The 2026 Top Young Professionals program marks the first full year under ENR’s expanded Texas & Southeast region, which now encompasses states formerly covered by ENR Texas & Louisiana and ENR Southeast. Even with the broader footprint, the competition continues its core mission: recognizing emerging leaders whose work reflects technical strength, innovative thinking and a commitment to their communities. More than 100 nominations were evaluated by this year’s judging panel, with members recusing themselves from any entry that presented a conflict of interest.
The judges—Megan McPhilimy of HNTB, Prateek Tare of Distributed Energy Infrastructure, Abbas Kachwalla of AECOM and Matthew Calvey of AECOM—brought a wide range of expertise across transportation, energy, engineering and architecture. Their selections highlight professionals who are shaping major infrastructure programs, elevating project delivery and strengthening the next generation of talent across the region.
The following honorees are the 2026 ENR Texas & Southeast Top Young Professionals. Their stories, in a region defined by rapid growth, reflect technical rigor and a deep commitment to public service. And together, they illustrate the breadth of leadership driving the industry forward.
Stephen Abadie, 36
Executive Vice President, Infrastructure
RNGD, New Orleans
Abadie’s interest in construction formed after Hurricane Katrina, when he spent weeks gutting and stabilizing damaged homes in New Orleans. He earned a construction management degree from Louisiana State University, gaining field experience through four summer roles, including formwork carpentry and as the youngest intern at Barriere Construction.
He joined Barriere as a field engineer and spent more than three years on heavy highway projects, including widening 4.5 miles of Interstate 12. In 2015, he became the second hire in Palmisano’s emerging infrastructure group, now RNGD, and helped grow it into the firm’s largest self-perform division. He advanced to executive vice president, focusing on long-term planning, talent development and business development.
Under his leadership, the infrastructure team grew from two employees to more than 150 and from zero revenue to $73 million in 2024. He is guiding expansion into new markets, including data center work in Rayville, La., and Canton, Miss. Abadie supports workforce development through the ACE Mentor Program, unCommon Construction and Son of a Saint. He is also a long-standing volunteer with the Fore!Kids Foundation.
Erik M. Alcantara, 33
Client Service Manager, Senior Project Manager
AECOM, Miami
Alcantara grew up on construction sites in Santo Domingo with his father. After earning a civil engineering degree from Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, he managed hotel, commercial and residential projects before moving to Florida in 2015 for U.S. licensure and to participate in infrastructure work. He later transitioned to consulting at AECOM.
He leads stormwater, water, wastewater and climate-adaptation projects for Miami, Miami Beach and Key Biscayne. He helped develop the city of Miami’s beach stormwater master plan and managed the village of Key Biscayne’s stormwater master plan, which set the stage for the village’s $80-million Zone 1 Resiliency Improvements Project. During this period, he completed a master’s in civil engineering and received an engineering innovation certificate from the University of Florida.
A licensed professional engineer, project management professional and envision sustainability professional, Alcantara served in 2025 as president of the American Society of Civil Engineers Miami-Dade Branch and vice president for the Americas of AECOM’s Hispanic Employee Resource Group. His community work includes fundraising for statewide recovery and student-support initiatives through the Florida Engineering Leadership Institute and cultural/mentorship programs in the Dominican American community.
Imtiaz Ali, 33
Project Controls – Schedule Review Lead
AECOM, Atlanta
Ali delivers complex infrastructure programs through disciplined project controls and schedule management. With experience in Asia, the Middle East and the U.S., he now works on a $4.7-billion transportation program in Georgia, overseeing integrated schedules, earned value analysis and risk mitigation.
Starting his career in Dubai on major developments, including the world’s largest indoor sports mall, where he advanced through site engineering, coordination and scheduling roles. He earned a master’s in construction management from Pittsburg State University and a master’s in civil engineering from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, building on his bachelor’s in civil engineering.
As a PMP and PMI Scheduling Professional, Ali introduced standardized dashboards, cost-tracking tools and variance mechanisms at AECOM to improve forecasting and early risk identification. His published research on project controls has been cited more than 300 times. He has performed disaster relief work in Pakistan, mentored students as a graduate teaching assistant and created free educational content for early-career professionals.
Chase Anderson, 40
Associate Principal
Thornton Tomasetti, Tampa, Fla.
Anderson has 15 years of experience in structural engineering and forensic investigation. An associate principal in Thornton Tomasetti’s Tampa office, he holds structural engineering degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin and is a licensed PE in multiple states.
He has led multidisciplinary teams on hurricane and windstorm assessments along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, delivering rapid evaluations of damaged residential, commercial and critical infrastructure. His work includes emergency response after Hurricane Ian, structural assessments following tornadoes in Tallahassee and contributions to investigations of the Florida International University pedestrian bridge collapse and Mexico City’s Metro Line 12 collapse. He applies drones and 3D laser scanning to document failures safely for litigation and recovery.
Anderson mentors through the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Mentor Program and trains young engineers in field investigation. In 2023, he served as construction lead for Thornton Tomasetti’s Bridges to Prosperity team in Rwanda, delivering an 80-meter footbridge that is used by thousands of people.
Jamal Atkins, 37
Vice President of Construction Engineering & Inspection
Volkert, Charlotte
Atkins has 15 years of experience shaping transportation and infrastructure projects across the Carolinas. A civil engineering graduate of North Carolina State University, he began with the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation, rising to assistant resident engineer before joining Volkert as vice president of construction engineering and inspection.
He oversees multimillion-dollar programs in bridge construction, roadway improvements, utility relocation, broadband expansion and rail. His portfolio includes Charlotte Gateway Station, pedestrian upgrades in downtown Waxhaw and the statewide Broadband Infrastructure Design Build program.
Atkins serves on the American Council of Engineering Companies–North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Joint Subcommittee on Construction and Materials, chairs Volkert’s Technology Advisory Committee and contributes to the firm’s construction engineering and inspection committee. He and his family support Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of North Carolina.
Kristy Baumer, 37
General Manager
Turner Construction, Houston
When she was appointed head of Turner’s Houston business operations last year, Baumer became the first woman to hold that local role. She oversees 180 staff and more than $320 million in planned 2025 work, guiding strategy, profitability, talent development and community engagement. Her scope extends across Texas and national client accounts.
After earning a civil engineering degree from the University of Southern California, she delivered health care, life sciences and data center projects before joining Turner in 2018 as a project manager. In 2020, she shifted to business development, securing more than $365 million in backlog within three years and strengthening ties with MD Anderson, Harris Health and the University of Texas Medical Branch.
She later managed Turner’s special projects division and interiors group, overseeing more than 15 projects from $2 million to $60 million. In 2024, she balanced operations and business development, contributing to more than $1 billion in national pursuits.
Rosslyn Cooper, 39
Senior Vice President, Project Management & Operations Center of Excellence
WSP, Nashville
Cooper has 18 years of experience advancing technology, operations and transformation in engineering and construction. As senior vice president and operations lead for WSP’s Project Management and Operations Center of Excellence, she oversees a team of more than 200 and leads the Horizon Business Platform, one of the industry’s largest Oracle Cloud ERP deployments, supporting 40,000 employees and 150,000 active projects worldwide.
Her work unified processes across more than 20 countries, retired legacy systems and embedded analytics for financial transparency and efficient scaling. Her career spans commercial and operations roles in Australia to senior U.S. leadership. She contributed to the New Orleans Airport Development Program and the Interstate 440 Reconstruction in Nashville. Recognized by Women We Admire, Cooper mentors emerging professionals and advances inclusive workplaces.
Ryan Eisenhauer, 35
Director, Facilities Construction Services
STO Building Group, Cape Coral, Fla.
Eisenhauer started in construction at 14 in a sheet metal shop and, by 16, was producing HVAC shop drawings and cleaning jobsites on weekends. After earning a mechanical engineering degree from Wentworth Institute of Technology, he completed an accelerated MBA at Concordia University while working full time.
He joined STO Building Group in 2013 as a superintendent and rose to director of facilities construction services, overseeing more than 50 active projects. He co-developed Day 2+, a platform streamlining small-scope and post-occupancy work now being deployed across North America. His leadership stresses scalable processes, client trust and people development.
Eisenhauer spent a decade with the ACE Mentor Program. He also coaches youth sports and created a free online construction course for newcomers.
Mark Grano, 30
Director of Substation Engineering
Primoris Services Corp., Dallas
Since 2016, Grano has led utility and renewable energy substation design. After earning an electrical engineering degree from Texas Tech University, he joined Dashiell Corp., leading design for clients including PG&E, ONCOR and PPL and managing teams delivering complex interconnect stations nationwide.
He joined Primoris in 2023 to build a new substation engineering group for renewable EPC projects. He assembled the department, mentored a team that delivered more than a dozen substations (energized or under construction) and rose to director within a year. He implemented a tailored QA/QC framework and advanced more than a gigawatt of clean energy infrastructure. Grano is active in IEEE and volunteers in church security and marriage ministries.
Cyndi Hallman, 35
Corporate HSE Director
Primoris Services Corp., Houston
Hallman has strengthened safety across a large multidisciplinary construction organization. She began in commercial real estate and construction management before shifting to safety, joining Primoris as a health, safety and environmental analyst and advancing by turning data into field improvements.
As corporate HSE director, she develops companywide policies and oversees digital safety platforms and AI-enabled fleet systems. Her work reduced serious-crash risk across more than 127 million fleet miles and lowered auto liability costs. She helped develop VIVA, Primoris’ guiding safety philosophy. She introduced the first enterprise safety culture survey and aligned leadership with field teams. Hallman volunteers with Be A Resource (B.E.A.R.) in Houston and Primoris’ women employee resource group.
Bibek Karki, 38
Regional Director of Engineering
IPS PowerServe, Pflugerville, Texas
Karki focuses on electrical safety and system reliability. After earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University, he joined National Field Services (now IPS), working in power system testing and engineering, from relay upgrades and arc flash mitigation to emergency outage response.
During 12 years at IPS, he expanded capabilities to include load-flow analysis, harmonic analysis, motor-starting evaluations, North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) compliance and advanced consulting. As regional director of engineering, he leads team growth, mentors engineers and supports account managers, training and marketing. Karki serves on committees with the InterNational Electrical Testing Association (NETA), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and IEEE and mentors at Southern Methodist University and local high schools.
Donny Kiehn, 39
Design & Commissioning Manager
PCL Construction, Katy, Texas
Kiehn, a U.S. Army veteran, leads commissioning for utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects. He began on wind projects with Blattner Energy, advancing through field engineer, superintendent, system protection engineer and project manager roles. He has contributed to more than 2 GW of solar and storage work, including PCL Solar’s largest projects—Shakes and Rayos del Sol in Texas. At PCL, he oversees a commissioning and substation team of more than 30, develops standard operating procedures for electrical testing and builds in-house operations and maintenance capabilities. He serves as the qualifying party for the company’s Arizona contractor license and pursues additional licensure.
Ricardo Jesus Maga Rojas, 36
Assistant Project Manager
Stantec Architecture Inc., Plano, Texas
Rojas, a first-generation college graduate, holds a bachelor of architecture degree from Tuskegee University and a master’s in urban planning from Texas A&M University. During the past decade, he contributed to education, housing, workplace, retail and civic projects across Texas, Florida and Tennessee, including the 250,000-sq-ft LEED Gold SHI headquarters and a 400,000-sq-ft parking garage (at the time, GSC Architects’ largest).
At Stantec, he supports K–12 projects through design, documentation and construction coordination. He serves as an at-large director on the American Institute of Architects National Associates Committee and co-founded the National Organization of Minority Architects Central Texas chapter. His credentials include WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador and PMP.
Mary McGowan, 38
Civil Engineer, Vice President
Kimley Horn, Nashville
McGowan has expanded her firm’s Tennessee presence, helping open the Franklin office in 2022. She leads teams across the South region, overseeing financial strategy, staffing and project pipelines. Her portfolio includes master-planned communities, mixed-use, retail, multifamily and utility projects, such as the Factory at Franklin redevelopment (winner of the Urban Land Institute Nashville Excellence in Development and People’s Choice awards) and Rolling Hills Community Church expansion.
She began her career in Houston, relocated to Nashville in 2018 and became a Kimley-Horn owner in 2019. McGowan mentors through the firm’s women’s leadership group and Girls Tackling Emerging Careers Camp, and she serves on Franklin’s development services advisory commission.
Milan Mendapara, 30
Development Manager
Thakkar Developers, Dallas
Mendapara manages mixed-use, energy and data center projects. Holding a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, he played a central role in a $1-billion, 79-acre master plan in Allen, Texas, and a 36-acre mixed-use project in Plano, blending residential, commercial and public-realm elements. He led adaptive reuse of historic structures into modern residential and entertainment spaces.
He founded and leads the company’s renewable energy and data center division, delivering a 5-MW data center and 10-MW solar project, with more underway. He introduced an AI-based construction management platform and launched an e-commerce venture for power distribution equipment. His credentials include PMP and LEED Green Associate. He peer-reviews American Society of Civil Engineers journals and supports affordable housing, youth mentorship and STEM outreach.
Nathan Mozeleski, 36
Senior Engineer
AtkinsRéalis, Orlando
Mozeleski has 15 years in intelligent transportation systems at AtkinsRéalis, leading a statewide team and mentoring junior engineers nationwide. A civil engineering graduate of Florida State University, he manages more than $20 million in services contracts for the Florida Dept. of Transportation, New Jersey Dept. of Transportation and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
Mozeleski served as technical design lead for New Jersey’s Smart and Connected Corridors Route 1/295 project. His portfolio includes Maryland’s Purple Line, Florida’s 150-mile Interstate 10 ITS deployment, Nevada’s statewide truck parking system and central Florida’s PedSafe/Greenway connected vehicle program.
He launched a peer-to-peer technical education program at AtkinsRéalis (more than 65 sessions) and shaped the Florida Dept. of Transportation’s ITS Master Class series. He volunteers with Bike-Walk Central Florida and supports STEM and workforce development.
Tanner Oetjen, 31
Civil Engineer
AECOM, Houston
Oetjen has spent nine years in transportation design. A civil engineer in AECOM’s transportation planning group, he works at the intersection of conceptual design, feasibility analysis and long‑range planning. Oetjen’s portfolio spans construction phasing, schematic design as well as planning and environmental linkage studies for agencies including the Texas Dept. of Transportation, Houston METRO and the city of Fort Worth.
Oetjen leads construction phasing for Houston METRO’s Wheeler Station Transit Center, coordinating uninterrupted rail, bus and pedestrian access during TxDOT’s reconstruction of Interstate 69, which is being converted from an elevated structure to a depressed freeway. In Fort Worth, he guides feasibility‑level designs for 15 priority corridors to inform the city’s 2026 bond program and support early planning for the redevelopment of Panther Island. He also contributes to long‑range efforts such as Connecting the Core and the Access Butler Place Plan, helping evaluate multimodal needs and reconnecting historically isolated neighborhoods.
He is known for developing “plangineers” and mentoring young staff in roadway fundamentals, conceptual design and emerging 3D tools. His collaboration with AECOM’s digital solutions group has helped refine new software and agency workspaces. As former chair of the Young Professionals in Transportation Houston, he rebuilt the chapter post‑pandemic, tripling membership and expanding sponsorships. In 2025, he received YPT’s Engineer of the Year Award.
James Olden Jr., 39
Design Manager, Associate
Gensler, Dallas
Olden brings a blend of architectural training and construction management experience to his role as a design manager at Gensler. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Prairie View A&M University and a master’s in construction management from the University of Houston. During his 14-year career, he has shaped projects with a focus on technical clarity, client advocacy and coordinated delivery.
Olden spent more than eight years in the construction industry before moving into design management, where he helps bridge the gap between design intent and field execution.
At Gensler, he guides complex projects, leads coordination between contractors and design teams and supports clients through decisions across all phases of work. His ability to translate both architectural language and construction processes has made him a trusted adviser to repeat clients. His work includes award-winning commercial projects such as the Offices at Southstone Yards, the largest mass timber office building in Texas.
He co-founded Gensler’s global borderless mentorship program and co-leads the Dallas client relationships committee, supporting internal training and client-focused problem-solving. Olden is active in the Texas Real Estate Council’s leadership program, serves on Gensler Dallas’ community impact committee and mentors students through Prairie View A&M’s Elevate program. He also serves with AIA Dallas, including as vice chair of the emerging leaders program, and was named to the Dallas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 class in 2023.
Andrew Reid, 37
Vice President / Regional Global Practice Manager, Transportation
Burns & McDonnell, Dallas
Reid is vice president and regional global practice manager for Burns & McDonnell’s transportation group in Dallas and Austin, directing client development, strategic planning and project delivery across North and Central Texas. Since taking on the role in 2020, he has led a 50‑person team, expanded the Austin transportation department by nearly 200% and launched new service lines in planning, traffic engineering and construction design‑build. Under his leadership, the group has logged more than 250,000 work hours without a recordable safety incident. He was named a principal in 2022 and vice president in 2026, an honor reserved for the firm’s top 1% of professionals.
Reid leads Fort Worth’s $42‑million Everman Parkway progressive design‑build project, which includes new roadway, a bridge over a Union Pacific Railroad corridor and multimodal accommodations. He also played a key role in the $3.8‑billion US 380 and Spur 399 corridors effort in Collin County, where the environmental impact statement advanced faster than any other in Texas and ranked among the top 10 nationally.
He mentors through the firm’s
AMPLIFY program and supports DBE development through TxDOT’s Drive and NTTA’s Road programs. His community work includes Friends of Preston Ridge Trail, the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and volunteer service with his church.
Mike Ritchie, 38
Vice President, Division Manager
Brasfield & Gorrie, Atlanta
Ritchie has built his career at Brasfield & Gorrie, advancing from co-op student to vice president and division manager, while contributing to some of the Southeast’s most complex mixed-use and mission-critical projects.
A Georgia Tech graduate in industrial and systems engineering, Ritchie joined the firm full time in estimating before moving into project management. Early in his career, he supported major projects, including the Omni Nashville Hotel and the expansion of the Country Music Hall of Fame. After returning to Atlanta, Ritchie led multifamily and mixed-use work and ultimately oversaw nearly $2.8 billion in completed projects.
Ritchie now manages a division of more than 20 project managers responsible for more than $400 million in projected 2025 volume. His current portfolio includes two Atlanta data centers totaling more than $800 million. He provides operational oversight, supports preconstruction and pursuits and helps guide long-term planning for the division.
Ritchie serves on the company’s recruiting steering committee, project delivery steering committee and Impact Week committee, and he represents Brasfield & Gorrie with the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. His community involvement includes support for Ser Familia and the Atlanta Mission and board service with the Fore Hadley Foundation, where he advocates for families affected by congenital diaphragmatic hernias.
Natalie Rogers, 38
Water Resources Team Leader
Halff, Little Rock, Ark.
Natalie Rogers, a professional engineer and certified floodplain manager, leads Halff’s water resources team in Little Rock and has become one of Arkansas’ most respected experts in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, floodplain mapping and dam safety. With 13 years of experience across state agencies, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private consulting, she brings a strong technical foundation to complex flood risk and water resource challenges. Her work includes Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain studies, base-level engineering, dam-breach analyses, emergency action plans and public outreach. She recently served as project manager for the city of Little Rock’s updated drainage manual, adopted in 2025.
Rogers is a recognized leader in the floodplain management community. She was elected chair of the Arkansas Floodplain Management Association in 2022 and has also served as vice chair, central representative and chair of both the professional development committee and the Certified Floodplain Manager Program. She teaches engineering hydrology as an adjunct professor at Arkansas State University and serves as vice president of the university’s alumni board.
Her community involvement includes co-chairing the Halff Community Initiative in Little Rock, where she leads volunteer efforts with local nonprofits and helps strengthen the firm’s culture through team building and service.
Matt Schrodel, 37
Senior Vice President of Operations, Dallas Business Unit Leader
McCarthy Building Cos., Dallas
Schrodel has spent his entire 16-year career at McCarthy Building Cos., rising from intern to senior vice president and business unit leader for the firm’s Dallas operations. After earning a degree in construction management from the University of Oklahoma, he joined McCarthy full time as a project engineer and quickly advanced into project management roles. He led major efforts, including the Museum of Fine Arts Houston – Glassell School of Art and the Collin College Technical Center, contributing to more than $1 billion in completed work before moving into operations leadership.
Schrodel was promoted to vice president of operations and, in 2023, to senior vice president overseeing McCarthy’s Dallas business unit. He now leads projects across health care, aviation, education and hospitality, driving a 31% increase in regional sales with 80% of work coming from repeat clients. His leadership emphasizes workforce development, including hands-on support for craft teams and internal promotions.
He serves on the University of Oklahoma Construction Science Professional Advisory Board and is a founding member of Texo’s executive development steering committee. His community involvement includes volunteering through McCarthy’s Heart Hats program, supporting local schools, food security efforts as well as nonprofit partners across Dallas.
Diana Sosa, 36
Project Manager
Black & Veatch, Atlanta
Sosa has 15 years of experience delivering complex infrastructure, environmental and construction projects, building a career that is grounded in technical rigor and public and environmental stewardship. As a project manager at Black & Veatch, she leads multidisciplinary teams through engineering, procurement and construction phases for federal, municipal and commercial clients. Her background includes regulatory compliance under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Clean Air and Clean Water acts. Sosa also supports projects through her experience in project controls, risk management, quality oversight and business development.
Before joining Black & Veatch, Sosa served as an associate project manager at WSP, managing major design and construction programs. Her portfolio spans capital improvements, facility sustainment, environmental remediation and mission‑critical federal infrastructure, including work for Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Public Works Support Services, Fort Leavenworth master planning, Fort Riley microgrid development and international water treatment initiatives.
Sosa is active in the Society of American Military Engineers, serving on the JETS Registrations Committee, and is a graduate of the American Council of Engineering Companies Georgia Leadership Development Class of 2019. She also volunteers with Global Growers and coordinates donation drives that support underserved communities in Honduras.
Anthony Taylor, 32
Regional Director
Harper General Contractors, Summerville, S.C.
Taylor rose from co-op student to regional director at Harper General Contractors, contributing to major water and wastewater projects in South Carolina. He joined the firm in 2014 while studying civil engineering at Clemson University, gaining experience in preconstruction, bidding, fieldwork and closeout. After graduating in 2016, he advanced through project/field engineer, project manager and regional director roles for coastal operations.
Taylor opened Harper’s second coastal office in Charleston in 2023, overseeing recruitment, start-up and partnerships. His portfolio includes the award-winning Summerville WWTP Biosolids Solar Dryer, Pioneer WTP, Oconee State Park WWTP and R.B. Simms WTF improvements. He integrates 3D modeling, robotic total stations, laser scanning and drones. Taylor mentors emerging professionals and supports Meals on Wheels, Fix IT! and Miracle League.
Maksym Tkachuk, 29
Project Manager
Rosendin, Austin
Tkachuk has advanced quickly at Rosendin, drawing on a diverse engineering background and a strong technical foundation built across three countries. A native of Vinnytsia, Ukraine, he began his academic path with an associate degree in civil engineering before earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and graduating cum laude from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. He later completed a master’s in engineering management at Cornell University, adding financial planning, strategic leadership and advanced project management to his skill set.
Tkachuk now manages daily operations for a multibillion-dollar semiconductor fabrication plant in Taylor, Texas, overseeing forecasting, cost control, change management and client coordination. His role includes supporting field teams, strengthening international client relationships and driving a culture of safety and continuous improvement. He is known for identifying risks early, reducing rework and improving efficiency through modern project management tools and methodologies.
He holds multiple industry certifications, including OSHA 30 Hour, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Google Project Manager and CPR/AED/First Aid. His community involvement includes mentoring high school students through the ACE Mentor Program and earlier volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Habitat for Humanity.
Stephanie Tovar, 37
Superintendent
Flintco, San Antonio
Tovar brings military discipline, technical skill and people‑focused leadership to her role as superintendent at Flintco. A San Antonio native, she put herself through Texas A&M University by enlisting in the U.S. Army, where she served as a combat vertical engineer with deployments to Germany and Afghanistan. Despite multiple pauses for service, she graduated cum laude in 2013 with a degree in construction science.
Rising from project engineer to assistant superintendent, she now works on complex commercial projects in the U.S. and Mexico. Known for her collaborative approach, she brings trade partners into scheduling and coordination, leads BIM efforts and mentors younger staff. She also passed the International Code Council General Contractor’s exam, strengthening her command of building codes and elevating project standards.
Her portfolio includes major industrial work such as the Toyota Texas Manufacturing Plant, multibillion‑dollar brewery expansions and the Black Box Theater addition at St. Philip’s College. Her service extends globally and locally through volunteer work in Rwanda, disaster‑relief efforts and involvement with the Architecture, Construction and Engineering Mentor Program, the National Association of Women in Construction, Students Helping People and the San Antonio Hispanic Contractors Association.
Sharath Vennavelly, 34
Project Manager
Ardurra, Houston
Vennavelly has built his career in public sector infrastructure delivery, earning recognition for his work on complex capital programs across Houston. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in construction management, and early in his career he presented a 2014 study on cost estimation using neural networks that highlighted the potential of data-driven analysis in project planning. His project experience includes several high-profile efforts in the region, among them the Memorial Park Central Connector and Levy Park.
In addition to project delivery, Vennavelly authored the Construction Process Manual for the Houston Public Works Dept., supporting a capital program with annual budgets exceeding $3.2 billion. Adopted in 2018 and still in use, the manual standardized 32 construction work processes, strengthening consistency across the city’s infrastructure program.
He currently oversees design management for more than $150 million in active projects and leads design efforts on a consent decree program involving the city of Houston, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Dept. of Justice. His contributions earned national recognition with the 2023 CMAA Distinguished Young Professional Award. He also remains active in STEM outreach, engaging students in engineering and construction management careers.
Katie West, 37
Project Manager
AtkinsRéalis, Atlanta
West focuses on transportation planning and environmental stewardship with a master’s degree in environmental policy and management from the University of Denver. She supported I-285 improvements in Atlanta, Atlanta BeltLine segments, Peña Boulevard in Denver and Rickenbacker Causeway in Miami. She manages more than $1 million in environmental contracts and participates in more than $20 million in pursuits.
She holds leadership roles with ACEC Georgia, WTS Atlanta and SAME Savannah Post, launched consultant–Georgia Dept. of Transportation working groups and organizes professional development and networking events. At AtkinsRéalis, she co-founded the national emerging professionals network committee and leads the Atlanta chapter of Women Inspiring Leadership employee resource group. She mentors emerging professionals and fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Nick Wilson, 37
Vice President, Division Manager
Brasfield & Gorrie, Atlanta
Wilson has built his career at Brasfield & Gorrie through practical experience, technical skills and strong leadership, with a focus on people. While earning dual degrees in building science and finance at Auburn University, he worked full time as a superintendent to pay his way through school. An internship with the firm’s Atlanta health care group led to a full-time role, beginning in preconstruction before he moved into project management on the Wellstar Paulding Medical Center. He quickly advanced his career by taking on significant projects, including a medical office building that became essential to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s North Druid Hills campus.
Wilson rose through senior project management into his current role as vice president and division manager, where he focuses on pursuing new work, strengthening the Atlanta health care division and expanding into mission-critical markets. He is recognized for developing talent and mentoring over 20 team members.
He remains active across the industry and his community, supporting recruiting and safety initiatives, serving on Auburn’s Industry Advisory Council and leading fundraising efforts that generate significant support for students and local nonprofits.
Emilee Woods, 34
Owner and Principal Engineer
Athena Engineering
In 2024, Woods founded Athena Engineering, a woman-owned civil engineering firm focused on transportation, safety and mobility improvements. She has built the company’s operations, delivery systems and client partnerships from the ground up, earning a reputation for clarity, responsiveness and technical excellence.
Before starting her own firm, Woods spent 11 years at Parsons Corp., rising from entry-level engineer to Georgia operations manager for transportation. She led a team of 60 engineers, guided major pursuits and delivered complex roadway and mobility projects, including work on several of the state’s largest transportation investments. As an engineer of record, she contributed to projects that improved safety, connectivity and long-term system performance.
Woods—who has built a career that is defined by technical rigor, operational leadership and a commitment to improving transportation infrastructure across Georgia—is a licensed professional engineer. She also holds a civil engineering degree from Auburn University and earned a master’s from Georgia Tech, where she completed her graduate work with a 3.9 GPA while working full time.
Woods remains active in ACEC Georgia, ASHE and multiple GPTQ subcommittees, and she volunteers regularly at Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Her work reflects a blend of technical expertise, community focus and leadership that is shaping the next generation of transportation professionals.
