The editors of Building Design+Construction recently named the winners of the 8th Annual "40 Under 40" competition. Of the up-and-coming AEC professionals to be named to the class of 2013, seven make their living as engineers.
The winners include Cierine Nicolas (pictured at left), an electrical engineer who holds a brown belt in Krav Maga, and Emily Guglielmo, a structural engineer and former elite gymnast. Read about the engineer winners below.
To view the entire 40 Under 40 Class of 2013, see our landing page.
This year’s winners will be invited to join their 40 Under 40 peers—as well as other young professionals nominated by their firms—for three days of career development at our Third Annual BD+C “U40 Leadership Summit” in San Francisco, October 9-11, 2013. For more information, contact BD+C's Events Manager, Judy Brociek, at 847.954.7943 or jbrociek@sgcmail.com.
We'd like to thank our 40 Under 40 sponsors for their support of the awards program and U40 Leadership Summit:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
1. POWER PLAYER
CIERINE NICOLAS, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CDT
Vice President, Electrical Engineer
Environmental Systems Design Inc., Chicago
AGE: 35
BS (EE and Molecular & Cellular Biology), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MS Graduate Fellowships at Princeton (electrical engineering) and Stanford (theoretical astrophysics)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Completed a major in molecular and cellular biology as a pre-med undergraduate.
Joined ESD in 1998; became the Chicago office’s first female VP in 2012.
Supervises electrical design for high-profile international projects, including supertall buildings in Riyadh, Jeddah, Seoul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Madinah, Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Mumbai, Washington, D.C., Boston, and Chicago.
Recent work: Kingdom Tower, Jeddah; King Abdullah Financial District Parcels, Riyadh (mixed-use); U.S. Department of Homeland Security, St. Elizabeths Campus, Washington, D.C. (secure 175-acre complex, 4.5 million sf).
EXTRACURRICULAR
Co-chairs ESD’s Outreach Committee (community work, philanthropy).
Team Captain, 4th Annual Canstruction Chicago Design/Build Competition.
Volunteer work: Habitat for Humanity in Chicago; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
OFF THE CLOCK
Activities: high-adrenaline water sports, running, tennis, alpine skiing, baseball, golf.
Holds a brown belt in Krav Maga.
Relaxes with precision rifle marksmanship, skeet shooting and target practice.
Can't live without: sports and designer high heels
SECRET LIFE
Spouse is electrical engineering director at competing firm SOM.
Daughter Quinn born Feb. 4, 2013.
2. SOFTWARE WHIZ
KARMYN BABCOCK, LEED AP
IT Director
The Weitz Company,
Des Moines, Iowa
AGE: 37
BS, MS, Iowa State University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Joined Weitz in 1997; promoted to Director of IT in 2012, managing a team of 15.
Supervises implementation and upgrades of systems such as JD Edwards, Oracle SOA, Prolog Suite, and BIM/VDC applications, including work with external clients and subcontractors.
Directed Weitz’s beta testing for Prolog Manager 5.0; developed real-time integration between Prolog and JDE regarding project financial information. Developed prototype intranet for 1,200+ employees.
Implemented Lean construction technology practices companywide; renegotiated major technology contracts for the firm.
Inducted into the Meridian Hall of Fame in 2008 for her work with Prolog.
EXTRACURRICULAR
Active member of Construction FutureTech CIO, Construction Executive Leaders, Iowa State University Con E Alumni, Prolog Customer Advisory Board, and iPad in Construction.
Volunteer kickboxing instructor for various charities; assists with fundraising “kickathons” several times a year.
Plays piano, sings, and teaches preschool at a local church.
OFF THE CLOCK
Can’t live without: Amazon Cloud Player (current favorite artists: The Lone Bellow, Walk to the Moon, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis).
Hobbies: playing Rachmaninoff on the piano, shopping for shoes.
Favorite flick: “Fight Club.”
SECRET LIFE
Partial to girls’ weekends in Chicago and Minneapolis.
3 ECLECTIC ANALYST
LEAH B. GUZOWSKI
Energy Policy Scientist
Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, Ill.
AGE: 32
BA, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Master of Higher Education Policy, Harvard University
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Completed triple major at UW–Madison. Served as an editor for a publication at Harvard Law School.
Spent 2+ years doing city planning and energy policy work with the Swedish Trade Council.
Joined Argonne in 2010. Principal Investigator or Primary Researcher on DOE-supported projects, including the DOE Financial Tool, part of the DOE’s Building Performance Database.
Helped Loyola University Chicago cut overall energy use by 50%.
Principal Investigator, Chicago Energy Efficiency Retrofit Initiative; helped coordinate R&D of methodologies for analyzing citywide energy use.
Co-leader, Argonne’s Energy Security Initiative; Leader, Argonne’s Building Energy Research and Integration Program.
EXTRACURRICULAR
Board of Directors, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.
Member, International Association of Energy Economics and U.S. Association of Energy Economics.
Volunteer, Dress for Success.
OFF THE CLOCK
Hobbies: the arts, music, culture, and sports of Chicago.
Plays quarterback on a flag football team.
Favorite foods: raspberries, steak grilled outdoors.
SECRET LIFE
Grew up in rural Wisconsin. Competed in log-rolling on the Mississippi River as a youth. Grandfather raced homing pigeons.
4. GREEN RUNNER
ELISE KIRCHHOFER, PE, LEED AP, HFDP
Vice President
Henderson Engineers Inc.,
Lenexa, Kan.
AGE: 36
BS, University of Wyoming
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Joined Henderson Engineers in 2009: youngest VP ever appointed by the firm, and one of only four women to achieve the rank.
Co-leads a team of 25 engineers and designers focused on healthcare, education, and commercial projects.
Recent projects: $100 million patient tower expansion for Shawnee Mission Medical Center, 144,000-sf medical clinic at Ft. Bliss (largest project of its kind to seek LEED Silver certification), and a new 660,000-sf commercial office campus.
Spearheads the firm’s sustainability education efforts, including LEED exam prep assistance for employees and other local design professionals.
ASHE/AHA Vista Award for Infrastructure, 2012 (Liberty Hospital Cardiology Addition).
EXTRACURRICULAR
Active in ASHE and Kansas City Healthcare Engineers Organization.
Board Chair and multiple committee positions, USGBC Central Plains Chapter.
Collaborated with Kansas City Sports Commission to “green” the KC Triathlon and Kansas City Marathon.
Volunteer service: KIPP Endeavor Academy, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City Hospice.
OFF THE CLOCK
Activities: yoga, competitive running—full and half marathons.
SECRET LIFE
Once appeared in a Benetton ad.
5. SURVIVOR
K. KULIA PACHECO BOERSTLER, PE, SE
Associate
Baldridge & Associates, Honolulu
AGE: 37
BS, MS, University of
Colorado Boulder
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Worked two jobs while completing her bachelor’s degree.
Completed master’s in structural engineering while holding down a full-time engineering job in Colorado.
After returning to Hawaii, promoted from senior structural engineer to associate in 16 months.
Licensed structural engineer in Hawaii and Colorado.
Project experience: Pacifica (48-story residential, Honolulu); The Spire (42-story residential, Denver); and assisted living, healthcare, office, retail, and military projects.
Diagnosed with Stage IIB colorectal cancer in 2011; continued to work during 18 months of treatment.
EXTRACURRICULAR
Volunteer with the American Cancer Society. Firm is doing the ACS Hope Lodge project, which will offer no-cost housing to off-island residents undergoing cancer treatment in Honolulu.
Member, American Institute of Steel Construction and Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii.
OFF THE CLOCK
Hosts annual Kentucky Derby party featuring mint juleps and outrageous hats.
Hobbies: cooking, baking, gardening, long-distance bike riding.
Favorite foods: Red wine-coffee-chocolate “trifecta.”
SECRET LIFE
Grandmother “Tutu” worked for the Hawaii Liquor Commission, took part in crackdowns on underage drinking at strip clubs—in her 70s.
6. ARMY OF ONE
NATHAN SPEANBURG, PE
Project Superintendent
M+W Group, Watervliet, N.Y.
AGE: 33
BSCE, U.S. Military Academy at West Point
MSCE, University of Missouri–Rolla
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Commissioned Army officer (Captain); deployed twice to Afghanistan, as well as to Honduras and Kosovo. Role included general engineering and project management, combat missions.
Recipient of the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medal.
Taught military studies at the University of Vermont.
At M+W, manages contracting, planning, design, and construction of high-tech facilities.
Recent projects: $4.2 billion, 1.6-million sf Globalfoundries Fab 8.1, Malta, N.Y.; University at Albany, Albany Nanotech Complex, Office/Research/Technology Building, NanoFab East ($28 million, 211,000 sf); Albany Nanotech Complex, NanoFab Cleanroom building.
One of 10 U.S. employees on firm’s Injury Free Workplace Leadership Team.
Recruited for M+W Group’s Talents Program, providing intensive leadership training and mentoring for Top 20 employees (of 7,800).
EXTRACURRICULAR
Brigade Engineer Officer (Major), Vermont Army National Guard, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
Educates first responders and town officials regarding semiconductor construction and operations.
OFF THE CLOCK
Activities: weight lifting, hiking, hunting, music (big band, early jazz, classical).
Favorite film: “Bridge on the River Kwai.”
SECRET LIFE
Building a cabin in the Adirondacks.
7. STRUCTURALLY SOUND
EMILY GUGLIELMO, PE
Senior Structural Engineer
Martin/Martin Inc., Larkspur, Calif.
AGE: 32
BS, University of California–Los Angeles
MS, University of California–Berkeley
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Runs the firm’s San Francisco Bay office.
Licensed engineer, California and Colorado; special expertise in seismic and wind issues.
Recent projects: Colorado State University Sonny Lubick Field Stadium, Denver Health and Hospitals Far Western Addition, Mesa State College Field House, and San Jose International Airport improvements.
Young Member Award, National Council of Structural Engineers Associations Annual Conference, 2012.
Emerging Leaders Alliance Conference Award, American Society of Civil Engineers, 2012.
EXTRACURRICULAR
Member, Structural Engineering Institute’s Young Professionals Committee.
Founding member, Northern California Structural Engineers Association Young Members Support Committee.
Active member, American Society of Civil Engineers.
Community volunteer, Habitat for Humanity.
Structural engineering docent for the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge.
OFF THE CLOCK
Enjoys marathons, 100-mile bike rides, Ironman Triathlons, skydiving, bungee jumping, ziplining, and roller coasters.
Favorite spots: Italy’s Piemonte region, Lake Tahoe.
Favorite film: “The Shawshank Redemption.”
SECRET LIFE
Former elite gymnast: “I’m still capable of some flips and twists.”
Related Stories
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
Design guide for parapets: Safety, continuity, and the building code
This course covers design considerations for parapets. The modern parapet must provide fire protection, serve as a fall-protective guard, transition and protect the roof/facade interface, conceal rooftop equipment, and contribute to the aesthetic character of the building.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
Designing smarter places of learning
This course explains the how structural steel building systems are suited to construction of education facilities.
Performing Arts Centers | May 10, 2022
A historic performance space is transformed to reinforce a campus’ Arts District
Connecticut College’s Athey Center for Performance and Research at Palmer Auditorium balances the old and new.
Market Data | May 10, 2022
Hybrid work could result in 20% less demand for office space
Global office demand could drop by between 10% and 20% as companies continue to develop policies around hybrid work arrangements, a Barclays analyst recently stated on CNBC.
Multifamily Housing | May 10, 2022
Multifamily rents up 14.3% in 2022
The average U.S. asking rent for multifamily housing increased $15 in April to an all-time high of $1,659, according to Yardi Matrix.
Headquarters | May 10, 2022
JPMorgan Chase’s new all-electric headquarters to have net-zero operational emissions
JPMorgan Chase’s recently unveiled plans for its new global headquarters building in New York City that is rife with impressive sustainability credentials.
Building Team | May 9, 2022
Cincinnati’s Andrew J Brady Music Center transforms the city’s riverfront
In Cincinnati, Ohio, the Andrew J Brady Music Center aims to connect audiences with live music while transforming Cincinnati’s riverfront.
Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | May 8, 2022
Choosing the right paver system for rooftop amenity spaces
This AIA course by Hoffmann Architects offers best practices for choosing the right paver system for rooftop amenity spaces in multifamily buildings.
Market Data | May 6, 2022
Nonresidential construction spending down 1% in March
National nonresidential construction spending was down 0.8% in March, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Building Team | May 6, 2022
Atlanta’s largest adaptive reuse project features cross laminated timber
Global real estate investment and management firm Jamestown recently started construction on more than 700,000 sf of new live, work, and shop space at Ponce City Market.
