has run 19 pilots of technology initiatives in the last year—IoT sensors, reality capture, AI, and VR.

Participant, Suffolk Emerging Talent series.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Hosts “Smart Labs, Smart Kids” for various nonprofits.

Cofounder, The Abigail Club (young women’s social club in Boston).

OFF THE CLOCK

Big Sister at Big Sister Boston.

Big Brother Big Sister Young Professional Executive Committee, Boston.

Weekend golfer.

SECRET LIFE

Her family has owned the Fleming Farm, Antrim Township, Pa., since the 1800s, where Cpl. William Rihl was the first Union soldier killed north of the Mason-Dixon line (June 22, 1863).

 

 

school modernizer

Sarah Pearlstein LEED GA

Senior Project Manager

BRAILSFORD & DUNLAVEY | Washington, D.C.

AGE: 30

EDUCATION

BSCE, Bucknell University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Managed $400+ million in PK-12 projects in the District of Columbia Public Schools modernization program.

Directed fast-track $65 million, 4,200-seat Washington Wizards arena and practice facility.

Joint City-Schools Facility Investment Task Force, City of Alexandria, Va.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Youngest Board Member, Women in Construction.

WIC Program Committee Member since 2015; WIC Scholarship Chair.

Youngest Member, ACE Mentor Board (D.C. affiliate); Judge, ACE Mentor student competition; mentored >40 high school students in ACE program.

Engineer in training; ASHE Health Care Construction certificate; Construction Quality Management (USACE).

OFF THE CLOCK

Completed two half-marathons.

With husband Eli, trains their boxer mix rescue dog, Hermione.

SECRET LIFE

Has traveled to 19 countries; favorite locale: Cartagena, Colombia

 

 

POWERHOUSE MANAGER

James Isom

Commercial Construction Group Manager

BURNS & MCDONNELL | Kansas City, Mo.

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BS, Construction Science & Management, Kansas State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Helped grow the company’s commercial construction business from $10 million in 2011 to $300 million today.

Helped implement a design-build process that cuts >30% off commercial project delivery schedule.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Member, Civic Advisory Council, Park University, Parkville, Mo.

Executive Board Member, National Institute of Construction Excellence; focus: student workforce development.

Volunteer, i-Build (exposes >2,500 students to AEC careers).

Volunteer/Team Leader, Burn & McDonnell’s “Battle of the Brains” competition for high school STEM students.

Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership Program.

OFF THE CLOCK

Enjoys golf, water sports, hunting waterfowl and upland game birds.

Married, three children under age 10.

SECRET LIFE

His grandfather, Buck Isom, played for South Carolina in the first-ever Gator Bowl, 1946.

 

 

GROWTH GENERATOR

Jeffrey Meyers AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C

Ceo

DS ARCHITECTURE  | Cleveland, Ohio

AGE: 39

EDUCATION

BS Architecture, MArch, Certificate of Urban Design, Kent State University

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Joined David Sommers & Associates at age 22; made Partner at age 29.

Named CEO of renamed DS Architecture in 2016.

Created five studios, built staff to >30.

Has grown revenues 10X in nine years.

EXTRACURRICULAR

Advisory Board, Kent State College of Architecture and Environmental Design (2014-2017).

Past Chair, Main Street Kent (Ohio).

Greater Cleveland Partnership Diversity & Inclusion Committee; Heritage Ohio; Sagamore Hills (Ohio) Board of Zoning Appeals (2015-2016).

President, Kent Junior Chamber of Commerce (2011-2013).

Member, Kent Area Chamber of Commerce (2011-2018).

OFF THE CLOCK

Top 5% finisher in Boston Marathon.

Ultimate Frisbee player for 12 years; played on first professional team.

Sand doubles volleyball player.

SECRET LIFE

He’s an identical twin.

His grandfather landed in France on D-Day, earned a Bronze Star.