ENR California's 2015 Top 20 Under 40
A graduate of MIT, Manan Shah developed an award-winning portfolio at FXFowle and Cooper Joseph Studio, with noted work such as the renovation of Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower into a boutique hotel. Next, he built up his own practice as principal of Shah Kawasaki Architects, designing projects such as Oakland Fire Station 18. After joining Gensler in 2012, he completed the LEED Gold office of NVIDIA in Santa Clara.
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Architect Joshua Divelbiss applies his design sensibilities toward sustainable, transit-oriented urban architecture in an effort to improve his community. With former employer Stantec, he recently aided in the design of the net-zero energy use and LEED Platinum rated East Campus Operations Center of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
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Alvin Huang, an award-winning architect, designer and educator, specializes in the integrated application of material performance, emergent design technologies and digital fabrication. His innovative projects challenge traditional understanding of the built environment, and he champions innovative design research in his architectural practice.
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Matthew Geaman's leadership traits were noticed almost immediately upon joining Joseph Wong Design Associates as an intern in 2008. While he was still an intern, the design firm entrusted him with oversight of the design of the San Diego Community College District's North City Campus. Completed in 2013, the project stands as one of the 37-year-old firm's most successful efforts, says founder Joseph Wong. In 2014, JWDA named Geaman an associate principal�making him the firm's youngest associate principal by nearly two decades.
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As RBF Consulting's youngest vice president, Richard Beck oversees 72 projects, providing natural-resources and regulatory services to a variety of clients. Beck applies his experience in wetland science, environmental studies and erosion control to contend with complex state and federal environmental regulations.
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Russell Fortmeyer joined Arup's Los Angeles office in 1999 as an electrical engineer. But he shifted his focus to the sustainability practice after working in the firm's Sydney office, beginning in 2008. Over that time, Fortmeyer has helped lead Arup projects across the globe, from the Central Library of the Seattle Public Library to projects in Sydney, Beijing and, most recently, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum. Since 2011, Fortmeyer has led the sustainable design practice in Arup's Los Angeles office.
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Upon receiving his California Journeyman's Electrician license after completing the Associated Builders and Contractors' electrical apprenticeship program, Robert Stuart was promoted to electrical foreman at Stronghold Engineering. Soon after, he began instructing future electricians at the ABC program. An industry leader, Stuart was selected by his peers as the 2010 ABC National Instructor of the Year and the 2014 ABC National Craft Person�the only person to receive both awards.
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Since joining Turner Construction in 2003, Noah Boro has championed the early adoption of construction technology. In 2006, his successful coordination of building information modeling for building systems on the $112-million Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach helped establish BIM protocols for the company throughout the U.S. Boro's strong desire to be out in the field led him to switch career paths to become a site superintendent.
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Christopher Evans earned his contractor's license so he could make enough to pay for tuition while attending the University of Oregon. After earning a degree in mathematics, he started a residential construction company in Portland. In 2008, Swinerton offered him a job as a senior project engineer in Hawaii. But he found he could best use his math skills by working in the estimating department. After guiding several projects from preconstruction through completion, Evans became one of Swinerton's youngest chief estimators.
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Christopher Taylor has worked on numerous design-build government and health care projects for Southland Industries' mid-Atlantic division, including renovation of Walter Reed Hospital and a $500-million project that upgraded building systems for four wedges of the Pentagon. In 2012, Taylor was promoted to lead the strategic vision for the Southern California region, where Taylor has structured his management team to devise new lean methods and develop ways to deliver services to develop customers for life.
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A 13-year employee with Sundt Construction Inc. who began as an intern, Bradlee Kirsch has developed balanced experience in preconstruction and operations. He manages the company's preconstruction department for Southern California and is completing preconstruction planning for San Diego International Airport's $232-million Rental Car Center. Identified as a future leader at Sundt, Kirsch provides collaboration expertise, such as for three joint ventures valued at more than $160 million.
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Since starting out in 2003 as a McCarthy Building Cos. project engineer, Jason Mrozek has become integral to the San Diego business unit. Three of his projects, including the Rady Children's Hospital Acute Care Pavilion, received McCarthy's internal Project of the Year Award. Mrozek is now leading three large health care projects. He also managed the Miramar College Police Station & Parking Structure, which became McCarthy's first LEED Platinum certified project.
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Demonstrating confidence, a fearless approach and can-do attitude when taking on new or difficult assignments, 11-year industry veteran Greg Roth specializes in preconstruction services for biotechnology, corporate campus, transportation, office, energy and health care projects. He combines a biomedical engineering degree, high school teaching experience and a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering into a palette of skills.
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These individuals distinguish themselves through their leadership abilities and commitment to their communities.
Photo: ENR California
A licensed architect in Arizona and California, Virginia Marquardt specializes in project management. Recent work includes the modernization of Beverly Hills High School and the renovation and expansion of the historic Jordan High School for the Los Angeles Unified School District. During the last 10 years, she has been a volunteer for the American Institute of Architects, inspiring a new generation of professionals. Marquardt received both the 2009 AIA Arizona Young Architects Citation Award and the 2013 AIA National Young Architect Award.
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Amber Richane has 16 years of experience integrating her skills in interior design, historic preservation and urban and environmental planning. Callison's first employee to be certified as a Green Globes Professional, Richane oversees all sustainable projects and strategy for the company's Los Angeles, Dallas, New York City and Scottsdale, Ariz., offices.
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At mapping software firm Mapistry, founder Ryan Janoch leads the development of an integrated platform for civil engineers and contractors. In his previous role as a project engineer for Terraphase Engineering, he landed and managed an environmental engineering contract for the $1-billion Doyle Drive Reconstruction Project in San Francisco�the firm's largest-ever project. He also designed and implemented an innovative treatment system for wastewater generated during in-water hull cleaning of large vessels.
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Parsons recognized Daniel Sloan's leadership qualities early when he was chosen for the firm's high-potential employee and early-management acceleration programs. His 11 years of experience providing project management and labor relations services includes overseeing the Los Angeles Unified School District's $20-billion construction program. He has contributed to the successful completion of 130 new schools and more than 20,000 modernization projects.
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In 2010, during the nationwide economic recession, Matthew Feldhaus opted to venture out on his own, founding RWBID Construction Management. Since then, the company has grown quickly, guiding jobs such as the $366-million Rancho Los Amigos Hospital project and two Los Angeles County projects valued at $230 million and $150 million. In 2014, the Construction Management Association of America honored Feldhaus with its national Distinguished Young Professional award.
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In 10 years, Terrence McNamara has progressed from an entry-level employee to a division-level manager. Now at A. Teichert & Son, he is taking on corporate leadership responsibilities. In a prior position, McNamara also incorporated technology and improved processes in the firm's heavy equipment division, leading to a 20% cost reduction and an improvement in service.
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In 2011, after working his way up from estimator to project manager to executive vice president of C.W. Driver, Brian Chartrand became president of Driver URBAN, a new affiliate at that time. He developed the strategic plan for the start-up and assembled the leadership team. In three years, the general contractor has grown to 75 employees and approximately $170 million in annual revenue.
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With so many firms competing for available professional staff, successful recruitment often comes down to achieving the right personality fit between employee and company. This year's Top 20 Under 40 honorees exemplify the heights that talented young employees can reach when they are in the right role or within a supportive team.
Selected from 75 applicants, the 20 individuals profiled include innovators, leaders and philanthropists. Some also juggle demanding job and family commitments, trying to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
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Related Links: ENR California's 2016 Top 20 Under 40 |
Protecting the environment through sustainable design and construction practices is a common thread among the Top 20. They also are committed to technology and efficient project management practices.
In its fifth year, the Top 20 Under 40 competition accepts entries through an online system for those under the age of 40 who work within the construction industry in California and Hawaii. Submitters provide information on a candidate's work experience, industry leadership activities, efforts to improve the built environment and service to the broader community.
An independent panel of four judges evaluated the entries. Two were past Top 20 Under 40 honorees: Anthony Damon, business development director and project manager with Jeff Katz Architecture, and Chip Hastie, a vice president with Clark Construction Group. Danielle Feroleto, president of Small Giants, and Brent Leif, contract manager and branch manager of Hunt Construction Group's San Francisco office, also evaluated the entries.
Any candidate who worked for the same company or an affiliated company as a judge was assigned to a different judge.
Read on to learn more about the young women and men who are already making waves in the construction industry and in their communities in California, Hawaii and beyond.
