ENR California's 2014 Top 20 Under 40

Anthony Damon

Damon

Used rammed earth to improve an electric-service building
33, Director of Design and Business Development
Jeff Katz Architecture
San Diego

Uniting creative, sustainable design with finance, entitlement and property-acquisition expertise, Anthony Damon has taken on many responsibilities in his 13 years in construction. Damon graduated from the University of Notre Dame's Rome Studies Architecture Program and followed with a master's in business administration from the New York Institute of Technology. He is known as an innovative leader. For the University of California San Diego Medical Campus, Damon incorporated rammed earth to make a standard electric-service building more sustainable and better looking. Concern for others also guides him. Damon is treasurer for ACE San Diego. He is a board member for the eco-engineering advisory council of Southwest High School. And as a volunteer with Best Buddies, he has had a mentally challenged pen pal for 15 years in South Bend, Ind.

Dianne Fiorelli

Fiorelli

A leader at work, in the industry and in the community
36, Associate
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
Irvine, Calif.

Diane Fiorelli manages most of the geotechnical and environmental projects for Langan in Southern California while also handling invoicing, collections and client relations. Her projects have included foundation stabilization for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum slurry wall and the Catalina Island Beach Club expansion. With a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City and a master's in geotechnical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, she has developed training classes and seminars on foundation design. She also has served on Langan's next-generation forum, which connects younger members with the executive committee. In Long Beach, Calif., she contributes to Operation Easter Basket, providing children with baskets of school supplies, toys and more.

Julie Goodwin

Goodwin

Inspires tomorrow's young professionals with LEED expertise
37, Senior Associate
WSP USA
San Francisco

With 14 years of industry experience, Julie Goodwin has moved up from a recruit with a bachelor's degree in architectural engineering from Penn State University to a senior associate and a LEED expert in the WSP San Francisco office. Her award-winning projects regularly achieve high sustainability ratings. One example is the LEED-Platinum Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in Agoura Hills, Calif., which is targeting net-zero certification through features such as passive ventilation. ENR California selected the Hilton Foundation as its 2013 Project of the Year for Southern California. Among her many responsibilities, Goodwin establishes and enhances internal processes and procedures, mentors younger staff, participates in charitable efforts and helps associates extend their professional knowledge. Her volunteer work includes introducing high school students to architecture, engineering and construction careers, including through the ACE Mentor Program.

Matt Grinberg

Grinberg

Energy modeling leadership spurs better industry communication
29, Mechanical Engineer
Stantec
San Francisco

A frequent presenter and writer on energy modeling, Matt Grinberg is helping engineers and architects better communicate on the topic. His work ethic was established as a student, earning a bachelor's degree on full scholarship in mechanical engineering from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. At Stantec, Grinberg has worked on annual net-zero-energy-use projects such as Research Support Facilities I and II at the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. He is a mentor in the ACE Mentor Program and says the best part is when he helps students have "aha" moments. "Watching [a student's] face light up after making the connection about how something works reminds me of why I was drawn to mechanical engineering in the first place," Grinberg says.

Emily Guglielmo

Guglielmo

Innovative thinker creates a building within a building
33, Senior Project Engineer
Martin/Martin Inc.
Larkspur, Calif.

Since receiving a bachelor's degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and a master's from UC Berkeley, Emily Guglielmo has progressed from licensed engineer in training to licensed professional engineer and also licensed structural engineer at Martin/Martin. In the summer of 2012, she opened the company's San Francisco Bay Area office, which she manages. She was the project manager for the renovation and addition to the Mesa State College Field House in Grand Junction, Colo., where she implemented a building inside a building concept. This project was honored with a 2010 Best Projects award from ENR Mountain States. Guglielmo coauthored "Gender and Racial Diversity in the Structural Engineering Profession," which is a publication of the American Society of Civil Engineers Structural Engineering Institute. Guglielmo works with several engineering organizations to further the development of other young professionals and actively volunteers in the community through Habitat for Humanity and other efforts.

Timothy Haile

Haile

Recognized leader for innovation and education in road planning
35, Managed Lanes Technical Services Leader
Michael Baker Jr. Inc.
Ontario, Calif.

A California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, graduate with a degree in civil engineering, Timothy Haile has logged 16 years on public works and transportation projects. This includes six years with Caltrans, where he designed and planned projects such as final plans, specifications and estimates for the US 101/Lewis Road Interchange Improvements in Oxnard, Calif. During his career, he has managed the civil engineering for such megaprojects as the Mid County Parkway and the I-15 HOT Lanes. He has been involved with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies in Washington, D.C., and with American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, where he is a young leader. Locally, Haile teaches courses and mentors at Cal Poly.

Lee Ishida

Ishida

Began her structural engineering career with adaptive-reuse projects
37, Associate
Thornton Tomasetti
Los Angeles

After receiving a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas and a master's in structural engineering from Stanford University, Lee Ishida began her career in the Chicago office of Thornton Tomasetti. There, she was challenged with a fast-tracked transformation of the 1920s Soldier Field into a modern National Football League stadium. With 13 years in the buildings sector, her portfolio also includes the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport North Terminal Redevelopment and the conversion, in Chicago, of a 1920s-era, 18-story building to an assisted-living residence. Ishida is currently managing a team working on the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco.

Malika Junaid

JUNAID

Sustainability leader both in the U.S. and in her native Pakistan
38, Principal Architect
M. Designs Architects
Los Altos, Calif.

Founder of M. Designs Architects, Malika Junaid serves on the planning commission for Los Altos and is a member of its architectural and site review committee. She shared an Environmental Quality Award in 2010 given by Menlo Park, Calif., for the most sustainable single-family home. A certified "green advantage" trainer, in 2009 she established the Green Learning Institute, which helps communities establish sustainable building practices. For her native Pakistan, she is working to establish a Green Building Council branch and is also a board member for Developments in Literacy, which empowers underprivileged students. Junaid is also a member of the Fakhr-e-Imdad Foundation and a charter member of the Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America.

Melissa Keiser

KEISER

Designer and architect with experience across the U.S.
32, Associate
RBB Architects Inc.
Los Angeles

As an expert on building information modeling, Melissa Keiser leads the training of the design staff in 3D modeling at RBB Architects. She led the implementation of an internal BIM standards program and authored a comprehensive set of standards and guidelines that have been adopted by several of her firm's health care and college clients. Keiser's abilities and experience transcend BIM. She served as a designer with EYP Architecture, working on iconic New York City projects, including the U.N. General Assembly Building and the U.N. conference building. While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Keiser worked as an intern with HKS Inc. and gained experience in historical documentation. One of her team's projects was recognized as a Peterson Prize winner for best completion of measured drawings. She is a member of the Association for Women in Architecture and Design in Los Angeles.

Jason Krolicki

KROLICKI

Seismic expert has built a strong, flexible managerial foundation
39, Associate Principal
Arup
San Francisco

Seismic issues are always at the forefront in California, and Jason Krolicki has a theoretical background in the seismic behavior of structures as well as expertise with current best design practices. His 14-year career has included work on giant Ferris-like observation wheels, mixed-use high-rises, university buildings, hospitals and office buildings. Not just a technical expert, Krolicki is also a client-focused manager. He developed a continuous improvement process and organized a "structural away day" at Arup to motivate employees, create camaraderie and establish a shared vision for the future. Krolicki is trained in disaster response and provides post-earthquake evaluation of buildings to help keep first responders safe.

Evelyn Lee

LEE

Breaking new ground with quick success
34, Senior Strategist
MKThink
San Francisco

Upon graduation from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, Evelyn Lee became active in the American Institute of Architects, holding leadership positions on local, state and national boards. Her commitment earned her the National Institute's Associate of the Year award in 2005. She was the youngest member in the history of the AIA to serve as the associate representative to the AIA's national executive committee, the first associate member on the national secretary advisory committee and the first associate member to serve on the AIA California Council's executive committee. In her current role for less than a year, Lee has already brought her firm new projects and helped streamline operations and increase productivity. She has authored more than 500 articles on design and sustainability.

Nora McIntyre

MCINTYRE

Foreign-born engineer overcame language, cultural hurdles
33, Project Engineer
J.L. Patterson & Associates
Orange, Calif.

Developing a sterling engineering reputation has been particularly gratifying for Nora McIntyre, especially since she emigrated from Korea and faced significant language and cultural barriers earlier in her career. Today, she is a mentor and role model for aspiring female engineers, especially those who are foreign born. At J.L. Patterson, McIntyre works closely with clients' design standards and with the rules of the regional and national regulatory agencies. Her projects include the 20-mile Riverside County Transportation Commission's Perris Valley Line Project in California and the Metrolink Composite Maps and Right-of-Way Map and Track Chart for the Perris Valley Subdivision.

John Prince

PRINCE

A proven leader heads multiple projects, mentors and teaches
32, Senior Associate
RBF Consulting, a Company of Michael Baker Corp.
San Diego

As a senior associate with RBF Consulting, John Prince and his staff oversee 15 to 20 projects at a time. They run the gamut from the development of new sites, such as schools and sports facilities, to the evaluation of public works improvements, such as storm drain pump facilities and emergency egress roads. Through his work with the San Diego Community College District as the campus engineer, he has cultivated a thriving client relationship. But his devotion extends off the jobsite. Prince engages fellow young professionals through his involvement with the American Society of Civil Engineers while also serving as an adjunct professor and adviser at San Diego State University.

Benedict Tranel

TRANEL

Design leader who is passionate about the built environment
39, Senior Associate/Technical Director
Gensler
San Francisco

Benedict Tranel has served as a director with Gensler since 2006 and has led the design process for many of the firm's most well-known projects, including the The Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh, the headquarters for NVIDIA in Santa Clara, Calif., and the 632-meter-tall Shanghai Tower. For the China tower, Tranel led the facade design, which incorporated some 30,000 elements of different sizes, shapes and positions. Inspired by a belief that architects are stewards of the built environment, Tranel aims to enhance lives through quality design.

Mark von Leffern

VON LEFFERN

A former aerospace engineer who streamlines land-based projects
37, Project Control Engineer
Hill International
San Francisco

A veteran of the aerospace industry, Mark von Leffern spent the early part of his career working on projects that would eventually become aloft, such as the Boeing C-17 and C-130 aircraft. In his current position with Hill International, von Leffern serves as project control engineer lead for 1,400 MW of renewable energy capital projects for Southern California Edison. One example of his innovative skill set is devising a better method to plot transmission commodity progress updates by creating a new reporting system that resulted in time savings and greater efficiency. "By stepping up and becoming intimate with the project scope early in the life cycle and being proactive to managing changes as they occur, you are able to quickly become a respected member of the team," von Leffern says.

Aaron Wiehe

WIEHE

Inherited a love for construction that prepared him to lead
37, District Manager
PCL Construction Inc.
Honolulu

As the grandson of a contractor and developer, Aaron Wiehe grew up in the construction industry, hearing about its rewards and challenges. When he graduated from Purdue University in 1998 with a degree in construction engineering and management, he immediately joined PCL as a field engineer. His high level of performance and abilities as a manger quickly propelled him up the ranks at the firm. Wiehe currently serves as the head of the company's Hawaii office. "Aaron's maturity and commanding drive for success position him as one of PCL's most up-and-coming district managers," says Deron Brown, regional vice president of PCL's U.S. building operations. "He holds himself accountable for the team's success, all the while gaining support from those who work for, with and above him."

Joe Yau

YAU

Project team leader also mentors children about construction
34, Senior Project Manager
DPR Construction
Redwood City, Calif.

A San Francisco native, Joe Yau obtained an undergraduate degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of California and a master's in construction engineering and management from Stanford. Upon joining DPR, Yau initially served as a project engineer focused on biopharmaceutical and manufacturing facilities. He specialized in process plant utilities. He has since expanded his knowledge by working on projects in health care, advanced technology and corporate office work for clients that include the Palo Alto Medical Foundation; VMware, in Palo Alto, Calif.; and Sutter Health and the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland. Yau also finds time to inspire the younger generation, particularly grade-school students. As part of his volunteer duties with the local nonprofit Peninsula Bridge, he helped students build model bridges out of Popsicle sticks.