Thirty years ago, VHB created the RISE President's Awards to recognize employees across VHB for outstanding performance, demonstrated commitment to our culture, and contributions to VHB's growth and success.
Three decades later, that tradition is still going strong. This year's Culture Champions and Rising Professionals of the Year are a testament to that.
2026 Culture Champions
Culture Champions go above and beyond in their offices, regions, and communities to advance programs, create connections, and build environments where people feel supported and engaged. This year's honorees have each found their own way to advance what makes VHB a great place to work.
Sara Yasin, Project Consultant, New England
Sara co-chaired the Boston Emerging Professionals Group and organizes the annual co-op open house, which connects nearly 100 students with VHB's people, projects, and culture. She also serves as Chair of the Professional Development Committee for WTS-Boston, where she designs programming that supports the growth of transportation professionals across the region.
Hyeajin Kim, Civil Designer, Northeast
Hyeajin serves as a College Ambassador, representing VHB at career fairs and open houses while leading the NYC Emerging Professionals Group and intern recruitment process. She coordinates lunch and learns, speed networking events, a mentoring program, the Summer Intern Lunch Series, and the NYC Fun Committee, building a community where early-career professionals feel supported and connected.
Connor Burke, Planner, Mid-Atlantic
Connor leads the Metro DC Emerging Professionals Group and helped launch the "Joe with Joe" series, connecting emerging professionals with Regional Manager Joe Wanat. He also started his office’s holiday party charity raffle, which raises more than $2,000 annually for local charities.
Madi Karis, Transportation Designer, Piedmont-Atlantic
Madi leads the Atlanta Emerging Professionals Group and was a part of the first joint regional EPG event, bringing together colleagues from Atlanta, Raleigh, and Charlotte. She also leads VHB's participation in the ACEC Georgia "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" event, championing STEM access for young women year after year.
Marisa Blackwood, Project Manager, Southeast
Marisa leads the Gulf Coast Funsters group, keeping the team connected through year-round events and celebrations. She is a trusted mentor to junior staff and a skilled project manager who leads land development and helipad design projects across VHB's footprint, collaborating with teams throughout the regions to deliver for clients.
Susan Lee, Creative Design Lead, Corporate
Susan mentors designers and marketers across VHB's footprint, leads the visual media program, and has helped shape the creative design of some of the company's most important communications, strengthening our culture and brand. She brings a can-do approach to everything she does—and her impact across the organization is wide-reaching.
2026 Rising Professionals of the Year
Our Rising Professionals are early in their careers and already making a real impact. They bring curiosity, fresh thinking, an investment in the people and clients around them, and they represent the kind of talent that will carry VHB forward.
Zachary Tiang, Transportation Engineer, New England
In eight years at VHB, Zach has become a trusted resource for traffic simulation modeling across New England and helped establish the Providence Emerging Professionals Group. Known for being approachable and team-oriented, he now serves as one of VHB's Innovation Ambassadors, driving AI adoption and helping colleagues across the region.
Matt Burmeister, Project Manager, Northeast
Matt serves as the primary contact for major hospital systems in New York, including NYU Langone, Northwell, and New York Presbyterian. He has built a reputation for translating complex transportation challenges into clear, actionable solutions and is regularly sought out by clients and design partners alike for his experience in institutional transportation.
Oliver Burke, Transportation Team Leader, Mid-Atlantic
Oliver leads impactful projects across Hampton Roads. His strong relationships with local municipalities have resulted in city traffic engineers frequently recommending VHB to developers, and his understanding of Metropolitan Planning Organization opportunities and data requirements has helped municipal clients secure significant grant-funded transportation projects for the region.
Eric Berger, Water Resources Engineer, Piedmont-Atlantic
Eric leads the Raleigh Emerging Professionals Group, serves on the Professional Engineers of North Carolina Board of Governors, and volunteers with the North Carolina Future Cities Competition. He also established the Raleigh Water Resources practice's internal quality assurance process, strengthening the team's delivery for clients across the region.
Darren Walshaw, Project Manager, Southeast
Darren was promoted to Project Manager within a year and now leads a seven-person team. His largest client specifically requests him on every new project, a reflection of the trust he has built through consistent communication, technical excellence, and strong project delivery.
Kheyana McCoy, Senior Learning & Development Specialist, Corporate
Kheyana recently stepped into a Learning Business Partner role, partnering with leaders and employees across the firm to identify training needs and deliver impactful solutions. She also facilitates leadership and project management programs and recently earned her Certified Professional in Training Management credential—which she immediately applied to strengthen VHB's learning programs.
Congratulations to this year's winners!
Our RISE winners are shaping what's next at VHB. Join a team that invests in your growth and celebrates the people behind the projects.
