LaBella Recognized for Leadership and Project Excellence at Rochester Business Journal’s 2026 Leaders in Construction & Real Estate and Top Projects Awards
Congratulations to all honorees!
Five LaBella professionals and one landmark project were recognized at the Rochester Business Journal 2026 Leaders in Construction & Real Estate and Top Projects Awards ceremony on October 20. Now in its third year, this event celebrates the individuals and companies that are driving meaningful change across the Rochester region through design, construction, project management, lending, and innovation.
“The 2026 recipients of Leaders in Construction & Real Estate and Top Projects awards are changing the landscape of Greater Rochester. Their innovation, design and construction are creating projects that are making a mark on the community,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/Rochester Business Journal. “We at the Rochester Business Journal are pleased to honor these incredible individuals and businesses for their outstanding achievements over the past year.”
LaBella is honored to have the following team members among those recognized as Leaders in Construction & Real Estate:
- Thomas Simbari, AIA – Lifetime Achievement Award
- Christopher Locke, PLS – Rising Star Award
- Troy Williams, AIA – Architect Award
- Stephanie Steinman, NCIDQ, IIDA – Interior Design/Staging Award
- Anthony Sanganetti, PE – Engineer Award
Congratulations to all the winners! A full list of the 2026 Leaders in Construction & Real Estate honorees can be found here.
In addition to these individual honors, the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Thomas Fearey Judson, Jr. Stadium was recognized as a 2026 Top Project. The award is given to the best building and construction projects in the Rochester area over a 12-month span. LaBella proudly provided architectural and engineering design services for the two-phase project, starting with the turf field followed by the two-story athletic complex.
Scroll down to learn more about each of LaBella’s award winners.
Thomas Simbari, AIA – Lifetime Achievement Award
Thomas (Tom) Simbari is a Registered Architect in New York State who retired from LaBella in July 2026 after a notable four-decade career. Prior to his retirement, Tom was the Essential Facilities Studio Leader at LaBella. In his role, he led project delivery, client relationships, and quality assurance while remaining actively involved in design. Tom specializes in essential facilities that protect public safety and keep communities running. His portfolio includes fire, EMS, police, public works, highway, and transportation facilities.
A trusted architect for municipal projects throughout the Rochester region, Tom helped establish LaBella’s Essential Facilities Studio, expanding the firm’s ability to serve communities with specialized public safety and municipal facilities.
Among his notable projects, Tom served as Project Manager and lead design architect for four new Wayne County EMS stations. Developed in response to growing emergency service needs, the facilities were designed and delivered on an aggressive schedule, balancing cost-effective design with first responder functionality.
Throughout his career, Tom prioritized aligning architectural integrity and creativity with his clients’ needs and goals. His greatest legacy is reflected in the essential facilities and stronger communities he helped create throughout the Rochester region.
Christopher Locke, PLS – Rising Star Award
Christopher (Chris) Locke, PLS, is a Vice President and Geospatial Division Director at LaBella. In a relatively short time, Chris has progressed from field surveyor to executive leader, building a career rooted in technical expertise, exceptional client service, and strategic leadership. His experience spans utility, transportation, municipal, and private-sector projects, where he has delivered dependable surveying solutions that support development and infrastructure improvements throughout the Rochester region.
As his career advanced, Chris transitioned from managing projects to leading teams and business operations, taking on greater responsibility for strategic planning, financial management, business development, and staff development. Recognizing opportunities to modernize surveying services, he developed and championed the vision for LaBella’s new Geospatial Division, successfully earning leadership approval. Today, he leads more than 70 professionals across seven offices, including 35 in Rochester, while advancing technologies such as laser scanning, UAV surveys, and hydrographic surveying.
Through his rapid career progression, commitment to mentorship, and vision for the future of surveying, Chris has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a dedication to advancing his profession. His ability to earn the trust of clients and colleagues, develop talented teams, and drive innovation continues to strengthen LaBella’s geospatial capabilities and support the communities it serves.
Troy Williams, AIA – Architect Award
Troy Williams, AIA, is a Project Architect and Associate Vice President at LaBella whose work has helped shape educational environments throughout the Rochester region. Since joining LaBella in 2014, he has led or contributed to projects for 17 K–12 and higher education clients across New York State, including 10 institutions in Monroe County. His career has focused on designing learning environments that meet evolving educational needs and leave a lasting impact on schools and communities.
At Fairport Central School District, Troy’s leadership has helped translate years of planning and collaboration into meaningful improvements for students and staff. A new high school STEAM addition emerged from a comprehensive long-range facilities master plan that balanced academic priorities, fiscal responsibility, and community input. These efforts helped preserve community resources, improve operational efficiency, enhance the student learning experience, and establish a roadmap for future facility investments.
Through his leadership on educational projects, trusted client partnerships, mentorship, and service to the design community, Troy has made a lasting contribution to schools, students, and communities across the Rochester region.
Stephanie Steinman, NCIDQ, IIDA – Interior Design/Staging Award
Stephanie Steinman, NCIDQ, IIDA, is a Project Interior Designer at LaBella whose creative vision, technical expertise, and understanding of how people experience space have helped shape meaningful places throughout the Rochester region. Since joining LaBella in 2016, she has built a diverse portfolio spanning K–12, higher education, municipal, commercial, healthcare, and arts and entertainment markets.
Stephanie’s artistic background has made her a valued visualization resource within LaBella, helping clients envision spaces and carrying those concepts through design, documentation, and construction. She has served as the sole interior designer on complex projects, including the West Herr Performing Arts Center restoration, Lollypop Farm campus transformation, and renovations for Rush-Henrietta and Geneva school districts. She has also collaborated with multidisciplinary teams on major projects, including the Max Lowenthal Hall expansion and new Judson Stadium at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Through her creativity, technical expertise, and collaborative approach, Stephanie has made meaningful contributions to the built environment, creating purposeful, accessible, and memorable spaces that reflect the needs of the people they serve.
Anthony Sanganetti, PE – Engineer Award
Anthony Sanganetti, PE, is LaBella’s Electric Transmission & Distribution Program Manager and an Associate Vice President. Since joining LaBella in 2015, he has helped expand the firm’s electric transmission and distribution capabilities, beginning with his involvement in LaBella’s first underground transmission project. His technical expertise, approachable nature, and solution-oriented mindset have made him a trusted leader among colleagues, clients, and business partners.
Anthony’s experience spans underground and overhead electric transmission and distribution projects, including the design, upgrade, replacement, and relocation of critical electrical infrastructure. He has helped grow LaBella’s client portfolio across utility, renewable energy, commercial, and industrial markets. Much of his work supports the Rochester region, where reliable electric infrastructure is essential to community growth, economic development, and everyday life.
Over the past decade, Anthony has demonstrated a steady, intentional commitment to both the engineering field and the Rochester community. From expanding a critical service offering to mentoring the next generation of engineers and volunteering locally, he consistently uses his time and expertise to support the people around him. His leadership is defined not just by the projects he manages but by his genuine dedication to helping his team, his clients, and his community thrive.
Rochester Institute of Technology Thomas Fearey Judson, Jr. Stadium – Top Project
Thomas Fearey Judson, Jr. Stadium is a new soccer and lacrosse pitch and stadium with an enclosed spectator experience and a turf field designed in accordance with NCAA Rule 1: Field of Play. With an emphasis on the user experience, the stadium supports the College’s efforts to excel in student-athlete recruitment while encouraging greater game-day attendance. Connected to RIT’s greater athletic complex and campus core, the stadium includes fan amenities that improve arrival and game-day experience with the design and construction of attractive plazas with event space, increased parking, designated pedestrian access points, and efficient circulation to ticketing, seating, concessions, and restrooms.
