LaBella Receives Two Honors at New York State Society of Professional Engineers 100th Anniversary Celebration
Rebecca Sheely-King, PE, SE, Named 2026 Young Engineer of the Year and CR 26 Emergency Response & Bridge Replacement Named 2026 Construction Project of the Year
LaBella is proud to share that one distinguished professional and one project were recognized at the New York State Society of Professional Engineers (NYSSPE) Centennial Celebration on August 6, 2026, held in conjunction with the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) annual conference, NSPECon26, in Brooklyn, New York. In their 100th year, the NYSSPE Awards honor the projects and people who define the past, present, and future of the engineering profession.
Scroll down to learn about LaBella’s honorees, and please join us in congratulating Rebecca and the CR 26 project team on these exciting achievements!
2026 Young Engineer of the Year
Rebecca Sheely-King, PE, SE
The NYSSPE Young Engineer of the Year award recognizes outstanding contributions to the goals of NSPE by means of educational, collegiate, and engineering achievements; professional society, technical society, civic, and humanitarian activities; and displayed continuing competence.
Based in LaBella’s Albany office, Rebecca is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and Structural Engineer (SE) who serves as a project manager and technical lead for structural engineering on a range of projects, including commercial, K-12, industrial, and municipal facilities.
Rebecca holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering. She teaches Fundamental Theory of Structures as an adjunct professor at Union College. She is a member of the NYSSPE Capital District Chapter and the Mohawk-Hudson Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, serves as a committee member for Capital District Engineers Week, and participates annually in Career JamTM Explore at Hudson Valley Community College.
A hallmark of Rebecca’s work is the M&T Bank Center at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady, New York, where she designed the steel-framed superstructure, coordinated the design of the foundations consisting of driven piles, and provided construction administration services.
2026 Construction Project of the Year
Allegany County Department of Public Works – CR 26 Emergency Response & Bridge Replacement
The NYSSPE Construction Project of the Year Award recognizes an engineer or engineering company for their contribution to the construction of a project that captures the innovative and dynamic spirit of a profession dedicated to public service.
The CR 26 Bridge over the Genesee River in Belfast, New York, serves as the only river crossing for nearly a dozen miles, providing critical access for residents, businesses, schools, and emergency services.
Following a sudden and severe structural failure that posed an immediate threat to public safety and regional connectivity, the Allegany County Department of Public Works, in coordination with LaBella, initiated an emergency response that included rapid assessment, temporary stabilization, and ongoing monitoring.
The effort ultimately culminated in the closure, removal, and replacement of the unsafe structure. A permanent replacement bridge was designed and constructed, incorporating solutions to address the underlying causes of the structural failure and ensure long-term safety and resilience.
