Recognizing individual accomplishments of people working in the construction and design industry can be tricky. After all, a considerable degree of the work performed relies upon collaboration and teamwork.
 
At the same time, quite a few people manage to go above and beyond their normal duties and responsibilities, to give a little more than is asked of them. Of course, ENR and its Regional Editions have been recognizing individual accomplishments within the construction industry for awhile now. ENR's annual Newsmakers program is probably the biggest example of that.
 
Of course, readers of ENR's various Regional Editions should also be aware of our Top 20 Under 40 program, which recognizes young industry leaders from across the United States, and Puerto Rico—often for a wide-ranging set of accomplishments. There's the 28-year-old Seattle project engineer who is working to transform the way industry works with PDF files. Or the environmental engineer who led an Engineers Without Borders group to help provide water and sanitation infrastructure for a community in Haiti.
 
Kevin Friedman traveled to Haiti in 2012 to help install a rainwater harvesting system in a small community in Haiti. Friedman was recognized as part of ENR Southeast's Top 20 Under 40 contest in 2013. (Photo courtesy Kevin Friedman)
 

The cumulative list of accomplishments isn't always as dramatic as that. Sometimes these future leaders are recognized for doing an exceptional job managing an especially large or challenging project. Other times, it's for working to advance a significant industry trend, such as sustainability. Sometimes it's for mentoring others and giving back to their industries or communities in a myriad of other ways, such as encouraging young people to consider pursuing a career in the industry.

Sharing his love for the industry with kids was one reason for Victor Herrera's inclusion in ENR Southeast's Top 20 Under 40 program in 2014. (Photo courtesy Victor Herrera)

Whatever the reason, these up-and-coming leaders deserve the recogniton. More specifically, they deserve your nomination.

So go ahead. Make someone's day, and nominate a deserving candidate for this year's Top 20 Under 40 contest. The deadline is Sept. 1, but don't delay. Go above and beyond, like your candidate would, and get started today by clicking here. In addition to a link to the online entry system, you'll be able to review the eligibility requirements and judging criteria.

Finally, if you have any questions about the contest, please feel free to contact me at Scott.Judy@mhfi.com.

Good luck!