Mcgraw Hill Construction

Winners of ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40 Competition are selected on the basis of their contributions to their profession and community.

Among the youngest are a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Des Moines, a project manager who at age 31 already serves as mentor to younger colleagues and a 32-year-old designer who is president of the American Institute of Architects Illinois Chapter. Among the oldest: a 38 year old serving as general manager of Turner Construction Co.'s Cincinnati operations, a 39-year-old architect known for his innovative uses of sustainable building skins and a 39-year-old civil engineer who has made her mark in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Each is among the rising stars selected as ENR Midwest's Top 20 Under 40, an annual competition recognizing young design and construction professionals from the region who have made lasting contributions to their professions and communities.

While other ENR Midwest award programs, including Project of the Year, Designer of the Year and Contractor of the Year, recognize the collective endeavors of industry professionals, the Top 20 Under 40 program focuses on individual achievement, in this instance the accomplishments of 16 men and four women who collectively hail from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Although their backgrounds vary, each has assumed a position of leadership by virtue of enterprise and achievement.

ENR Midwest received 130 entries during a submission period extending from Sept. 14 to Nov. 9. An independent panel of six industry professionals selected those candidates believed to best demonstrate excellence in their professions and communities.

Panelists included Jim Arends, vice president, Gilbane Building Co., Chicago; Katherine Darnstadt, principal, Latent Design, Chicago; Robert Krier, president, The Hill Group, Franklin Park, Ill.; Colin Rohlfing, senior associate, HOK, Chicago; Anna Stern, vice president, Tri-North Builders, Fitchburg, Wis.; and Brian Volpe, vice president, Thornton Tomasetti, Chicago.

Congratulations to ENR Midwest's Class of 2013!

Her work behind the scenes has yielded some highly visible results

37, IT Director

The Weitz Co.

Des Moines

Most industry professionals with degrees in civil and construction engineering erect bridges and buildings, but Karmyn Babcock instead builds electronic infrastructures—computer networks and highways that merge the disciplines of engineering and computer technology. While serving as a project engineer with Weitz, Babcock developed a prototype intranet for the company's more than 1,200 employees and directed beta testing of Prolog Manager 5.0 before its company-wide implementation. She later worked on Weitz jobsites in order to gain the perspective of an end-user, an experience that guided her efforts to implement and upgrade programs ranging from JD Edwards (JDE) to Oracle. Babcock has since developed real-time integration between Prolog and JDE and regularly consults on thisunique application. She is actively involved with several professional groups, including McGraw-Hill Construction FutureTech CIO

By leading, she seeks to set an example for colleagues and family

32, Associate Electrical Engineer

Hafer Associates

Evansville, Ind.

The youngest employee to be named associate at Hafer, Amy Barrett also is regional southwest vice president with the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE) and chair of he National Society of Professional Engineers Young Engineers Advisory Council, for which she leads a committee of 12 engineers in developing educational webinars. For the past four years, Barrett has served as a member of the Junior League of Evansville. She also is a member of Young Leaders United-The United Way of Southwestern Indiana and serves on the Board of Directors for Evansville's YWCA. In June ISPE named Barrett Indiana Young Engineer of the Year, an award that not only recognizes honorees for their exceptional technical achievements but also for their contributions to ISPE and their communities. With a young family at home, Barrett says she believes giving back sets a positive example for her children.

This enterprising entrepreneur forged a formidable business

31, Owner

Beal Derkenne Construction

Des Moines

After the recession forced his former employer to shutter its business, Andrew Beal opened Beal Derkenne Construction in 2010 with longtime colleague Michael Derkenne. Despite the lingering economic downturn, the young entrepreneur recently commenced work on his firm's 10th project, a luxury student-housing project in Tucson, Ariz. His fledgling firm also has secured contracts for projects ranging from a retail center in Des Moines to a 78-room luxury hotel in Sloan, Iowa. Projects seeking to revive Des Moines, his home town, are particularly close to his heart, he says. As a member of the East and South Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, Beal actively supports the organization's community events, including an annual charity golf tournament. His work with Des Moines' East Village Association is dedicated to ensuring the Village remains an eclectic, diverse, prosperous and welcoming community. Beal also is active with Experience for All, which provides outdoor experiences for children afflicted with life-threatening illnesses.

He's the engine driving his office's transportation projects

38, Senior Associate

Gensler

Chicago

As a studio director for Gensler, David Broz leads a team of 25 colleagues engaged in transportation, aviation, education and cultural projects. As co-leader of Gensler's culture and education practice, he works with nearly 200 Gensler architects and designers worldwide. Broz recently founded a summer internship program at Gensler Chicago that engages more than 20 students in activities involving sustainable design. A graduate of the University of Kansas, he serves as an advisory board member for the school's Multicultural Architectural Scholarship Program. Closer to home, he is co-chair of the Chicago Loop Alliance Placemaking Committee, a panel devoted to developing a healthier and more economically prosperous community.

He's made the sustainable more obtainable for clients

35, Sustainable Practice Leader

AEI/Affiliated Engineers Inc.

Madison, Wis.

A mechanical engineer whose career coincided with the advent of sustainable design, Paul Erickson has dedicated his career to uniting architects, engineers and contractors in an integrated approach to environmental issues. When the tools don't exist to advance his goals, Erickson develops them himself, the result being a consulting methodology known as Precis as well as planning tools to achieve net-zero energy consumption. For the past six years, he has spoken frequently to industry groups on topics ranging from energy modeling to life-cycle costing.

His role as LEED consultant has led to prominent projects in Mexico

32, Energy Services Manager

Primera Engineers

Chicago

In addition to serving as Primera's "project LEED consultant" for a variety of project types, Josh R. Greenfield, a mechanical engineer, specializes in developing energy models in accordance with ASHRAE 90.1 Guidelines and in utilizing integrated design-phase energy modeling to evaluate architectural envelopes and mechanical systems. Greenfield has put his expertise to use as a member of the International Code Council's Building Technology Committee, which recently developed the first International Green Construction Code. He also has consulted with Los Alamos National Labs in New Mexico and participated in some of Mexico City's inaugural LEED projects, including a $425-million corporate tower.

He's at home designing residential and senior housing projects

35, Project Executive

Lend Lease Construction Inc.

Chicago

Specializing in multifamily and mixed-use projects, Christopher Hume has overseen the delivery of 1,300 residential and senior living units for projects collectively valued at more than $325 million. During his tenure with Lend Lease, he has been instrumental in developing programs involving employee development and recognition. While involved with college recruiting efforts, he assisted in formalizing processes to maximize the firm's success at the universities it targets. Hume is actively involved in Rebuilding Together-Chicago, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free home repairs to low-income and elderly residents.