Trailblazers
The 2025 CSPA Infrastructure honorees
Meet the Pennsylvanians creating and fortifying the state’s built environment, from skyscrapers to sustainable water.
From left to right: JT Graupensperger, Amy Kronenberg & Raj Shelat Lydia Hoffman; Kenzee Meyers Photography; Provided
Roads, bridges and buildings have been cornerstones of the commonwealth’s infrastructure since its inception – joined nowadays by broadband internet, airport runways and energy pipelines. As the infrastructure that powers our lives expands, the 2025 CSPA Infrastructure honorees are among the most influential Pennsylvanians making it all happen.
Jason Acree
As president of IBEW Local 126, Jason Acree advocates for the electrical line workers who keep the lights, heat and WiFi going across Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He joined the profession as a journeyman lineman nearly 30 years ago and has led the union since 2011, while also serving as an assistant business manager and a referral agent. He has also served on the union’s board of trustees and has chaired the executive board.
Gregory Alliger
Gregory Alliger was the recipient of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Governor’s Award for Excellence, recognizing his work with the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority connecting some 10,000 homes to high-speed internet. The initiative was part of the authority’s $204 million Capital Projects Fund, which Alliger leads as a program manager. Utilizing geospatial intelligence and other strategic data, he produces interactive maps that inform investment decisions and drive collaborations among municipalities, private partners and state agencies to foster broadband expansion.
Rolando Amaya
Infrastructure executive Rolando Amaya oversees the mid-Atlantic region for WSP USA, a global consulting firm that provides myriad services across the built environment. He has a record of driving strategic growth and expanding clientele and market sectors across Pennsylvania and other states. He holds a degree in civil and environmental engineering from Princeton University and an MBA from New York University, and previously held several engineering and infrastructure advisory roles, including at BlackRock and KPMG.
Lauren Antenucci
Lauren Antenucci serves as practice lead for Pennsylvania construction services at KCI Technologies, overseeing staff, projects, training and growth. She recently completed KCI’s invitation-only Professional Leaders program and worked on the company’s drone and rover consultations for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The Villanova University-trained civil engineer previously worked in design and construction management for Urban Engineers and Navarro & Wright. She is a member of the Women’s Transportation Seminar, the American Society of Highway Engineers, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and Associated Pennsylvania Constructors.
Api Appulingam
Philadelphia is soaring to new heights with Api Appulingam, who, as chief development officer for the city’s Department of Aviation, oversees capital projects for both the Philadelphia International and the Northeast Philadelphia airports. She is currently leading a $500 million infrastructure program to prepare the city’s airports for the 2026 marquee events and to update Philadelphia International Airport’s master plan to accommodate the region’s ongoing growth. She also promotes industry diversity with the American Association of Airport Executives.
Jeremy Billig
As McLaren’s president and CEO, Jeremy Billig has overseen projects ranging from bridges to theaters – and guided the firm’s 2024 merger with KCI, for which he now serves as the Northeast regional executive while remaining the firm’s chief executive. His leadership role at McLaren has grown steadily since he joined the firm as a junior engineer 20 years ago; along the way, he oversaw the New York City region and was named the 2019 Young Engineer of the Year by the New York Society of Professional Engineers. He holds several degrees in structural engineering from Cornell University.
Matthew Burns
Matthew Burns, a Lehigh University-trained engineer, has guided Philadelphia-based Burns Engineering for four decades. As CEO, he has steered the firm’s expansion from a local consultancy to a national provider of infrastructure services across sectors ranging from aviation and healthcare to utilities and data centers. Under his leadership, Burns has recently overseen solar microgrids for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, tunnel and bus depot projects for SEPTA, a Philadelphia Airport runway project, and electric-vehicle work for PennDOT.
Brad Bushey
At Allan Myers, Design Integration Manager Brad Bushey has lately been managing a $60 million highway upgrade project on I-95 for the Virginia DOT – the Mechanicsburg company’s first progressive design-build project. It’s the kind of ambitious undertaking that has earned Bushey plaudits including, in 2024, the Estimator of the Year Award from Associated Builders and Contractors, the national construction industry trade group. Bushey holds a degree in civil engineering from Penn State University.
Christopher Crockett
Christopher Crockett brings three decades of experience with water, stormwater and wastewater to Essential Utilities, where, as chief environmental officer, he is responsible for safety and sustainability across 10 states for the Aqua America and Peoples Natural Gas divisions. He led recent efforts to address the so-called “forever chemicals” known as PFAs, as well as lead in aging infrastructure. Previously, as deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department, he spearheaded an award-winning sourcewater protection program, Green Cities Clean Waters.
Scott Cullinane
At the forefront of autonomous technology, Scott Cullinane has been with the drone company Skydio since 2021, currently serving as national account director for transportation and critical infrastructure. During his tenure, Skydio scored a $74 million contract with the U.S. Department of State for its drone technology and has seen its equipment deployed for site inspections nationwide. Cullinane previously led high-technology corporate accounts at Netsuite, the cloud-based software company, and is a certified remote pilot.
Glenn P. Deppert
Glenn P. Deppert leads Pennsylvania operations for Arora and Associates, the Bethlehem engineering consultancy where he manages a staff responsible for infrastructure projects throughout the commonwealth. Deppert is known as an expert in bridge replacement, with more than 130 such projects under his belt for PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, NJDOT and other regional outfits. His three-decade career in bridge and transportation infrastructure began with degrees in civil engineering from Lehigh University.
Sonia Di Valerio
Experienced litigator Sonia Di Valerio is the first woman to lead the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania. As executive director, she works to improve labor relations and working conditions, promotes industry recruitment efforts, fosters strong government relations, and collaborates with the larger labor community. She currently serves as a trustee to various pension, health, education and other funds with the Laborers’ District Council, the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542.
Anthony Dougherty
For 30 years, Anthony Dougherty has overseen construction at Pottstown-based Traffic Planning & Design, a civil engineering firm. For his contributions to the industry – including championing the next generation of engineers through teaching and advocacy – he was named the 2024 Engineer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, where he has served as chapter president, state director and construction services vice president. Dougherty holds civil engineering degrees from Penn State and Villanova.
Leslie Elder
Leslie Elder is the vice president of policy and regulatory affairs for Summit Ridge Energy, where she advances community solar and energy policy across the United States. From her Philadelphia base, she has led efforts to unite stakeholders – from federal and state governments to industry and advocacy groups – behind measures that promote energy infrastructure and a better understanding of its economic and community benefits. Frequently featured in policy forums, she serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Energy Co-Op and volunteers with the Philadelphia Food Pantry.
Jason Esser
Allegheny County native Jason Esser oversees major projects both locally and nationally for Pittsburgh-based S&B USA Construction, where he is a senior vice president leading project controls and scheduling. He recently guided an $860 million toll lanes initiative in Houston, a $1.4 billion stormwater upgrade in Fargo, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania’s $1.5 billion major bridges program. A University of Pittsburgh civil and environmental engineering graduate, he is also a past president of the Pittsburgh chapters of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and the American Society of Highway Engineers.
Joseph Evanko
Based in Western Pennsylvania, Joseph Evanko serves as vice president and manager of construction services for CDR Maguire Engineering, a national, full-service engineering firm. He has worked on high-profile projects such as Pittsburgh’s Bus Rapid Transit system and served as a consultant on a 2023 infrastructure report identifying the major causes of construction accidents for the University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering. He is active with numerous industry groups, including the American Society of Highway Engineers’ Pittsburgh chapter.
Dan Ganoe
After leading operations at Lindy Paving for nearly 30 years, Dan Ganoe this year became president of the Western Pennsylvania asphalt giant, a division of the Lindy Group of construction services companies. Ganoe also currently serves as president of the Pennsylvania Asphalt Pavement Association and has been active with local and national industry groups. A former longtime Lindy Paving vice president, he holds a civil engineering degree from Point Park University.
Michael Girman
At AECOM, Michael Girman is a senior vice president in charge of transportation for the mid-Atlantic region, managing a 1,250-strong team and business across a territory that includes Pennsylvania, four other states and Washington, D.C. He oversees projects that include, currently, a pedestrian cable bridge over the Schuylkill River and bridge and tunnel projects for Amtrak. Girman honed his infrastructure skills over two decades at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, where, as a senior project manager, he led complex projects across Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Gary Gorski
Numerous bridges and highways across the commonwealth trace their origins to Gary Gorski, the founder and longtime CEO of Clearwater Construction. Since founding the firm in 2003, he has built Clearwater into one of Pennsylvania’s top highway and bridge outfits and a top PennDOT contractor, and recently launched an Idaho-based Western U.S. division. Under his leadership, the company has created more than 650 bridges – including for the $900 million Rapid Bridge Replacement Project – and generated revenue exceeding $1.2 billion, with projects across the Eastern United States.
JT Graupensperger
At Pennoni, a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy, JT Graupensperger wears a number of hats at Pennoni – including as associate vice president, Mechanicsburg office director, manager of the firm’s environmental division and environmental practice lead. Notably, he plays a key role in obtaining environmental clearances and permits for a high-profile, decade-long, $329 million project I-95 project in Philadelphia. He is also proud to manage a series of energy-saving upgrade projects for the Susquenita School District, from which he graduated.
Mark Hattersley
At Bentley Systems since 2004, Mark Hattersley has held a variety of leadership positions – including, currently, as director. His recent focus is on leading a global team of technical and business experts to manage infrastructure projects, using technology and logistics to optimize delivery with a global workforce approach. He holds multiple degrees in geology, previously worked for engineering and construction contractors and currently mentors future infrastructure leaders through Bentley Systems’ corporate mentorship program.
Konstantin Huypen
At Accenture, Konstantin Huypen brings 20 years of experience leading complex infrastructure implementation projects to his role as infrastructure transformation manager. A chemical engineering graduate of Cornell University, he has expertise in building data centers, deploying networks and managing statewide telecommunications infrastructure in various corporate roles. He recently earned multiple ServiceNow certifications while completing a series of projects aimed at streamlining infrastructure projects for public and private clients through IT Service Management best practices.
Katharine Kelleman
As CEO of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Katharine Kelleman is responsible for a system that moves some 100,000 riders each day. Since taking the helm in 2018, she has prioritized communication, equitable fares and strategic planning for the system, which operates 700 buses and an 80-vehicle light-rail outfit. The holder of a master’s in public administration, she was the youngest director in the Baltimore Transit System and at Tampa’s Hillsborough Area Regional Transit before coming to Pittsburgh.
Amy Kronenberg
As the president of GMS Funding Solutions, Amy Kronenberg leads a team that secures public funding for complex capital projects, empowering communities and investors through economic growth. Under her leadership, GMS helped obtain $5.5 million in state and federal funding to transform a blighted Chambersburg strip mall into a mixed-use community; she also played a pivotal role in securing a $3 million state grant to upgrade road infrastructure in Guilford Township.
Dustin Kuhlman
In 2022, after 15 years with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Dustin Kuhlman became the first non-founder CEO in the Pittsburgh company’s three-decade history. A Penn State-trained civil engineer, he helped steer the company’s growth in a series of leadership roles as the firm benefited from the explosion of natural gas drilling in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale formation. His tenure has seen the firm secure permits for dozens of major oil and gas projects while earning recognition as a Top 200 Environmental and Top 500 Design firm by Engineering News-Record.
Marc Kurowski
Ubiquitous in Capital Region civic and infrastructure circles, Marc Kurowski is the CEO of K&W, the civil engineering and site design firm he co-founded. He is also the longtime chair of the Capital Region Water Board of Directors and vice chair of the board of the Harristown Development Corporation. At K&W, Kurowski has spearheaded major institutional projects, including Penn State Harrisburg’s $48 million academic building and stadium complex, while growing his four-year-old Historic King Mansion events venue in Harrisburg.
Robert Latham
As executive vice president for Associated Pennsylvania Constructors, Robert Latham oversees operations, serves as a chief industry spokesperson and leads the organization’s state government lobbying. He has served by gubernatorial appointment to the state’s Transportation Funding Advisory Commission as well as on its Transportation Revenue Options Commission; more recently, he advised Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2023 transition on transportation and infrastructure. Latham is also a leader with the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition, a broad-based advocacy group.
Richard Lazer
Under the direction of Richard Lazer, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has made the city’s roads safer and more user-friendly through initiatives such as prohibitions on sidewalk parking and blocking curb cuts, and the establishment of a new Bike Lane Enforcement Patrol. Lazer, who assumed the role in 2022, has also expanded a speed camera program that has reduced speeding along Roosevelt Boulevard – long the city’s deadliest thoroughfare – by 95%. Previously, as deputy mayor for labor, he spearheaded Philadelphia’s $400 million Rebuild Initiative.
Kevin Leadbetter
Kevin Leadbetter leads GAI, a six-decade-old Pittsburgh-based engineering and environmental consultancy, and also chairs its board of directors. Under his leadership, GAI serves clients across sectors including utilities, development, transportation and government. Since joining GAI in 2005, he has led the firm’s Transportation and Infrastructure Business Unit, the Southeast Transportation Market Sector and the Florida Design/Build and Construction Engineering & Inspection Groups. He holds an engineering degree from the University of Florida and an MBA from Point Park University.
Michael Lloyd
IMC Construction chief Michael Lloyd has grown the firm steadily through strategic business direction and keen administrative oversight. Under his leadership as CEO, Malvern-based IMC has collaborated on numerous educational and research buildings, medical and corporate offices, manufacturing facilities, and retail and residential complexes. He also heads the IMC Charitable Foundation, which supports the community’s nonprofit organizations through philanthropy and volunteerism, and helps transform the built environment and expand opportunities for subcontractors.
Dan McCord
At the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Dan McCord helps build the next generation of infrastructure professionals. The student housing he oversees as project coordinator has won multiple awards from the Lancaster/Lebanon Parade of Homes, sponsored by the Building Industry Association of Lancaster, where he is a board member. He also teaches carpentry to students at the institution, which he joined in 2015 and where he now serves on the Faculty Senate. He holds a degree in industrial technology from Millersville University.
Philip Moses
Philip Moses joined INTECH Construction as a project manager 21 years ago and has led the outfit since 2021. As president, he has emphasized the personalized, principal-led approach to projects that has made INTECH one of Philadelphia’s busiest locally owned construction firms. He studied civil engineering at Villanova University and holds an MBA from Penn State, and is LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Angelo Perryman
As the second-generation CEO of Perryman Construction and Building Services in Philadelphia, Angelo Perryman has been named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year as well as the Philadelphia Tribune’s SBA Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the Year. Under his leadership, the company has become not only a respected and busy provider of regional construction services but also a champion of Black industry entrepreneurship and mentorship. He has served on the board of The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, among others.
Scott Popovich
As senior vice president for transportation at Stahl Sheaffer Engineering, Scott Popovich oversees operations across Western Pennsylvania and a transportation department at seven locations across the commonwealth. He manages engineering and design services around public and private infrastructure projects – from buildings to bridges and highways – for clients including PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and local governments throughout the region. The Penn State-trained civil engineer began his career as a traffic engineer and is currently active with the American Society of Highway Engineers.
Stephen Pouppirt
Architect Stephen Pouppirt, a major figure in Philadelphia’s building industry and a force behind such marquee projects as Liberty Place, has headed the Clemens Construction Company since 1997. As owner and president, he has steered Clemens’ expansion into national markets and multifaceted business lines. His numerous recognitions include this year’s Excellence In Craftsmanship Award from the General Building Contractors Association, where he is a past chair; the American Institute of Architects Philadelphia Design Award; and the Associated General Contractors of America Construction National Safety Award.
Toby Rice
A longtime energy industry influencer, Toby Z. Rice leads EQT Corporation, the nation’s leading natural gas producer, and has championed the unleashing of American energy to strengthen security both at home and abroad. Under his leadership, EQT has increased its productive capacity by 50%, reduced corporate cost structure by 30% and doubled its per-share free cash flow profitability. He previously oversaw the company’s operations and, prior to that, held leadership positions with Rice Energy.
John Robinson
Seasoned construction business executive John Robinson has, since 2023, led the Pittsburgh office of Michael Baker International, the global civil engineering firm where he is also a senior vice president. Robinson previously oversaw development and innovation for PJ Dick-Trumbull-Lindy, the Pittsburgh construction services outfit. He holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon, and is a LEED-accredited professional by the U.S. Green Building Council.
Jeffrey Roken
Jeffrey Roken’s experience includes large-scale transportation projects for PennDOT, SEPTA, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Amtrak. He is currently senior vice president at Philadelphia-based Urban Engineers, where he directs the Pennsylvania business unit. He also currently chairs the Delaware River Port Authority/Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission Committee for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania and serves on the Upper Darby Township Planning Commission and the board of directors for the Darby Creek and Muckinipattes Sewer Authorities.
Brent Sailhamer
Brent Sailhamer advocates on behalf of some 130 of the commonwealth’s top engineering firms as director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of PA, representing 1,200 industry employees. He helped secure a 2023 measure making automated work zone speed enforcement permanent, as well as key initiatives involving PennDOT, the state’s Turnpike Commission and the state’s Motor License Fund. Having begun his career working for then-U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, he has represented developers, home builders and general contractors, and currently chairs the Carroll Township Board of Supervisors.
Alexander Scarola
From apartment buildings and schools to airports, highways and bridges, attorney Alex Scarola helps finance critical infrastructure through his work at Greenberg Traurig, where he is a shareholder in the firm’s Public Finance and Infrastructure practice. He helps facilitate complex projects, serving as counsel for various stakeholders in both tax-exempt and taxable finance and lending transactions throughout the commonwealth and nationally. Frequently listed by Chambers and Best Lawyers, he is renowned for representing lenders in low-income housing finance transactions.
Jeff Scarpello
Jeff Scarpello brings regional and executive experience to the National Electrical Contractors Association’s Penn-Del-Jersey chapter. The Philly native is a graduate of Penn State and was class president at Temple Law School before working as a prosecutor and as an office managing partner at Fox Rothschild. At NECA, he represents construction-industry employers responsible for $1 billion in compensation for 10,000 employees; he is also a longtime trustee for numerous industry union health, welfare and retirement funds.
Raj Shelat
Raj Shelat is a distinguished director in KPMG’s Infrastructure and Capital Advisory practice, with over 25 years of experience guiding public-sector agencies through complex infrastructure projects. His expertise focuses on digital infrastructure development, with an emphasis on innovative procurement and financing strategies. He is known for leveraging artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to facilitate projects around autonomous vehicle infrastructure, including as a lead adviser to the Florida Department of Transportation’s autonomous connected vehicle initiative; fiber-optic networks, including for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission; and so-called “smart” highways.
Drew Simpson
Drew Simpson is in his first term as president of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, where he also serves as regional manager, guiding union affairs across 60 commonwealth counties. The longtime Scranton resident joined EASRCC 35 years ago and is also a warden for Local 445. He has been active with the Scranton Parking Authority, the Lackawanna County Workforce Development Board, the Scranton Chamber of Commerce, Skills in Scranton, and United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike Counties.
James Snell
Southeast Pennsylvania’s plumbing, welding and HVAC infrastructure workforce is tended to by James Snell, the longtime business manager of Steamfitters Local 420 in Philadelphia. Snell, a one-time fitter and 35-year Steamfitters member, also represents the Philadelphia Building Trades on the Philadelphia Port Authority Advisory Committee and, along with Local 420, on the Zoning Board of Adjustments. He also represents his members as a delegate to the AFL-CIO and the National Steamfitters.
Mohinder Singh
Mohinder Singh brings over two decades of deep expertise in the construction industry to his role as Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Capital Projects Practice lead for Deloitte, where he is a managing director. Known for large-scale, public-sector infrastructure projects, Singh has spearheaded the integration of advanced systems and technologies to ensure on-time, high-quality and on-budget delivery of complex government capital projects. A civil engineer by training, he holds a master’s degree in construction management from the Stevens Institute of Technology.
Eric S. Snyder
As president and CEO of Keystone Consulting Engineers, Eric Snyder heads a Bethlehem-based civil engineering and surveying outfit with clients spanning the municipal, commercial and residential sectors. He joined the firm in 2004 as its office manager and became president in 2023, steering its business growth and promoting the industry at career fairs across Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, Keystone Consulting Engineers has built much of the region’s local infrastructure, from performing arts centers to fire stations, parks and schools.
Jennifer Steen
Civil engineer Jennifer Steen specializes in transportation and road projects – most recently as highway and local roads building information modeling director for HDR, a national provider of engineering, architecture, environmental and construction design services. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and has worked on projects for the City of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. At HDR, she works on digital delivery to improve efficiency for product design projects.
Glenn D. Stickel
Glenn Stickel is the president of Pittsburgh-based SAI Consulting Engineers, which he joined in 1982. His tenure has included roles as a bridge inspector and designer, project engineer, project manager and vice president, and has encompassed many notable bridge and roadway projects. Stickel holds civil engineering degrees from West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh, and has held leadership roles with the American Society of Highway Engineers and the Association for Bridge Construction and Design.
Wendy White-Jackson
As the chief operations officer for Associated Builders and Contractors - Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter, Wendy White-Jackson manages the day-to-day affairs of an industry association representing some 14,000 construction employees at 500 companies. She has also owned her own business and accounting firm, Beyond Dollars and Cents, based in East Norriton. After earning a business and accounting degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, she held a variety of controller roles before joining Associated Builders and Contractors in that capacity last year.
Josh Wilson
Based in Camp Hill, Josh Wilson serves as a senior vice president at the engineering consultancy ATCS, where he also manages the North region. He joined the firm in 2019 as its operations manager after serving as a senior transportation noise analyst at McCormick Taylor, overseeing large-scale noise abatement projects. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geoenvironmental studies from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Allison P. Wilson-Maher
From the $1.6 billion Pavilion to regional expansions like the Princeton Health Cancer Center, Penn Medicine is visibly expanding – and Allison Wilson-Maher has a lot to do with it. As vice president for real estate, design and construction, she spearheads high-profile capital projects for the University of Pennsylvania’s health system. She holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, with a concentration in real estate and corporate strategy, and has an extensive résumé in Greater Philadelphia’s healthcare real estate.
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