ENR debuts the 2025 America’s Top Young Professionals list, with industry judges selecting 40 of the hardest working young minds from more than 400 entries received last summer during regional competitions, with winners representing construction markets across the country and Puerto Rico.
This year’s group-listed below-will be recognized during an event in New York City on March 25, and will also be featured in a cover story and photo spread to be published in ENR Magazine on May 11, 2026. The story will include the recipients’ professional insights and perspectives related to the industry’s most pressing challenges.
Panels of independent 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, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Jake Schmidt, Director of Project Development, FCI Constructors Inc.
The top 20 under 40 regional winners will be featured early next year in the respective regional ENR magazines.
If you know an outstanding candidate under the age of 40 who will be considered for next year’s Emerging Leaders Award, don’t miss the opportunity to submit a nomination for ENR’s regional competition when it is published next summer.
For more information on the competition, visit www.enr.com/top-young-professionals.
ENR’s 2026 Top 20 National Professionals Under 40 are listed below 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 Jefferiesdirector 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 Corp.. Originally featured on ENR Midwest
Emilee Woodsowner and principal engineer, Athena Engineering. Originally sent to ENR Texas & Southeast
Justin Rice is editor of ENR East.
