ENR's Top 25 Newsmakers 2019
From saving lives to saving the environment, ENR Newsmakers being recognized for 2019 worked to improve the construction industry and benefit the public.
Based on stories published in print and online last year, these 25 outstanding individuals were chosen by the editors of ENR for their newsmaking achievements—advocating for diversity, fostering collaboration, envisioning the future, fighting against abuse and rising to the challenge in the toughest of situations.
They work in the public and private sectors, in the U.S. and abroad, and for employers of all sizes. But they have in common the spirit to go beyond their day jobs to give back in many different ways.
Among those featured in the links below, one individual has been chosen to receive the Award of Excellence, ENR’s highest honor. That yet-to-be-revealed person, and all of the newsmakers, will be celebrated at a black-tie gala on August 4 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York City.
We hope you will join us!
John Abrera
Putting technology in context for operators of water plants
Glenn Bell
Pushing safety by organizing a U.S. program to confidentially share lessons learned about failures
Robert Bradshaw
Led the effort by independent insurance agents in Virginia for a law to end workers’ compensation EMR abuse
Gerald (Jerry) Buckwalter
Strategist’s vision led ASCE to move ahead with multiyear project to imagine the infrastructure of tomorrow
Jacob Christensen
A tool rental company leader provides industry expertise to aid development of a new way to deliver concrete maturity data
Timmy Couvillion
Responded to a call for urgent action to contain a long-neglected ocean oil spill
Ryan Keith Cox
Virginia Beach public utilities accountant represented group’s esprit de corps in helping peers escape an unimaginable act of workplace terror
Jack Dangermond
Environmental scientist invented GIS mapping and is now bringing his consulting firm’s data to designers and contractors
Sam Hassoun
Combining diplomacy and engineering to foster true partnering
Doug Houseman
Longtime electric-sector consultant focuses on sharing his knowledge with a new generation of engineers
Adam Jones
Bold man of steelwork ushers in an era of faster-to-erect tall buildings
Bruce King
Engineer inspires the nation’s first low-carbon concrete code
John B. Lavelle
Engineer CEO led GE Renewables team in launch of ‘game-changing’ giant offshore wind turbine set to propel clean energy cost efficiency, growth and ROI
Cris B. Liban
Sustainability advocate works nonstop for infrastructure that will be better prepared for the future
Marc Mattox
‘Prodigal son’ returns to wildfire-ravaged community to help rebuild
Jim McLamb
Pressure-cooker job meets its immovable deadline to open arena for Metallica concert
Robert Österdahl
Stepped up to help guide development of a brain protecting hardhat for construction
Gary Panariello
Forensic engineer brings a level head and reassuring competence to a dangerous New Orleans building collapse site
Chad Ratkovich
Project manager for Beaver Excavating helped deliver the biggest road project in Ohio history—and the state’s first P3
Christina Riley
Advocating for industry diversity and LGBTQ+ acceptance at the jobsite and beyond
Moshe Safdie
AIA Gold Medalist’s sparkling gem, with its vast garden paradise under glass, redefines the shopping mall
Kate Simonen
Climate activist rallies thousands to crusade against the harmful effects of building production on the environment
Tom Sorley
Advocating for diversity and inclusion and recruiting next generation talent to construction
Danny Speight
Structural engineer deploys untested jacking procedure to take 21-in. lean out of a 3,000-ton Norfolk, Va., building
Jim Tymon
Executive Director of AASHTO coordinated successful drive to repeal threatened $7.6-billion cut in highway funds
Previous Top 25 Newsmakers: 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010