The Under 40 in Construction Equipment Awards showcase young talent in the construction equipment industry. These young people, all under the age of 40 as of the end of the year, represent exciting potential for this industry.

They represent disciplines across construction equipment, not only the asset managers who run fleets, but also distributors, manufacturers and others.

In choosing our Under 40, we looked for the following qualities and characteristics: leadership skills, inventiveness, interpersonal skills, training, dedication, personal integrity, technical skills, and industry and community involvement.

Nominations for the Class of 2025 are now open. Click here to nominate yourself or someone you know.

Deadline is February 14, 2025.

Alicia Brentzel
Alicia on site
Alicia on site
Alicia on site
Alicia on site
Alicia on site
Under 40

Alicia Brentzel Builds Success Through Employee Development

Dec. 12, 2023
Brex rests on a foundation of clear objectives and processes.

Class of 2023

Under 40

Alicia Brentzel

Brentzel Excavation LLC
Under 40

Corey Irmen

Bristol Industries, LLC
Eric Kelsey
Erinn DeJong
Under 40

Erinn DeJonge

Sarasota County Fleet Services
Heather Thompson
Under 40

Heather Thompson

B&N Grading, Inc.
John Laeder
Under 40

John Laeder

Huron County Road Commission
Jon Kay
Under 40

Jon Kaye

Miller Bros. Construction, Inc.
Under 40

Matthew K. Smith

Village of West Hampton Beach

Under 40 Articles

Construction Equipment magazine
Interview with Jon Kaye.
Interview with Jon Kaye.
Interview with Jon Kaye.
Interview with Jon Kaye.
Interview with Jon Kaye.
Videos

A New Approach at Miller Bros.

How Jon Kaye brings process improvement to equipment management.
Under 40

Young leader takes workforce development to the classroom

Josh Allen puts what he's learned as an operator and foreman to train others for the field
Construction Equipment
A Rutledge excavator grabs rock on a mountainside in Pennsylvania for use in a stream bed.
A Rutledge excavator grabs rock on a mountainside in Pennsylvania for use in a stream bed.
A Rutledge excavator grabs rock on a mountainside in Pennsylvania for use in a stream bed.
A Rutledge excavator grabs rock on a mountainside in Pennsylvania for use in a stream bed.
A Rutledge excavator grabs rock on a mountainside in Pennsylvania for use in a stream bed.
Integrity Grading & Paving
Integrity’s diversification has seen it through recession, building projects including airports, roads, residential subdivisions, and solar construction such as this project at Dane County Airport.
Integrity’s diversification has seen it through recession, building projects including airports, roads, residential subdivisions, and solar construction such as this project at Dane County Airport.
Integrity’s diversification has seen it through recession, building projects including airports, roads, residential subdivisions, and solar construction such as this project at Dane County Airport.
Integrity’s diversification has seen it through recession, building projects including airports, roads, residential subdivisions, and solar construction such as this project at Dane County Airport.
Integrity’s diversification has seen it through recession, building projects including airports, roads, residential subdivisions, and solar construction such as this project at Dane County Airport.
Electronic Grade Controls, GPS and Laser

Machine control brings Integrity to earthmoving

An encouraging trend emerging in fleet asset management is the fresh generation of owners and equipment managers, such Dan Weinkauf, who are emerging and bringing a more casual...
The original clubhouse for the Lido Golf Course in New York, circa 1927.
The original clubhouse for the Lido Golf Course in New York, circa 1927.
The original clubhouse for the Lido Golf Course in New York, circa 1927.
The original clubhouse for the Lido Golf Course in New York, circa 1927.
The original clubhouse for the Lido Golf Course in New York, circa 1927.
Technology

A Classic Golf Course Reborn

Resort developer Mike Keiser sought to recreate the famed Lido golf course
Lube-analysis
Lube-analysis
Lube-analysis
Lube-analysis
Lube-analysis
Equipment Maintenance and Repair

Oil Management for Maintenance ROI

Bill Orcutt, CEM, equipment superintendent for Sherwood Construction, a heavy earthmoving and paving contractor based in Wichita, Kansas, likes to say that when he started in ...
Solid-Earth-machine-control
Solid-Earth-machine-control
Solid-Earth-machine-control
Solid-Earth-machine-control
Solid-Earth-machine-control
Under 40

Solid Earth Civil Thrives with Machine Control

In a small, family-owned business, it stands to reason that a family member would wear a lot of hats. Matt Peters, son of the founders of Solid Earth Civil Constructors in Pueblo...
Deere-dozer-grading
Deere-dozer-grading
Deere-dozer-grading
Deere-dozer-grading
Deere-dozer-grading
Under 40

Shipps Grows with Grade Control

Jonathan Shipps has been working for his family’s business, Shipps Contracting, for as long as he can remember.Though his grandfather and father took a more traditional approach...
Jeremy-Smith-JSmith-Civil
Jeremy-Smith-JSmith-Civil
Jeremy-Smith-JSmith-Civil
Jeremy-Smith-JSmith-Civil
Jeremy-Smith-JSmith-Civil
Technology

JSmith Civil Uses Telematics as Fleet Grows

Jeremy Smith’s passion for leadership began to emerge when he was 13. Using his father’s lawnmower, he started what would eventually become his own lawn care business, making ...
DSC_4096
DSC_4096
DSC_4096
DSC_4096
DSC_4096
Technology

JSmith Civil Talks Job Tracking Software

At JSmith Civil, a civil construction company based in North Carolina, the HCSS suite is king when it comes to productivity on the jobsite. Company owner Jeremy Smith, a 2020 ...
Maxresdefault 63d40548bc741
Maxresdefault 63d40548bc741
Maxresdefault 63d40548bc741
Maxresdefault 63d40548bc741
Maxresdefault 63d40548bc741
Videos

Under 40 In Construction: AJ & Alicia Brentzel

Construction Equipment congratulates AJ Brentzel, one of the founders of Brex Enterprises based in Irwin, Pennsylvania. He is an Under 40 in Construction Equipment award winner...
Jordan-Zahlene-equipment
Jordan-Zahlene-equipment
Jordan-Zahlene-equipment
Jordan-Zahlene-equipment
Jordan-Zahlene-equipment
Under 40

Jordan Zahlene Builds a Legacy

Frank Raczon, Senior Editor“I’ll never forget where I started, but I always think tomorrow has to be better than today,” says Under 40 in Construction Equipment Award winner Jordan...