Meet our 2024 top young professionals

Engineering News-Record (ENR) annually recognizes top young industry professionals under the age of 40 in the United States from each of its 10 regions. The chosen professionals have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and professional growth, all while creating landmark projects and giving back to their communities.

Across the nation, our young professionals continue to showcase what it means to deliver a better world through innovative ideas and unparalleled leadership. Their sustainable focused work positively impacts our clients, communities and world for generations to come. We are excited to congratulate and introduce our ENR 2024 National and Regional Top Young professionals. Read more about each of our honorees.

ENR Mountain States

Santosh Vangala, Associate, Structural Engineer. Santosh is a registered professional engineer with a master’s degree and 10 years of experience in structural engineering, precast design and project management for commercial projects. As a lead structural engineer, Santosh successfully executed the concept, analysis and design of a theatre operational facility at Peterson Air Force Base and a vehicle maintenance/aircraft support shop/storage complex at F.E Warren Air Force Base. Santosh is also a founding member of AECOM’s Structural Gatekeeper community, which advocates the use of digital tools and writing scripts to automate repetitive tasks and enhance efficiency.

ENR California

Jacqueline Saladé, Natural Resources Group Manager, Southern California/ Project Director/ Senior Restoration Ecologist. Jacqueline joined AECOM in 2015 working as a Restoration Ecologist and then as a task manager soon after. Jacqueline’s proactive and team-motivating style facilitated her project successes as well as earned her the role of AECOM’s Southern California Botany and Restoration Practice Leader, managing a team of 25, just three years after joining AECOM. One of her most impactful technical achievements has been her contributions to the implementation of an industry-leading, large-scale, seed collection program for a local utility company. With a knack for financial strategy, Jacqueline’s impact also extends into Northern California where she supports AECOM as a Portfolio Delivery Lead, overseeing financials on over $20M of projects.

ENR Northwest

Courtney Brozovsky, GIS Specialist. Joining AECOM in 2013, Courtney is a GIS Specialist who seeks to connect with junior staff, peers and mentors by bringing solutions to problems using GIS, technology, creative thinking and a “can-do” attitude. These traits are evident in her involvement during her education, career and the Alaska GIS professional community. Courtney’s career-defining projects include the Susitna-Watana Hydroelectric Project (Alaska Energy Authority), Point Thomson Project (ExxonMobil) and the Bering Sea-Western Interior Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management).

ENR Midwest

Mirela Keserovic, Structural Engineer. In her more than 11-year career, Mirela has worked on some of the Chicago Bridge group’s biggest projects, winning many prestigious regional and national engineering awards; 41st Street Pedestrian Bridge over Lake Shore Drive project won over 20 awards, among them ENR’s 2019 Best of the Best award. As a Peoples Manager, Mirela has been involved in several high-profile engineering projects, consistently delivering exceptional results and reflecting her exceptional skills, unwavering dedication and commitment to both personal and professional growth.

Kendall Williamson, Director of Community and Industry Engagement. Kendall currently manages all engagement and DEI operations for AECOM’s Hunt’s Central Region, showcasing passion for expanding opportunities for all in every capacity of his work, including historically excluded and marginalized communities. Kendall has had the opportunity to support many award-winning projects, including the Joint Public Safety Training Campus (JPSTC), a state-of-the-art facility to provide comprehensive, joint, best practice training for the Chicago Fire Department, the Chicago Police Department, and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications; and O’Hare21 (ORD21), an $8.5 billion modernization and expansion project to transform O’Hare International Airport to a premier international transit hub.

ENR New York

Ryan Andrew, Vice President, AECOM Tishman. Ryan Andrew, a construction management professional with a 14-year track record, launched his industry career on a 6.3 million-SF Hotel and Casino project in Atlantic City, NJ. Andrew has been involved in various mixed-use projects in the tri-state area but excels in the management and execution of mega projects. Ryan takes pride in ‘leading by example’ and holds mentoring young professionals as one of his top priorities.

Blair Pan, Senior Project Manager. Blair is a Senior Project Manager at AECOM Tishman with 12 years of experience working in the construction industry. A few of her most recent projects include One Madison Avenue, 3 Hudson Boulevard and 30 Hudson Yards. Due to her outstanding commitment to her work, as well as her contribution to advocating equality in the ACE industry, she was recognized among the 40 Outstanding Women in Construction Under 40 and also received the Next Generation of Women Builders Award prepared by the Women Builders Council in 2021.

ENR Southwest

Raybeau Richardson, Structural Engineer III. Throughout his 9-year career, Raybeau has worked on several notable projects including assisting in the structural design and radiation shielding for Australia’s ANSTO nuclear medicine facility in Sydney, serving as the lead structural engineer for the design of the new 12,000 SF Headworks Facility at the Wastewater Treatment Facility in Salt Lake City, and as the structural engineer for a 16,000 SF terminal expansion building at the Lea County Regional Airport in Hobbs, NM. Three years into his career, Raybeau passed the Professional Engineering licensing exam and became a licensed PE in the state of New Mexico. Since then, Raybeau has also obtained his PE in the states of Montana, Utah, Wyoming and Texas.

ENR Mid-Atlantic

Jonathan R Eberle, Associate Vice President, Structural Discipline Lead. Jon currently serves as a department manager role, where he enjoys the opportunities to mentor younger staff. He is also the Operations Manager for AECOM’s national, movable bridge practice where he helps to pursue work and coordinate staffing needs for the practice. He has recently taken on additional responsibilities as project manager for multiple DelDOT tasks and several movable bridge projects where he manages project teams and coordinates with clients and other consultants. Jon has authored papers and presented numerous projects, including DelDOT BR 1-717 Precast Panel Redecking, DelDOT BR 1-813 Emergency Repairs, MnDOT High Bridge Stability Analysis, and CM/GC Delivery.

ENR Texas and Louisiana

Leah Read, Structural Engineer VI. Leah has developed a strong professional focus on flood risk reduction, water conveyance and coastal restoration projects and structures during her 16 years of work with AECOM. After graduating from Tulane University, Leah stayed in New Orleans working on flood risk reduction and drainage infrastructure projects for USACE and local governments in New Jersey, New York, Texas, California, Kentucky, Ohio, and Louisiana. She progressed as a team engineer and has had leadership roles in multi-million-dollar infrastructure projects. Leah also has a Graduate Certificate in Coastal Engineering and earned licensure in states outside Louisiana, to perform as a structural Engineer of Record (EOR) for several important projects.

Watch to learn more about our honorees’ stories and how their work is pushing the limits of what’s possible.

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