Meet the Autodesk Construction Champions 2024 

autodesk construction champions 2024

Construction has seen remarkable advancements over the last few years. We've adopted technology at an accelerated pace, implementing solutions like AI, robotics, digital twins, and more. Not only that, but as an industry, we've demonstrated immense resilience in navigating tough challenges—including a global pandemic, construction supply chain disruptions, and labor shortages.  

The construction sector continues to evolve and grow, and none of it would be possible without the dedicated individuals behind it. 

Celebrating the fantastic people in construction gives us so much joy here at Autodesk, which is why we are once again thrilled to announce Autodesk Construction Champions, the global awards program that recognizes 25 construction professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry. 

This year's list features pros from various areas—including architecture, engineering, legal, IT,  tech, and more. But they all have one thing in common: they are big, innovative thinkers who've driven positive change in their organizations and communities.  

Join us in celebrating the outstanding talent of Autodesk's Construction Champions 2024! 🎉 

And just for fun, we pulled together a Spotify playlist inspired by our Construction Champions interviews below.


Lindsey Rem 

SVP Business Transformation, Barton Malow Holdings LLC 
Southfield, MI 

What is your superpower? Connecting ideas and people 

What motivates you? A great team - big challenges 

What’s a tool you can’t live without? My Outlook calendar 

Best artist/song for work? Acquired Podcast (sorry, not a music person) 

Do you prefer the jobsite or office? A mix of both 

With an impressive 25-year tenure in the industry, Lindsey has worn many hats at Barton Malow, from starting as a Project Engineer and Project Manager to implementing ERP and leading the Systems/IT and Lean Teams. Now a member of the Enterprise Leadership Team, she thrives on bringing value to customers, team members, and partners through process, technology, and innovation. 

What drives Lindsey's love for the construction industry is the tangible impact on the communities they serve. "We build amazing and challenging things that benefit the communities we work in. There is nothing like driving by a stadium, school, solar field or auto plant and knowing that you had a part in bringing it to be.” 

She is also passionate about overcoming labor and safety challenges with the convergence of robotics, AI, and other technologies, in addition to new contracting methodologies, prefabrication, and offsite construction. 


Joshua Mercado 

Corporate Director VDC and Technology Integration, The Boldt Company  
San Francisco, CA 

Your Superpower: Attentive Auditory Analysis (active listening) 

What Motivates You: I love building high performing teams  

Tool You Can't Live Without: My MX Anywhere Series mouse 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Daft Punk 

Jobsite or Office: I slightly prefer the jobsite. I collect problems to solve at the jobsite, then head back to the office to work on them. 

Joshua looks after digital workflow development and deployment at The Boldt Company. He collaborates with technological specialists to train team members on the latest digital tools and help executives understand technology's impact on processes and project delivery.  

A strong believer in the importance of connecting AEC professionals with tech providers, Josh says that fostering these connections is crucial for solving industry challenges. 

"I'm keen on connecting construction AEC industry professionals with technological providers. As an industry, we have so many incredible problems that software product teams can help solve. Regular communication and interaction with product teams will help ensure the right solutions are built." 


Muhammad Khalil Bin Shaiful Bahari

Senior Vice President, Group Technology Office, Boustead Singapore Limited
Singapore  

Your Superpower: I have an in-built B.S. indicator that helps me identify technologies that can enhance workflow and separate me from technologies that have little value or impact when I implement them in my organization. 

What Motivates You: The ability to change the way we work and use technology to enable productivity and a better quality of life 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Smartphones and tablets  

Best Artist/Song For Work: Under Pressure by Queen & David Bowie 

Jobsite or Office: Office 

Khalil specializes in change management and digital transformation within the built environment industry, focusing on integrating and implementing innovative technologies.  

He also strongly believes in continuous improvement, saying that "adopting new technologies and innovative processes is key to achieving success and staying ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing world." 

That's why he champions a culture of learning and innovation and he actively promotes collaboration among teams and stakeholders. 

Khalil's other passions lie in seeing buildings evolve from concept to completion, with a keen interest in emerging technologies, smart buildings, and sustainability. 


Chad Salge, P.E. 

Vice President, Virtual Design and Engineering, The Brandt Companies, LLC, A Southland Industries Company 
Dallas, TX  

Your Superpower: Passion for people 

What Motivates You: Providing opportunities for all 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Suitcase (I love to travel) 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Tyler Childers/Zach Bryan (tie) 

Jobsite or Office: Mix of both 

At Brandt, Chad leads the engineering, VDC, and commissioning groups across Texas, specializing in MEP design-build. His broad experience allows him to bring a unique perspective to client projects, making him a key member of the organization.   

Chad has a strong interest in optimizing project approaches, saying that it's one of the most important topics in our industry today.  

"If we are able to set each project up by way of the proper contractual arrangement, partnerships, and true alignment, the entire industry will benefit from it. There is a lot of consternation that comes with poor planning for project arrangements, and it drives people away from each other, limits the ability to find qualified partners, and ultimately drives some people away from our industry." 


Dr. Giovanna Brasfield 

CEO & Principal Consultant, Brasfield & Associates, LLC 
Dominguez, CA  

Your Superpower: My superpower is being a mom and also the ability to inspire others and drive transformative change 

What Motivates You: Being able to impact change and advocate for others who are underrepresented 

Tool You Can't Live Without: My phone and charger  

Best Artist/Song For Work: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys and BIG by Pastor Mike Jr., and Roar by Katy Perry to jump-start my day 

Jobsite or Office: Jobsite—it's where all the magic happens in construction 

Dr. G has over 19 years of experience in construction inclusion. She is an award-winning advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), specializing in strategic plan development, compliance reporting, program development, training, and employee resource groups.  

She works globally with leaders to implement actionable steps for creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. Her work has made a huge difference in transforming communities and fostering inclusive practices within organizations. 

Dr. G says she loves working in construction because it drives meaningful change and promotes inclusivity on a larger scale. "It allows me the opportunity to work with organizations to create economic impacts that can significantly transform communities and change individuals' lives. In my role, I have the opportunity to foster inclusive practices and influence change at all levels within an organization." 


May Winfield 

Global Director of Commercial, Legal and Digital Risks, Buro Happold 
London, UK 

Your Superpower: Babelfish: I speak 'Engineer,' 'Lawyer,' 'Business' 

What Motivates You: Curiosity; I have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge  

Tool You Can't Live Without: Blank page; it's a world of possibilities. 

Best Artist/Song For Work: DJ Steve Aoki—wordless animated energy 

Jobsite or Office: Combination—onsite collaboration, office concentration. 

May is a construction lawyer with two decades of experience—more than half of which is in digital and construction tech. As such, May is well positioned to help the AEC industry navigate new legal challenges ushered in by the rise of technology. She does this by promoting collaboration across technical, legal, and business teams. "I uniquely sit between all three areas, and so I am well placed to help optimize the process," she says. 

Additionally, she is also passionate about digital twins, blockchain, BIM, and AI, and her unique background makes her a vital asset in bridging the gap between business, tech, and legal teams. 


Tomislav Žigo, AIA 

CTO, Clayco 
St. Louis, MO 
 

Your Superpower: Passion for figuring things out 

What Motivates You: Idea of a better world and desire to contribute at any scale to the best of my ability 

Tool You Can't Live Without: I am a tools person, so settling on one is tough; I would say a sharp chef's knife 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Bach, Albinoni, Michele Jarre, EKV, Rammstein, 80’s 

Jobsite or Office: No preference 

Tomislav is an architect and engineer who strives to develop real solutions to real problems. For this reason, he is strongly focused on efficiency, sustainability, and integrating new technologies.  

He is also deeply committed to the impact of construction on the planet and aims to leave a lasting legacy through socially responsible and future-proofed projects.  

A lifelong learner, Tomislav believes in integrating diverse fields of knowledge. "It is not a question of one industry," he remarks. "This is about convergence and synthesis while constantly learning. Learning never stops, and learning enriches our experience." 

Tomislav also shares, “I'm honored to be recognized as an Autodesk Construction Champion of 2024. As we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities in construction, our commitment to aligning business needs with cutting-edge technology lays the foundations for future successes.” 


Yoshinori Shimizu 

Superintended/Senior Staff, Construction Department, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. 
Kawasaki, Japan  

Your Superpower: Future prediction 

What Motivates You: The bigger the task, the more motivating it is 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Hammer (i.e Autodesk Build)! 

Best Artist/Song For Work: milet 

Jobsite or Office: Office 

Yoshinori's primary focus area is construction management and he's known for creating innovative management processes using the latest technology.  

As someone who possesses strict self-discipline and a drive for innovation, he is passionate about developing new construction management processes while utilizing the latest technology. 

His advice for the next generation of construction professionals is to "Be aware that we are in a period of change in the industry management process and the need for a spirit of proactively taking on new challenges." 


Hannu Lindberg 

VP, Construction Technology Leader, DPR Construction 
Alpharetta, GA  

Your Superpower: Attention to detail and trying to get it right the first time. Also, I'm pretty spectacular at loading a dishwasher. 

What Motivates You: Making our frontline craft and admin jobs a little easier and more fun 

Tool You Can't Live Without: My iPhone 

Best Artist/Song For Work: For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) 

Jobsite or Office: I miss the jobsite 

With 20 years of experience, Hannu is part of the Technology & Innovation Corporate Services leadership team at DPR Construction. As one of the firm’s leaders of Construction Technology, he supports the integration and implementation of design, VDC, sustainability, preconstruction, planning & scheduling, and field operations technology across DPR and its affiliates.  

He serves as Vice-Chair and Board Director for Building Transformations, a non-profit advancing industry innovation.  

Hannu is also highly skilled in solving complex industry challenges, and he leverages technology for better, faster, and smarter project delivery. He has a unique perspective in that he combines foundational construction experience with a commitment to technological advancement. 

"I will always be passionate about continuous improvement and doing the fundamentals well to deliver consistent results for our clients, but I genuinely believe AI/ML will be the next wave of innovation that will revolutionize the future of design and construction and the world as we know it." 


John Coroner  

Executive Director, Ethos Engineering Limited 
Dublin, Ireland  

Your Superpower: Being able to see things from a different perspective quickly (round-the-corner vision!) 

What Motivates You: Maintaining a fun environment while we're growing  

Tool You Can't Live Without: Waze (I've no sense of direction) 

Best Artist/Song For Work: At the moment, it's the Teskey Brothers 

Jobsite or Office: Office 

Originally an electrical engineer, John transitioned to the operations side, growing the team from six to over 250 staff. He's completely in his element when dealing with strategy and operations, and he focuses on leveraging digitization to create new opportunities in the industry.  

John is enthusiastic about the potential of digitization, Lean principles, and AI to revolutionize work processes.  

He thrives in the dynamic world of construction and loves that no two days are the same. "Every day and every project is different. Where it is located, the people involved, the client's needs, how we do it all feed into a big melting pot, and when the projects come alive at the end of the process, it gives me a great sense of pride." 


Gregory Zatka  

BIM Referent, EuroAirport 
Saint-Louis, France 

Your Superpower: The ability to understand people's needs 

What Motivates You: Make information reliable and easily accessible 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Mouse computer 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Creedence Clearwater Revival 

Jobsite or Office: Office 

As BIM Referent for EuroAirport, Gregory excels at modeling real estate and technical assets within their geographical context. He is also passionate about enhancing information accessibility for his team. "I seek to decompartmentalize information and make it accessible to colleagues," he shares. 

He values observing long-term changes in buildings, stating that these evolutions are similar to how humans grow: you only truly realize it when looking back at past photos.  

Gregory's other interests include field data acquisition using IoT, 3D scanning, and photogrammetry, highlighting his commitment to integrating advanced technology in construction. 


Justin Chin 

Managing Director, Gamuda Engineering 
Selangor, Malaysia 

Your Superpower: Work-life balancing 

What Motivates You: Building tomorrow's legacy today 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Caffeine 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Dead & Company 

Jobsite or Office: Easy—the jobsite! 

Justin describes himself as a full-time father and husband who, in his free time, focuses on building critical infrastructure—including metro systems, highways, water treatment plants, and data centers. He is especially passionate about tunneling and has spent much of his career working underground.  

Justin is excited about how the construction industry continues to evolve. "It is such a dynamic industry that is ripe for disruption, given its reputation for being a laggard in all things digital.” 

He continues, “There has been a paradigm shift in this space in recent years, which has been really exciting. Take the digital innovation team in my organization, for example; today, it is over 100-strong, comprising digital engineers, cloud architects, programmers, BIM specialists, etc. This would have been completely unimaginable just a decade ago." 

Speaking of digital transformation, Justin is keeping a close eye on AI. He and his team have been pioneering end-to-end digitally integrated precast technologies at their automated robotic Industrialized Building System facility in Malaysia. 


Daniel Smith 

National Digital Technologies and Development Manager, Hansen Yuncken 
New South Wales, Australia 

Your Superpower: Strength and endurance 

What Motivates You: Working with people to achieve a goal 

Tool You Can't Live Without: My laptop or mobile device, particularly in today's digital age 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Depends on the day, but my go-to is Foo Fighters 

Jobsite or Office: I prefer the jobsite, but also like the balance  

With nearly 18 years in the construction sector, Daniel has excelled in roles ranging from technical consulting to BIM/VDC Management. At Hansen Yuncken, his work centers around leveraging construction technologies and driving IT strategy to enhance operational efficiency.  

Currently, he's focused on delivering the strategy, along with Hansen Yuncken's CFIO, to "balance the bookends,” by driving economic and efficient returns to the business through technology. 

Daniel appreciates the constant evolution and learning opportunities in the industry. "The construction industry is dynamic and challenging, but in the same context rewarding given what individuals are able to achieve. The mix of people that you work with, with broad ranges of skills, experiences, and collaboration—you're forever developing and constantly learning throughout your career." 


Jeton Aliu 

Global Engineering Manager HVDC, Hitachi Energy 
Västerås, Sweden 

Your Superpower: Understanding how people work 

What Motivates You: Pushing people to be better 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Spotify 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Ben Böhmer 

Jobsite or Office: Office 

Jeton leads an engineering organization focused on BIM, AIM, and Digital Twin Solutions within HVDC. With a background in construction engineering, he drives improvements in planning, design, and engineering and ensures practical implementation. 

He deeply cares about planning and engineering and recognizes his work's real-world impact. "Everything that we do in the office… someone has to build it eventually. When people realize this, planning, design, and engineering become so much better," he says.  

"Furthermore, the construction industry has so many improvement areas, and there is always something that can be done in a better way, and more importantly, you learn something new every day." 

Jeton is currently investigating AI and how it can automate the engineering process. His goal? To use these new technologies to mitigate health and safety risks on site, increase quality, productivity and bridge engineering with site work in a digital manner.  


Chad Meadows 

Regional Quality Director, J.E. Dunn Construction 
Atlanta, GA 

Your Superpower: I would love to control time 

What Motivates You: The people that I get to work with 

Tool You Can't Live Without: My Outlook calendar  

Best Artist/Song For Work: Foo Fighters - Everlong 

Jobsite or Office: Jobsite, but the office is pretty fun, too 

Chad has 24 years of experience and comes from a rich heritage of four generations in the industry. He transitioned from field management to project support, specializing in quality and scheduling for the past 14 years.  

Passionate about technology, he has worked on various tech initiatives and enjoys tackling challenging projects with advanced tools and talented teams. 

Chad is particularly captivated by AI, machine learning, and augmented reality for improving production tracking and data integration. 

"I'm really interested in AI and machine learning, like many people. Right now, it's really fragmented, and current applications just focus on small wins,” he comments. “Someday the big pile of data we create will be even more integrated. I also love the augmented reality category using 360 cameras for quantitative/ production tracking." 


Belinda Dillon 

BIM Information Manager, Jones Engineering 
Ireland 

Your Superpower: Being diverse and adaptable  

What Motivates You: Making a difference through successful project delivery 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Anything that plays music or that I can draw with 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Relaxed day: Give me a reason - Massive Attack / Moby etc. Busy day: Any heavy metal / dance music. 

Jobsite or Office:  Office 

With extensive experience across disciplines in the AEC industry, Belinda has contributed to projects in light rail, medical, pharma, and semiconductor sectors.  

As a BIM expert, she is highly adept at drawing and 3D modeling. She also excels at managing teams to meet project schedules and improve processes. Her love for construction began when she was a teenager. Belinda was fascinated by Gothic architecture, and her expertise evolved into engineering and 3D modeling.  

Looking to the future, she's keen on AI, machine learning, and mixed reality. "I look forward to how BIM and AI/ML integrate and how they uplift designs sustainably, as well as how they are used in manufacturing and maintenance." 


Anthony Michael Peleska 

Chief Information Officer, Kraus Anderson 
Arden Hills, MN

Your Superpower: Engage and interact with all people 

What Motivates You: Helping/advancing progress and culture 

Tool You Can't Live Without: My cell phone 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Coldplay - Parachutes 

Jobsite or Office: I prefer the office (I can get more accomplished) 

Anthony is all about the customer experience and driving organizational progress based on customer needs. He thrives in the construction industry and appreciates the tangible impact of his work. 

Another great thing about Anthony is that he doesn't shy away from change. "I am passionate about change and how we innovate that change," he shares. "I think that emerging technologies in AI, NLP, and machine learning are going to change the way we work, and I want to be at the forefront of that change." 


Cliff Cole 

VDC Director, The PENTA Building Group 
Las Vegas, NV 

Your Superpower: Discipline and problem-solving 

What Motivates You: Learning, success, and people 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Google 

Best Artist/Song For Work: DJ Khaled (All I Do Is Win); My walkout song is Rick Ross (Hustlin') 

Jobsite or Office: Jobsite 

As Director of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), Cliff leads the implementation and management of construction technology and building information modeling (BIM). Specializing in innovative solutions to enhance efficiency, he thrives on jobsite collaboration, problem-solving, and building facilities.  

Cliff is really enthusiastic about collaborating with people. "I love the people and the passion they have for the work that they do. I love problem-solving and collaborating on complex projects. I love the creativity and grit that people have in this industry." 

Beyond that, he also knows the importance of optimizing processes and technology, particularly when it comes to integrating design and construction workflows and utilizing technology to solve problems. 


Jennifer Suerth 

Senior Vice President, Pepper Construction Group
Chicago, IL 

Your Superpower: Problem-solving 

What Motivates You: Making positive and impactful change 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Cell phone 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Brave by Sara Bareilles 

Jobsite or Office: Jobsite 

With a background in architecture and structural engineering, Jennifer has worked on some of the world's tallest and most complex buildings.  

Over a dozen years ago, she transitioned to the construction side to bridge the gap between design and construction. Now a senior leader at Pepper Construction Group, she promotes innovation and technology to transform business operations. 

Jennifer is committed to enhancing several key areas: diversity, continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and technology.   

"Diversity brings different perspectives, and embracing my uniqueness has been instrumental in my career and the projects I've worked on. I want to leverage different people's perspectives in combination with usable and reliable data to continuously improve how we do work or make decisions." 


Brandon Floyd  

Director of Quality, Rosendin Electric  
Battle Ground, WA 

Your Superpower: Continuous improvement; I have a very restorative nature that needs to always fix and improve things.  

What Motivates You: I want to make a difference in the construction industry by providing value with quality and bringing quality culture to the forefront, as the safety culture is in the industry today. Quality can make a huge impact on improving safety and efficiencies, which will lead to better project outcomes and high customer satisfaction that will be passed down to the communities that they are part of. On a more fun note, motorcycles motivate me as I have a huge passion for riding, racing, and working on motorcycles.  

Tool You Can't Live Without: This is a tough one. I couldn't live without my Apple Watch as it tells me when and what my next meeting is. I'd be lost without it! Another tool I couldn't live without would be Autodesk products which make executing our quality program easier and more efficient. 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Startset - It's my favorite artist that motivates me for work and everything.  

Jobsite or Office: I prefer working hands-on at the jobsite vs sitting a desk in an office. 

Brandon promotes operational excellence and quality, focusing on project installation, commissioning, and safety during energization processes. From an organizational perspective, he also focuses on optimizing operational quality, helping the organization and project teams to improve and deliver top-notch work.  

He’s passionate about the rapidly-evolving construction industry and takes pride in contributing to unique and historical projects that positively impact people's lives.   

Some of his notable interests include artificial intelligence, analytics, and drone technology to improve quality and safety. "Topics and trends that interest me revolve around leveraging data and AI to improve our quality and safety. Drone and scanning technology are another interest that can help drive quality and safety as well," he explains.


Bunty D Chandwani 

General Manager - Project Management, Rustomjee Group 
Maharashtra, India 

Your Superpower: Understanding all of the pieces of the process and being able to analyze the gaps; I'm also able to express ideas and concepts in an interesting manner. 

What Motivates You: A good work environment and the need to supervise very little 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Sticky notes and Microsoft Project 

Best Artist/Song For Work: If You Believe by Strive to Be 

Jobsite or Office: Anywhere is great as long as the work gets done as planned 

With over two decades of experience in civil engineering, Bunty has dedicated his career to project management and has worked on diverse projects, from skyscrapers to infrastructure. Specializing in planning, scheduling, budgeting, and resource allocation, he strives to ensure smooth project execution.  

Bunty fully recognizes the value of thorough planning in construction, and it’s one of the reasons he is so invested in project management.  

"My passion lies in the art of project management, where every blueprint transforms into a tangible reality, shaping the world around us," he remarks. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that behind every successful construction project is a dedicated team and a meticulously crafted plan." 


Mark Dinius 

Vice President – Innovation & Technology, Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc 
Houston, TX  

Your Superpower: Analytical Thinking and Instincts  

What Motivates You: Family and Professional Curiosity  

Tool You Can't Live Without: Building Information Models (BIM)  

Best Artist/Song For Work: Cirez D (Eric Prydz)  

Jobsite or Office: I wish I could visit more jobsites 

Mark excels in leveraging and optimizing technology and processes to support operational teams.  

He's also a big data advocate and keen to leverage data to make more informed and timely decisions. For instance, Mark and his team are currently using data to spot project and subcontractor performance issues before they impact time and budget, helping projects achieve better outcomes. 

As for what he loves most about construction? It's the people. "Construction is challenging. I love working with our teams to use technology to build and communicate more effectively," he remarks.


Jit Kee Chin 

Chief Technology Officer, Suffolk; co-Founder and Managing Partner, Suffolk Technologies 
Boston, MA  

Your Superpower: Candid speech 

What Motivates You: People and impact 

Tool You Can't Live Without: My iPhone 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Bach's cello suites 

Jobsite or Office: Both 

Jit Kee excels in leveraging technology and data to help businesses operate more effectively.  

Specializing in innovative solutions and fostering diverse teams, she is extremely invested in the construction industry and its community, stating that the lasting impact of their projects and the deep community involvement make her role highly rewarding. 

"I'm passionate about the construction industry and its community. The enduring nature of our work resonates deeply, and knowing that our efforts shape the places where people live, work, and play is incredibly fulfilling. I also love that many of us are deeply pragmatic, and often strongly connected to the communities we serve."  


Kim DeYoung  

VP, Digital Technology, Swinerton 
Bellevue, WA 

Your Superpower: Problem solving 

What Motivates You: Enabling our project teams to do their best work 

Tool You Can't Live Without: Excel—there is a spreadsheet for everything! 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Anything Pearl Jam or Snoop Dogg 

Jobsite or Office: Jobsite to be a part of the action; office for quiet concentration 

With over 20 years in the construction industry, Kim started her journey as a Project Engineer at Swinerton in 2002 and progressively moved up the organization to become Director of Business Applications in 2019. In her role, she leads a team of technical and construction professionals in exploring, implementing, and supporting technology to enable Swinerton to be a best-in-class builder. 

With decades of experience under her belt, Kim never gets tired of developing projects that leave a lasting legacy. As far as trends and topics she's interested in, Kim says she's passionate about "sustainable building, celebrating and supporting diversity, leveraging data, and any topic on how we can streamline or automate building processes." 


Amr Raafat 

Chief Innovation Officer, Windover Construction 
Beverly, MA 

Your Superpower: Respect—I value everyone's feelings and their views 

What Motivates You: Seeing the impact of what our AEC industry can do to transform people's lives 

Tool You Can't Live Without: The pencil 

Best Artist/Song For Work: Anything I can sing along to with the windows down 

Jobsite or Office: As much as I love the office where I can focus, I prefer the jobsite. It's where I have hands-on work, constantly learn, and apply innovative solutions to tackle challenges and make an impact with technology.  

With over 20 years in the AEC industry, Amr leverages his expertise in architecture, construction, engineering, and technology to enhance efficiencies, mitigate risks, and ensure successful project outcomes. As Chief Innovation Officer at Windover Construction, he drives innovation using technologies like BIM, prefabrication, DFMA, VR/AR, reality capture, digital twins, and generative AI.  

Amr also won the "Innovator of the Year" at the Autodesk AEC Excellence Awards in 2019, which is a testament to his significant contributions to advancing industry practices. 

He's fascinated by integration of technology and construction, and says, "It's incredibly rewarding to see visions, blueprints and 3D models come to life, creating humane spaces that bring people together, transform lives, and provide quality homes to families in need of a decent place to live." 


Let's celebrate Construction Champions all year round 

There you have it—Autodesk's 2024 Construction Champions. These individuals exemplify the best of the industry and possess the values that make the construction sector thrive: innovation, collaboration, and resilience. 

Of course, this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Every organization has remarkable construction pros, and we encourage you to find and celebrate them every day. So, take a moment to recognize and appreciate the incredible talent within your teams. 

We hope you enjoyed this year's round up! If you're looking for more inspiring content featuring other construction professionals, be sure to subscribe to the blog.  

Kelsee Campbell

As a Senior Customer Advocacy Program Manager at Autodesk, Kelsee has the privilege of working with Autodesk customers to champion their stories on the Digital Builder Blog. Kelsee strives to create an engaging experience that amplifies customer perspectives, fostering a sense of community and connection.