Alicia Pandimos Maurer is a sustainability expert with 14 years of experience in architectural design. She used her graduate education at North Carolina State University to tailor her career toward sustainable design of research and development facilities, with an emphasis on renovating laboratory spaces. While working at CRB's Raleigh office, Maurer honed her project management skills and put into place firm-wide sustainability practices. In 2012, she moved to CRB's Colorado office, where she leads design of science and technology projects, chairs LEED study sessions and educates clients on LEED processes. She is a LEED-accredited professional who helped to start the Colorado chapter of the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories, where she is on the board of directors. Maurer says she works hard to maintain a balance between good design, budget and the collaborative demands of projects. "The team must integrate the people, systems and practices into a process that harnesses the talents, experience and insights of all participants, delivering a seamlessly executed project."

Todd Ruff, 38

RUFF

Planning projects to boost results
Director of Preconstruction Services
GH Phipps Construction Cos.
Greenwood Village, Colo.

Todd Ruff was named to the GH Phipps Cos. board of directors when he was 28, the youngest member in Phipps' history. He came to the construction industry the way many people do: His father worked in construction and Todd spent a lot of time on jobsites. He graduated summa cum laude from Colorado State University with a degree in construction management. Starting as an estimator at GH Phipps 15 years ago, he carefully planned projects one at a time. Now, as director of preconstruction services, Ruff is involved in all of the firm's projects up front. The $150-million Children's Hospital East Tower project tested his leadership. As a true integrated project delivery job, it involved navigating a new contract and incorporating lean construction methods. Ruff says the biggest challenge he faces as a young professional is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. He helped reconstruct his home town of Windsor, Colo., after a 2008 tornado. His team rebuilt three baseball fields, dugouts, concession stands and smaller buildings in Windsor's main park.

Nate Soule, 36

SOUL

Working in the trenches of design
Associate
Brierley Associates
Denver

Nate Soule has more than 12 years of experience in tunneling, geotechnical and geological engineering projects. He has become a local expert in geologic exploration, feasibility analysis, tunnel design and contract-document preparation. He was recently promoted to office manager of Brierley Associates' Denver headquarters, where he manages internal training, interpersonal and professional matters and information technology issues. Soule is leading the South Platte Interceptor project in Adams County, one of the largest trenchless projects along the Front Range. He also managed Denver's Conduit 16, which installed 8.5 miles of 84-in.-dia pipeline through four large tunnels at highway and railroad crossings. It is one of the largest projects in Denver Water's recent history. "Underground engineering is as much an art as it is a well-defined science," Soule says. "As such, the experience and wisdom of the engineer is crucially valuable to producing effective and economic designs as well as solving construction issues."