DBIA Young Professionals Earn National Recognition in ENR’s Top 20 Under 40

This year, four DBIA members have been named to Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Top 20 Under 40. We sat down with these exceptional young professionals –– Alex Belkofer, CM-BIM; Catherine Woodworth, LEED AP, DBIA; Chris Baersten, PE, PMP, ENV-SP; and Ethan Walton, LEED Green Associate, Assoc. DBIA –– to tap into their insights about where the industry is going and learn how DBIA’s programming for young professionals helped them get to where they are today.

DBIA’s Role in Early Career Success

All four became involved with DBIA early in their careers, and for Woodworth, finding mentors within DBIA was an organic process. She was interning at a design-build firm in Tampa while a student at the University of Florida when the DBIA Florida Region president asked if she wanted to start a DBIA student chapter. Woodworth embraced the opportunity, and it helped build her early career confidence. 

“There’s always imposter syndrome you feel, especially as a young person coming into a room with so many experienced people, but to be seen as someone who could give something as well has been incredibly helpful,” Woodworth said. “I hold a very special place in my heart for DBIA.”

Leading the student chapter for two years helped connect her to Hensel Phelps, where she has worked for nearly 15 years and serves as an Area Superintendent. All these years later, she describes mentoring the next generation through the same student programs she once participated in as a “full circle moment.”

Woodworth is just one of many young professionals who have found mentorship and early career advice through DBIA chapters that helped propel them to the next level in their career, including other members of ENR’s list.

The Power of Certification and Mentorship

At the start of his career, Walton found helpful advice and career direction through his local DBIA chapter in Indiana. Chapter members encouraged him to pursue an Associate DBIA certification, so Walton started weekend classes for the certification while also being a full-time college student.

Preparing for his Associate DBIA helped him conceptualize what working on a team built on trust and communication could look like. “Taking my DBIA coursework in college really was a guiding light, and it helped separate me as a leader from a very early stage because I had a vision for what could be or what should be,” Walton said. 

That vision remained with him as he entered the workforce. “Even though I may have been on projects that did not live up to these standards or ideals, [with the DBIA certification], I feel like I had a guidepost,” Walton said.

Achieving his Associate DBIA early in his career and connecting to his local chapter helped Walton advance. He is a Project Director at McCarthy Building Companies, where he has worked for almost 14 years.

Young professionals looking for mentorship can connect with DBIA’s mentoring program. This program brings young professionals and seasoned mentors together to help them gain experience and navigate the beginnings of their careers. Young professionals can also get involved by joining their local DBIA region or chapter, participating in working groups, building connections and finding new opportunities to expand their network and knowledge base.

Finding Leadership Through Industry Engagement

When Belkofer, Senior Director for Virtual Design and Construction at McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., thinks about the emerging opportunities for young professionals, he thinks about tapping into peer groups like steering committees, councils or working groups.

“When you’re involved in these work groups, or these peer groups, you’re accelerating your knowledge because you’re hearing in real-time from multiple different stakeholders what their experiences are, and you’re triangulating them,” Belkofer said. “I think that is the catalyst to do more faster and get more emerging leaders at the table with folks who have years of experience, have done a lot of design-build and can help pull us forward while we’re also trying to push for innovation and positive change.”

These types of groups allow young professionals to hear how others have handled challenges in their projects, build their expertise and prove themselves to industry leaders –– potentially opening doors to leadership opportunities.  

For Belkofer, one of these doors opened a few years ago when he was asked to chair DBIA’s Virtual Design and Construction Committee. Working on the committee helped Belkofer be “in the room,” speaking to new aspects of construction technology and not just an audience member hearing it secondhand.

DBIA committees provide young professionals with opportunities to engage in industry-wide discussions, collaborate with industry leaders and contribute to shaping the future of design-build. With committees covering a range of focus areas, young professionals can get involved in those that align with their interests and expertise, gaining exposure to emerging trends, evolving best practices and developing technologies. This engagement helps them build valuable skills and make connections that support their impact on the industry. 

Technology, Innovation and the Next Generation of Leaders

Belkofer sees the emergence of new technologies as an exciting opportunity for young professionals, noting it’s important to understand that people will be at different levels with their comfort around technology. Easing people in and giving examples of ways different technologies have improved a project can help lower people’s apprehension. Walton agrees, emphasizing the importance of balancing technical expertise and interpersonal skills.

“Young professionals really looking to make an impact should develop a deep understanding of both technology and people,” Walton said. “Mastering these new technologies –– whether virtual construction or AI –– is definitely going to give them a leg up, but their ability to communicate, collaborate, teach, coach, listen, will really determine how far they go.”

Some aptitudes, like communication and curiosity, are always needed no matter what new territory technology expands into.

Collaboration and Communication: Essential Skills for the Future

Baersten, a Civil Engineer at Kennedy/Jenks Construction, emphasized the need for an open mindset as new challenges and opportunities form the industry’s future. As projects become more complex, communicating effectively with different parts of the team is essential. 

“I work a lot with engineers, contractors, communication teams, urban designers –– people that in college, I never thought I’d work with or interact with, and I’ve needed them to help make projects defensible and run efficiently,” Baersten said. 

How DBIA Supports Young Professionals

As the industry evolves, young professionals must expand their skills beyond technical expertise to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and navigate complex project environments. This is especially important in design-build, where success depends heavily on seamless integration, strong communication and teamwork among all stakeholders. DBIA supports this growth in young professionals through its mentoring programs, special young professional events at conferences, student chapters and the CareerSpot Job Board. 

DBIA’s Director of Membership and Component Relations Pamela Reid explained, “At DBIA, we recognize young professionals are the future of design-build. DBIA’s programming for young professionals provides the tools, education and networking opportunities that empower emerging leaders to thrive. We’ve seen firsthand how DBIA Young Professionals leverage their strong industry connections and advance their careers. Their success is a testament to the power of design-build and the value of investing in the next generation of industry leaders.” 

AEC young professionals under 35 can take advantage of these valuable opportunities for learning, networking and career advancement by becoming a DBIA member for $75 a year. The membership includes discounts on certification workshops, educational programs, conferences and so much more.