ENR Texas & Southeast 2025 Top Young Professionals
The mark of a leader is not just personal professional success but also how he or she helps others succeed. This year’s 20 Top Young Professionals in the Texas and Southeast region showcase the hard work, skill and dedication required to rise through the ranks of design and construction firms, and highlight their efforts to mentor and inspire the next generation of leaders. Amanda Barton of HKS led the AIA Miami Mentorship and Emerging Professional committees for five years. Melanie Cleavelin of Halff mentors high school students at the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in Dallas. Ashlyn Morgan of Kimley-Horn spearheaded a support group to help mid-level staff advance in their careers.
Those recognized make up the first awarded group for the new ENR region, which includes Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Puerto Rico. The 20 outstanding professionals were chosen from 129 total applications, with judges evaluating the region’s up-and-comers who excel in their careers and demonstrate leadership in their workplaces, in the industry, in their communities and in the creation of landmark projects. Judges did not score applications from individuals working at the same firm or with whom they had any conflicts of interest.
Past Top Young Professionals from the former ENR Texas & Louisiana and ENR Southeast regions evaluated this year’s group of submitters. The judges were: Shayla Bradshaw, project engineer, Thomas & Hutton; Preston Chan, senior transportation engineer, HDR; Maria Escalona, project manager, JE Dunn; Gloria Ham, lead architect, Fluor; Geoff Kornegay, associate principal, Populous; Hannah Leppla, professional engineer, Plummer Associates Inc.; Aislinn Nagy, senior project manager, Balfour Beatty; Mike Peters, vice president-division manager, Brasfield & Gorrie; Kim Pierson, director of energy and asset management, Moseley Architects; Nipesh Pradhanaga, associate professor, Florida International University; Maria Yesenia Trejo, project controls lead, HDR; and Christine Wood, vice president, Burns & McDonnell.
“[Amanda Barton] brings passion, skill, experience and commitment to core values we all share.”
—Rand Ekman, Chief Sustainability Officer, HKS
Nila Abubakar
Established career on engineering assessments and expert testimony
36, Principal and Managing Director
Walter P Moore
Atlanta
Prior to joining Walter P Moore in 2023, Abubakar established herself by performing engineering assessments and providing technical support for expert witness testimony. She has led investigations and testified on matters related to construction defects, design deficiencies and the aftermath of natural or other disasters.
Abubakar’s career began at the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering-structural engineering. Her early experience began in facility assessments and design. She also gained experience in bridge design and construction management. Abubakar has served on the board of Young Professionals in Transportation, as a committee chair for the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association and as a delegate for the Property Insurance Claims Group Academy. In an effort to inspire students, she also has participated in career day events at Paul Duke STEM School and Laura Jeffrey Academy, an all-girls science school in Minnesota.
Jamie Bailey
Challenged conventional methods
38, Vice President, Client Strategy
McCownGordon Construction
Plano, Texas
Over the past decade, Bailey has focused on providing project solutions for various private and public sector clients, securing more than $3 billion worth of contracts. As vice president of client strategy, he has guided McCownGordon’s manufacturing team with a strategic approach to marketing and project development for clients in the food and beverage, life sciences and general industrial sectors. In his first three years at the company, Bailey made the new manufacturing business unit one of its most successful groups, says CEO Ramin Cherafat. “[Bailey] has challenged conventional methods and processes, leading to new ways for our team to function in a streamlined manner,” the chief says.
Early in his career, Bailey worked in project management, successfully delivering large-scale projects ranging from $50 million to $350 million across various industries, including advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and consumer products. His contributions have been recognized with multiple awards from NASA for his work on space flight programs. Bailey actively participates in community initiatives, including Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students)—a national program dedicated to preventing violence in schools.
Amanda Barton
Promotes environmental resilience
34, Associate/Project Designer
HKS
Coral Gables, Fla.
In 2013, Barton received the Alpha Rho Chi Medal at the University of Miami. Ten years later, she became the youngest-ever president of the American Institute of Architects’ Miami chapter. As an HKS associate, Barton specializes in coastal hospitality design. She has worked on more than 10 million sq ft of space across more than 25 projects, totaling over $3 billion in construction investment.
Barton has served as a long-standing AIA chapter board member and chaired multiple committees. She has dedicated herself to supporting her community through work with AIA and National Association of Minority Architects and to pushing the industry for an equitable and resilient future. Barton is a strong advocate for sustainable design, is involved in the AIA Miami and AIA Florida resilience and adaptation committees, participates in multiple LEED and WELL projects and promotes environmental resilience through education and advocacy. She leads numerous HKS initiatives that push the boundary of ESG (environmental, social and governance) as well as an internal research team focused on resilience.
Barton is also co-chair of the HKS hospitality sustainability tiger team, encouraging developers to push the boundaries of sustainability. She also led the AIA Miami mentorship and emerging professional committees for five years and now chairs the chapter’s Christopher Kelley leadership development program, which has successfully developed the business and leadership skills of 51 young architects.
Alexandra Beletic
Works to launch astronauts
35, Project Field Engineer
Bechtel National Inc.
Cape Canaveral, Fla.
With more than a decade of construction experience, Beletic has a senior role in constructing Mobile Launcher 2 for the NASA Artemis program for deep space exploration. The 390-ft reusable tower is designed to launch astronauts to the moon, Mars and beyond. As Bechtel’s project field engineer for construction, Beletic is responsible for field engineering organization and adherence to NASA and engineering design requirements during installation and testing of subsystems. During peak construction, she will help lead more than 450 craft professionals, 50 professional staff members and 10 subcontractors.
Beletic earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and English, a master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus in construction management and an MBA. At that time, she served as an academic researcher, developing a computer-based tool to quantitatively measure project manager competencies. She began her career as a field engineer at the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant in Washington state. Since then, she has served in several roles at Bechtel in field engineering, change control and construction management. Beletic is a Construction Industry Institute Next-Generation founder as well as a member of the Society of Women Engineers, Capital City Toastmasters and Chi Epsilon–Civil Engineering Honor Society.
“Since joining Kimley-Horn, Jenny [Brown] has exceeded even my lofty expectations.”
— Kenn Fink, Principal and Senior Vice President, Kimley-Horn
Jenny Brown
First woman president of Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia
35, Senior Traffic Engineer and Associate
Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc.
Huntsville, Ala.
During her 12-year career, Brown has been the project manager and lead design engineer on several large-scale engineering projects throughout the Southeast. Currently, she is project manager of the Georgia Dept. of Transportation Traffic Signal and Intelligent Transportation System Design On-Call, under a five-year, $7-million contract. She leads a team of up to 10 engineers at a time to manage project schedules and budgets.
In 2021, Brown relocated to Huntsville, Ala., to open a Kimley-Horn office in an emerging market. She manages local office recruiting and marketing, oversees operations and provides project management and senior engineering support on municipal projects. Brown is an advisory board member of the U.S. Transportation Dept. Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility and an instructor in Kimley-Horn’s transportation technical training program. She was secretary of the Intelligent Transportation Society of Georgia and became its youngest and first woman president.
In 2019, she received the group’s Outstanding Individual Contribution Award for her leadership. Brown was named a “Top 100 Influential Women in Georgia Engineering” by Engineering Georgia Magazine in 2018 and 2020.
Neil Caudle
Helps oversee more than 30 projects
36,Vice President and Division Manager
Brasfield & Gorrie
Dallas
Over the course of his 13-year career at Brasfield & Gorrie, Caudle has helped oversee about 30 projects in six states with a total value of more than $750 million. Recent projects include the Dallas team’s completion of the $168-million Energy Plaza project—now called The Sinclair—a mixed-use downtown skyscraper. Caudle joined Brasfield & Gorrie in Birmingham, Ala., in 2011 as an assistant project manager, advancing to project manager and preconstruction manager. Now as operations manager, he supports project teams and monitors budgets, schedules, progress and performance.
Relocating to Dallas, Caudle assumed a key role in the Sinclair development. As operations manager, he oversaw a team of project managers to ensure it was delivered on time and on budget without compromising safety or quality. During his time in Birmingham, Caudle has been a board director of NAIOP/the Commercial Real Estate Development Association’s Alabama chapter and was elected president in 2022. He also recently served as president of the Salvation Army Echelon’s Birmingham Chapter.
Melanie Cleavelin
Reflects firm’s people-first spirit
39, Deputy Operations Manager
Halff
Richardson, Texas
With oversight of eight production teams, Cleave-lin is responsible for mentoring their leaders; evaluating team performance, office culture and growth; and overseeing large and complex projects. In 18 years at Halff, Cleavelin has earned a reputation as a “detailed and meticulous engineer.” Over that time, she rose from an engineer-in-training to deputy operations manager for the firm’s largest office and corporate headquarters.
Cleavelin’s roles have included managing complex roadway design projects and leading the firm’s public works and transportation teams. She was the inaugural recipient of Halff’s Stetson Award, which recognizes individuals who reflect the people-first spirit of the firm’s founder, Dr. Albert Halff.
Cleavelin is a board member of the WTS Dallas-Fort Worth chapter and has led the Transportation YOU program, mentoring high school students at the Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School in Dallas. She also supports the Halff Community Initiative.
Cleavelin earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 2007 and a master’s in that field from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2013.
Caitlin Geisinger
Committed to supporting women in construction and engineering
34, Business Development Manager
Burns & McDonnell
Houston
With a chemical engineering background and much experience in instrumentation and controls engineering, Geisinger combines technical expertise with strategic business acumen. As a business development manager for Burns & McDonnell, she specializes in midstream and logistics projects in its oil, gas and chemical group, overseeing projects worth between $50 million and $1 billion.
Among her accomplishments, Geisinger was a leader on the Phillips 66 Freeport export terminal project, managing complex systems that involved thermal oxidizers and loading docks. She was one of the few women on the project among more than 700 male engineers and construction professionals.
Committed to supporting women in construction and engineering, Geisinger developed and led the Professional Women’s Exchange group at Burns & McDonnell—more than 150 women employees who meet monthly for professional development and networking sessions.
She also helped develop and pilot a mentoring program for the firm’s oil, gas and chemicals group and is a regular participant and speaker at key industry conferences such as the National Institute for Storage Tank Management and the International Liquid Terminals Association.
“[Melanie Cleavelin’s] journey is a testament to her dedication, meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
— Jessica Baker Daily, President and CEO, Halff
Brent Hooks
Helped previous employer boost revenue and number of employees
35, Vice President
Cornerstone Engineering Inc.
Memphis
At Cornerstone Engineering, Hooks oversees business development and operations in Atlanta, Birmingham, Ala., and Memphis. Prior to joining the company last August, he worked for Allworld Project Management from 2013 to 2024, most recently serving as chief administrative officer.
During his tenure at Allworld, Hooks helped the firm grow annual revenue from $300,000 to $16 million. He implemented strategy, created new financial processes, improved financial reporting and built a metric-driven operations culture within a 10-state, seven-operating unit business. His responsibilities included directing all finance and accounting functions and leading a 70-person workforce.
Hooks managed Allworld operations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, California and Alabama. He led recruiting, training and retention strategies that resulted in major staff growth in five years. He has been recognized locally and nationally, including by Forbes Next 1000, by the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce as a Top Young Memphian and by the Memphis Business Journal as part of its Top 40 Under 40 list.
Hooks’ Memphis-based community involvement includes serving as an advisory board member of St. Jude Spirit of the Dream and a past advisory board member of Thomas B. Davis YMCA.
“[Matthew Kapusta’s] ability to deliver projects on schedule and within budget showcases his problem-solving skills and dedication to client success.”
— Burns & McDonnell spokesperson
Matthew Kapusta
Established firm’s footprint in central Florida
40, Global Practice Manager, Florida Region
Burns & McDonnell
Maitland, Fla.
With more than 15 years of experience in the field of electrical engineering, Kapusta serves as regional transmission and distribution manager at Burns & McDonnell. In his current role, he oversees its transmission and distribution business across Florida and manages a diverse team of more than 90 employee-owners. Kapusta earned a bachelor’s degree in electromechanical engineering from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in 2008. At Burns & McDonnell, past roles include project manager, assistant project manager and senior project engineer with expertise in planning, scheduling, conducting and coordinating detailed phases of substation engineering.
In 2015, Kapusta opened the firm’s central Florida office. As a principal, he is responsible for developing business plans that provide engineering solutions tailored to meet evolving state needs in the transmission and distribution sector. Kapusta began an executive MBA program in August 2024, aimed at enhancing his business acumen.
The manager also participates in community service through local, state and national organizations and is on the executive leadership team for the American Heart Association of Central Florida.
Lauren Ladowski Kraemer
First woman partner in firm’s history
33, Principal and Vice President
ARCO/Murray National Construction
Dallas
Kraemer started her career at ARCO over a decade ago as a project manager and was promoted to director of accounts before relocating to Dallas in 2019. In that role, she helped lead the expansion of her team over a six-year span from just herself and another employee to over 30 professionals. The team includes 15 project managers, 10 superintendents, administrators and managers of marketing and business development. That growth enabled the delivery of construction solutions across multiple market verticals, including adaptive reuse, commercial office, industrial, manufacturing, entertainment and life sciences.
In 2022, Kraemer was named the first woman partner in the firm’s history. Under her leadership, revenue grew from more than $6 million in her first year to projecting beyond $65 million for 2024. Since Kraemer joined the Dallas team, the ARCO office has undergone a significant shift toward the design-build approach, Design-build now accounts for approximately 85% of projects, up from 20% in 2019.
Kraemer has been pivotal in promoting gender diversity within ARCO. She assisted in initiating its Athena group, now called the Women Operations Network (WON), a women’s network that enhances connectivity and provides educational opportunities across the organization. She is also actively involved with the Young Women’s Preparatory Network, an organization dedicated to providing a college prep education to young women from primarily low-income households. Kraemer’s engagement in its mentorship program allows her to guide participants through the college application process and inspire them to pursue careers in STEM fields. She also helps lead events for ARCO’s Annual Women in Construction Week.
“Suleman Rana is a dynamic leader and an innovative and creative professional.”
— Tiffany Stewart-Stanley, Chief of Staff and Assistant County Administrator, Douglas County, Ga.
Ryan Mattie
Helps engage with schools and drive STEM interest among young students
39, Associate VP and Office Leader
Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson Inc.
Mount Pleasant, S.C.
Mattie has built a 17-year career in civil engineering planning and design at Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson since graduating from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2007. He started his career as a project designer and later became a licensed project engineer in York, Pa. In 2014, Mattie relocated to Charleston, S.C., where he became a company project manager and eventually started a civil site and drainage practice group in the state.
Recognized as a leader within the firm, Mattie was promoted to assistant office leader and, in 2024, to office leader. He routinely represents the company at regional and national industry events, including the 2024 Ohio Stormwater Conference. He also presents at local industry events, such as meetings of the Civil Engineers Club of Charleston.
Mattie has coached a local VEX robotic team for several years, helping drive STEM field interest among young students. He is also an active participant in local engineering clubs and societies, including ASCE and the Civil Engineers Club of Charleston. Mattie currently serves as treasurer and vice president of the South Carolina Eastern Branch chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ashlyn Morgan
Connects engineering training and creativity to solve needs
36, Project Manager
Kimley-Horn
Dallas
While studying structural engineering at Texas A&M, Morgan gained an interest in philanthropy, specifically in providing clean drinking water and sanitary services to those in need. She found a deep connection to blending engineering and creativity. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, she began a pathway in leadership and civic engagement through involvement in the American Society of Civil Engineers and Habitat for Humanity.
Since joining Kimley-Horn in 2011, Morgan has cemented her practice as a water-wastewater engineer and an advocate for working parents. With 13 years of experience, her breadth of work includes transmission line design, wastewater rehabilitation and bidding and construction phase services.
As a senior member of the Dallas water-wastewater team, she manages a group of seven engineers and analysts as well as her own clients and projects. At the mid-level of her career, Morgan saw a lack of support that made finding equilibrium difficult. She spearheaded an initiative—Supporting our Emerging Practice Builders—to help mid-level professionals advance. Morgan also champions better benefits for parents, particularly mothers working reduced schedules.
Andrew Pierce
Made impacts on several premier projects on Florida’s Gulf Coast
36, Vice President, Operations
Suffolk
Tampa
Pierce has made tangible impacts on several projects in Florida’s Gulf Coast since joining Suffolk in 2016. He served as lead project manager on the $478-million expansion of the Tampa Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The three-year project included 113 phases and 65 individual turnovers. He joined the $170-million Asher Residences at Water Street in Tampa as senior project manager and led a team of 25 construction professionals. The team successfully completed the final building for Phase 1 of the development $5 million under budget—all of which occurred throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Pierce was promoted to project executive, focusing on geographic expansion outside of Tampa, which led to Suffolk’s work in the Sarasota, Fla., market. In his current role as Tampa vice president of operations, he has grown Suffolk’s presence in that city and Sarasota, as well as St. Petersburg and Jacksonville, laying the groundwork for continued expansion. Additionally, Pierce contributes to both his community and those in which Suffolk builds. He is involved with the company’s Giving Circle, an employee-run grassroots fundraising group that provides support to those experiencing a life-altering tragedy.
“Milad [Razaee] is truly a leader and active participant in all of his work.”
—Brent Jones, Structural Engineer, AECOM
Suleman Rana
Youngest government director in state
27, Managing Director
Douglas County Government
Douglasville, Ga.
Overseeing Douglas County transportation and public works operations as well as Connect Douglas, Rana runs a division of 115 professionals with an operating budget of $15 million and a capital budget of $228 million. Its services reach more than 80% of the population daily. Rana’s responsibilities include delivery of transportation projects, including management of federal, state and local funds and maintaining more than 880 miles of roadway. His oversight extends to a transit agency serving 40,000 yearly riders, a fleet department managing more than 1,300 county assets and a landfill enterprise processing 60,000 transactions annually. He is the youngest government director in the state.
Previously, Rana was a consultant for Georgia Dept. of Transportation and local governments, helping deliver mega-transportation projects. While part of the Boeing Co. Aerospace Optimization Group, he won a Golden Unicorn award for design of a deicing station at the Istanbul, Turkey, international airport. Additionally, he served as an adjunct professor in Kennesaw State University’s civil and environmental engineering department, where he focused on the strength of materials and data analytics. Dedicated to community service, he volunteers at the Atlanta Food Bank and the ICNA Feed the Hungry program.
Milad Razaee
Gets research published in peer-reviewed journals
38, Senior Structural Engineer
AECOM
New Orleans
At AECOM, Razaee has been instrumental in advancing digital transformation initiatives, integrating cutting-edge technologies to streamline project delivery and enhancing operational efficiency. His leadership extends to mentoring junior engineers, providing continuous technical support and fostering innovation within his teams.
With a PhD in civil structural engineering and a master’s in marine structures and over a decade of professional experience in civil and structural engineering, Razaee is currently a senior structural engineer and digital lead for the water business line in AECOM’s U.S. West region. His career spans a wide range of expertise, from computational fluid dynamics, hydraulic design, hydrodynamic modeling and port design to structural design.
Razaee has led structural engineering teams on multiple notable projects, including the Mid-Barataria sediment diversion project, which aims to restore coastal land and enhance resilience against natural hazards. His research contributions include publications in peer-reviewed journals and a book chapter on topics such as dynamic load analysis, vibration control and wind turbine performance. He is a member of several professional organizations, including serving on the American Society of Civil Engineers structural health monitoring and control committee. Razaee also is involved with other industry groups and Engineers Without Borders.
Trevor Reed
Evaluates and implements new tech
38, Vice President, Director of Engineering
Volkert Inc.
Rockwall, Texas
Reed has spent his 18-year career developing, evaluating and implementing technologies used in design, construction management and field engineering services. At Volkert, his roles have included construction engineering, transportation design, project management and program management. Reed’s experience ranges from minor rural improvements to large complex transportation projects along urban freeways and interstate corridors. Gaining experience in design-build project delivery, he applied lessons learned to the traditional delivery space and has assisted on megaprojects under a variety of contract formats. He was project manager for the $844-million Interstate 10 Cardinal and Eastex interchanges through Beaumont, Texas—pioneering new 3D and 4D design technology with innovative constructibility review processes that improves the safety and operations of the overall corridor.
A graduate of the Association of Consulting Engineering Cos. Texas Leadership and Rockwall Leadership programs, Reed believes that one graduates “into leadership” rather than from it. He serves in both organizations to raise the next generation of leaders.
Jacob Roberts
From summer job to senior position
39, Principal and Area Manager
STV
Dallas
Roberts comes from a long line of construction professionals, including his great-grandfather who owned a construction company. Having worked over summers with his family, he knew he wanted to be part of the industry. Roberts was hired by STV after graduating college in 2009 and over the past 15 years, he has worked on complex infrastructure projects throughout Texas. His experience includes serving as discipline lead for two of the largest Texas Dept. of Transportation design-build programs. He was responsible for the drainage design along an eight-mile section of the I-35 highway reconstruction project between Dallas and Denton, part of a larger $1.4-billion program.
Roberts has since served as project manager, deputy project manager and roadway task lead on projects for more than 18 state DOT districts, growing both his team’s and STV’s partnerships with the agency. He holds eight state pre-certifications, ranging from roadway design to schematic design for major roadways. Through his expertise, Roberts has helped STV deepen its relationship with the state DOT while also expanding into new work with other agencies. As the company has grown, Roberts has helped it expand opportunities for emerging talent in Texas. He now leads STV’s Dallas region as an area manager, balancing his infrastructure expertise and successful project delivery with deep knowledge of client needs. Roberts is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers in Texas.
“[Trevor Reed] works selflessly with a heavy focus on the success of others around him.”
— Travis Falls, Senior Vice President, Southwest Region, Volkert Inc.
Ryan Schutt
Former intern, now design leader
39, Office Director
HKS
Dallas
Since his internship at HKS while attending Texas A&M University, Schutt has gained 17 years of extensive experience in the architecture sector, currently holding the position of HKS principal and design leader for its commercial mixed-use studio. Throughout his career, Schutt has navigated all phases of construction, from initial concept design to hands-on construction administration. His portfolio showcases a diverse array of project types, encompassing office, multifamily residential, hospitality, health care facilities, mixed-use developments and master planning initiatives.
In his role, Schutt spearheads the studio’s design direction, fosters collaboration and upholds standards of quality. He cultivates an inclusive environment where every team member is encouraged to actively participate and take ownership of his or her contributions.
Currently focusing on commercial projects, Schutt is immersed in several significant ventures across the company’s Southern region, including Dallas, Houston and Austin. His career is marked by continuous development, having completed multiple industry leadership programs such as AIA Emerging Leaders, AIA Advanced Leaders and Leadership Dallas.
As a member of the Dallas Regional Chamber, Schutt has contributed to Leadership Dallas, where he also volunteers at the city’s 911 call center. Additionally, he has spearheaded a volunteer program at HKS with CityLab High School in the Dallas Independent School District, fostering connections between industry professionals and students aspiring to enter AEC fields.
“We’ve built a successful foundation with TxDOT.... We understand and respect what our client needs and strive to execute it.”
— Jacob Roberts, 39, Principal and Area Manager, STV
William Wright
Managed more than 100 projects
36, Senior Project Manager
Keller
Birmingham, Ala.
