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Each year, the accomplishments of ENR’s Newsmakers remind us of the construction industry’s capacity to improve, evolve and iterate.

We all know those in the industry can get the job done—but how that job is done is where we witness the grit, perseverance and ingenuity displayed by those we’re recognizing this year: from designing and executing on novel construction systems that reduce schedules by months or years, to drawing on relationships and trust-building to battle the LA wildfires on a local scale, complete a historic cleanup effort on a regional scale and build up a critical clean energy market almost from scratch.

In many cases, Newsmakers help redefine what the industry is and who it can help. Beyond doing a job, it is planting the seeds of a construction career in the minds of young women and girls, and is literally and figuratively building bridges in rural Kenya, helping remote communities access health care and education; it’s leading an entire county to build sustainably while simultaneously growing affordable housing.

There are so many more inspiring stories; perhaps they will encourage you also to reach for new levels of innovation and achievement. Read on, and meet these achievers in person at ENR’s Award of Excellence gala on March 26 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York City. Visit enr.com/aoe to register.

 

Nick Almeter

 

Project Manager
Halmar International 
Nanuet, N.Y.
Read more about Nick Almeter  

 

Atorod Azizinamini

 

Director, Infrastructure Research and Innovation 
Florida International University
Miami, Fla.
Read more about Atorod Azizinamini  

 

David K. Beesley

 

Vice President, Project Management 
Coppola Services Inc. 
Ringwood, N.J.
Read more about David K. Beesley  

 

Cassidy Blowers

 

Construction Resource Engineer
Delaware Dept. of Transportation
Dover, Del.
Read more about Cassidy Blowers  

 

Allison L. C. de Cerreño

 

Chief Operating Officer
MTA Bridges and Tunnels 
New York City
Read more about Allison L. C. de Cerreño  

 

Brian K. Carroll 

 

Managing Partner / Past President
Sanderford & Carroll / American Subcontractors Association
Belton, Texas
Read more about Brian K. Carroll   

 

Judaline Cassidy

 

Chief Visionary Officer and Founder
Tools & Tiaras 
Queens, N.Y.
Read more about Judaline Cassidy  

 

Christina Cassotis

 

CEO
Pittsburgh International Airport 
Pittsburgh
Read more about Christina Cassotis  

 

Karina Dailey

 

Science and Restoration Director / Chair
Vermont Natural Resources Council / Vermont Dam Task Force
Jericho, Vt.
Read more about Karina Dailey  

 

Michael Goetz

 

Project Manager
Skanska 
Ocean Grove, N.J.
Read more about Michael Goetz  

 

Louis P. Grasso Jr.

 

Inventor/Managing Partner
Urban Mining Industries 
New Rochelle, N.Y.
Read more about Louis P. Grasso Jr.  

 

Abigail Ross Hopper

 

 President and CEO (until 1/30/26)
Solar Energy Industries Association 
Washington, D.C.
Read more about Abigail Ross Hopper  

 

Todd Keller

 

Vice President
Granite Construction Co. 
Tucson, Ariz.
Read more about Todd Keller  

 

John Largay

 

Founder
Wespac Construction
Phoenix
Read more about John Largay  

 

Marko Medved

 

Director General Services
County of San Diego
San Diego
Read more about Marko Medved  

 

René Morkos

 

 Founder and CEO
ALICE Technologies
New York City
Read more about René Morkos  

 

Chris Olsen

 

Executive Director of Engineering and Water Resources
Orange County Water District
Fountain Valley, Calif.
Read more about Chris Olsen  

 

Lanessa L. Owens-Chaplin

 

Director, Racial Justice Center
New York Civil Liberties Union 
Syracuse, N.Y.
Read more about Lanessa L. Owens-Chaplin  

 

Harmon Parker

 

Founder and CEO 
Bridging the Gap Africa 
Bowling Green, Ohio
Read more about Harmon Parker  

 

Nick Pemberton

 

Senior Project Manager
MATT Construction 
Altadena, Calif.
Read more about Nick Pemberton  

 

James Perry

 

Chief Executive Officer
ASTERRA 
San Diego
Read more about James Perry  

 

Josh Rizzo

 

Growth Consultant
Bend, Ore.
Read more about Josh Rizzo  

 

Col. Eric R. Swenson

 

Deputy Commander, North Atlantic Division 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Read more about Col. Eric R. Swenson  

 

Nicola Valiante

 

 Engineering-Director of Design Services
Webuild SpA 
Milan, Italy
Read more about Nicola Valiante  

 

Jorge Vizcaya

 

Architect
Sener 
Madrid
Read more about Jorge Vizcaya  

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