The 2024 Rising Stars shed light on how the next generation of AEC professionals is driving innovation and strengthening firm culture in a rapidly changing environment.
By Sara Parkman
Senior Editor
The Rising Stars in the AEC Industry Award highlights the achievements of exceptional young professionals under the age of 35 who have made significant contributions to the architecture, engineering, and construction fields. From demonstrating leadership and technical expertise to excelling in teaching, research, or public service, these individuals are recognized for their ability to impact not only their firms but also the broader community. This year’s honorees offer valuable insights on the industry’s evolution, the role of company culture in fostering growth, and the importance of embracing new technologies.
A conversation with the Rising Stars.
The Zweig Letter: The AEC industry is facing challenges in recruiting and retaining talent. What do you think is the key to attracting and keeping young professionals in this field?
Enrico Giori, Architectural Designer, Architecture for Education: The key to attracting and retaining young professionals in the AEC industry is offering clear career development opportunities and a strong mentorship program that builds on vital skills that aren’t part of higher education curricula. Young professionals are looking to fulfill roles and responsibilities that provide a sense of purpose and the ability to grow their careers while making an impact. Providing flexible work options and prioritizing meaningful, innovative projects with agency-driven clients are examples of actionable ways to foster sustained engagement among young professionals.
Ricardo J. Maga Rojas, Associate and Project Manager, Lawrence Group: I believe the key to attracting and retaining young professionals is fostering a workplace that emphasizes growth, mentorship, and flexibility. Meaningful work, opportunities for professional development, and a strong sense of belonging are essential. Equitable practices, flexible work arrangements, and clear career advancement paths are also vital. By addressing these evolving needs, firms can empower young talent and, in turn, strengthen the future of the AEC industry.
Shelby Harvey, Talent Development & HR Director, BHC: The first step in attracting and retaining young professionals in the field is to understand what motivates them. The incoming generation doesn’t necessarily place the same value on things that were important to generations that came before them – and that’s OK! I think there’s a misconception that incoming young professionals only care about money, because they are so much more open about discussing it with their peers than we are used to. But research shows that Gen Z values feeling like the work they do is more important than compensation – but young professionals do value transparency and equity. They’ve grown up in an age of having all the information they need at their fingertips to make informed decisions, and they are far less likely to accept vague answers. It’s important to meet them where they’re at and help them understand the "why" behind business decisions so they feel a sense of ownership. The AEC industry often lags behind others, and there’s no shortage of things young professionals can do, so we have to be willing to be bold, be agile, and constantly share the stories of what we do to make a positive impact on the communities we serve.
TZL: In what ways do you see the industry evolving in the next few years, and how do you hope to contribute to those changes?
Julia Wolanski, PSM, GISP, Senior Project Manager, GIS & Asset Management, Colliers Engineering & Design: I see the industry embracing more innovation with AI and automation tools. I think we can best contribute by staying ahead of the curve and trying to integrate these tools the best we can. We need to keep training staff and learn from other professionals at the forefront of our experiential learning. Staff will grow best when we give them the tools to achieve!
Duncan Robertson, Business Development and Marketing Manager, Tamarack Grove Engineering: The AEC industry has been strong since coming out of Great Recession, and has developed fairly consistently until life was interrupted by the pandemic in 2020. Since then, firms across the industry have reprioritized to focus on building stronger teams, enhancing culture, and increasing brand awareness. Since I started working in the industry in 2019, I have seen a significant shift in leadership’s support for marketing and business development. The industry has caught up with current trends and promotion tactics and is investing more in marketing and business development than ever before. I hope to contribute to this shift in our environment by advocating for further investment in marketing and business activities that make a significant impact for the firm. With so much of our everyday operations transitioning to virtual, including design meetings, client calls, and networking introductions, firms are being forced to set themselves apart by using key differentiators more than they’ve ever had to in the past. Promoting firms within the industry and building authentic relationships is the way I can best contribute to the changing atmosphere that our industry is experiencing, and I hope to help the next generation of marketing and business development professionals by paving a way that encourages firms to invest in BD and marketing.
Luke Stenzel, Business Services Manager, BHC: Technical advancements, firm consolidation, and record levels of investment in infrastructure are all likely to drive positive change over the next few years. We hope to contribute by continuing to learn, adjust, and grow with the industry to make a positive impact in communities across the country.
TZL: What do you look for in a company culture, and how has your current employer helped foster your growth?
Tiara Marcus, Project Management Practice Group Leader, ISG: I crave a culture of high accountability and excellence, and at ISG, we keep that at the forefront. ISG has fostered my growth by trusting me to lead one of our most influential and impactful teams. ISG empowers me to lead my team and drive these values of accountability and excellence, with their full support. My leaders have guided me not to “wait for permission” to do what we all know is best for our team. So, I push forward, delivering improvements and challenging our team to be better each day.
Zuzanna Sobczak, Water Resources Engineer, Wade Trim: When it comes to company culture, it needs to provide me with the opportunities for career growth and align with my personal values and professional aspirations. I look for a workplace that fosters innovation, a productive work environment, and a sense of belonging – all while supporting positive work-life balance. Wade Trim provides me with the opportunities to learn, develop, and take on increasing levels of responsibility, while encouraging collaboration and embracing technology. Being part of challenging projects and knowing that management trusts and believes in me makes me feel inspired and motivated to do my best work every day.
Coral Sperling, CAD Technician II, Bowman: As a young professional in the AEC industry, I look for a company culture that emphasizes growth, collaboration, and trust. It’s important to me that a company fosters an environment where innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are encouraged, while also placing high value on relationships. At Bowman, I’ve found exactly that. Our core values of growth and responsible freedom stand out to me, as they empower me to take ownership of my work while knowing I have the support of a team that values results over rigid processes. Bowman has allowed me to explore my potential and challenge myself through many diverse projects. The company’s emphasis on building trust and acting with integrity creates a workplace where I feel confident in making decisions, knowing that my colleagues and leadership are here to support me. The focus on relationships, both internally and externally, has given me the chance to learn from industry leaders while forming meaningful professional connections. This, combined with Bowman’s entrepreneurial spirit, has motivated me to contribute innovative ideas and solutions, knowing that they will be valued and supported.
TZL: What do you believe sets your generation apart in terms of innovation and problem-solving in the AEC industry?
Akshaya Iyer, PSP, Vice President, Peritia Partners: My generation grew up in an internet-enabled world, making us quick to seek solutions and improve workflows through online resources and AI tools. This adaptability and commitment to efficiency allow us to maximize productivity and continuously refine our processes. In addition, we prioritize sharing these tools with colleagues, regardless of their comfort with technology, making our generation inclusive and committed to bridging the generational gap in the AEC industry.
Robin Shelton, SE, PE, Senior Project Manager, RLG: I believe my generation holds a unique position in the AEC industry. Many of us were mentored by professionals who were trained before the widespread use of modern technology such as Revit, CAD, and advanced analysis tools. At the same time, we are part of the generation that has witnessed a significant shift toward digital innovation in engineering. This gives us a distinct appreciation for the convenience and efficiency technology provides, especially in coordinating across trades and accessing vast amounts of information. However, we’ve also experienced the value of physical drawings and face-to-face collaboration, lessons imparted by our mentors. I believe our generation can integrate these two approaches, combining the strengths of both traditional methods and modern technology to create a more comprehensive and effective way of working in today’s world.
Alanna Watts, PE, Mechanical Engineer and Associate, Parkhill: As far as we are aware, life has never been more comfortable than it is now. As an HVAC design engineer, I like to believe the HVAC industry is a good part of why that is the case. For designers of my generation with vast data and intelligence at our fingertips, it’s the easiest it has ever been to improve our processes, systems, and design. By focusing on solving problems with efficient, simple solutions, we can bring innovation to the industry. Those before us have paved the way for us and future generations to achieve incredible goals that we can’t even imagine today.
TZL: How do you integrate new technologies and approaches into your work to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry?
Neda Talebzadeh, MS, Senior Structural VDC Engineer, EnTech Engineering: I stay ahead by continuously learning and experimenting with new technologies. Automation and optimization are my key focus areas, and I adapt to the specific needs of each project to enhance efficiency and quality.
