For the first time ever, a professional from Memphis and Tennessee has been named to both of the nation’s most prestigious young professional lists in architecture, engineering and construction: Engineering News-Record (ENR) and Building Design + Construction (BD+C).
Brent Hooks, regional vice president at Cornerstone Engineering, has earned dual recognition as part of ENR’s Top Young Professionals 40 Under 40 and BD+C’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2025.
Hooks’ dual honors put Memphis on the national map alongside professionals from New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
“This honor reflects the power of Memphis and what’s possible for our young people,” said Hooks. “I hope it inspires students across our city to explore careers in STEM and to believe their skills and dreams can take them anywhere.”
Hooks’ achievement highlights Memphis’ growing influence in shaping the future of the built environment. As demand for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) talent rises nationwide, Memphis is demonstrating that it has the creativity, expertise and vision to meet that moment.
“Brent’s recognition is bigger than one person. It’s a signal to the country that Memphis is home to innovators shaping tomorrow’s cities,” Cornerstone Engineering said in a statement.
As Cornerstone Engineering continues expanding across the Southeast — including in key markets such as Atlanta, Birmingham and Memphis — the firm views this recognition as both an honor and a call to action: to keep investing in mentorship, education and career pathways for the next generation of Memphis talent.
As a Cornerstone regional vice president, Hooks leads strategic growth and operational execution across the Southeastern U.S. He drives business development, oversees complex engineering and construction projects and expands Cornerstone’s regional presence. His leadership fuses engineering expertise with business acumen.
Hooks previously led a multi-unit business spanning 10 states and seven divisions, managing a 70-person team and guiding his organization to appearances on Inc. magazine’s Fastest-Growing Companies in America list in 2019 and 2023.
“I view my work as an opportunity to make a positive contribution to my community in a number of different ways,” Hooks said. “Many of the projects I support directly impact quality of life, from the buildings people walk into every day to the unseen systems beneath them.”
“More importantly,” he added, “I’m able to inspire the future, showing the next generation what’s possible and providing them with meaningful opportunities to explore careers while dreaming of the impact they want to make.”
Hooks’ journey has earned him recognition not only from ENR and BD+C but also from Forbes’ Next 1000 (2021), Marquis’ Who’s Who, and the Memphis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.
“I’m driven by extending a legacy of civic leadership,” Hooks said. “Each project tells a story from design to construction to occupancy. To me, the most fulfilling part is seeing how those stories unfold and how they serve people.”
Among his recent projects, Hooks points to the Regional One Health Expansion as a personal highlight.
“The purpose, mission and vision of this project will touch Memphis in so many ways that align with the areas of life that are most meaningful to me,” he said.
A native Memphian, Hooks holds an MBA from Vanderbilt University. He is an active member of ACEC Tennessee’s PE Leadership Cohort, a statewide professional mentorship network for engineers.
Off the clock, Hooks serves on the boards of the New Ballet Ensemble and School, the Urban Land Institute and the St. Jude Spirit of the Dream committee. He has contributed to the City of Memphis Film and Television Commission, helping to strengthen creative infrastructure and local economic development. He previously worked with the Blight Authority of Memphis, an organization that revitalizes abandoned and neglected properties to create new opportunities for growth and community renewal.
His motivation in business and beyond is rooted in family legacy.
Hooks descends from a line of civic leaders. His great-great-grandmother, Julia Britton Hooks, was the first Black woman to attend Berea College, and his great-uncle Benjamin L. Hooks was Tennessee’s first Black criminal court judge and later served as executive director of the NAACP.
“My family’s legacy reminds me that my work is part of a much larger story,” Hooks reflected. “They used education, culture and justice to break barriers, and that inspires how I live and lead. Everything I do is about creating access, opportunity and beauty in the spaces we build.”
When asked what comes next, Hooks said he remains focused on leading with purpose and building a legacy that reflects the strength of his hometown.
“Contributing to the landscape of Memphis is paramount,” he said. “I was raised here, and now I have the privilege of giving back in meaningful ways. The goal is to keep building — not just structures, but futures.”
