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| MAPLES |
David Maples
Former military medic continues as "go-to guy" on Afghan projects
36, Design Manager
ECC
San Antonio, Texas
Formerly an enlisted medic, David Maples continues providing support to the military in his work for contractor ECC. Leveraging more than a decade of experience integrating structural engineering with architectural design, he has focused much of his energy on defense projects in Afghanistan. Maples recently managed all design for several large base projects there, valued at $160 million.
Maples has developed into a "go-to" resource on arch-span structures based on his Afghanistan experience. He designed more than 328 arch-span facilities there. Among his tasks, Maples led a 17-person team that developed a prototypical arch-span design for fast-track projects to construct entire bases for Afghan military units. The team's efforts streamlined the design-review process and led to designs that could be completed in 90 days or less. Maples received ECC's Excellence in Engineering and Design award last year for his leadership on the project. One key goal is "to inspire those around me to challenge the process and seek better ways of completing our tasks," he says.
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| PEEK |
Jennifer L. Peek
Transportation manager is busy at work but pounds the pavement too
38, Principal and Managing Director of Houston Traffic Engineering Services
Walter P Moore
Houston, Texas
Being part of a family of engineers—both parents, uncles and a grandfather were in the field—had an early impact on career choice for Jennifer Peek. "As I grew up, I had a keen eye for solving problems and it seemed natural to enter the engineering field," she says.
After working at engineering firm Walter P Moore for more than 13 years, she is currently managing director of all traffic engineering staff in Houston and also has become one of the firm's youngest principals and board members.
Despite managing a busy transportation group and being involved in many firm-wide initiatives, Peek sets boundaries. "We all strive to do exceptional work on a daily basis but we also maintain a healthy balance between our time at work and outside of work," she says.
Peek has been a frequent "top walker" for Walter P Moore in annual charity races for the American Heart Association in Houston and has participated in a 162-mile bicycle ride between Houston and Austin to raise funds for the national Multiple Sclerosis Society. "I am proud of my contributions on projects that are making a difference in the community," she says.
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| REYNA |
Alejandro Reyna Jr.
Manager has helped evolve Austin designer into a full-service firm
34, Project Manager
Bury+Partners
Austin, Texas
Attending a transportation industry seminar in Washington, D.C., more than 10 years ago while still attending the University of Texas, San Antonio, showed Alejandro Reyna "all of the potential a career in traffic and transportation engineering has to offer," he says. Interning for the Texas Transportation Institute also allowed him to research real-world problems in studying hurricane evacuation routes and border crossing challenges in Texas.
In 2008, Reyna accepted the biggest challenge of his career in starting a traffic engineering group at Bury+Partners. "Traffic engineering was a new practice area for Bury and I had to develop all of the company standards for reports, traffic studies, analysis and designs," he says. The group, whose statewide work he manages, now boasts clients that include Austin Bergstrom International Airport and the J.W. Marriott Hotel.
Reyna also has been involved since 1999 in the Institute of Transportation Engineers, where he is emerging as a leader in Texas. He convinced the group to hold its spring 2014 conference in Austin, an event he will chair.
