In recent years, the built world has truly become an industry driven by innovation. With some of the brightest minds in the world developing bold new solutions to age-old problems, the value of transformative thinking and decision-making has never been higher. At BuiltWorlds, we recognize how critical a role leadership plays in pushing the built world closer and closer to the cutting-edge. For that reason, we are excited to announce our 2019 list of Maverick Awards winners! This list highlights 50 individuals who have acted as trendsetters, innovative thinkers, and catalysts of change in their respective fields. From architects and engineers to contractors, real estate moguls, technologists, venture investors, and urban designers, we have identified boundary-pushers from leading companies around the world, and across the built landscape. We hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we did!
If you want to hear from our 2019 Mavericks, join us at our upcoming Summit Chicago! The conference will feature some of the leading voices in the built world, including current and past Maverick winners. The 2019 list of winners will also be recognized at the Summit's Maverick Awards Reception on May 9.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Elizabeth Diller
Founder
Diller Scofidio + Renfo
Elizabeth Diller is a founding partner of Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R). Her cross-genre work has been distinguished with TIME’s "100 Most Influential People" list and the first MacArthur Foundation fellowship awarded in the field of architecture. She is currently leading two cultural works significant to New York: The Shed—the first multi-arts center designed to commission, produce, and present all types of performing arts, visual arts, and popular culture - and the expansion of MoMA (both opening 2019). She is also a Professor of Architecture at Princeton University.
Julia Gamolina
Founder & Editor
Madame Architect
Working in the built environment and dedicated to the empowerment, advancement, and visibility of other women who work in it, Julia Gamolina is the Founder and Editor of Madame Architect where she has published to date 60 interviews with women who advance the practice of architecture. She is also currently handling business development at FXCollaborative, focusing on mission-driven institutional projects, is a Co-Chair of the Urban Land Institute's Young Leaders Group, and is a Founding Member of The Wing, a network of community spaces for women.
Bjarke Ingles
Founding Partner
BIG
Bjarke Ingels founded BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) in 2005 after co-founding PLOT Architects in 2001 and working at OMA in Rotterdam. Bjarke defines architecture as the art and science of making sure our cities and buildings fit with the way we want to live our lives. Named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME Magazine in 2016, Bjarke has been involved in a wide range of noted projects including the 8 House housing complex, VIA 57 West in Manhattan, the Google North Bayshore headquarters, the Superkilen park, and the Amager Resource Center (ARC) waste-to-energy plant, which incorporates both a ski slope and climbing wall on the building exterior.
Susan Jones
Founder & Principal Architect
atelierjones
Susan Jones is a practicing architect, and founded atelierjones in 2003. Her work entwines design, research, and community engagement to create sustainable urban projects: of sites, buildings, materials, waste, and ways of living. atelierjones engages in sustainable research projects including urban farms, biodiesel stations, modular greenhouses, vertical living walls, hydroponic agriculture and up cycling of other reclaimed waste products. Originally from Bellingham, Washington, she has traveled extensively, and lived in San Francisco, Boston, Vienna, Berlin, Catania, Sicily, and Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Amanda Levete
Director
AL_A
Amanda Levete is a Sterling Prize-winning architect, and the founder and principal of international award-winning design and architecture studio AL_A. Since its formation in 2009, AL_A has refined an intuitive and strategic approach to design. Recently completed projects include the Victoria & Albert Museum Exhibition Road Quarter (2017) in London; MAAT (2016), a Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology in Lisbon; Central Embassy (2017), a 1.5 million sq ft luxury shopping mall and hotel in Bangkok; and a 13-hectare media campus masterplan and a 37,700 squared-meters headquarters building for Sky (2016) in London.
Barrie Loberg
Co-Founder & VP of Software Development
DIRTT
Barrie Loberg is the co-founder and VP of software development for DIRTT Environmental, a leader in the modular and prefabrication space. He has more than 22 years of experience in the technology and interior construction industries, including his role as Director of Solutions and Technology of Evan Consoles. Barrie received the Alberta Venture’s Award for Most Enterprising Employee in 2000 for his role in the implementation of new technologies, including an Automated Proposal Generator.
Farshid Moussavi
Founding Principal
Farshid Moussavi Architecture
Farshid Moussavi is an internationally acclaimed architect and Professor in Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Moussavi’s approach is characterized by an openness to change and a commitment to the intellectual and cultural life of architecture. Her award-winning architectural practice, Farshid Moussavi Architecture (FMA), has completed projects including the acclaimed Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, USA; La Folie Divine, a residential complex in Montpellier; a multi-tenure residential complex in the La Défense district of Paris, flagship stores for Victoria Beckham in London and Hong Kong, and the Toys Department for Harrods in London.
Neri Oxman
Associate Professor
MIT Media Lab
Architect and designer Neri Oxman is the Sony Corporation Career Development Professor and Associate Professor of Media Arts and Sciences at the MIT Media Lab, where she founded and directs the Mediated Matter research group. Her team conducts research at the intersection of computational design, digital fabrication, materials science, and synthetic biology, and applies that knowledge to design across disciplines, media, and scales—from the microscale to the building scale. Oxman’s goal is to augment the relationship between built, natural, and biological environments. Her work is included in permanent collections at the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Centre Georges Pompidou, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna, the FRAC Collection and the Boston Museum of Science, amongst others including prestigious private collections.
Ma Yansong
Founder & Principal Partner
MAD
Beijing-born architect Ma Yansong is recognized as an important voice in the new generation of architects. He is the first Chinese architect to win an overseas landmark-building project. As the founder and principal of MAD Architects, Ma leads design across various scales. In recent years, many of Ma’s designs follow his conception of the “Shanshui City”, which is his vision to create a new balance among society, the city, and the environment through new forms of architecture. Since designing the “Floating Island” in 2002, Ma has been exploring this idea through an international practice. Parallel to his design practice, he has also been exploring the cultural values of cities and architecture through domestic and international solo exhibitions, publications, and artworks.
CITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE
Peter Ellis
Founder
Peter Ellis New Cities
An award-winning architect and urban planner based in Chicago, Peter Ellis is a former partner with SOM and principal at CannonDesign. He has designed major buildings and planned cities all over the world, which is now the focus of his own firm, Peter Ellis New Cities. Peter has designed Jaypee Sports City for a population of 1,000,000 people, which is located 30 miles to the south of New Delhi. He is presently engaged in the design of a new campus for 20,000 students at the University of Texas, Brownsville. Among his architectural commissions is the HQ for Philips Electronics in Amsterdam, and the studios for Electronic Arts in Redwood Shores, CA. His passion now is on the restructuring of America’s 19th-century cities, aiming to find harmonious ways for both ancient, modern and emerging cities to contribute positively to the natural environment.
Richard Florida
Senior Editor / Co-Founder
The Atlantic / CityLab
One of the world’s leading urbanists, Richard Florida is a researcher and professor serving as University Professor and Director of Cities at the University of Toronto, a Distinguished Fellow at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, and a Visiting Fellow at Florida International University. He is a writer and journalist, having penned several global best sellers, including the award-winning The Rise of the Creative Class and his most recent book, The New Urban Crisis. He serves as senior editor for The Atlantic, where he co-founded and serves as Editor-at-Large for CityLab. He is an entrepreneur, and founder of the Creative Class Group, which works closely with companies and governments worldwide. A 2013 MIT study named Richard the world’s most influential thought leader, and TIME magazine recognized his Twitter feed as one of the 140 most influential in the world.
Jonathan Hursh
Founder & Executive Producer
Utopia
Jonathan Hursh founded Utopia, a design and urban innovation firm reimagining the future of slums and their cities. Utopia aims to convert slums into next-generation microcities. He also founded INCLUDED, a nonprofit that provides a baseline of essential opportunities to migrants living in urban slums, primarily through a network of one-stop-shop community centers. Jonathan is an advisory board member of Harvard GSD’s Master of Design Engineering program, an advisory board member of the World Economic Forum’s Urbanization Initiative, and a recipient of the World Economic Forum’s Schwab Social Entrepreneur of the Year award.
Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk
Partner
Duany Plater-Zyberk
Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk is an architect and urban designer and planner, with over thirty years of experience in a variety of projects at every scale, including regional plans and municipal zoning codes, downtown and neighborhood revitalizations, new towns and neighborhoods, streetscapes and building designs. Recipient of numerous awards, she has been a leader of noted urban design firm DPZ, is a sought-after speaker, has published numerous essays and is co-author of Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream, and The New Civic Art. Plater-Zyberk has maintained a career-long affiliation with the University of Miami School of Architecture, continuing to teach after 18 years as Dean of the School. She is active in a variety of volunteer positions locally and nationally.
Janette Sadik-Khan
Founding Principal
Bloomberg Associates
One of the leading voices on urban transportation policy, Janette Sadik-Khan is internationally respected for her transformative redesigns of New York City streets and rapid-implementation strategies that are being replicated today in cities around the world. She is a former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation (2007–2013) and an advisor on transportation and urban issues. She works for Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy established by former Mayor Michael Bloomberg that advises mayors around the world to improve the quality of life for their residents. She also serves as chairperson for the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), a coalition of the transportation departments of 40 large cities nationwide.
CONSTRUCTION
Jit Kee Chin
Executive Vice President & Chief Data Officer
Suffolk Construction
As Chief Data Officer and Executive Vice President at Suffolk Construction, Jit Kee Chin leads Suffolk's journey to leverage big data and advanced analytics to improve construction outcomes. She has worked toward developing and implementing a cutting edge strategy to set strong data foundations by establishing performance metrics and driving data quality, master business intelligence to support decision-making, and explore the potential of unstructured data and advanced analytics to help address the twin challenges of productivity and risk management in construction. Prior to working at, Suffolk Jit Kee spent 10 years with McKinsey & Company advising Fortune 100 companies on strategic, commercial and advanced analytics topics. She graduated from Caltech with a BSc in Physics and English Literature and later received her Ph.D. in Physics from MIT.
Chloé Clair
Chief Technical Officer
Vinci
Chloé Clair joined VINCI Construction as Chief Technical Officer (a new role in the company), with a focus on integrating innovation and digital transformation into design and construction. She coordinates innovation within VINCI Construction by addressing demographic and environmental issues, focusing on customers’ needs in new product development, and enhancing project performance at all levels, from design to construction and operation. Throughout the years, she has also been a champion of diversity in the workplace, believing that women should claim their rightful spot and respect in the construction and tech industry by leveraging their competence and making themselves heard. Originally from the Alps region in France, Chloé Clair holds degrees in both architecture and civil engineering. With previous experience at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Egis Group, and Bouygues Bâtiment International, past projects range from large construction sites like airports and luxury hotels to super-tall buildings.
Thomas Gilbane, Jr.
Chairman & CEO
Gilbane
Thomas Gilbane, Jr. is chairman and CEO of Gilbane, Inc. and chairman of Gilbane Building Company. With a strong commitment to promoting the company’s continued growth, he has been particularly influential in Gilbane Building Company’s expansion beyond the U.S. domestic market. Under his guidance, Gilbane operates with a “one company” philosophy that maximizes the organization’s resources and expertise on projects and business pursuits. He also acts as chairman of the ACE Mentor Program of America, is a Babson College trustee, and is a member of the National Academy of Construction and the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT).
Gordon Lansford
President & CEO
JE Dunn
As the President and CEO of JE Dunn Construction Company, Gordon Lansford oversees the operations of JE Dunn’s four regions and 20 offices as well as the corporate staff. Specific responsibilities include strategy, talent development, client service, operational excellence, a winning culture, and innovation. Gordon maintains key relationships with clients, civic and political leaders, banks, sureties, trade partners and other key stakeholders. Prior to this role, he served as CFO for 15 years, managing all accounting and financial reporting for JE Dunn Construction Group. In addition, he has been critical in the development of successful information technology systems and the creation of a strong internal culture and innovation management tool.
David Mortenson
CEO
Mortenson
David Mortenson serves as Chairman of M. A. Mortenson Company. David has acted as a major driver of construction technology advancements and innovative practices, including Building Information Modeling (BIM), Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), and integrated project delivery, leading to significant cost and time delivery improvements for Mortenson. His commitment to exceptional customer service and increased delivery of higher value has helped make the company an industry leader. He has also pioneered the company's entry into the international marketplace, and oversees operating groups in the midwest and in Asia that are focused on integrated delivery of high-tech manufacturing, health care, life science, corporate and higher education projects. After spending three years serving in the United States Navy, David joined his family’s business in 1991 and worked his way up through the project management ranks. Notably, he undertook the company's first international design-build project for Seagate in Northern Ireland, and was the project director during the preconstruction and initial construction of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Mark Skender
CEO
Skender
Mark Skender is CEO of Skender, and since joining the firm in 1989 he has played an integral role in the development of the long-term vision, strategic direction, organizational design and values of the organization. Mark oversees the firm’s operations and is responsible for innovating the way Skender delivers projects, including their benchmark-setting steps into the modular construction, prefabrication, and Lean Construction spaces. Mark is also a Board Member of the Illinois Housing Council and sits on the Board of Trustees for Frances Xavier Warde Schools in Chicago. Skender holds a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management.
Doug Woods
Co-Founder
DPR
The D of DPR Construction, Doug Woods is one of DPR’s three co-founders. As the co-founder with the audacious vision, Doug always has one eye on the future, looking for ways to continuously get better and for new opportunities that move the company forward. According to Peter and Ron, Doug is the one with the “believe it and it will happen” attitude and demands more from himself than anyone. With 35+ years of technical expertise, Doug serves on DPR's Board of Directors as CEO, participating in strategic planning and helping to take care of customers and employees. In November 2015, the three co-founders were honored by the San Francisco Business Times with a Most-Admired CEO award. In addition to his work with DPR, he also serves on the advisory board for WND Ventures, an investment firm that spun out of DPR.
ENGINEERING
Noël Bakhtian
Director, Center for Advanced Energy Studies
Idaho National Laboratory
As the Director of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), Noël Bakhtian leads the center’s efforts to solve the most pressing energy problems facing the world, including the energy-water nexus, advanced manufacturing, nuclear energy, cybersecurity, policy, and supercomputing. Noël is also a member of the senior leadership team at the US Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory and was recently featured by Business Insider magazine as one of the 20 most powerful female engineers. After getting her undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering and physics from Duke, she was awarded a prestigious Churchill Scholarship for a year of study at the University of Cambridge in Britain, where she got her masters’ of philosophy in engineering doing wind tunnel research. She then headed to Stanford to get her master’s degree and stayed to get her Ph.D.
Julie DeNardis
Senior Vice President, Director Abu Dhabi Office
ESD
Julie DeNardis serves as Senior Vice President of ESD and as Director of their Abu Dhabi Office. She has experience with new building and refurbishment of commercial building design projects with a focus in sustainable design. Prior to her move to the Abu Dhabi office, she was responsible for designing efficient and cost-effective mechanical systems, load analysis, specification writing, and more. As a mechanical engineer and project manager experienced in a wide variety of new and refurbishment projects including hotels, commercial and residential high rise, mixed use developments, and government/ educational projects, Julie is most passionate about sustainability in high performance buildings.
Fabio Gramazio
Professor
ETH Zurich
Fabio Gramazio is an architect with multidisciplinary interests ranging from computational design and robotic fabrication to material innovation. In 2000, he founded the architecture practice Gramazio Kohler Architects in conjunction with his partner Matthias Kohler, where numerous award-winning designs have been realized. Current projects include the design of the NEST building of Empa and Eawag, a future living and working laboratory for sustainable building construction. Gramazio Kohler’s research has been formative in the field of digital architecture, setting precedence and creating a new research field merging advanced architectural design and additive fabrication processes through the customized use of industrial robots. The recent research is outlined and theoretically framed in the book “The Robotic Touch: How Robots Change Architecture” (Park Books, 2014). Fabio joined the NCCR Digital Fabrication in 2014 as a principal investigator.
Áine O’Dwyer
CEO
Enovate Engineering
With over 10 years in the heavy civil and infrastructure market in both engineering and construction, Áine O’Dwyer now serves as CEO at Enovate Engineering. In her work with Enovate, she is driving the adoption of new technology to address solutions that don’t currently exist for problems seen in the field. Additionally, Enovate provides on-site field services such as surveying and monitoring for both traditional and technologically advanced elements of their projects. Áine is a registered Professional Engineer in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Delaware and is actively involved with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Professional Women in Construction (PWC), New York Building Congress and American Council of Engineering Companies of NY (ACEC-NY). In 2018, she was named as one of ENR’s New York 2018 Top Young Professionals.
Tom Scarangello
Chairman & CEO
Thornton Tomasetti
Tom Scarangello leads the strategic direction and oversight of leading engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, while also being highly engaged with clients, projects and staff development. He has more than 35 years of experience in the structural engineering of a wide variety of building types, from long-span sports and entertainment arenas and stadiums to high-rise commercial and mixed-use buildings. Tom has also led Thornton Tomasetti into the forefront of project delivery services and engineering technologies for building analysis, design, and construction. Tom was also elected chairman of the New York Building Congress, 2014-2016. He is active in numerous philanthropies and serves as a trustee of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.
Gwynne Shotwell
COO
SpaceX
Gwynne Shotwell has been the President at Space Exploration Technologies Corp. since December 2008 and serves as its Chief Operating Officer. Her responsibilities include developing the customer base for SpaceX vehicles and managing strategic relationships. During her time working at the Aerospace Corporation, she held multiple positions in Space Systems Engineering and Technology and Project Management. She previously worked as the Chief Engineer of an MLV-class Satellite program, managing a landmark study for the Federal Aviation Administration on an extensive space policy analysis for NASA's future investment in space transportation. She also serves as an Officer of the Space Systems Technical Committee of the AIAA. Gwynne received her Bachelor's and Master's Degree from Northwestern University in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, and in 2016 was listed as the 76th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.
Carol Zierhoffer
Senior VP & CIO
Bechtel
Carol Zierhoffer currently serves as Bechtel’s Chief Information Officer and is based in Reston, Virginia. Carol came to Bechtel in 2013 from Xerox Corporation, where she was vice president and global CIO. Previously, she worked as vice president and global CIO for ITT Corporation. Carol is a 20-year veteran of Northrop Grumman Corporation, where, between 1988 and 2008, she served as vice president and CIO for three business sectors. She is also a senior vice president of Bechtel, and is on the board of directors of Vizient, a healthcare performance improvement company, and serves on the audit committee. Carol earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics and a master’s degree in computer information systems from Bentley University in Massachusetts.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
MaryAnne Gilmartin
Founder & CEO
L&L MAG
Formerly the CEO of Forest City New York, real estate mogul MaryAnne Gilmartin has since co-founded a new development firm called L&L MAG where she currently serves as CEO. As one of the most powerful women in New York City real-estate, MaryAnne’s work with L&L MAG reflects her continued role in some of New York’s most influential and ground-breaking developments, such as Barclays Center and Pacific Park (formerly known as Atlantic Yards). Her accomplishments are notable as well for happening in a notoriously male-dominated field, and she has dedicated much of her work toward ensuring that the ambitions of women in the industry are not overlooked and underrated.
Andy Gloor
Managing Principal
Sterling Bay
In 2002, Andy Gloor joined Sterling Bay and directed its growth and evolution into a 200-plus-person fully-integrated, owner/operator real estate investment and development company. Andy led Sterling Bay to become a pioneer of the urban model of innovation districts in Chicago and anchor its developments with leading corporations. Recent high-profile development and re-development projects completed by Sterling Bay under Andy’s leadership include corporate headquarters for McDonald’s, Google, Hillshire Brands, C.H. Robinson, Dyson, Glassdoor and Gogo. Prior to leading Sterling Bay, Andy was a Managing Director at Insignia/ESG, where he completed over five million square feet of commercial real estate transactions. He earned a BA in Political Science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and is a licensed managing real estate broker in Illinois.
Ada Healey
Chief Real Estate Officer
Vulcan
Ada Healey directs all real estate strategies for Vulcan Inc. She leads Vulcan’s redevelopment of 60 acres in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood and oversees the company’s additional real estate investment activities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Under her direction, the company has developed nine million square feet including 3,400 residential units, delivering an average of more than 500,000 square feet annually since 2004. Ada’s team also provides real estate services to Vulcan affiliates including the Allen Institute, Museum of Pop Culture, Seattle Seahawks and The Hospital Club, among others. She can be credited with Vulcan’s widespread industry recognition for its innovative development approaches and commitment to sustainability. Prior to joining Vulcan in 2001, Ada worked for nearly 10 years at ING Clarion in asset management, acquisitions, and portfolio management. She received her BA from Duke University and her MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Wang Jianlin
Founder & CEO
Wanda Group
Wang Jianlin is a Chinese business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is the founder of the conglomerate company Dalian Wanda Group, China's largest real estate development company, as well as the world's largest movie theater operator. He also owns 15% of the Spanish football club Atlético Madrid, and in 2016 agreed on a deal with FIFA to launch the China Cup, in which national football teams compete in Asia each year. During the course of his career, Wang was the economic consultant of Yunnan province, as well as a construction consultant of the Guiyang government, and was named honorable citizen of Changchun city, and "outstanding contributor" to the construction of Dalian city.
Penny Pritzker
Founder & Chairman
PSP Partners
Penny Pritzker is the founder and Chairman of PSP Partners and its affiliates, Pritzker Realty Group, PSP Capital and PSP Growth. From June 2013 through January 2017, she also served as U.S. Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration. Penny is an entrepreneur, civic leader, and philanthropist, with more than 25 years of experience in numerous industries. She founded Vi Senior Living and co-founded The Parking Spot and Artemis Real Estate Partners. She is also a member of the board of Microsoft, chairman of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a member of the Harvard Corporation, Aspen Strategy Group and the Aspen Economic Strategy Group, and a co-chair of the Cyber Readiness Institute (among many others!). Penny earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Harvard University and a Juris Doctor and Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University.
Jonathan Rose
Founder & President
Jonathan Rose Companies
Jonathan Rose’s business, public policy, and not-for-profit work all focus on creating more environmentally, socially and economically resilient cities. In 1989, he founded Jonathan Rose Companies LLC, a multi-disciplinary real estate development, planning, and investment firm, which creates real estate and planning models to address the challenges of the 21st century. Jonathan has led the firm’s vision, program, and growth, developing award-winning new projects, investment funds and city plans to model solutions to the issues of housing, economic development, and the environment. In addition to writing extensively about resilience in cities, he has also served as an Advisor to the White House Office of Urban Affairs, chaired the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Blue Ribbon Sustainability Commission, and was a commissioner on Governor Cuomo’s NYS 2100 Commission. Jonathan graduated from Yale University in 1974 with a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy and received a Masters in Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980.
Stephen Ross
Chairman & Founder
The Related Companies
Stephen Ross is an American real estate developer, philanthropist and sports team owner. He is the chairman and majority owner of The Related Companies, a global real estate development firm he founded in 1972. Related is best known for developing the Time Warner Center, where Ross lives and works, as well as the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project, the first phase of which opened on March 15, 2019. Stephen is also the principal owner of the Miami Dolphins and Hard Rock Stadium, and received his B.S. in accounting from the University of Michigan, his J.D. from the Wayne State School of Law, and his LL.M. degree in Taxation from the New York University School of Law.
TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE
Erin Bradner
Director of Robotics
Autodesk
Erin Bradner serves as Autodesk’s Director of Robotics, bringing a strong dedication to intuitive user experience in the design of software and technology. With a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a PhD in Information & Computer Science, Erin’s work has focused largely on the effects of communication technology on interpersonal behaviors such as persuasion, deception and trust. She has published in journals and proceedings in the field of Human-Computer Interaction and presented at conferences on the topics of distance collaboration and remote work. Before working at Autodesk, Erin consulted for start-ups, including the one that designed the first cloud storage in the nineties, as well as large institutions such as IBM, Boeing and AT&T.
Safra Catz
CEO
Oracle
Safra Catz has served as CEO of Oracle Corporation since 2014 and a member of the company’s board of directors since 2001. She is credited with spearheading Oracle's aggressive acquisition strategy, helping close more than 130 acquisitions since 2005. She previously served as President of Oracle and has also served as the company’s CFO. Prior to being named president, Catz held various other positions since starting at Oracle in 1999. Safra also currently serves as a director of The Walt Disney Company and previously served as a director of HSBC Holdings plc.
Adam Cohen
Founder & CEO
SKUR
Adam Cohen is the Founder and CEO of SKUR, a SaaS analytics platform for construction that develops validation data to bridge the physical/digital divide. SKUR’s platform enables simple and accurate comparison of 3D design files to as-built point clouds to pinpoint variances early in the construction process. Adam, a venture capitalist turned construction technologist, aims to address the market inefficiencies and productivity lags that are holding the industry back. Prior to SKUR Adam spent almost 20 years as an early stage venture capital investor, funding and operating a variety of companies based on the thesis of disruptive technology. In addition to his business activities Adam has also worked extensively with pediatric charities, helping families with seriously ill children.
Jim Colvin
Founder
Serious Labs
Jim Colvin serves as CEO of Serious Labs, an Alberta company creating virtual reality solutions to transform conventional equipment training and enhancing worker safety. Jim leads Serious Labs’ aggressive growth strategy by drawing on former experience as a tech CEO, tech investor, and tech/IP lawyer, specializing in start-up and growth-stage companies. Over the past five years, he has taken Serious Labs from a struggling tech company to being a world leader in the field of virtual reality-based industrial training simulators. Jim holds a law degree from the University of London, while his NCA accreditation comes from the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria. He focused his practice on intellectual property and business law.
Tooey Courtemanche
Founder & CEO
Procore Technologies
Tooey Courtemanche is the founder and CEO of Procore Technologies, a leading technology company that offers cloud-based construction management software. His focus is on helping to modernize an industry that has been historically labeled as tech-averse; supporting innovative leaders who are putting new solutions to work to create a more robust construction technology landscape. He previously worked as the CEO of Webcage, and earlier in his career worked as an associate software engineer at Skip Steveley & Associates.
Emma Hendry
CEO
Hendry
Driven by a goal to create safe and sustainable communities, Emma Hendry serves as CEO of Hendry. With a double bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Economics, Emma has held executive finance and operations roles within Hendry. During her transition to CEO, she commenced a Masters-level Diploma in Financial Strategy at Said Oxford Business School, and graduated with an Executive MBA with distinction. Emma is driven by innovation and finding better, smarter ways; under her leadership, Hendry continues to lead the built-form advisory industry with innovative solutions and new technology. Championing collaborative, solution-driven operations has led Emma to implement projects and partnerships with universities, research institutions and other commercial entities. As a female CEO in a male-dominated industry she is an active role-model, and passionate about promoting diversity, with a focus on supporting women to pursue leadership roles.
Rene Morkos
Founder & CEO
ALICE Technologies
Rene Morkos is the CEO and Founder of ALICE Technologies, the world’s first Artificial Intelligence software application to optimize construction scheduling. Through his work with ALICE, he is a major driver of the digitization and optimization of the modern construction project and the resulting productivity gains. Rene’s professional experience also includes working as a project manager in Afghanistan, underwater construction in Lebanon, automation engineering on a gas refinery expansion in Abu Dhabi, and Virtual Design and Construction consulting around the world. He completed his PhD in Artificial Intelligence applications for construction as a Charles H. Leavell fellow at Stanford University.
Rao Mulpuri
CEO
View Inc.
Rao Mulpuri serves as the CEO of View, Inc. Under his leadership, View has developed ground-breaking technology and products, and has achieved several milestones including creating the first commercial-scale dynamic glass product, building state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, and achieving rapid commercial growth. Prior to View, Rao held several executive positions at Novellus Systems and served as President of Novellus Systems Japan and Vice President and General Manager of the Integrated Metals Business Unit. He holds a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Manipal Institute of Technology, India, M.S. in Manufacturing Engineering and Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Boston University, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Monsi Roman
Centennial Challenges Program Manager
NASA
Monsi Roman is a Puerto Rican scientist with NASA who helped build part of the International Space Station. She has served as the Chief Microbiologist for the Environmental Control and Life Support System project, and currently works as NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program Manager. Monsi’s training in microbiology and her experience in the development of spaceflight life support technologies gave her a unique perspective of the engineering and design requirements, hardware performance, and the issues that need to be addressed in spacecraft/habitats. Monsi has a bachelor of science degree in biology/chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, where she trained as an environmental microbiologist. She moved to Huntsville, Alabama where she enrolled at the University of Alabama to earn her masters’ degree in microbiology.
VENTURE & FINANCE
Julien Bourcerie
Head of Open Innovation & Venture Capital
Bouygues Construction
Julien Bourcerie serves as Head of Open-innovation at Bouygues Construction. In his position with Bouygues, he propels their Shared Innovation baseline with startups and employees by testing novel ideas, turning them into businesses, and creating value. He specializes in Corporate Venture Capital, experimentation, intrapreneurship, and innovation acceleration. Prior to joining Bouygues, Julien founded EXCESTERRA, a startup to connect contractors through a web platform to solve the challenge of having either too much or too little excavation material for a given construction site. He also has experience working as a civil engineer with Colas Group.
Jesse Devitte
Co-Founder & General Partner
Building Ventures
Jesse Devitte serves as Co-Founder and General Partner at Building Ventures, where he leverages his hands-on operating experience and industry contacts to source and nurture innovative companies applying technology to design, build, and improve our world. At Building Ventures, Jesse is a member of the Investment Committee, and currently manages the firm’s involvement with Builtr Labs, Courbanize, and Flux. Prior to Building Ventures, Jesse also co-founded Borealis Ventures, and served as an executive in two public application software companies. He helped grow Softdesk from a New Hampshire start-up to a multinational public company and played an integral role in the sale of the business to Autodesk. He graduated with Distinction from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs and completed his military service as a member of the White House Communications Agency.
Constance Freedman
Founder & Managing Partner
Moderne Ventures
Constance Freedman is the Founder and Managing Partner of Moderne Ventures, an early stage investment fund focused on technology companies innovating in and around real estate, mortgage, finance, insurance and home services. Prior to launching Moderne, Constance was the head of Strategic Investments at the National Association of Realtors where she launched and managed its investment arm, Second Century Ventures (SCV), and founded its accelerator program, REach. In 2014, she was recognized by Crain’s Business in its prestigious 40 under 40 award and was named on Crain’s Chicago Top Tech 50. Constance served on the Advisory Board for the National Venture Capital Association’s Corporate Venturing Group from 2010-2013, and earned a BS from Boston University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Tina Ju
Founder & Managing Partner
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Tina Ju is a founding and managing partner of KPCB China and TDF Capital. She has more than 25 years of experience in venture capital, investment banking and operations. Tina’s focus areas of investment include TMT, consumer services, greentech and healthcare. Since 2000, Tina has led more than 30 investments with many successful exits, including Alibaba Group, Baidu, Cgen, China Auto Rental, Focus Media, Hurray, etc. She currently serves as a board of director for a number of companies, including Chiral Quest, CreditEase, DHgate, SinoEV and Sinowel. She is the founding chairperson of Women In Leadership (WIL), the premier organization for women entrepreneurs and PE/VC investors in China, and serves as a governor of the Shanghai Venture Capital Association (SVCA). She is also a member of Advisory Board Council for Oxford’s Saïd Business School. Tina holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. degree in industrial engineering and operations research from UC Berkeley.
Emily Keeton
Managing Director
WeWork Creator Fund
Emily Keeton serves as the Managing Director of WeWork’s Creator Fund, a venture fund to invest in “the future of work” and other startups. She previously worked as WeWork’s Global Head of M&A. Prior work experience also includes serving as the Co-Founder of Station Houston, a Director of ezCarter, Inc, Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at IAC/InterActiveCorp, and a wide range of leadership positions with other organizations. Starting her career as an investment banker, she has also worked with and advised media companies for more than a decade. Emily received her B.A. from Columbia University and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Rajeev Misra
CEO
SoftBank Investment Advisors
Rajeev Misra works as Board Director of Softbank Group and CEO of Softbank Investment Advisors. Joining SoftBank in 2014, he leads the team running the company’s Vision Fund. The SoftBank Vision Fund aspires to be the biggest investor in the technology sector over the next decade, and has played a pivotal role in the acceleration of technology adoption in the built world. Prior to SoftBank, he spent about 25 years in finance, moving from Merrill Lynch to Deutsche Bank to UBS. He has been appointed as a board member for Uber Technologies, and is a Member of the Engineering Board of Overseers at the University of Pennsylvania (2006 to present) as well as a board member of MIT Sloan. He received his B.A. in Mechanical Engineering and his MCA from the University of Pennsylvania, and his MBA from MIT Sloan.
Discussion
Be the first to leave a comment.
You must be a member of the BuiltWorlds community to join the discussion.