ENR Midwest's 2014 Top 20 Under 40

Their individual achievements are formidable. Together, they present a portrait of emerging industry talent increasingly invested in education, entrepreneurship, the environment and community. Meet the Midwest's Class of 2014. They include one of the nation's leading experts on multimodal transportation, an architect who assists school districts in funding tornado-safe spaces, a designer who infuses large mixed-use projects with social and recreational uses and a sustainable design expert whose influence extends to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. A panel of their peers has selected them and 16 others as ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40, young design and construction professionals from the region who have made significant contributions to their firms, professions and communities. While other ENR Midwest programs, including Best Projects, honor firms and their endeavors, Top 20 Under 40 focuses on individual achievement, in this instance the contributions of 13 men and seven women hailing from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Related Links: ENR Midwest's 2015 Top 20 Under 40 ENR Midwest's 2013 Top 20 Under 40

As they hit their 30s, this year's honorees also are hitting their stride. One, a 36-year-old, already helps to oversee operations for one of Chicago's oldest design and construction firms. Another, a 39-year-old, is president of one of the region's largest contractors.

Craig Burton

He's proved an energetic force in the field of clean technology
32, Director
PositivEnergy Practice
Chicago

Since Craig Burton's arrival at PositivEnergy Practice (PEP), the mechanical engineer has seen staff and commissions grow fivefold, with work ranging from super-tall towers in Asia to homegrown projects in Chicago. Colleagues credit Burton's integrity and commitment to sustainable design for the substantial repeat business the company enjoys. As director of clean technology, he manages and mentors a team specializing in green building design, performance evaluation and low carbon development. With his assistance, PEP developed a free parametric modeling tool that allows Chicago-area owners to identify, assess and compare energy efficient improvements. Burton is a founding member of the Chicago chapter of the International Building Performance Simulation Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the design, construction and operation of buildings.

Jason Chandler

He's retooling one of Chicago's oldest designers and builders
36, Vice President, Director of Project Management
Epstein
Chicago

Jason Chandler is among eight executives who oversee day-to-day operations for Epstein, a 93-year-old design and construction firm. Schooled in both architecture and construction management, Chandler proved instrumental in transitioning Epstein from a discipline-oriented enterprise to a project- and market-oriented one. He also streamlined and standardized processes to improve the accuracy and efficiency of project management programs. In addition to serving as board member for the Global Design Alliance, a coalition dedicated to improving the built environment, Chandler has participated in numerous lectures and presentations at universities in the region.

David Craun

He brings fresh perspective to large mixed-use projects
36, Principal
Bialosky + Partners
Cleveland

David Craun's interest in urban design, planning and architecture has propelled a career dedicated to the design of vertically integrated mixed-use developments, including the acclaimed Crocker Park, a 4-million-sq-ft facility in Westlake, Ohio, that combines offices, shops, restaurants and residences with social and recreational uses. As an adjunct professor with Kent State University's College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Craun encourages students to develop design philosophies while schooling them in the basics. His concern for the betterment of communities has taken him to Malawi and Madagascar, where he engaged in social work. Closer to home, Craun participates in design charrettes for the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative, which engages students, professors and community members in local design issues.

Brandon Davis

His interest in mentoring led to a company-wide initiative
35, Director, Industrial Manufacturing
URS
Cleveland

Whether engaged in a $20,000 study of a candidate technology or construction of a $1-billion plant, Brandon Davis is continually focused on new process improvements. He also serves as mentor to younger colleagues. Among other initiatives, Davis launched an online lunch and learn program that began with 10 employees, then spread at URS locations nationwide before being adopted by corporate management. Davis has received awards for the professional recruitment and development program he and his team designed and implemented. As a member of the Construction Industry Institute, he has served on multiple research teams. Davis also serves on the work-force development committee for the Construction Users Roundtable. Two years ago, he and his wife founded a nonprofit organization to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to young students.

Mark de la vergne

His work in transportation is anything but pedestrian
35, Principal, Director of Transportation Planning
Sam Schwartz Engineering
Chicago

Among other achievements, Mark de la Vergne was lead author of the Chicago Dept. of Transportation's Pedestrian Plan, one of the most sweeping pedestrian policies in the nation and a blueprint for promoting safety, integration and quality along urban thoroughfares. Other CDOT projects include Chicago Streets for Cycling, for which de la Vergne identified more than 100 miles of protected bike lanes, and Divvy, for which he selected 300 sites for a city bike-share system. More recently, de la Vergne developed a traffic management study in support of renovations to Wrigley Field, home to baseball's Chicago Cubs. He serves on the Sensible Growth Committee of Chicago's Metropolitan Planning Council and on the board of directors for the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.

Brad Erwin

A childhood event inspired a career devoted to designing safe rooms
35, President, Principal Architect
Paragon Architecture
Springfield, Mo.

In 1990, Brad Erwin witnessed the effects of an EF-5 tornado that killed 29 and injured 353 in his hometown of Plainfield, Ill. Today, he and colleagues assist communities in securing grants to construct safe rooms, their mission being to ensure that every school district in Missouri is protected from injury or loss of life in the event of severe weather. To date, Paragon has helped secure grants for more than 40 safe rooms, some as large as gymnasiums. His firm, founded in 2010, provides design services for municipalities and school districts across the region, including Joplin, Mo., where an EF-5 event occurred in 2011. Under his stewardship, Paragon's staff has grown fivefold since the firm's founding.

Valerie Greer

She brings a wealth or real-world experience to classrooms
37, Project Manager
HOK
St. Louis

Throughout her career, Valerie Greer has bridged industry and academics by practicing architecture while teaching at St. Louis-based Washington University, where she received her degree. Greer has a wealth of experience to impart to students. Five years after receiving her degree, she served as a core design team member for Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, a 5.5-million-sq-ft campus designed and constructed in fewer than 28 months. Since then, she has worked on the 800,000-sq-ft Parkway Novena Hospital in Singapore and the ConocoPhillips Alternative Energy Campus in Louisville, Colo. Greer regularly takes students to project sites and HOK offices, where she facilitates real-world design reviews.

Nate Gundrum 

He's made a home for himself in the hospitality sector
32, Senior Development Manager
Mortenson Development Inc.
Minneapolis

His ability to fill Mortenson's pipeline with more than $500 million in hotel work moved Nate Gundrum to the head of his class last year, when he was tapped to join the firm's Advanced Leadership Development Program, which prepares employees for senior management roles. Colleagues credit Gundrum with strengthening Mortenson's relationships with hotel brands, operators and debt and equity partners. Among his more notable projects is Marriott at HarborCenter, part of a $160-million mixed-use facility in Buffalo, N.Y. In his native Minneapolis, Gundrum is active in a Big Brothers program and has participated in the Middleton Outreach Ministry, a program intended to prevent hunger and homelessness by providing community members with food, clothing, housing assistance and emergency financial assistance, among other services.

Holly Hawkins

LEED projects led to top position at firm's Milwaukee operations
35, President, Milwaukee Office
Tri-North Builders
Milwaukee

During her tenure with Tri-North, Holly Hawkins has managed many of the firm's largest and most sustainable projects, from its LEED-Gold-certified headquarters to the Urban League of Greater Madison, a facility seeking LEED-Silver certification. Clients and partners frequently request that Hawkins conduct seminars on sustainability or train staff to become LEED professionals. Since she assumed its presidency, Milwaukee operations have expanded by 30%, the result of several large projects currently in planning or under way, among other factors. Hawkins is involved in a number local, state and national organizations dedicated to conservation and sustainability. She routinely speaks to students about careers in construction and works with industry members to secure funding for facilities such as Camp Helen Brachman, a youth and family center near Stevens Point, Wis.

Stacy Horan

She brings structure to large powerplant projects
36, Senior Project Engineer
Sargent & Lundy
Chicago

Stacy Horan devises solutions that allow powerplants to maintain operations during retrofits, either by circumventing existing foundation and structure or incorporating them into new installations. Her work involves navigating highly congested work zones in addition to seismic zones, where older structures are adapted to accommodate larger loads. Horan takes special interest in mentoring younger colleagues and is a key contributor to Sargent & Lundy's Communities of Practice, a program to promote learning and advancement among employees. She also serves as leader with a local ACE Mentor Program that encourages high school students to pursue careers in construction

Courtney Kounkel

Her small start-up company is yielding large returns
38, Partner
Centric Projects
Kansas City, Mo.

With a pair of colleagues, Courtney Kounkel launched contractor Centric Projects in 2010, when average project values in Kansas City had plummeted to $1 million from $20 million. An original five-year growth plan projected $30 million in sales with a staff of 18. Three years later, Centric projects $45 million in sales with a staff of 34, the result of low overhead and an experienced management team. Kounkel is active in all aspects of the business, from operations, finance, sales and marketing to human resources, risk management and technology. Kounkel serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities and has been honored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as Woman of the Year.

Theresa Lehman

A career focused on sustainability yields a number of firsts
39, Director of Sustainable Services
Miron Construction Co.
Neenah, Wis.

The youngest of 75 LEED fellows worldwide, Theresa Lehman has worked on no fewer than 75 projects seeking LEED certification and helped grow Miron's LEED portfolio to more than $650 million from $18.5 million. Her career boasts a number of firsts, including the first LEED-certified facility for the state of Wisconsin, the first net-zero LEED-certified building and the first public K-12 project to earn LEED-Platinum certification. As a faculty member for the U.S. Green Building Council, Lehman leads LEED workshops worldwide, including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Cancun, Mexico. As a member of its curriculum committee, she develops educational frameworks and workshops. Believing that informed people make informed decisions, Lehman volunteers countless hours with nonprofit and industry organizations to advance sustainable design principles.

Luke Leising

A career in the military laid the foundation for civilian practice
39, President
Guidon Design Inc.
Indianapolis

As president of Guidon Design, a firm he founded in 2011, Luke Leising and a staff of 15 specialize in health care, military projects and sustainable design, including a combined sewer overflow tunnel and mass-transit study for Indianapolis. Leising, who holds degrees in architecture and engineering, credits his experience in the U.S. Army, including route clearance and weapons cache missions in Kosovo and Macedonia, for a career rooted in leadership and teamwork. In 2006, he helped found the inaugural Indiana Building Green Conference and chaired the event for three years. The conference drew nearly 800 attendees in 2012. Owners and fellow designers frequently seek Leising's assistance in implementing sustainable design concepts. Likewise, Leising has worked with the American Institute of Architects and American Military Engineers to promote sustainable design.

Ryan Maibach

Firm's leader has a knack for the common touch
39, President
Barton Malow Co.
Southfield, Mich.

Connecting with company employees across the nation, no matter the location or position, became the defining feature of Ryan Maibach's early days as president of Barton Malow. Maibach, a fourth-generation employee with the firm, previously served as operations vice president with its industrial group. Group revenue doubled during his tenure. He also served as lead for Barton Malow's internship program, broadening its curriculum and programs to provide students with a more practical and comprehensive view of industry practices. Maibach is a member of Purdue University's Dept. of Construction Management Advisory Committee and is involved in numerous construction-related community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, Paint the Town and the Engineering Society of Detroit's Future City. He also serves as executive committee co-chair of the Great Lakes Council of Boy Scouts Building Connections Program.

Molly Meyer

Her living systems are bringing new life to sustainable design
31, Owner and Founder
Omni Ecosystems; Rooftop Green Works
Chicago

Since founding Omni Ecosystems and Rooftop Green Works in 2009, Molly Meyer and her staff have developed a quartet of living sustainable systems, including a comprehensive green roof, integrated permeable paver walkway, ultra-lightweight green facade system and a lush, low-maintenance living wall. The green roofs accommodate a greater array of plant options while achieving weights far lighter than equivalent systems, the result of a tray system and the ultra-lightweight growing media that Meyer and her collaborators developed. Since 2011, Meyer has served on the board of the nonprofit Urban Habitat Chicago

Amber Myers 

She spearheads business development for 30-member group
30, Mechanical Engineer, Project Manager
CRB
Kansas City, Mo.

As a result of her focus on complex pharmaceutical projects, Amber Myers has acquired expertise in applications involving oral solid/liquid dose and fill/finish facilities, dust collection, hydronic piping design and steam system design. Colleagues say her skill set has made her the ideal candidate to target and acquire new business for CRB's 30-member pharmaceutical group. Among other activities, Myers organizes, executes and monitors business development for the group. In addition to identifying prospective clients, she develops and maintains relationships with them. As a member of CRB's sustainable design expert team, Myers works to foster corporate commitment to green design principles. She is a member of Bacchus Foundation of Kansas City, a group of young professionals that raises money for charities.

Craig Moore

Transportation projects keep dynamic career moving
39, Principal Engineer
Parsons Transportation Group
Chicago

Craig Moore served as project manager for an advanced traveler information system adopted by Chicago's Midway Airport, an initiative that required design of intelligent transportation system components, including dynamic message signs and highway advisory radio and online interactive maps to advise travelers of transportation issues involving the airport. Moore also has served as traffic micro-simulation lead for several large freeway projects for Parsons, including the Interstate 465 Northeast corridor in Indianapolis. Moore served as student internship chairman for the Institute of Transportation Engineers Illinois chapter and as juror for Chicago's Future City's competition. He also has volunteered as an inner-city youth minister for the past 10 years.

Jason Dale Pierce

Designer dedicated to grooming next generation of professionals
38, Project Architect
HOK
St. Louis

Jason Dale Pierce is passionate about educating future generations of design professionals. As co-chair for HOK's emerging professional program, he develops annual curricula for the firm's St. Louis office. Among other activities, the program provides presentations and workshops to assist young designers in fulfilling requirements for licensure, accreditation and growth. Pierce also spearheaded a weekly lunch series to advance best practices. As an editor with aecKnowledge, an online educational forum, he promotes discourse among architects, engineers, contractors, urban planners and others. In 2001, Pierce formed the St. Louis Young Architects Forum, which is committed to the continual education and community awareness of young architects. In 2012, he joined the American Institute of Architects National Practice Management Knowledge Community.

Benjamin Rubach

He brings greater focus to business development, project management
32, Principal
dbHMS
Chicago

After joining M/E/P engineer dbHMS as senior engineer in 2009, Benjamin Rubach recognized untapped potential among firm ranks and resolved to bring greater focus to business development and project delivery systems. Though the 25 employee firm was known for creative thinking, Rubach introduced more structured and rigorous processes, quickly ascending to project manager, group manager, operations manager and principal. Under his leadership, dbHMS increased staff by 120% to 55 in the period from 2009 to 2012, difficult recession years. In addition to focusing on health care, including projects for University of Chicago Medical Center, Rubach oversees office management and business development. He has worked actively to recruit interns and young graduates throughout the Midwest and has demonstrated consistent dedication to training and mentoring.