Now that the downturn appears to have finally ended and the upward slope has begun, those individuals that not only survived, but thrived during those hard times are poised to be the leaders of the next boom. This year's list of ENR Southwest's Top 20 Under 40 winners have the technical and people skills to bring success to their firms.
While technological proficiency is definitely an aspect of the success of this year's group, such skills are virtually mandatory among new professionals in the industry. To differentiate the Top 20 from other outstanding employees, judges also considered more traditional skills, such as the ability to work with and lead teams.