ENR Southeast's 2013 Top 20 Under 40: Building for the Future
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Some say the third time is a charm. For ENR Southeast's third annual Top 20 Under 40 competition, the adage holds true.
This time, the publication received a record number of nominations. More than 80 up-and-coming Southeast construction industry leaders vied for recognition—which is earned based not only on an individual's professional accomplishments, but on community involvement.
This year's 20 Under 40 program was bigger in other ways as well. In response to reader feedback, ENR editors expanded the contest to include all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
As part of this expansion, ENR Southeast accepted entries from three additional places—Alabama, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. This was in addition to nominations accepted from its standard coverage states of Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
Related Links: ENR Southeast's 2014 Top 20 Under 40 |
To earn this distinction, Top 20 Under 40 nominees had to impress ENR Southeast's independent panel of judges with their accomplishments in the following areas: industry leadership; career progress; community outreach; and involvement in landmark or sustainable projects.
With more than 80 entries, this year's judges were challenged in their efforts to narrow the field to the final 20. Our panel of seven judges included four previous winners of the Top 20 Under 40 contest: Heather Denny, president of McDonald York Building Co., Raleigh; MacAdam Glinn, a vice president in the Chicago office of Skanska USA Building; Jenn McAlister, a project manager with Willis A. Smith Construction Co., Sarasota, Fla.; and Frank Rygiel, a senior project manager with Batson-Cook Co., Tampa. Other judges were Ted Garrison of Garrison & Associates, Ormond Beach, Fla.; Janet Puglisi, director of marketing with KHS&S Contractors, Tampa; and Denise Santiago, a vice president of Builders-Plus, Boynton Beach, Fla.
Our judges have chosen another impressive group. Read on and be inspired.
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ABNEY |
Kyle Abney
Green-building advocate achieved several sustainable 'firsts'
37, Principal
Abney + Abney Green Solutions, Palm City, Fla.
After working for several years as a project manager for a large commercial builder, Kyle Abney asked himself, "If I could do anything, what would I do?" The result was Abney + Abney Green Solutions, a sustainable building firm he founded with his wife.
Abney's 4-year-old green venture has more than a dozen commercial projects and more than 3,000 residential homes in the firm's portfolio. The success isn't that surprising, though. In 2001, Abney was the nation's first person to earn a master's degree in building construction with a concentration in sustainability.
Abney is active in the Florida Green Building Coalition and served as 2008-10 president of the South Florida chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. He is a veteran speaker on sustainability.
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DELANCY |
O.T. Delancy
Industry veteran accepted into Harvard leadership program
37, Project Executive-Operations
Skanska USA Building, Tampa
As a 10-year veteran of Skanska USA Building, O.T. Delancy has earned a solid reputation as a company leader—so much so that the contractor sponsored his acceptance into Harvard Business School's High Potential Leadership Program. The course "readies emerging leaders for managing today's toughest business challenges," according to the school.
Delancy, who also has a law degree, has led several of the firm's Tampa-area outreach efforts—including its Construction Management Building Blocks programs—which consist of structured classes focusing on mentoring, instructional guidance and business development support for local and small businesses. While maintaining a focus on education projects, Delancy also helped lead Skanska's Tampa Museum of Art and related Curtis Hixon Park projects.
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EVANS |
David Evans
Has a knack for building effective teams driven by relationships
37, Senior Director-Business Development
Starr Electric Co., Raleigh, N.C.
Success in construction often boils down to relationships. David Evans excels at this aspect of the business, according to Ryan Wathen, a senior vice president with Charlotte, N.C.-based Rodgers Builders and a former Top 20 Under 40 recipient.
"David is the embodiment of the modern business development executive," Wathen stated in his nomination of Evans. "His ability to build teams is remarkable, and many of the best contractors and engineers in the Southeast depend upon him for his knowledge and expertise."
Evans has business development responsibilities for all five Starr Electric Co. offices. Additionally, he has worked to expand Starr's building information modeling department and has pushed the firm into the modular data center market.
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Figueroa-Vallines |
Joel Figueroa-Vallines
Structural engineer is passionate about field's impact on humanity
35, Chief Structural Principal
Structural Engineering Partnership, Orlando
Over the course of his 13 years in the industry, Joel Figueroa-Vallines has racked up a long list of industry accomplishments. At age 21, he was the only undergraduate to participate in a graduate student program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that focused on a Caribbean heavy-rail project.
Since then, Figueroa-Vallines has worked as chief project engineer for the Duke Energy Center and Tryon Street Tunnel projects in Charlotte. He also founded two companies. And he served as structural engineer for a building hardened to withstand winds in excess of 220 mph.
Also, he is seeking a patent for a structural system that uses green strategies while speeding multistory construction. Currently, he is working on a project in Haiti where he plans to put this system to the test.
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FLOWERS |
Josh Flowers
An architect and a lawyer, Flowers offers leadership for both fields
35, General Counsel
Hnedak Bobo Group, Memphis, Tenn.
With both architecture and law degrees, Josh Flowers works within the hospitality design practice at Hnedak Bobo Group, where he is an operations leader who negotiates contracts, including a $245-million hotel and casino project in Detroit.
Additionally, last year, as a director for the five-state American Institute of Architects Gulf States Regional Council, Flowers organized Redefining Design, a symposium that educated students and young architects about the positive social impacts of design. The event included input from the ACE Mentor Program; Auburn University's Rural Studio; and the Grow Dat Youth Farm, a New Orleans-area group that touts the benefits of growing food.
Flowers also served as president of AIA Memphis, where he increased funding for an architecture-focused summer camp.
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FRENCH |
Mary French
Structural project manager emphasizes collaboration
33, Engineer-in-Training and Senior Project Manager and Designer
Mallia Engineering Co., Knoxville, Tenn.
Mary French's perception of the construction industry has been formed by lifelong learning from her father, an architect, and her brother, who works as a contractor. French, a graduate structural engineer, has developed a keen understanding of how individual construction challenges can be viewed differently by various team members.
To earn her master's degree from the University of Tennessee, French authored her thesis on "Increasing the Structural Engineer's Influence Over Sustainability by Using Integrated Design Teams."
She also put these thoughts into action, by helping to prompt the university's College of Architecture and Design to collaborate with the school's engineering students. French now serves as a part-time instructor at the college.
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FRIEDMAN |
Kevin Friedman
Environmental engineer helps lead Engineers Without Borders chapter
33, Senior Engineer
AECOM Technology Corp., Orlando
Kevin Friedman's six years of experience designing environmental projects, such as water and wastewater treatment plants and pipeline projects in Florida, comes in handy with his efforts as a technical leader for the South Central Florida Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders.
The local group is currently partnering with the Health and Education Relief Organization (HERO) to assist a Haitian community known as Corail Lamothe by supplying the area's 9,000 residents with drinking water, sanitation facilities and hygiene education.
Friedman traveled to Haiti in 2009 to assess the site and explore ideas. In 2012, he returned to help install a rain-harvesting system with more than 17,000 gallons of storage.
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GRANTHAM |
Joseph M. 'Jay' Grantham III
High achiever has helped affect policies at national firm
32, Project Manager/Design Manager
Parsons Corp., Morrisville, N.C.
Since joining Parsons Corp., Jay Grantham has participated in numerous corporate leadership efforts, including the Parsons high-potential employee program. In addition to being one of the youngest employees to complete some of these programs, he also achieved the highest score ever for the company's project management certification program.
Additionally, as a result of his tenure on Parsons' leadership council, several suggestions he made are now part of corporate policy.
Grantham also assists with the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program's annual golf tournament and leads fundraising efforts for a program aimed at increasing awareness of colorectal cancer.
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HIRSCH |
Matthew Hirsch
Turns expertise in cold-storage construction into global action
31, Vice President of Sales
Primus Builders, Woodstock, Ga.
The construction of cold-storage facilities may not often receive broad industry attention in the U.S., but Matthew Hirsch knows that these facilities can prove critical to developing countries. As a result of his involvement with numerous industry organizations, Hirsch was invited to deliver the keynote address for the World Food Logistics Organization's Ice Conference Expo in India. While there, Hirsch met with several officials from around the world who were struggling to find effective ways of providing fresh food to underserved populations.
Hirsch has since worked with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) in an effort to help develop integrated cold-chain networks that nations can use to prevent spoilage of harvested food crops. Additionally, Hirsch has become involved in a $280-million project to develop cold-chain infrastructure in Pakistan.
Bill Hudson, GCCA president and CEO, offered this observation as part of Hirsch's nomination: "Matt Hirsch is a consummate professional. His global approach and knowledge [are] expansive and unique."
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HUNSBERGER |
Greg Hunsberger
Spearheaded development of virtual design and construction group
34, Regional Vice President
Brasfield & Gorrie, Kennesaw, Ga.
In addition to managing preconstruction and estimating services for Brasfield & Gorrie's Atlanta, Raleigh and Dallas offices, Greg Hunsberger leads the firm's virtual design and construction group. As a result, the company has adopted preconstruction technology such as BIM-assisted takeoffs and 4D BIM scheduling.
In addition to participating as a member of numerous industry groups, Hunsberger takes part in United Way campaigns. He is also involved with the Wounded Warrior project, and he chairs the facility committee for a private school in Atlanta.
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LEMONIER |
Brandon Lemonier
Electrical engineer embraces continuous process improvement
37, Project Manager
exp US Services, Maitland, Fla.
Brandon Lemonier has worked for exp US Services for his entire 13 years as an electrical engineer, seeing it grow from approximately 55 employees to its current size of nearly 3,700. Along the way, he has worked in all the firm's offices and with numerous employee groups to continuously improve the firm's project management methods and engineering standards.
As president, vice president and manager of the Central Florida chapter of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, Lemonier worked to help improve planning and process improvement on an industry-wide basis. He also has served as a director of the Themed Entertainment Association's eastern board.
Lemonier also sits on an advisory committee guiding the architectural engineering curriculum at his alma mater, the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
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PEREZ-BROWN |
Francisco Carlos Perez-Brown
Young architect promoted to partner, leading a staff of 12
32, Partner
CRB Caribe, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Francisco Carlos Perez-Brown serves as architectural leader in the San Juan offices of CRB Caribe Engineers and Architects, where he oversees a staff of 12 architects and drafters. Perez-Brown was recently named a partner with the design firm, which specializes in pharmaceutical projects.
He also serves as general manager for the firm's office, where he has assisted with the adoption of BIM technology. As a result of his efforts to adopt BIM practices locally, Perez-Brown has been named to a national group of employees who will work to foster greater company-wide use of emerging technology.
Perez-Brown gives back to the San Juan community by volunteering at the YMCA. He also helped design a new lobby for the YMCA building.
He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Puerto Rico.
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RICHARD |
Lucien Richard
Loyal to his firm in tough times, he emerges as a company leader
37, Manager of Piping Engineering
PegasusTSI, Tampa
During his 14 years as a mechanical engineer, Lucien Richard has gained global experience, including working on projects in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, while with Black & Veatch, he spent three months in Thailand, where he trained engineers on work processes and the technical requirements of stress analysis.
In 2007, Richard joined PegasusTSI in Tampa as manager of the firm's piping engineering department, where he oversaw 13 engineers. When the recession brought tough times, he found himself single-handedly responsible for the firm's piping engineering project work.
Richard remained loyal to the firm, however, and in 2010 was nominated to serve as a member of PegasusTSI's leadership team, which develops the company's vision and strategy.
Throughout his career, Richard has given back to his community. During his tenure with Black & Veatch, he volunteered for Habitat for Humanity in Kansas City, Kan. For PegasusTSI, he leads the firm's involvement with the Ronald McDonald House in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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ROTHROCK |
Eric Rothrock
Work experience drives mission to improve delivery methods
39, Director of Preconstruction Services
Samet Corp., Charlotte, N.C.
Eric Rothrock's experience working for both specialty firms and general contractors has given him a unique perspective.
Early in his career, while still in his 20s, Rothrock worked as a vice president for a concrete contractor and became the youngest-ever president of the North Carolina Concrete Finishers Association. Soon after, he began working for a general contractor, where he served as project manager on the firm's Hurricane Katrina-related contract to perform emergency roof repairs in Mississippi.
Now at Samet Corp., Rothrock is working to develop a version of integrated project delivery that could be more easily utilized by different size contractors.
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SCHILLING |
Mike Schilling
Company he co-founded has achieved solid growth
39, Vice president and Co-Founder
Structor Group, Atlanta
The civil engineering graduate of Auburn University co-founded Structor Group six years ago as a general contracting firm specializing in interior construction for health care, education and commercial projects. Since then, the firm has grown considerably—doubling its staff on a nearly annual basis. Now with a staff of roughly 40, the company's 2012 revenue reached approximately $30 million.
Eleven years ago, Schilling organized the first charity golf tournament to benefit Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. To date, the annual event has raised roughly $350,000 to fund cancer research.
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SIGMAN |
Jonathan Sigman
Structural engineering expert mentors young engineers, students
38, Project Manager
Collins Engineers, Charleston, S.C.
After serving as one of the team leaders investigating a crane collapse at Milwaukee's Miller Park project, Jonathan Sigman began mentoring younger staff on inspection work and report-writing. His inclination to help educate others hasn't slowed. He's since taught multiple engineering classes at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Washington University. In Charleston, where he heads up the building design group for Collins Engineers, Sigman is working on a $45-million Charleston cruise terminal project. And he's still reaching out to educate, this time by serving as the sole structural engineer mentor for the local, 2-year-old ACE Mentor Program.
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SMITH |
John 'Jay' Bloxham Smith
Expanded opportunities for his company and families in need
38, Vice President
Ajax Building Corp., Tallahassee, Fla.
The grandson of Ajax Building Corp. founder "Block" Smith, Jay Smith has grown up in the construction business. Starting young as a laborer, Smith went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Florida and served as a project engineer after graduation. As director of business development and now a vice president and company owner, Smith has overseen much of the company's expansion in recent years. Throughout the recession, Smith helped expand its market beyond Florida. With 10 offices in the Southeast, the company has a presence in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Smith also is active in numerous organizations, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Big Bend. While chairman of that chapter, he spearheaded development of the Day Room at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, which provides families of children patients with a place to rest. He also helped build Leon County's first science, technology, engineering and math complex at a Tallahassee school.
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STURGIS |
Jennifer Sturgis
Learned on the job to become a leader for her firm and community
39, Vice President
SEMCO Construction, Bartow, Fla.
Jennifer Sturgis started her career at SEMCO Construction when she was 19, and with admittedly limited knowledge of construction. Since then, she's dedicated herself to becoming an expert in her field, earning a master's degree in business administration with a thesis addressing the best-value proposition for construction management.
Sturgis keeps busy with community groups, and was recognized by the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce as an "Emerging Leader" for Polk County.
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THOMPSON |
Tammy Thompson
Gives patients a voice in the design of health care environments
36, President
Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Atlanta
Personal experience as a medical patient with a chronic disease fuels Thompson's advocacy of compassionate health care design and prompted her to create a nonprofit to bring patients' needs to the design table. Under her leadership, the institute engages patients to offer valuable information, including feedback, to health care design professionals.
The institute was recently presented with the 2012 March of Dimes Community Award. As a frequent guest speaker and writer for peer-reviewed journals, Thompson tirelessly works to improve resources available to health care designers.
She chartered the American Institute of Architects' Academy of Architecture for Health in Georgia. She currently co-chairs the group, and continues to be active both locally and nationally to provide continuing education opportunities for architects engaged in the design of medical facilities.
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WIDMAIER |
Matthew Widmaier
Led a $1.2-billion airport project to successful completion
29, Project Manager
Manhattan Construction Co., Atlanta
After 11 years in the construction industry, with four in the Atlanta area, Matthew Widmaier has made a big impact. He recently managed the $1.2-billion Maynard H. Jackson International Terminal at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The 1.2-million sq ft project included the U.S. Customs facilities, an underground train expansion, roadways, bridges and two parking decks.
Widmaier is currently tasked with building a $21.5-million parking facility at the Georgia State Capitol campus. He is also working internally to streamline production and reduce risk. He is active in industry associations, including the Urban Land Institute, for which he serves as a councilman for the Young Leaders Group in Atlanta. He also served as chair for the ULI Young Leader Mentor Program for the past two years.
Scott Blair and Bruce Buckley contributed to this report.