Adam Jelen
Employs cutting-edge techniques to shape his profession
35, Vice President
Gilbane Building Co.
Milwaukee
As a Gilbane district manager, Adam Jelen routinely employs, among other methods, lean construction, integrated project delivery, and green-building techniques to outstanding effect, his colleagues say. Jelen not only implements target costing and building information modeling (BIM) on projects with success, but he also shares his expertise with other professionals at industry events. In addition, Jelen is community minded, having developed the Gilbane Cares—Building Better Communities program to serve greater Milwaukee.
Andrew J. Johnson
Active with high-profile projects and organizations
36, Senior Project Manager
Krusinski Construction Co.
Oak Brook, Ill.
As a member of Krusinski Construction’s strategic planning team, Senior Project Manager Andrew Johnson juggles high-profile projects and participation with the Association of Subcontractors & Affiliates Chicago, which named him general contractor representative of the year.
Michael Kennedy Jr.
Dynamic young president makes his firm a model of collaboration
32, President
KAI Design & Build
St. Louis
Michael Kennedy Jr. heads one of the largest minority-owned design-build firms in the Midwest. Early on, he recognized the potential power of BIM and was determined to master the pioneering technology. As a result, KAI is regarded by peers as a regional leader of BIM-based collaborations.
Debra Kunce
Her work with Indianapolis public schools is a lesson for others
40, Associate
Schmidt Associates
Indianapolis
Since 2002, architect Debra Kunce has served as owners’ representative on a project that is seeking to renovate or replace every public school in Indianapolis—the largest such school system in Indiana. Her guidelines have become models for districts throughout the U.S. and have earned national recognition.
Jason Lembke
His school designs have enhanced student performance
35, Director, K-12 Education
Legat Architects Inc.
Chicago
As director of Legat’s K-12 practice, architect Jason Lembke oversees projects that account for more than 40% of the company’s annual revenues. His designs address the interplay between environment and student performance—a subject in which he is well-schooled. So far, he has put his experience to work in more than 400 schools in 85 districts.
Jeff S. Lewis
Took the lead in LEED-related initiatives and standards
36, Associate Principal
Design Organization
Chicago
Architect Jeff Lewis leads a practice that serves energy giant British Petroleum, Aetna, AAA, and HSBC. The common thread in this work is his longstanding commitment to sustainability. Since becoming the second person in Indiana to be named a LEED-accredited professional, Lewis has lectured extensively on sustainable design.
Scott G. Nacheman
Architect and civil engineer brings structure to life-safety design
37, Vice President
Thornton Tomasetti Inc.
Chicago
As regional coordinator for Thornton Tomasetti’s property loss consulting practice, Scott Nacheman has developed a keen understanding of how to make buildings more hazard-resistant. Nacheman vigorously promotes fire and life safety in structural design and instructs emergency workers about hazards associated with particular building types. A building-collapse rescue program he developed for Illinois firefighters is now the nationally recognized standard, colleagues say. Nacheman is a volunteer firefighter, participates in university research and serves as a structures specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Diana Pisone
She seeks to make the world a better place, once space at a time
36, Project Director
Ted Moudis Associates
Chicago
An interior designer and LEED-accredited professional, Diana Pisone is a project manager with architect and interior designer Ted Moudis Associates. Her goal, she says, is to make spaces better and more efficient than they were when she found them. She serves as a juror for the national interior designer certification exam and teaches at Chicago’s Illinois Institute of Art.
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