ENR is proud to announce the names of its annual class of top young professionals.
Industry judges selected some of the construction industry’s hardest working young minds for this year’s class from more than 400 entries received last summer during the regional Top Young Professionals competition. The winners of ENR’s 2026 National Top 20 Under 40 Awards represent the construction industry markets in the US and Puerto Rico.
This year’s class (listed below) will be recognized during an event in New York City on March 25. This year’s class will also be featured in a cover story and photo spread to be published in the May 11, 2026 print issue of ENR. The story will include the honorees’ professional insights and perspectives on the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Panels of independent industry judges selected winners to represent each of ENR’s five regions. A national team of judges then reviewed the top-scoring candidates from each regional competition to determine the national award winners.
A special thanks to this year’s national team of judges:
- Emma Bones, Project Manager, Dewberry
- Sadia Janjua, Head of Digital Transformation, Project Controls and VDC at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Jake Schmidt, Director of Project Development, FCI Constructors Inc.
Articles on the top 20 under 40 regional winners will be published in ENR’s respective regional magazines early next year.
If you know of an outstanding candidate to be considered for next year’s Emerging Leaders Award, don’t miss the opportunity to submit an entry to ENR’s regional competition when it is published next summer.
For more information on the competition, visit www.enr.com/top-young-professionals.
Listed below are the 2026 ENR Top 20 Under 40 National Award winners in alphabetical order by last name. Congratulations!
Sharrod Alfordarea field engineer, Bechtel. Originally posted on ENR Midwest
Chase Andersonassociate director, Thornton Tomasetti. Originally sent to ENR Texas & Southeast
Jamal AtkinsVice President of Engineering and Construction Inspection, Volkert Inc. Originally featured on ENR Texas & Southeast
Rafiqul Chowdhurypresident and founder, Quadrant Engineering. Originally posted on ENR East
Lori Ferrissexecutive director and co-founder, Built Buildings Lab. Originally posted on ENR East
Razat Gangradetechnical advisor – geotechnical and tunneling, HNTB. Originally posted on ENR West
Freddys L. Hernandezassistant commissioner, New York Department of Design and Construction. Originally posted on ENR East
Christopher Hoffmanco-business unit leader, DC/Baltimore, DPR Construction. Originally posted on ENR East
Michelle Hoysickdirector of business development for transportation of the great west, AECOM. Originally submitted to ENR Mountain States & Southwest
Melanie Jeffriesdirector of operations, engineering services, Milhouse Engineering and Construction Inc. Originally posted on ENR Midwest
Tiffany Mokdesign director, Hensel Phelps. Originally posted on ENR West
Nathan MozeleskiSenior Engineer, AtkinsRealis. Originally sent to ENR Texas & Southeast
Dhruv Pateldirector of renewable energy operations, McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. Originally posted on ENR Mountain States & Southwest
Pramodh Reddy, senior project manager, PCL Construction. Originally posted on ENR West
Gina Semeraddirector, HVAC, Jaros, Baum & Bolles. Originally posted on ENR East
Lauren Simonedirector of learning and development and light construction, WM Jordan Co. Originally featured on ENR East
Amber SmithMarketing Director, Kiewit. Originally submitted to ENR Mountain States & Southwest
Estefania TovarSuperintendent, Flintco. Originally sent to ENR Texas & Southeast
Jane WilberdingSenior Mobility Manager and Project Manager, HNTB Corporation. Originally posted on ENR Midwest
Emilee Woodsowner and principal engineer, Athena Engineering. Originally sent to ENR Texas & Southeast
Justin Rice is editor of ENR East.
