Introducing CDM Smith's Rising Stars of 2018

Faced with retiring baby boomers, aging infra­struc­ture and funding hurdles, the engineering industry desperately needs young minds to start solving today’s challenges. But because the most significant issues will not be solved for decades, it is up to the next generation of forward thinkers to navigate its future. 

At CDM Smith, we are dedicated to celebrating the best and brightest young influencers who are making their mark. That is why we have selected 12 individuals who represent technical innovation, steadfast collab­o­ra­tion and active partic­i­pa­tion in the advancement of their fields. They are quite literally changing the face of engineering, bringing radical thinking to age-old problems and cultivating an exclusive global network of peers. We are excited to share their stories and celebrate the common threads that bind them. 

They are obsessed with delivering ground­break­ing projects that will change the world. Whether it is imple­ment­ing advanced solutions to comply with envi­ron­men­tal regulations or utilizing alternative delivery methods to streamline construc­tion, the end result is clear: an unmatched client experience that is tailor-made to solve each unique problem.   

The Rising Stars of 2018 excel at technical roles as diverse as the markets they serve, but even more inspiring is the level of passion they exhibit for the future of their industries. Water engineers who believe delivering clean water has a noble purpose, a trans­porta­tion planner who daydreams about flying cars, air quality scientists whose envi­ron­men­tal stewardship manifests itself in backyard vegetable gardens and solar panels, and a mechanical engineer who touts open commu­ni­ca­tion as the key to navigating the complex world of systems design.

They are going the extra mile by contribut­ing to industry-leading research and development, challenging the norm and breathing technical innovation into every aspect of project scope. “Just because you’ve done something one way for 25 years, doesn’t mean you haven’t been doing it wrong for 24,” says construc­tion manager Ted Wunderlich.  
So perhaps it is no surprise that this envelope-pushing attitude extends far beyond the walls of CDM Smith. As directors, chairs, members and liaisons of profes­sional orga­ni­za­tions, our Rising Stars are seizing the opportunity to accelerate the progress of global engineers. They are serving as models for cutting-edge research with national conference presen­ta­tions and technical papers. And through firm-supported programs like Engineers Without Borders and Water for People, they are improving the quality of life for countless communities.

They are passionate about mentorship and fired up about paying it forward. Working under some of the brightest minds in their respective fields, these young profes­sion­als have no shortage of mentors to thank for their successes. Envi­ron­men­tal engineer Wei Liu says, “Our mentors are excellent, but it's not just confined to United States; it's all over the world. I work with people in Saudi Arabia, Dublin, Germany, and they all show that same level of initiative, commitment, and dedication,” she says. “I’ve been amazed at how much they are dedicated to paying it forward and all they ask is that I pay it forward, too.” 

Young profes­sional orga­ni­za­tions and university mentorship programs—of which our Stars are heavily involved—are laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s innovators and encouraging students to take advantage of unique oppor­tu­ni­ties. That is, after all, how each of our 12 got started themselves.

These stars are clearly exceptional, but in fact they represent the best of an entire generation of dedicated profes­sion­als eager to reinvent the world. Join us in celebrating the future!