Winners of the 2017 ENR Mountain States Top Young Professionals contest are company principals and CEOs, architects, engineers, constructors, transportation gurus, professors and project managers, but also sustainability experts and technology whizzes. Some began their careers with larger companies and then had the courage to break away and start their own firms; others have been targeted and promoted by firm principals as promising leaders. All have worked hard to mentor colleagues and students on better design and construction practices.

As in past years, the annual contest was rigorous. Companies or individuals were allowed to nominate more than one person, and individuals could nominate themselves. Nominees must be working full-time in some aspect of the commercial construction industry in the Mountain States region, which includes Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Kansas and North and South Dakota. Other key selection criteria included achievement of or progress toward industry certifications, significant success in creating more efficient systems, designing new processes or managing landmark projects and significant volunteer work across the industry and within the community.

Ted Laszlo

  • 39, Vice President
  • Vertix Builders
  • Frederick, Colo.
  • Builder starts his own firm based on collaboration, creativity

Laszlo’s influence is visible throughout Colorado’s Front Range, from the old-world-style chapel at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch to the business school at the University of Colorado Denver, the renovation of the Ekeley Chemistry Labs at CU Boulder and the new arena, pavilions and exhibition halls at the Larimer County Fairgrounds in Loveland, Colo.

A 1999 CU Boulder graduate in civil engineering, he worked for GH Phipps Cos. for 15 years before co-founding Vertix Builders in 2014. The young firm has already grown to $50 million in annual revenue and especially values its collaborative culture, which stresses creativity within the firm and with its trade partners.

Laszlo is a LEED-accredited professional who serves as regional vice president of the Design-Build Institute of America, has lectured at the University of Colorado and speaks to AGC student chapters. He maintains a healthy work-life balance, regularly arriving home in time for dinner and coaching three of his four children on a flag football team.