ENR 2026 Top 20 Under 40
Jamal Atkins: CEI Leader Advancing Multimodal Infrastructure and Mentoring the Next Generation
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ENR 2026 Top 20 Under 40
Jamal Atkins
37, Vice President of Construction Engineering and Inspection
Volkert Inc.
Raleigh, N.C.
Atkins has 15 years of experience shaping transportation and infrastructure projects across the Carolinas. A civil engineering graduate of North Carolina State University, he began work at the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation, rising to assistant resident engineer before joining Volkert as vice president of construction engineering and inspection.
He oversees multimillion-dollar projects in bridge construction, roadway improvements, utility relocation, broadband expansion and rail, with a portfolio that includes Charlotte Gateway Station, pedestrian upgrades in downtown Waxhaw and the statewide Broadband Infrastructure Design Build project.
Atkins served on the American Council of Engineering Companies–North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Joint Subcommittee on Construction and Materials. He also chairs Volkert’s Construction Engineering and Inspection Advisory Committee, and previously chaired its Technology Advisory Committee. Atkins and his family support Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of North Carolina.
How have you overcome challenges in your career?
Public speaking was once a significant hurdle for Atkins, he says. Over time, leading Bible study groups, administering projects that required media interviews and stepping into service‑line leadership roles helped him develop confidence. What once felt daunting has become a natural part of his work.
What has been your most meaningful project?
Atkins points to the Charlotte Gateway Station as the most formative project of his career. The multimodal hub included bridges over several Uptown Charlotte streets, retaining walls, paving, utilities, storm drainage, micropiles, drilled shafts, grading and an 1,100‑ft-high‑level pedestrian platform. Coordinating with the North Carolina DOT's Rail Division, the City of Charlotte, Charlotte Area Transit System and Norfolk Southern made the project uniquely complex, he notes. The lessons learned there continue to shape how he administers CEI services today.
What is the best career advice you’ve received?
“To find a mentor.” Atkins credits trusted advisors with helping him navigate challenges, refine his skills and make thoughtful career decisions.
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What advice do you have for young professionals?
He encourages young engineers to seek strong management and choose workplaces that value the right things. He points to Volkert’s core values—safety, quality, ethics, and service—as examples of leadership that create a healthy environment where people can thrive.
What’s the best part of your job?
Helping people, Atkins emphasizes. Whether assisting someone in finding a job or seeing a completed project benefit the community, he finds fulfillment in the human impact of his work.
