The Southeast's reputation for population and business growth appears to be playing out again, as metro areas from Miami to Atlanta are driving significant gains in construction activity. As a result, regional construction and design firms are again adding staff, and looking for top-quality workers.

As ENR Southeast's latest Top 20 Under 40 class demonstrates, the construction industry has no shortage of young professionals capable of leading a company—and the industry itself—to higher levels. From the passionate green advocate in Charlotte, to the doctor of civil engineering in the Atlanta area focused on designing new bioremediation methods, to the business developer in Raleigh who climbed an 19,347-ft-tall active volcano in Ecuador as part of a fundraiser for Water For People, this year's representatives showcase a wide variety of skill, talent and passion as they work to contribute to their companies, their industry and their communities.

As is the case with all of ENR Southeast's contests, the publication assembled an independent panel of judges to review and rate the more than 60 nominees for this year's Top 20 Under 40 competition. After assessing each candidate's work experience, career and industry leadership achievements—as well as their efforts to give back to their communities and industry peers—judges determined the 20 most deserving individuals. The 20 young professionals here collectively represent the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.

This year's panel of judges included: Michael Bernos, director of public relations with engineering and architectural consultant RS&H in Jacksonville, Fla.; Cheryl Maze, principal with TLC Engineering for Architecture in Orlando; and a recent Top 20 Under 40 honoree, Ryan Taylor, president of Ryan Taylor Architects, Atlanta.

ENR Southeast invites readers to check out this year's Top 20 Under 40 class featured in the following pages and review the fine work they have done on behalf of their industry and communities.

BAUMAN

Holly Bauman
Fast learner is dedicated to helping others
31, Roadway Engineer
ARCADIS US
Atlanta

Holly Bauman showcases her ability to implement complicated roadway design components at ARCADIS, where she was assigned a fast-track, reversible toll-lane project in the Atlanta metro area. Bauman graduated from Florida State University with a degree in civil engineering in 2006. A quick study in the field, she rapidly gained knowledge in roadway and drainage design and planning. She's even picked up skills in structural engineering by working on bridge replacement projects. Bauman is passionate about donating her time to aid others and promote the role of women in engineering. She is a member and volunteer with Women's Transportation Seminar, Institute of Transportation Engineers and Habitat for Humanity, and is a board member of the American Society of Highway Engineers.

CABORN

Kristin Caborn
Uses background to guide design of parks and recreation facilities
39, Senior Project Manager
Atkins
Orlando

Always ready to face a challenge, Kristin Caborn excels at putting together multidisciplinary teams to serve her firm's clients. With a master's degree in recreational studies, she combines her educational training with a unique background as a public parks and recreation director to help technical professionals better understand the needs of public entities in the planning and design of parks and recreation facilities. As leader of Atkins' recreation business unit, Caborn helps ensure repeat business from clients such as the city of North Miami Beach and several counties in South Florida. She also specializes in environmental design strategies that help deter crime by including natural surveillance, territorial reinforcement and access control. She currently serves as president of the Florida Recreation and Parks Association Foundation.

CAMPBELL

France Campbell
Young ITS engineer is involved with numerous transportation efforts
32, Traffic and Intelligent Transportation Systems Engineer
AECOM
Atlanta

With a deep pool of experience in intelligent traffic systems (ITS) modeling and design to draw from, France Campbell balances a full slate of transportation engineering endeavors. He serves as project manager on the transportation management center redesign for the Georgia Dept. of Transportation and is traffic engineer on multiple projects, including the Phenix City, Ala., Crawford Road traffic signal and communications project, Atlanta BeltLine environmental assessment streetcar analysis and the relocation of Atlanta's Amtrak station. Campbell contributes to the industry by giving presentations at meetings and conferences for the Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the Georgia ITE Summer Seminar and the Intelligent Transportation Society 3C Summit. He chairs the Georgia ITE Section technical committee as well as the finance committee for the Atlanta chapter of Young Professionals in Transportation. With a passion for cycling, Campbell was Tour de Cure team captain for the AECOM/Norfolk Southern team and is a founder and board member of Bike Alpharetta, a community bicycling advocacy group.

DUTY

Katie Duty
Established firm's national Young Professionals Group
35, Water Resources Market Leader
HDR
Tampa

Starting as a project engineer with HDR 12 years ago, Katie Duty now leads HDR Florida's water resource management team. She is a two-time graduate of HDR's career development leadership program and has worked with the executive management team to address organizational challenges. Early in her career, Duty formed HDR's first Young Professionals Group in Florida. She went on to establish a national YPG program throughout HDR; there are now more than 50 programs in the United States. She is currently co-facilitating a pilot program for a new internal leadership program.