Across the Southeast, young professionals are climbing the ladder and driving the industry forward. They are fueling innovation in sustainability and BIM, helping to streamline preconstruction and becoming noted experts in their sectors.

One young engineer is developing software that allows builders to weigh design options to determine optimal design solutions. A lawyer in Tampa is harnessing his roots, in both law and construction, to help firms navigate tricky contract disputes, construction defects and more.

That’s just a tiny sampling of the 20 industry professionals under the age of 40 that ENR Southeast is recognizing as its 2023 class of Top Young Professionals. Each is helping their respective firms and the industry as a whole bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic by giving the next generation a helping hand.

This year’s honorees have made positive impacts on colleagues and clients with their stellar industry work, but they’ve also impacted their communities by helping to build homes with Habitat for Humanity or by giving up their free time to homeless shelters and food banks.

ENR Southeast enlisted former Top Young Professionals winners for the daunting task of selecting 20 winners from more than 90 entries from firms across the region. Judges for the 2023 contest included: Lisa Bendas, project executive, Shawmut; Wheeler Crook, vice president of engineering for Alabama at GMC; Jeffrey Elsey, vice president, Kimley-Horn; Brad Lockwood, vice president, Moseley Architects; Ryan Nash, president, Nash Plumbing & Mechanical; Kalyan Piratla, associate professor of civil engineering, Clemson University; Allison Stewart-Harris, planning studio manager, TSW; Lauren Swan, vice president, resilience and sustainable development, AECOM; Jennifer Todd, president, LMS General Contractors; and Jonathan Williams, water business team leader, Garver.

M. Samer Alkhatib
Ace engineer clears every hurdle
Associate Vice President
AECOM
Tampa

M. Samer Alkhatib made a big impact in the public sector before moving to AECOM in 2018, and at every step along the way he has not only impressed his colleagues with his commitment to quality and his ability to solve problems, but he’s left each organization better than he found it. Leading high-profile projects for the city of Baltimore as the wastewater team lead, Alkhatib also worked with the Maryland Transit Administration as manager for the Capital Programming Office, overseeing its $2.3-billion capital improvement program, where he reduced internal invoice processing time from 10 to three business days through reorganization and automation. At AECOM, he’s leading an effort to increase the firm’s market share with aggressive and focused improvements to internal processes, collaboration between offices and resource allocation throughout Florida.

“He has always exhibited extraordinary ingenuity when approaching roadblocks and issues with projects,” says Christopher Caro, principal engineer with WSSC Water. “He’s also a brilliant leader with the ability to uplift a team and make everyone around him elevate to high success.”

Another colleague, Bilal Sarayra, Howard County, Md., water and sewer planning division chief, says they used to call Alkhatib “the premium,” after the quality of work he could deliver.

When he’s not wowing colleagues at the office, he’s spending time with his three children and volunteering with community organizations like the Utilities Committee and Taste Test Committee for the Florida Section American Water Works Association and other community organizations.

Hillary Aton
Trailblazing project manager puts people first
Project Manager
Thomas & Hutton
Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Overseeing civil and water resources-related projects, Hillary Aton is guided by the fundamental ethics of engineering, holding the safety, health and welfare of the public paramount and drawing inspiration from projects that she manages that aren’t just for local government clients but for people whose streets, yards and homes are protected by her work. Aton oversees both large and small scale stormwater, water quality, flood control and rehabilitation projects, bringing to bear her experience in designs to address local, state and federal regulations all while working hand-in-hand with municipal clients to also meet the specific needs of the local community and environment.

Through that work, Aton develops professional relationships inside and outside the office, with a knack for mentorship that’s established her as a friendly face and listening ear for young designers and veteran engineers alike. Outside Thomas & Hutton, Aton is involved with the American Society of Engineers, Environmental Water Resources Institute and serves as the secretary for the Lowcountry Branch of the American Public Works Association. An active volunteer outside the industry, she also works with local beach and river cleanup efforts, East Cooper Meals on Wheels, The Lowcountry Land Conservancy, Berkeley County Habitat for Humanity, all while supporting women in STEM education, described in her nomination as “blazing a trail for other young women engineers to follow.”

Kimberly Bailey
Accomplished manager is a guiding light for women in the industry
Senior Project Manager
Brasfield & Gorrie
Greenville, S.C.

Kimberly Bailey’s wide and capable reach has impacted every aspect of preconstruction and construction at Brasfield & Gorrie in her 17 years at the company. From Birmingham, Ala., to Atlanta and Greenville, S.C., she has developed and maintained budgets, schedules, project plans, communications and closeout tools for many multimillion-dollar projects, overseeing the project management team, providing guidance and working side-by-side with superintendents to maintain project budgets, schedules, safety and quality. Her portfolio includes the $200-million Camperdown mixed-use development that reshaped the skyline of Greenville.

That work hasn’t gone unnoticed, as Bailey has racked up awards like the Women of Influence Award and March of Dimes Rising Star Award in 2021 and the 2018 CREW Upstate Deal Maker Award as well as recognition in multiple publications. Deriving her inspiration from the rising number of women in construction, Bailey hopes to be an example to young women interested in industry careers and leadership positions. She promotes the growth of the female presence in the industry, including through mentoring others on Brasfield & Gorrie’s women’s resource group steering committee and teaching a foundations of project management class.

“Women have a lot to offer this industry, and the numbers are starting to reflect that,” she says.

Victoria (Tori) Brinkley
Natural leader helps young engineers navigate industry
Senior Lead Consultant, Civil Engineer
WSP USA Inc.
Atlanta

From the earliest stages of her career, Tori Brinkley has been a leader, whether it’s managing a transportation project or contributing to initiatives to improve organizational processes and communication. Her project experience spans the full range of mobility assignments, from new and upgraded highways and bridges to streetscape plans and pedestrian improvements that have enhanced communities throughout Georgia. As a supervisor, Brinkley has been instrumental in training younger engineers and interns in both technical and soft skills while also setting an example for lifelong learning through seminars, management training programs and other professional development activities. She has participated in WSP’s mentorship program for developing professionals, successfully mentoring two individuals from different disciplines in all aspects of their careers.

An eager volunteer, Brinkley participates in industry and educational programs to advance and diversify the engineering profession. A favorite event is “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,” in which middle and high school girls discover scientific principles via fun and educational hands-on activities.

Scott Cline
Young CEO helms established firm to new success
President, CEO
Ruby-Collins Inc.
Smyrna, Ga.

Just 30 years old when he took the helm of Ruby-Collins, Scott Cline has spearheaded the re-emergence of one of the region’s oldest heavy-civil construction firms into a thriving industry leader. Under his leadership, the firm has seen both substantial increases in both staff size and annual revenue, now boasting more than 180 employees and $135 million in projected revenue for 2022. Cline has also fostered a company culture focused on quality, safety and employee happiness and satisfaction. He is a regular participant in social and philanthropic events, ranging from 5K races to collecting trash from the Chattahoochee River. As a result, Ruby-Collins enjoys high employee satisfaction and retention rates at a time of intense industry competition for talent.

A hallmark of Cline’s career has been his technical and managerial acumen that have led to dozens of projects related to the city of Atlanta’s sewer consent decree. He helped advance innovations in trenchless technology to help reduce project costs, improve installation efficiency and minimize surface disruptions while also improving the quality of the city’s neighborhoods and waterways.

Felipe Consuegra
From Cuba to Bolivia to Miami, Consuegra leads by example
Business Unit Leader
Thornton Construction Co.
Opa-Locka, Fla.

A Cuban native, Felipe Consuegra moved from Bolivia to Miami at 14, working his way through high school, graduating near the top of his class and going on to earn a master’s degree from Florida International University, and he has been racking up awards for school construction projects ever since.

So when Thornton Construction secured its first ground-up project from the Miami-Dade school system, they turned to Consuegra, who had more than 20 ground-up schools and 50 renovation projects under his belt. Since starting with Thornton as project manager, he led many school and residential projects and now works as a project executive and business unit leader in the company’s Broward and residential sectors. Very active in industry events and groups, Consuegra works hard to find opportunities to improve not only as an individual, but to help the company grow as well, and in 2019, he was awarded the Thornton Construction Spotlight Award, the highest honor given by the company to an employee who is nominated by colleagues.

Roscoe Green
Rising star honors the legacies of his father, grandfather
Partner
Adams and Reese
Tampa

While Roscoe Green grew up in and around the construction industry, he has left his days of digging foundations and managing construction projects in the past. Instead, he now helps construction firms all across the Southeast as one of the leading members of Adams and Reese’s nationally ranked construction law practice. Practicing all areas of construction law, including contract disputes, construction defects, bid protests, delay claims and more, Green has experience in government affairs and in lobbying for clients as well as representing construction firms.

The former construction professional turned construction attorney has been recognized by multiple publications as a top construction lawyer and up-and-comer, successfully representing clients in cases like a multimillion-dollar dispute between a concrete subcontractor and the prime contractor and city after a tropical storm caused significant damage to concrete diversion and perimeter ditches.

And both construction and law are in Green’s roots thanks to his father, who owns Construction Support Southeast, and his grandfather, Judge Joseph W. Hatchett, the first Black person appointed to the Florida Supreme Court. Green’s father and grandfather inspire his community service and career drive.

“He wanted us to be hard workers and successful, and that’s what we did,” Green says of his grandfather in explaining how he and his brother became successful lawyers. The law school experience showed Green just what an accomplished trailblazer his grandfather was and now he lobbies for naming a federal courthouse in Tallahassee after Hatchett and is a member of the Justice Joseph W. Hatchett Vaults of Opportunity Scholarship.

Austin (AJ) Gross
Project manager shines, from intern to mentor
Project Manager
Superior Construction
Tampa

Callie Hepler
Rising star helps others climb the ladder
Project Manager
Hensel Phelps
Nashville

Overseeing project finances, trade partner performance, schedules and more, Callie Hepler has quickly risen among the ranks at Hensel Phelps, where she’s worked on projects in aviation, hospitality and federal markets. Projects have ranged from the $300-million San Diego U.S. Courthouse to the $32-million Universal Orlando Citywalk Renovation as well as the under-construction, $436-million Terminal Lobby and International Arrivals Facility at Nashville International Airport.

Described as one of the quickest rising project managers at the company, Hepler has amassed nearly $1.3 billion in project experience and works hard to advocate for equality and to encourage other women to pursue careers in the industry.

As the Southeast District representative on the Hensel Phelps diversity equity and inclusion committee, Hepler creates employee networks to further diversity and inclusion, like WomensNet, VeteransNet, BlackNET, LGBTQ+Net, AsianNet and Latina/LatinoNet, championing new ways to improve DEI on jobsites by creating trial start-up programs with the potential to go companywide.

Having moved five times during her career with Hensel Phelps, Hepler dives into the community each time, from donating time to food banks and Habitat for Humanity to supporting Nashville’s Tucker House, a nonprofit helping make homes safer and more accessible for families of children with disabilities.

Alicia Hughes
Driven leader climbs the ladder
President
W.S. Nielsen Co.
Alpharetta, Ga.

Starting as a 23-year-old at W.S. Nielsen Co. as an administrative assistant with no construction experience, Alicia Hughes displayed such natural leadership and work ethic from the beginning that in just two years she was promoted to construction department administrator, directing a team of 25 installers. Her leadership led to a 200% revenue growth for the company and a promotion in 2019 to vice president of operations, helping W.S. Nielsen achieve its highest sales year in company history in 2020, with a promotion to president following in 2021.

Now her résumé includes projects like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Coca-Cola Co., Amazon, Atlanta Braves and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A mother of two teenagers, Hughes is passionate about giving back to her community, being active in the Rotary Club of Roswell, which recognized her with multiple accolades for her efforts that helped rank the club No. 1 in the district every year since she took over as head of administration. She’s also managed Patriot Flight, which flies first responders to New York City’s 911 Memorial and directs the local Naval Sea Cadet Corps.

Peeraya Inyim
Innovating engineer pushes company, industry into the future
Virtual Design and Construction and Sustainability Director
Thornton Construction Co.
Opa-Locka, Fla.

Peeraya Inyim is recognized internationally as a civil engineer and scientist who has been instrumental in developing systems that improve construction and design processes, especially her invention of the Simulation of Environmental Impact of Construction (SimulEICon), a tool allowing builders to weigh separate design options for each component of a building to determine the optimal overall design solutions. Through that tool, Inyim was one of the first researchers to apply the Monte Carlo simulation in sustainable design, says Frederico Lopez-Mobilia, Thornton project executive, who says Inyim designed SimulEICon to provide optimal solutions on construction time, cost and CO2 emissions. “Inyim exhibits all our core values daily but most particularly: community focused,” Lopez-Mobilia says.

Not only has she brought her virtual design and construction expertise to bear on higher education campuses, K-12 schools, health care, commercial and residential projects, Inyim brought augmented reality and robotic laser scanning on board to resolve unforeseen issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she brought in technology to help record workers’ temperatures and scan for proper protective equipment to keep field workers safe. A guest speaker at multiple schools and universities, Inyim lends a helping hand to STEM fairs, university project showcases and national and international publications. She has added such landmark projects to her portfolio as the $130-million Florida Turnpike Services Plaza and the $100-million Atlantic Sapphire Homestead Salmon Farm.

Justin Kanitz
Versatile engineer energizes the Southeast
Project Director
Burns & McDonnell
Atlanta

At 39, Justin Kanitz is a proven leader with more than 400 projects totaling more than $200 million under his belt. He serves as the account manager for Southern Co. and as a project manager for Georgia Power’s $7.5-billion Grid Investment Plan encompassing five divisions, 12 offices and a workforce of more than 2,000. With more than 15 years of experience in the industry, Kanitz brings his versatility and technical prowess to a variety of projects from environmental and permitting work to site design for substations, federal facilities and other transmission and distribution sites. In just a few years, Kanitz doubled his Southern Co. team, propelling Burns & McDonnell to one of the largest service providers for the utility holding company.

Aside from his work to keep his neighbors’ lights on, Kanitz devotes time to organizations bolstering his community, serving as the 2023 chairperson for the American Heart Association’s Atlanta Hard Hats With Heart fundraiser and volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and raising thousands for other programs seeking to prevent stroke and heart disease through research, advocacy and education. He also supports local hospital Shepherd Center, which specializes in patients with spinal cord, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular conditions.

Shannon Lightfoot
BIM pioneer harnesses technology for colleagues, clients
Virtual Design & Construction Director
McCarthy Building Cos.
Atlanta

In 2009, Shannon Lightfoot was part of a three-person group that pioneered the use of building information modeling at McCarthy. Since then, Lightfoot’s career and responsibilities have evolved in step with the technology’s adoption and sophistication. Promoted to his current role earlier this year, Lightfoot leads virtual design and construction efforts for current projects, pursuits and proposals across the Southern region. He leverages his skills in strategic decision-making, problem-solving and cross-functional leadership to not only advance his team’s efforts, but also those of his McCarthy colleagues and their clients.

Always on the lookout for new ways to achieve better results, Lightfoot developed a model-based estimating process within McCarthy’s Atlanta business unit that has reduced quantity takeoff time by approximately 20%. He also has developed organizational BIM standards and best practices for self-perform concrete, building systems and enclosures. In addition to extensive industry involvement, Lightfoot is an avid participant in numerous company-sponsored community partnerships and regularly shares his passion for construction with students at the region’s major universities.

Natalie MacDonald
Hitting the ground running, engineer races toward success
Assistant Project Manager, Sustainability
Dewberry
Raleigh

Even before graduating from North Carolina State University, Natalie MacDonald was making waves in the energy and sustainability world, working with PSNC Energy and interning with NextEra Energy’s nuclear division in Juno Beach, Fla. After her 2017 graduation, MacDonald began working with Dewberry as a graduate engineer, designing HVAC, plumbing and fire protection systems for new and renovated buildings for a range of clients, from K-12 and higher education to health care, government and office facilities. Using her varied technical experience, MacDonald has grown in her five years with Dewberry to become a highly sought after professional with obvious talent for project and client management, evidenced by her recent promotion to assistant project manager to lead a large-scale public-private-partnership project for a university client.

On top of all that, MacDonald also serves as one of the firm’s three sustainability leaders, tracking and monitoring the firm’s sustainability practices both companywide and by specific project. In 2021, she was appointed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to the state’s Building Code Council, responsible for setting code standards to be implemented statewide, chairing the Council’s Mechanical Ad-Hoc Committee. Regularly delivering presentations and participating in panels, she remains involved with her alma mater and with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Arthur (AJ) Meyer
Go-getter spreads expertise beyond the industry
Vice President of Project Development
ANF Group
Davie, Fla.

Not just a standout with ANF Group as vice president of project development, Arthur (AJ) Meyer stays busy, lending his expertise and time to diverse community organizations throughout South Florida. Through 13 years in the industry and six at his current position, Meyer was instrumental in helping ANF Group secure construction projects for high-profile projects, ultimately tripling a $60-million business unit into a $180-million business unit in less than three years. He helped spearhead the company’s portfolio diversification and was instrumental in its first-ever strategic planning session in 2018. In the past year, he has secured new development opportunities for ANF and not solely general contractor assignments.

But Meyer’s hard work doesn’t stop when he clocks out. Meyer is “a face for the construction industry communitywide” thanks to his work with his alma mater, Florida International University, serving on the FIU President’s Council as well as a board member and chair of the membership committee, where he serves as a link between the business and academic communities. An Eagle Scout himself, Meyer is an executive board member of the Scouts’ South Florida Council, still finding the time to serve on the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce as the Workforce Housing Committee chair and serving nearly a decade on the Urban Land Institute and on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, lobbying members of Congress to garner support for legislation supporting its mission.

Grace Porter
At 26, engineer is already a mentor
Engineering Associate II, Transportation
AECOM
Columbia, S.C.

In just four years in the industry, all at AECOM, 26-year-old Grace Porter has already made a big impact on the company and the local industry, from supporting the South Carolina Dept. of Transportation’s efforts across the state to leading her 70-person office’s great place to work program, organizing professional development, community service, team building and more.

Quickly advancing in her career at AECOM, Porter consistently produces quality projects promptly and accelerates project development. With a passion for sharing the possibilities and importance of civil engineering to students of all ages, she has mentored local middle school students and University of South Carolina student design teams, providing assistance with software, project management and engineering design.

Those efforts aren’t going unnoticed. In 2021, Porter was accepted into the South Carolina Council of Engineering Companies’ Future Leaders program and was recently recognized as the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Young Engineer of the Year Award for her outstanding contributions to the profession.

Calling her a “strong emerging leader with a passion for advancing the civil engineering profession,” Kimley-Horn engineer Bailey Lively says Porter “always raises her hand to help someone in need and ensures everyone feels heard and included.”

Timothy Queely
Committed PM keeps Hensel Phelps on the cutting edge
Project Manager
Hensel Phelps
Orlando

The pursuit of knowledge has never stopped for Timothy Queely, who joined Hensel Phelps right out of college in 2007. Through seminars and extra-curricular leadership roles, Queely keeps pace with industry developments and innovations, then applies those insights to benefit his colleagues and clients. Last year, for example, he helped develop a data management tool that eliminated change order tracking barriers across project management and business intelligence systems, streamlining the evaluation and approval process to keep major projects on schedule. Queely has also helped colleagues maximize their use of real-time data-sharing and tracking technology, improving productivity and alleviating workload imbalances among staff members.

Despite having relocated 12 times during his career, Queely commits himself to the community in which he lives and works. His activities include the Second Harvest Food Bank and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America. Queely is also an active advisory board member for the School of Construction Engineering Technology at Florida A&M University, his alma mater, helping ensure the program’s curriculum stays current with industry trends.

Kirk Hazen, vice president and district manager at Hensel Phelps, says Queely’s “persistence for the success of a project is contagious, and the projects he has worked on in the past have excelled with the most creative problem-solving.”

Will Senner
Innovative manager streamlines preconstruction at Skanska
Vice President of Preconstruction
Skanska USA Building Inc.
Durham, N.C.

As manager of a 20-person preconstruction team, Will Senner is committed to staying abreast of the newest technology, looking for ways to build on the creativity of both internal and industry colleagues. For example, Senner and his team enhanced a Project Health Dashboard created by a West Coast colleague for use across multiple projects, increasing collaboration between stakeholders and avoiding time lost to redesign. Senner’s people-oriented leadership style stresses thoughtful communications, extensive training and accessible resources.

An early advocate of using data and analytics to realize construction efficiencies, Senner has helped develop tools ranging from a data-driven benchmarking aid for analyzing green building performance to a companywide initiative to create decision-making resources that provide cost ranges for building systems and vital data benchmarks for accurate estimates and value analysis. Senner also developed a project analysis section in preconstruction deliverables to provide clients with opportunities, impacts and other insights. He also regularly shares his discoveries and experiences through active involvement in numerous industry organizations.

Brad Tew
Professional’s health care reach extends beyond industry
Operations Manager
Brasfield & Gorrie
Birmingham, Ala.

Managing more than 40 projects in 15 years totaling nearly half a billion dollars in almost exclusively health care projects, Brad Tew has found purpose and passion in the critical hospitals, emergency rooms and medical centers he builds, like the 2016 ENR Southeast Project of the Year, the $280-million, 372-bed Grandview Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala.

Award-winning projects aren’t new for Tew, whose résumé includes 10 awards from just two projects: the Grandview Medical Center and Grandview Cancer Center.

He has played a key role in the leadership side of the company, serving on the health care business development committee, identifying projects that fit Brasfield & Gorrie’s mission and also serving on the recruiting and steering committee for more than a decade to help usher in interns through events and career fairs to place them on ideal projects to enhance their growth and education.

Tew’s involvement with construction goes back to his youth, when he’d spend summers working on jobsites for his father’s construction company in Mobile, Ala. Currently the president of the Associated General Contractors Birmingham Chapter, Tew is involved in many community organizations, from the Birmingham Tip Off Club to Habitat for Humanity and the Homewood Board of Education. His involvement with health care construction has also led him to volunteer his time to related efforts. He was named a member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Leadership Class of 2015 and has volunteered with the American Leukemia Society and March of Dimes.

Patrick Wipperman
Climbing the ladder, this hands-on VP leads by example
Vice President
AECOM Hunt
Savannah, Ga.

Two decades ago, Patrick Wipperman started working with AECOM Hunt as a laborer before enrolling and graduating from Purdue University with his building construction management degree. Now a vice president specializing in sports and multipurpose venues, Wipperman’s portfolio includes multiple award-winning projects including three ENR Regional Projects of the Year: the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, home of the Brooklyn Nets; Daily’s Place Amphitheater in Jacksonville, Fla.; and the USTA Grandstand and South Campus in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., which played host to the tennis U.S. Open. Wipperman harnesses that experience to steer multiple efforts at AECOM Hunt, including strengthening hiring and recruiting policies, cost management programs and construction management programs. He promotes and hosts “skip level” meetings, too, which provide access and mentorship to new hires at the company, connecting them with their superior’s superior in order to gain career advice and absorb lessons learned.

Outside of work, Wipperman leads by example for his 9-year-old son, Bobby, and is involved with the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America, youth sports organizations, Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross and more.