AEI’s Joanna Pyun and Greg Smithmyer Named to Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s 2026 40 Under 40
Congratulations to Principal Joanna Pyun and Senior Project Engineer Greg Smithmyer for being named to Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s (CSE) 2026 40 Under 40 list.
This annual program honors 40 exceptional professionals under 40 who are shaping the future of the nonresidential building industry through leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to professional excellence and community impact.
Joanna Pyun, PE
Joanna’s recognition as a 40 Under 40 honoree reflects her leadership in advancing complex infrastructure and energy projects that help institutions transition to more sustainable and resilient utility systems. As Principal, Mechanical Department Lead, and Energy & Utilities Market Leader in AEI’s San Francisco office, she brings a rare combination of field experience, technical expertise, and practical problem-solving to large-scale decarbonization and campus utility initiatives.
“There is no ego, no hidden agenda. Joanna is sincere in her stewardship of this project (UC Berkeley’s Clean Energy Campus project), creating a transparent, one-team approach that advances timelines and unifies teams.”
Known for her collaborative leadership style and people-centered approach, Joanna has built strong client and team relationships while mentoring emerging professionals and guiding critical projects across higher education, healthcare, and research sectors. Her work embodies the spirit of this year’s honorees, applying engineering expertise to create systems that are safer, more efficient, and better prepared for the future.
Greg Smithmyer, PE, LEED AP® BD+C
Greg is named to the 2026 40 Under 40 program for his technical excellence, collaborative leadership, and long-standing commitment to delivering high-performance solutions for healthcare, higher education, and science and technology facilities. Since joining AEI in 2009, he has become a trusted mechanical engineering leader, guiding complex, multidisciplinary projects with a steady, solutions-oriented approach that has built strong confidence among clients, architects, and contractors.
“Greg is confident in manner, even-tempered in his responses, and thoughtful in his approach, presenting alternatives in a considered and collaborative way that engenders trust.”
As Mechanical Department Lead in AEI’s Chapel Hill office and Co-Leader of the firm’s Mechanical Company-Wide Team, Greg is also recognized for his mentorship and for advancing engineering quality, training, and consistency across the firm. His career reflects the CSE 40 Under 40 program’s emphasis on engineers who pair technical excellence with collaborative leadership to advance complex projects that improve performance, reliability, and long-term value in the built environment.
Please join us in congratulating Joanna and Greg on this outstanding achievement!
“Across disciplines, the 2026 40 Under 40 winners are consistently drawn to work that makes buildings safer, more resilient, more efficient, and more humane.”