ENR West's 2025 Top Young Professionals
Designers, engineers, developers and executives are among ENR West’s 2026 class of Top Young Professionals. This diverse mix of 30 rising leaders under the age of 40 is making a difference at both their companies and in the communities in which they work.
Nearly 100 entries came into this year’s contest from across Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Judging criteria included each individual’s career experience, examples of their leadership abilities, their service to the community as well as any other notable achievements they have made at this stage of their careers.
These young leaders are conceiving and leading projects in nearly every market sector, some with an eye on sustainability, others focused on diversity and equity and all dedicated to building a stronger, more resilient industry.
Judges for this year’s contest included Mannie Barnes, construction manager at Guy F. Atkinson; Michael Boomsma, senior vice president at Cordoba Corp.; Jeff Byrne, senior superintendent at JE Dunn Construction; K.K. Clark, project executive at Clark Construction; Diego de Veyga, area manager for Flatiron; Wendy MacLeod, project executive at Turner Construction Co.; Paul Pendergast, founder of BuildOut California; and Michelle Rabinovich, director of preconstruction at KPRS.
More than 420 entries were received from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico for all five of ENR’s regions. Winners were automatically entered into the National Top 20 Under 40 contest, the results of which were announced in December.
Three individuals from the West region were named to this prestigious list: Rajat Gangrade, Tiffany Mok and Pramodh Reddy. They will join the rest of the Top 20 in New York City in March and will be featured in ENR’s May 12 print issue.
Read on to learn more about the next generation of AEC industry leaders who are making their mark across the West.
Jessica Beyer
39, Project Controls Manager
Sundt Construction
San Diego
Beyer got her start in the construction industry at age 20 as an accounts payable clerk. Less than two decades later, she now serves as project controls manager at Sundt Construction, overseeing project controls processes for approximately 115 administrative professionals in teams across California responsible for more than $550 million in annual revenue.
Beyer joined Sundt in 2010 as a project administrator after earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Grand Canyon University. She later advanced into preconstruction as an estimator and into operations as a project engineer, gaining broad experience on complex projects including a $67-million math and science building at Golden West College and a $108-million design-build student housing project at California State University, Fullerton. In 2021, she was promoted to project controls manager.
In addition to her operational leadership, Beyer is a leading mental health advocate within the construction industry. After completing certifications in Construction Working Minds, Mental Health First Aid and Psychological First Aid, she earned a master’s degree in psychology in 2024 and became certified to instruct Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. During the past year, she has trained more than 120 Sundt employees and volunteers with the AGC San Diego Chapter Safety Committee to advance mental health awareness and crisis response planning.
Andrew Cameron
39, Project Manager
Hensel Phelps
Pleasanton, Calif.
Cameron is a project manager at Hensel Phelps who has developed a portfolio exceeding $4.6 billion across aviation, civic, higher education and athletic facilities. During the past 16 years, he has built a reputation for unifying integrated teams, advancing design-build delivery and championing innovation to improve project outcomes.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in construction management with a minor in international business from Roger Williams University, Cameron joined Hensel Phelps—where he had previously interned—as a field engineer in the Washington, D.C., region. Since relocating to Northern California, he has played key roles on several high-profile projects, including San Francisco International Airport’s $1.5-billion Harvey Milk Terminal 1, the Sunnyvale Civic Center Modernization and the John Madden Football Center at Cal Poly.
A Design-Build Institute of America professional, Cameron has been active with the DBIA Western Pacific Region since 2017 and currently serves as the 2025 DBIA WPR Young Professional Chair. He also helped launch the region’s first Young Professional conference track. Within Hensel Phelps, Cameron leads the Northern California project engineer roundtable, oversees the regional intern program and supports recruiting and student competitions nationwide. Outside of work, he remains active through travel, outdoor activities and community volunteering.
Gabriel Carlos Catapang
39, Director, Project Finance
Fluor Corp.
Sacramento
Catapang currently serves as a director in the financial office of the California High-Speed Rail through Fluor Corp., where he supports capital budgeting, federal grant applications and long-term financial planning for one of the nation’s most ambitious transportation investments. He led the development of the authority’s economic impact analysis methodologies and supported benefit-cost, equivalent capacity and funding analyses that helped secure more than $3.3 billion in federal grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Growing up in Metro Manila, Catapang witnessed firsthand the societal costs of traffic congestion and inadequate urban planning—an experience that shaped his commitment to transportation infrastructure development. He holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton, a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of the Philippines and a bachelor’s in international political economy from the University of California, Berkeley, where he graduated cum laude.
Catapang began his career at the infrastructure division of the Philippines’ national economic planning agency before holding roles at the World Bank Group, the Federal Aviation Administration, WSP and KPMG. He previously served as director of sponsorship for the Young Professionals in Transportation Sacramento Chapter and has been a long-standing board member of Creating Opportunities for Educational Development, a nonprofit providing scholarships to underprivileged students in the Philippines.
Michael Chang
39, Managing Principal
AC Martin
Los Angeles
Since joining AC Martin in 2015, Chang has built a career defined by rapid advancement, technical excellence and people-centered leadership. He began as an architect in the firm’s special services group, where he quickly distinguished himself through his ability to navigate complex renovations, highly technical tenant improvements and emerging market sectors.
In 2022, he was named studio principal of the group, and in 2025—just three years later—was promoted to managing principal, becoming one of the youngest individuals in the firm’s history to hold the role. In his current position, Chang leads multidisciplinary design and delivery teams across higher education, K–12, community colleges, science and technology, civic and government facilities, aviation and special services.
Chang has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. He is a licensed architect in California and holds multiple industry certifications, including LEED AP BD+C, DBIA Professional, CDT and Living Future Accreditation. He is also active within the American Institute of Architects, serving as the 2024 AIA Los Angeles Professional Practice Chair.
Chang has served in multiple leadership roles with the ACE Mentor Program, including mentor lead, and was named Mentor of the Year in 2022. He is also president of the Asian American Architects and Engineers Association.
Nicole Dias
34, Project Manager
Kimley-Horn
Los Angeles
Dias is a civil and transportation engineer specializing in multidisciplinary roadway and transit design for complex, grant-funded and multi-agency projects across California. Her project management and client service efforts generated nearly $26 million in revenue across 19 contracts.
Dias joined Kimley-Horn in 2012 and quickly emerged as a leader in the San Diego office, becoming one of the youngest owners at the firm within a decade. Following the retirement of senior leaders, Dias stepped in to lead Kimley-Horn’s 15-person Los Angeles office, overseeing team development and project delivery. She also assumed management of the Mission Mile Active Transportation Program, accelerating delivery and helping the city retain $37 million in federal funding.
Dias has led firmwide initiatives supporting employee development, including intern day and fundamentals of consulting programs. She has also played a key role in strengthening collaboration across Kimley-Horn’s Southern California roadway and highway teams, introducing regional coordination efforts that improved training, connectivity and strategic growth.
Dias has supported scholarships and mentorship for women pursuing careers in transportation and is deeply involved with Women’s Transportation Seminar International. She is also active in community service, including disaster response volunteering with the Red Cross, environmental restoration with TreePeople and community engagement through active transportation initiatives.
Eric Douville
38, Senior Design Manager
JE Dunn Construction
Beaverton, Ore.
For the past two decades, Douville has built a reputation for both the design and construction of highly technical projects within the life sciences, laboratory and advanced manufacturing sectors.
His career began on the design side as a project architect and laboratory planner, working on complex facilities such as Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and the Salk Institute in La Jolla, Calif. Three years ago, Douville transitioned to the construction side of the industry and relocated to the Pacific Northwest, joining JE Dunn as a design services leader supporting the firm’s growing advanced industries and semiconductor fabrication portfolio. His background in design enables him to bridge the gap between architects, engineers, builders and trade partners, ensuring that both constructibility and design intent are upheld.
Douville has developed and implemented design management tools that improve communication, clarify priorities and support risk mitigation on complex projects. These tools have since been adopted companywide. He has also created training programs for field operations staff, strengthening alignment between design and construction teams.
Douville is active in community service, supporting the American Heart Association, Catholic Charities and the Good Neighbor Center. He is also deeply involved with his local church and with coaching youth sports.
Megan Dunn
39, Project Manager
Guy F. Atkinson Construction
Renton, Wash.
Dunn’s career in construction began when she joined Atkinson Construction in 2011 as a field engineer after earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Washington. She developed a reputation for leading multidisciplinary teams while consistently delivering work with a strong emphasis on safety, efficiency and technical excellence.
In her current role as project manager, Dunn oversees some of the firm’s most significant projects such as the WSDOT SR 530 Oso Emergency Roadway Reconstruction and the Tacoma Metro Parks Point Defiance Waterfront Development.
As a four-year member of Atkinson’s safety committee—serving as committee lead in her final two years—she spearheaded the regional implementation of Safety Suite, a data-driven safety tracking tool that enables proactive risk management.
She also contributed to the project management steering committee, helping shape training programs and curricula for Atkinson’s project management conferences, as well as serving as a mentor in Clark’s engineer training BootCamp program.
Dunn serves on the University of Washington Civil and Environmental Engineering Dept. Board of Advisors and regularly mentors students through construction management capstone projects.
Rajat Gangrade
34, Technical Adviser-Geotechnical and Tunneling
HNTB
San Jose, Calif.
Gangrade is a geotechnical and tunneling engineer whose 11-year career is defined by technical excellence, digital innovation and leadership in advancing underground construction practices. His work spans geotechnical and tunnel design, with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence, GIS-based visualization and real-time risk assessment into project delivery.
As a technical adviser at HNTB, Gangrade is currently applying these innovations to major transit initiatives, including the $12-billion West Seattle–Ballard Link Extension and the Los Angeles Eastside Phase 2 Extension, both of which aim to improve mobility, reduce congestion and support long-term economic growth.
Prior to joining HNTB, Gangrade served as a senior tunneling engineer at a global consulting firm, contributing to design and digital automation efforts for the $9.3-billion BART Silicon Valley Extension. He holds a PhD in underground construction and tunneling from the Colorado School of Mines, along with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in geotechnical and civil engineering.
Gangrade’s AI-driven models and open-source tools have improved construction efficiency, enhanced worker safety and reduced risk on major tunnel projects, with several innovations now adopted across multiple programs nationwide. His work has saved owners and contractors significant time and cost while establishing new benchmarks for digital delivery in tunneling. Gangrade is an active leader within the Underground Construction Association and the International Tunneling Association.
Melissa Gomez
38, Principal Engineer
Wood Rodgers
San Diego
As a principal engineer and senior associate at Wood Rodgers, Gomez leads multidisciplinary teams delivering complex transportation infrastructure projects across California. She is the youngest person in the history of Wood Rodgers to achieve both titles following her promotion in 2025. Her elevation reflects her leadership, technical rigor and consistent delivery of results.
Gomez currently manages several major projects, including as project manager on the SR-99 Auxiliary Lanes Project in Elk Grove. She has overseen designs on projects such as the North Beale Road Complete Streets Project in Yuba County and intersection improvements supporting the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B. In the past two years alone, she has successfully advanced three major projects into construction.
Beginning her career as a geotechnical engineer gave her a practical understanding of how design decisions affect construction outcomes.
Gomez serves as president of the Women’s Transportation Seminar International San Diego Chapter, leading a 40-member board and expanding scholarships, STEM outreach and professional development programs. She serves as the STEAM Team lead for her office within the Wood Rodgers Community Action Program that connects the firm to local communities through volunteering and financial support.
Blake Gonska
38, Senior Project Manager
AtkinsRéalis
Henderson, Nev.
Gonska is an accomplished design engineer whose technical precision, innovative problem-solving and commitment to excellence have made him a standout contributor across Atkins-Réalis’ U.S. water infrastructure practice. Known for his meticulous approach and calm, solutions-oriented mindset, Gonska consistently delivers high-quality results on complex projects while earning the trust of clients and colleagues alike.
A licensed engineer, Gonska has played key roles on major water infrastructure projects including the Meriden Lift Station, South Boulevard Reservoir, Blue Diamond Reservoir and R13 Reservoir. His work on these projects has been widely recognized for its quality, efficiency and constructibility—so much so that clients have requested Gonska by name to manage their work. His ability to combine technical rigor with clear, visual communication sets him apart, allowing stakeholders to understand and resolve complex design challenges with confidence.
Beyond project delivery, Gonska is a catalyst for continuous improvement within the AtkinsRéalis Henderson water infrastructure team. He has implemented innovative process enhancements that have streamlined workflows and reduced risk, including developing custom automation tools to simplify specification formatting and leveraging advanced modeling and visualization techniques to improve coordination across disciplines. These contributions have established new benchmarks for efficiency and quality within the group.
Priscilla Gonzalez
38, Manager of Trunk Line Design
Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power
Los Angeles
Gonzalez oversees a $3-billion trunk line replacement program at the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power, directing a multidisciplinary team of 30 engineers and drafting technicians while managing consultants and contractors on one of the utility’s most critical capital initiatives.
Throughout her career at LADWP, Gonzalez has contributed to some of the organization’s most complex and historically significant projects. She spearheaded LADWP’s first groundwater remediation project and played a leading role in delivering the largest capital improvement project in the history of the water system—a facility that will become the largest sedimentation plant in the U.S.
A defining element of Gonzalez’s leadership is her commitment to team development and open communication. She prioritizes mentorship, professional growth and morale-building by setting clear expectations, listening to staff feedback and ensuring her team has the tools and training needed to succeed. She also contributes to organizational advancement through service on technical and cultural committees and was the first within her organization to earn the Project Management Professional certification.
Beyond LADWP, Gonzalez serves as a voting member of the American Water Works Association Steel Pipe Committee, helping shape national pipeline standards.
Ibrahim Hafeez
35, Project Manager
City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering
Playa Del Rey, Calif.
In his 11 years with the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering, Hafeez has developed a reputation as a champion for a technology-driven approach to public works. As a project manager, he manages a capital improvement portfolio exceeding $300 million across the city’s four wastewater reclamation plants.
He has helped make several high-impact projects a success, including the $58-million maintenance and warehouse facility at the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, the $25-million Digester Insulation Replacement Project at Terminal Island and the $20-million Primary Tanks Rehabilitation Project. Each of these endeavors reflects his ability to deliver technically complex solutions aligned with sustainability and resiliency goals.
He developed an internal construction specification automation tool projected to save the city approximately $5 million annually in engineering labor, significantly improving efficiency and consistency across capital projects. He also played a key role in the rapid rehabilitation of the South LA Wetlands Pumping Plant, restoring operations in just six months through close interdepartmental coordination.
Hafeez is deeply committed to mentorship, workforce development and industry advancement. Hafeez supports early-career engineers, participates in ASCE initiatives and has presented at the ASCE International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure.
Jed Hagan
31, Senior Construction Manager
Meridian Management Inc.
Anchorage
Hagan oversees construction operations on the $100-million-plus Alaska United–Aleutians Fiber Program, one of the most logistically challenging telecommunications deployments in the state. The program includes more than 800 miles of subsea fiber optic cable and last-mile infrastructure across 13 remote communities. As senior construction manager at Meridian Management, Hagan leads multidisciplinary teams, coordinates remote inspections and HDD operations, manages contractor performance and ensures safe, compliant and timely execution under extreme conditions.
During his seven years with Meridian, Hagan has made a lasting organizational impact by overhauling the firm’s preconstruction and project intake procedures and founding the company’s Veterans Resource Group. As veteran liaison and integration manager, he has strengthened onboarding, mentorship and retention of veteran employees.
Following his military service as a fire team leader in the 75th Ranger Regiment, Hagan transitioned into the energy and utility sector, rapidly advancing from horizontal directional drilling foreman to pipeline inspector, chief inspector and construction manager. In these roles, he managed multimillion-dollar natural gas infrastructure projects, oversaw contractor crews and led QA/QC, regulatory audits and compliance with the Texas Dept. of Transportation and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration as well as meeting state and federal requirements. His documentation and audit preparation consistently achieved top scores during regulatory reviews.
Matthew Ishmael
39, Director of Operations
Standard Drywall Inc.
Corona, Calif.
As director of operations at Standard Drywall Inc., Ishmael oversees project execution, field operations and regional leadership across seven offices and more than 150 salaried employees throughout the Western and Southern U.S. He joined the firm in 2015 and has played a central role in its growth and operational maturity. Under Ishmael’s leadership, SDI has successfully delivered landmark projects such as the New Stanford Hospital and San Francisco’s Chase Center. He has also implemented standardized labor planning, pursuit tracking and margin control systems that improved consistency, collaboration and profitability companywide.
Across his 18-year career, Ishmael has built a reputation for successfully delivering complex health care projects. At KHS&S Contractors, he helped deliver the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Baker Center and facilities for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He later expanded his experience with Murray Drywall on large-scale health care projects across multiple regions. He was also part of Kiewit’s building and infrastructure group, serving as scheduling and technology manager.
Bradley Jones
39, Project Manager
Sundt Construction
San Diego
Jones is a construction professional whose career reflects versatility, hands-on expertise and a strong commitment to continuous improvement. With more than a decade of experience across field operations and project management, Jones has built a nontraditional yet highly impactful career within Sundt Construction’s building group.
Now serving as a project manager in Sundt’s San Diego region, Jones leads project teams with a people-centered leadership style. He prioritizes mentorship, transparency and aligning individual strengths with project and company goals to foster accountability and shared success. Known for bridging field execution with office efficiency, he actively champions process improvement and technology adoption.
Jones joined Sundt as an apprentice carpenter on the self-perform concrete team. His adaptability and leadership potential quickly earned him roles as field coordinator and later field engineer, where he supported complex higher-education projects across Southern California. Over the past 10 years, Jones has contributed to technically demanding projects on university campuses and beyond.
Jones worked as the project manager on the Canyon Hills High School athletic fields and track replacement in San Diego and as a project engineer on Golden West College Language Arts Complex and the Golden West College Mathematics and Science/STEM Facility, both in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Behnoud Kermani
39, Managing Engineer
Exponent
Oakland, Calif.
Kermani is a managing engineer at Exponent and a nationally recognized civil engineer who provides strategic engineering and construction advisory services at the project, program and portfolio levels. Kermani specializes in geotechnical, geosynthetics and pavement engineering, with expertise spanning pavements, bridges, buildings, electrical transmission towers and underground utilities delivered through design-build, public-private-partnerships, engineering, procurement and construction and design-bid-build delivery methods.
At Exponent, Kermani serves as project and program manager on complex infrastructure efforts and supports construction claims and dispute resolution. His leadership has been instrumental on several high-profile projects, including the $4.7-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge and the $2.5-billion Purple Line Project in Los Angeles, where he led multidisciplinary teams through complex pavement design, construction challenges and risk mitigation efforts—improving quality, safety and cost outcomes.
Kermani holds a PhD in civil engineering from Penn State University and is a licensed professional engineer. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and serves on the editorial board of ASTM’s Journal of Testing and Evaluation. His contributions have been recognized through multiple honors, including Geosynthetics Institute Fellowships and ADSC and DFI awards.
Committed to service and mentorship, Kermani contributes to ASCE and ASTM and advances equitable, sustainable infrastructure solutions. He is also the president of AACE San Francisco Section.
Mariel Kirschen
35, Project Manager
HNTB Corp.
Seattle
Kirschen is a transportation project manager with more than a decade of experience advancing equitable, people-centered transit systems across the U.S. Currently, she serves as a transit planner at HNTB and deputy client service leader for Sound Transit. Kirschen leads key planning work streams on the West Seattle and Ballard Link extensions, collaborating across engineering, architecture, environmental planning and passenger experience teams to ensure accessibility and equity are embedded throughout project delivery.
Kirschen has a master’s degree in city planning from the University of Pennsylvania. Throughout her consulting and planning career, Kirschen has become known for her collaborative leadership and systems-based approach. She has contributed to significant transit initiatives, including the Maui Bus Comprehensive Operational Analysis and Fare Study, Sun Tran Fare Study, King County Metro’s Transit Mobility Framework and the Metropolitan Council’s Bus Allocation Study.
Kirschen is also the lead author of the Transportation Cooperative Research Program Evaluation Framework for Fare-Free Transit, a widely cited national resource that helps agencies assess the benefits and trade-offs of zero-fare service. Her work has informed decision-making at transit agencies across the country.
Kirschen serves as DEI committee chair for WTS Puget Sound and is a graduate of APTA’s Emerging Leaders Program.
Kaleb Kohne
32, Superintendent
Build Group Inc.
San Francisco
Kohne leads field operations and project teams across health care, higher education and K–12 as well as commercial, residential and mixed-use developments for Build Group Inc. in San Francisco. He is a construction leader whose career reflects technical excellence, cross-sector experience and a strong commitment to people-centered project delivery.
His portfolio includes the construction and commissioning of a new central utility plant at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland—delivered without disrupting hospital operations—as well as nearly 3,000 housing units across San Francisco, San Mateo and major university campuses. He has also supported complex commercial and corporate headquarters projects in the Bay Area.
A graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in construction engineering management, he began his career with a Portland-based general contractor specializing in historic renovations, tenant improvements and multifamily housing. That experience set the foundation for the principles he’s pursued throughout his career.
At Build Group, Kohne is known as a trusted leader and mentor. He regularly leads internal training for emerging project engineers and superintendents, focusing on sequencing, constructibility, safety and accountability. He also partners closely with preconstruction teams to refine logistics, reduce risk and strengthen proposals.
Kohne is committed to community service and employee wellness. He volunteers with GLIDE to support San Francisco’s most vulnerable populations and leads Build Group’s health and wellness initiatives.
Kingson Andy Li
33, Director, Mechanical Engineering
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles
Li oversees mechanical engineering and tunnel ventilation for all projects across LA County’s transportation network as a director for LA Metro. His work involves the standardization of mechanical and ventilation design criteria, champions sustainable system solutions and ensures consistent safety and performance across all new rail lines. The role is especially impactful as LA Metro delivers the largest rail expansion program in U.S. history, including the Airport Metro Connector, Purple Line Extension and Sepulveda Transit Corridor.
With a strong academic foundation—including engineering degrees and an MBA—Li began his career in Hong Kong at Parsons Brinckerhoff/WSP. He pioneered the use of computational fluid dynamics analysis for ventilation design and worked directly with government agencies to help establish standardized smoke control requirements for public transport interchanges, improving safety and efficiency across the industry.
Li continued to build his leadership credentials at globally respected firms including Cundall, Meinhardt and Arup, contributing to some of Asia’s most complex infrastructure and integrated resort developments. Notably, he served as mechanical lead on Galaxy Macau Phase 4—one of the largest casino and resort expansions in the world—and major transportation and commercial projects in Hong Kong and Macau. During this period, he achieved UK Chartered Engineer status combined with Member of the Chartered Institution of Building Service Engineers. He relocated to Los Angeles in 2019 with Arup and joined LA Metro three years later.
Darla Macomber
39, Chief Operating Officer
Associated General Contractors of California
Santa Ana, Calif.
Over the past decade, Macomber has advanced through nearly every level of Associated General Contractors of California to reach her current role of chief operating officer. During that period, she has served as regional member services manager, regional director, assistant vice president, vice president and senior vice president. Her career reflects a rare blend of ground-level industry knowledge, operational expertise and strategic vision.
As chief operating officer, she oversees AGC’s member services division, handling labor relations, government affairs, events, communications and membership development. These functions generate approximately $11 million of AGC’s $15 million annual revenue. She also manages more than half of the organization’s staff, driving operational alignment and strategic planning.
Macomber began her career in construction through hands-on roles in her family’s excavation business. She continued to build broad operational fluency through administrative and payroll roles at Kaweah Construction Co. and Lyles Construction Group, developing an understanding of both jobsite realities and back-office functions. In 2011, she joined AGC of California as executive assistant to the chief executive.
Macomber has played a key role in AGC’s organizational realignment and continues to partner closely with the state board on strategic planning initiatives. She further contributes to industry advancement through board service focused on workforce development and women in construction leadership.
Chantel Marcq
35, Project Manager
PCL Construction
San Diego
Throughout her 13-year career at PCL Construction, Marcq has carved out a reputation for technical excellence, community commitment and national leadership in sustainable building. She currently serves as a project manager, leading complex design-build work with a strong focus on energy performance, stakeholder collaboration, and community impact. Her portfolio includes more than $200 million in public construction, all within San Diego County.
A graduate of Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management, she joined PCL out of college and has delivered multiple award-winning civic and educational projects. Marcq served as project manager for the Zero Net Energy Lakeside Branch Library, recognized with the 2024 USGBC California Civic Green Building Award, and for UC San Diego’s Center for Coastal Studies. Her expertise has made her a trusted adviser on net-zero delivery, LEED documentation and high-performance systems. As a national adviser on PCL’s sustainability committee, she helped standardize LEED processes, improve waste diversion tracking and embed sustainability protocols into enterprise-wide systems. She is also a founding member of PCL’s social and impact committee, a LEED Green Associate and a recipient of NAWIC San Diego’s 2024 Mentorship and Education Award.
Jackie Martinez
39, Regional Business Development Director
BKF Engineers
Newport Beach, Calif.
Martinez is a dynamic AEC professional with more than 16 years of experience spanning right-of-way, civil engineering, surveying, water resources and strategic business development. At BKF Engineers, Martinez has advanced to regional business development director, where she leads strategic growth across Southern California. During the past seven years, she has been instrumental in expanding BKF’s regional presence, contributing to revenue growth from $4.3 million in 2020 to $7.1 million in 2024, a 64% increase. In 2024, she was promoted to regional business development director, where her leadership helped secure 108 project wins in six years and improve cross-office collaboration, increasing resource utilization by 15%.
Martinez is known for aligning BKF’s capabilities with community needs. As project lead for Anaheim Public Utilities Dept., she streamlined submittal and approval processes, reducing timelines and helping maintain cost and schedule commitments. She has also mentored emerging leaders, including guiding a junior employee into a statewide transportation leadership role.
Her influence extends beyond BKF through active leadership in industry organizations, including APWA, BDA Inland Empire, WTS and SMPS. Martinez was recognized with the 2021 APWA President’s Award for outstanding service.
Tiffany Mok
39, Senior Design Manager
Hensel Phelps
Irvine, Calif.
Mok is currently the lead design manager at Hensel Phelps on the $1.5-billion LAX Terminal 5 Redevelopment, a transformational aviation project targeted for completion ahead of the 2028 Olympics and aiming to achieve unprecedented passenger experience benchmarks at LAX.
Throughout her 16-year career, Mok has earned a reputation for delivering complex, people-centered projects across three continents.
Mok began her career at F+A Architects, contributing to international projects throughout the Middle East. She later joined CallisonRTKL, where she managed multidisciplinary teams across 10 countries and led work on a 184-acre mixed-use development in Amman, Jordan, deepening her expertise in place-based, culturally responsive design.
At EYRC Architects, Mok served as senior project manager for UC San Diego’s Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood—a $536-million, 972,000-sq-ft design-build project delivered on an aggressive four-year schedule that included coordinating more than 25 consultants and 20 user groups.
A California-licensed architect with NCARB Certification, CDT and LEED Green Associate credentials, she is also deeply committed to community engagement and workforce diversity.
Pramodh Reddy
37, Senior Project Manager
PCL Construction
Irvine, Calif.
Reddy is a civil engineer and design-build leader with more than 15 years of experience delivering complex public and private infrastructure projects across the U.S. In that time, he has led over $4 billion in construction spanning military, aviation, civic and entertainment facilities.
Reddy began his career on secure systems upgrades at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and infrastructure modernization projects for the MTA in New York City. He later joined PCL Construction, where he managed major scopes on the $2-billion American Dream Entertainment Complex in East Rutherford, N.J. After relocating to California, he emerged as one of the state’s most impactful public-sector project managers.
As project manager and design-build leader, Reddy led two award-winning civic campuses: the $85-million Orange County Health Care Agency Marine Way Campus and the $62-million Southeastern Live Well Center. His work on the $1.5-billion LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse also contributed to significant value engineering savings and a DBIA National Award of Merit.
A DBIA-Certified Professional, Reddy is deeply committed to collaborative delivery, mentorship and safety. Every California project he has led achieved zero recordable incidents, and every project engineer under his leadership earned a promotion.
Ben Tornberg
39, Project Sponsor
Manson Construction Co.
Seattle
Currently serving as a project sponsor at Manson Construction, Tornberg is known for his collaborative, people-centered leadership style. He describes his approach as a “diversified command,” empowering team members with clear decision-making authority while fostering accountability and ownership.
Tornberg has sponsored or managed some of the region’s most technically challenging marine projects, including the SR 520 Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and the $807-million Port of Alaska Terminal 1 Replacement—Manson’s largest project to date. These projects have earned numerous state, national and international awards for innovation, constructibility and delivery excellence.
From the outset of his career, Tornberg demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, serving as president of the Yakima Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Beyond project execution, Tornberg has made a lasting impact on company operations. He revitalized Manson’s small works business line and helped implement safety-focused programs that contributed to more than 785 injury-free days across regional projects.
Jaimie Turner
37, Vice President and General Manager
Turner Construction Co.
Los Angeles
Turner is a vice president and general manager at Turner Construction, where she leads the firm’s Southern California operations—one of Turner’s most active and complex markets. With more than 15 years at Turner, her career reflects a rare combination of technical expertise, business acumen and people-centered leadership.
Early on, Turner’s strengths in communication and strategic thinking led her into a business development engineer role, where she helped capture marquee work and strengthen long-term client relationships.
She later joined Turner’s special projects division, advancing from senior project manager to division manager. Under her leadership, the division tripled its annual revenue through disciplined process improvements, strong team development and a focus on client value.
In her current role, she oversees business strategy, operations and client engagement across a diverse portfolio of civic, commercial, education and sports projects.
Turner is widely respected for her commitment to mentorship, equity and continuous improvement. She serves as executive sponsor of Turner’s Southern California Women’s Network and is active on boards including the Los Angeles Business Council and USC Architectural Guild.
Alma Valencia
39, Transportation Deputy Project Manager
HDR
Irvine, Calif.
Valencia’s career reflects technical rigor, innovation and a sustained commitment to improving mobility across Southern California. She began her career as a construction office engineer on the I-215 Segments 1 and 2 reconstruction projects. She distinguished herself by mastering document control, pay estimates, cost analysis and contract interpretation—developing improved tracking systems that enhanced project oversight and accuracy.
After joining HDR, Valencia advanced into increasingly complex design-build transportation projects, including the SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project and the I-10 Express Lanes Corridor Project. Her expertise in submittals, audits and cost controls has consistently helped clients maintain schedules and budgets on large, high-risk projects. In 2024, she was named deputy project manager for the $650-million Orange County Streetcar project, where she leads a four-person team embedded with the Orange County Transportation Authority, managing contract modifications and aligning cost, schedule and funding decisions with OCTA leadership and the Federal Transit Administration.
Valencia is a licensed professional engineer and is widely recognized for her deep knowledge of Caltrans procedures and construction management practices. She has developed innovative tools to track lane-closure costs and cost-loaded schedules.
Valencia is a leader within Women’s Transportation Seminar Inland Empire and is active with Construction Management Association of America and American Society of Civil Engineers outreach.
Ricky Vega
37, Senior Associate Designer
Gensler
San Francisco
Vega is a design leader who uses architecture as a catalyst for equitable urban transformation. With more than a decade at Gensler, he brings cross-regional expertise in complex, mixed-use development across California’s most dynamic urban environments.
Vega specializes in shaping walkable, high-performing districts that integrate housing, office, retail and public space while aligning public policy, private investment and community priorities. In Los Angeles, he led the design of West Edge, a 4.8-acre transit-oriented redevelopment that transformed a former car dealership into a vibrant mixed-use hub. He also led the entitlement strategy for Dublin Commons, a 34-acre downtown redevelopment that secured unanimous City Council approval for increased height and density through a collaborative, public-facing process.
In San Francisco, Vega is a trusted partner to planning agencies, contributing to entitlement strategies, zoning frameworks and major civic projects, including a significant terminal expansion at San Francisco International Airport.
He has led Gensler’s ACE Mentorship Program for six years and is currently participating in Leadership San Francisco. Vega serves as a member of both the Urban Land Institute and the Young Professional Advisory Board of the LA Promise Fund.
Patrick Young
39, Senior Project Manager
Atlas Technical Consultants
Portland, Ore.
Young has spent the past 12 years at Atlas, where he has advanced from project engineering into senior leadership roles as a result of his technical rigor, steady leadership and commitment to quality. He currently serves as senior project manager and Oregon business lead, overseeing construction quality assurance for complex infrastructure projects across the West region.
His portfolio includes expressway corridors, multimodal transportation projects, water treatment and filtration facilities as well as federally funded roadway programs spanning multiple states. He is known for his structured, process-driven approach and his ability to navigate contract compliance, environmental review and multi-agency oversight on large, high-risk projects.
Throughout his almost two-decade career, Young has played a key role in strengthening quality management practices. Young is a licensed engineer in California, Nevada and Oregon and holds additional credentials including AWS Certified Welding Inspector, Qualified SWPPP Developer and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Construction Quality Management certification.
At Atlas, he has developed standardized inspection frameworks, improved reporting and audit procedures and enhanced documentation processes that reduce delays and improve consistency across projects. He is also a dedicated mentor and trainer, investing in the growth of engineers and inspectors through clear communication, technical guidance and calm leadership in the field.
Dustin Zyph
38, Superintendent
Lease Crutcher Lewis
Seattle
Zyph is a seasoned field leader whose 20-year career at Lease Crutcher Lewis reflects deep dedication to craft, mentorship and community impact. Beginning at age 18 as a first-period carpenter apprentice, he has steadily advanced through the trades to become a superintendent in 2018, earning a reputation for technical excellence, calm leadership and people-first values.
Zyph brings extensive experience in higher education, medical and life sciences construction, with strength in design-build and integrated project delivery. He is currently leading the renovation and expansion of Maywood Hills Elementary School, where his proactive, community-centered approach—engaging students, staff and neighbors—has helped ensure safety, transparency and a smooth academic transition.
A second-generation builder, Zyph followed his father, Eric Zyph, into the trades, and one of the defining moments of his career was working alongside his dad on Innovation Hall at the University of Washington Bothell and Cascadia College. Delivered amid a regional concrete strike and pandemic-driven cost escalations, the award-winning project was completed 12% larger than comparable facilities and earned the 2025 AGC Build Washington Award.
Beyond the jobsite, Zyph is a passionate advocate for workforce development and equity in the trades. He works closely with preapprenticeship organizations such as ANEW, YouthBuild and Sawhorse Revolution, mentoring participants, writing union recommendation letters and helping place graduates on Lewis projects.
