ENR Southwest's 2014 Top 20 Under 40

Environmental stimuli are a core part of most architectural schemes, and Joy Rineer, a one time collegiate music major, parlayed her appreciation of music and architecture into a thesis about how they interact to impact musical performance, winning her a graduate scholarship at the University of Utah. But her work is not just theoretical. It also includes working as a key team member on small tenant improvements and large iconic projects, such as McCarran International Airport Terminal 3 and the Las Vegas Convention Center Expansion. She is also an outspoken advocate for women in architecture, proving that a life as wife, mother and working architect is not only possible but can lead to professional success.

Image: Pugsley Simpson Coulter Architects

The former Sahara hotel and casino site in Las Vegas is undergoing a massive transformation into the SLS Las Vegas (see p. 19). A key employee on the site is Tony Cornell, a superintendent who joined the PENTA Building Group 12 years ago as a laborer. As a superintendent, he also oversaw construction activities on McCarran International Airport Terminal 3, Aliante Station Casino and Hotel and the Grandview Timeshare Resort. His stratospheric rise has seen him prosper at every level: laborer, foreman, general foreman and now project superintendent. One of the innovative ideas he has implemented at PENTA is the Safety Champion program, which includes vending machines on the jobsite that sell safety glasses and other vital products to workers who have left their safety gear at home. The proceeds are used to purchase prizes for each project's Safety Champion.

Image: The PENTA Building Group

One of the youngest winners this year, Kelly Isaacson has already managed diverse design projects, including a new surface water diversion and conveyance system in Ojai, Calif., and an evapotranspiration cover for the reclamation and final closure of leach pads in Lovelock, Nev. She also developed models for alternative landfill cover designs for clients in Australia. Isaacson is involved in Engineers Without Borders, having travelled to Bolivia, where she helped facilitate workshops on hygiene habits, taught villagers the importance of clean water, installed hand-washing stations and designed, installed and taught villagers how to maintain water filters made using sand.

Image: Daniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc.

With skills as diverse as project management, design, reporting, purchasing, construction oversight and project schedule coordination, Kerrie L. Greenfelder has worked on projects for CDM Smith that are groundbreaking in their scope and approach. Trained as a chemical engineer, she has worked on projects that feature chemical coagulation with granular media filtration for the removal of arsenic from drinking water. She was on the forefront of sustainable practices for two municipal water reclamation projects in Rio Rancho, N.M., representing the first significant water-treatment facilities in that state to use the relatively new membrane bioreactor technology. She also was the project manager and engineer on the design of a wastewater treatment plant improvement project for Hobbs, N.M., and provided engineering services through the liquid-train and solids-train construction phases. Outside of the office, Greenfelder is passionate about the Society of Women Engineers, where she has served as Sonora-region governor.

Image: CDM Smith Inc.

Paul Arnold's leadership and technical skills have been put to the test over his 15 years in the industry�all with Ames Construction. And he has steadily progressed through various leadership positions at the growing firm. A mere two years after joining Ames as an estimator, Arnold became a project engineer and then a project manager. He also spent time as chief estimator before moving into a project operations manager role, where he created a system that provides Ames with more accurate and timely project controls that is now used on all projects in the company's Southwest region. The position of area manager was recently created specifically to take advantage of his talents.

Image: Ames Construction

As an environmental engineer who takes his discipline very seriously, David Eberle has literally taken his work home with him, having installed a greywater irrigation system in his home. He also developed a greenhouse gas management and reporting platform that tracks all Kyoto, Japan, greenhouse gases using calculation methodologies that followed reporting protocols developed by the California Air Resources Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and The Climate Registry. He also volunteers for UN-Habitat. But beyond this extra-curricular pursuits, it is his ability to be proficient, fast and organized that has drawn the most praise. At a point when there was a lot of critical activity going on with our project, David stepped up to take on a lot of responsibility, and managed to do it adeptly, says Brent Alspach, ARCADIS task leader.

Image: ARCADIS Inc.

Beginning his career as a fire suppression designer in Tennessee in 2002, Corey Wallace cut his teeth at an installation firm before moving on to a multidiscipline consulting firm. He now oversees the design of all fire protection systems in Southland Industries' Southwest division. Project sizes vary from small tenant improvements to large complex government facilities, hospitals, data centers, aircraft hangers, high-rises and office buildings. Wallace possesses a National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies Level 4 in water-based fire protection systems layout and is a licensed fire protection engineer in three states, including Nevada. He has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in engineering management. Currently participating in the Southland Industries' Built to Lead Program for high potential employees, Wallace presented at the NFPA 2010 Conference and Expo.

Image: Southland Industries

Layton Construction started an interior construction division in Arizona in 2004. David Blaser was hired in 2005 and soon became the driving force behind the success of the office, helping to steer the division from start-up to a major player in the market. The 2000 graduate of Brigham Young University led the firm's implementation of field management software and the improvement of Layton's QA/QC program. The firm credits these systems with enabling the Arizona business unit to perform as a top-tier contractor while utilizing limited resources. Blaser's professional achievements are mirrored in his personal life and values. The son of a U.S. Air Force colonel, he is an Eagle Scout who still donates his time to the organization. Indicative of Blaser's dedication, his troop brings 60% of its scouts to Eagle Scout certification. The national average is just 2%.

Image: Layton Construction Co.

A native of Honolulu, Glen Curry says he was attracted to the role of architect at an early age and first began pursuing the field at the Kamehameha Schools. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Las Vegas. His current duties include using new technology to create innovative design strategies within his firm's hospitality studio. He then opens discussions with office designers to keep a continual flow of communication on the global design delivery platforms. Glen has shown outstanding project management leadership, organizational skills and collaboration with his team, says Beth Campbell, managing director of Gensler, Las Vegas. Above and beyond his project work, Curry is known as a mentor for interns as well as for leading design-review sessions. He also continues to be actively involved at his alma mater by being an instructor in architectural presentation and presentation graphics, a guest architectural critic and in 2013, a UNLV architecture student competition mentor.

Image: Gensler

As a licensed geologist, Sean Wolfe is knowledgeable and engaged in the emerging field of subsurface utility engineering, using this knowledge to position his firm as a premier provider of SUE services. After joining CobbFendley in 2007, the 1999 graduate of Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., helped build the San Antonio office, and then assisted in opening the firm's New Mexico office in 2008. He is now the regional manager and principal for CobbFendley in Albuquerque. Wolfe involves himself in community service in Albuquerque, including the New Mexico chapter of the American Council of Engineering Cos. His efforts include sponsoring and participating in various local events including Canstruction 2012.

Image: Cobb, Fendley & Associates Inc.

After first being exposed to the world of construction as an apprentice to his uncle on high-end residential general contracting projects, Brendan Morrow decided to pursue a career in the field. Soon after graduating from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Morrow joined The Weitz Co. and specialized in the senior-living market. Morrow's work in attracting Sun Health as a client directly led to five major projects. After moving from Florida to Arizona, he secured and built $25 million in landmark projects, including the Scottsdale Maravilla in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Ariz. He is active with the Support Sky Harbor Coalition, the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department and other groups.

Image: The Weitz Co.

Since assuming a business development role with Bradbury Stamm in 2010�the firm he has worked for since 2005� Lawrence Peterson has overseen a jump in company revenue from $80 million in 2010 to a projected $125 million in 2013. He began his career with the firm as a project engineer and has also served as a project manager on high-profile projects including Tony Hillerman Middle School in Albuquerque and the Mesa Middle School in Las Cruces, N.M. He received his master's degree in business administration in 2011 from the University of New Mexico's Anderson School of Management and is also involved in the Wounded Warrior Project.

Image: Bradbury Stamm Construction

With a work history that includes stops at engineering firms and residential builders, Alex Ramon has cultivated a path that has led him to lead the Phoenix office of HSB Architects and Engineers. Prior to assuming the position at his current firm, Ramon had a stint as a project manager at a commercial firm where he oversaw several clients as the development lead. His work led to more than 100 new store openings across the country for various clients between 2006 and 2010. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers as a next generation participant and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties.

Image: HSB Architects & Engineers

These 20 professionals reflect the high level of talent at work in the Southwest.

Image: ENR

Soon after Oregon native Brent Moszeter graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in civil engineering, he was hired by Kitchell as a project engineer. While working on Saint Rose Dominican Hospital's Siena campus in Henderson, Nev., Moszeter switched career paths, becoming a superintendent. I challenge any other superintendent at any other company to be as innovative a builder, says Scott Root, head of Kitchell's Integrated Services division. Brent is a 'new age' superintendent in that he embodies both sides of the construction management perspective. One example of Moszeter's modern approach to being a project superintendent includes penning a jobsite blog so stakeholders can find out what is occurring on the job.

Image: Kitchell

Although William Rademacher has had much success in his relatively short career�including stints as a superintendent on residential and commercial projects�he says it was those who mentored him that set him on his successful career path. From as simple as showing up on time, to being prepared for anything, or communicating clearly, any trait once noticed can be a determining factor in your trajectory, Rademacher says. In his current position, Rademacher provides schedule and cost control on more than 100 active capital improvement projects at Sky Harbor Airport. The projects range from small job-order contracting projects to large redevelopment projects of terminals with annual working budgets topping $100 million.

Image: William Rademacher

An academic with real-world experience, Brad Lang has spent the past 15 years at some of the most renowned design firms in the country and at top-shelf universities. After graduating from the University of Arizona School of Architecture, he spent nearly four years at Marmol Radziner Architecture before receiving his master's degree from Columbia University and beginning his adjunct teaching career. He later moved to Phoenix, where he worked at both Gould Evans Architecture and SmithGroupJJR while also teaching in the design studio at Arizona State University. About a year ago, Lang became a full-time teacher, joining the University of Arizona School of Architecture. Some of his notable projects include the award-winning Westin Phoenix downtown addition and the recently completed Paradise Valley Community College Kranitz Student Center expansion and remodel.

Image: University of Arizona School of Architecture

Stewart Vaghti has been with Gannett Fleming for more than 13 years and has had the opportunity to work in a unique cross-section of disciplines and on an array of projects including dams, rail, water/wastewater, airports, roadway transportation, structural, site development, bus maintenance facilities and stormwater/drainage, including permitting and construction-phase services. He served as project manager for Miner Flat Dam Design Services in Whiteriver, Ariz., and as the civil design engineer for the Tempe Town Lake Downstream Dam Replacement in Tempe, Ariz. Additionally, he is involved with a host of organizations, including the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.

Image: Gannett Fleming

Trained as an architect, Michael F. D'Andrea made a conscious effort to diversify his skill set early in his career in order to pursue not only the rewards of that field but the wider realm of real estate development and construction. He has worked for several well-known companies in the Southwest and also sits on the Scottsdale Planning Commission. As a result, he has developed extensive skills in site acquisition, zoning and entitlements, development finance, architectural design and construction. He has been involved with several high-profile projects, including Optima Camelview Village, Broadstone Scottsdale Waterfront, The Residences @ CityScape, Artesia Village, Westgate Park City Resort and Fender Guitar.

Image: Alliance Residential Builders

Intent on becoming an electrical engineer when he initially enrolled at Montana State University, Christopher Nickle's perspective changed after serving as an intern for Kiewit Pacific Structures during the firm's construction of Interstate 25 in Salt Lake City, in preparation for the Olympic Games in 2002. He was hired by McCarthy after interviewing for a position on career day. He relocated to Arizona, worked on a hospital project and had soon found his construction bailiwick. Since then, Nickle has had a role in the construction of many major hospitals, including Scottsdale Osborn in Scottsdale, Ariz., four facilities for Banner Health and projects at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. In fact, he has taken part in building four of the last six hospital towers built in the Valley over the past eight years. He is also active in the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church and business organizations such as Arizona Builders' Alliance.

Image: McCarthy Building Cos.

She may have less than a decade of experience on the job, but Alexis Carver has quickly garnered praise for her leadership, technical and occupational savvy and the ability to get things done. The University of Arizona graduate leads collaborative BIM planning efforts between owners, design professionals and general contractors/construction managers and writes scopes of work and technical assessments for Gilbane. She also manages the design phase coordination with a focus on functional, operational and spatial contractibility issues. Carver has recently completed her NCARB exams and is actively pursuing the final steps to become a licensed architect.

Image: Gilbane Building Co.