President and CEO
GRAEF | Milwaukee
John Kissinger leads GRAEF, a Milwaukee-based engineering, planning and design firm that has worked on prominent projects such as the Santiago Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum, renovation of Lambeau Field and redevelopment of the former Laacke & Joys manufacturing building. More recently, GRAEF provided structural engineering for the $456 million Wisconsin Center District’s Baird Center expansion. Up next: the firm has been hired by the City of Milwaukee to create a plan for the former Northridge Mall site. GRAEF has nearly 300 employees across its 10 offices throughout the Midwest, Florida, and Turks and Caicos.
Kissinger became CEO of GRAEF in 2012. In September 2024, GRAEF announced that Kissinger will pass the president torch to Pat Kressin, vice president of business development, on Jan. 1, 2025. Kissinger will remain as CEO of the firm until his retirement within the next two years; no specific date has been set.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; master’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison
The future of your industry: “There’s a strong and ongoing demand for new and upgraded infrastructure. I believe the future of engineering and design is very promising.”
Thing to learn this year: “I’m taking Spanish lessons this year. It’s something I’ve always wanted to master.”
Advice for first-time leaders: “Trust your instincts and do what you believe is right, rather than relying solely on advice or what you’ve read. Authentic leadership comes from being true to yourself.”
Favorite part of the workday: “Connecting with my colleagues. Whether it’s collaborating on projects, brainstorming new ideas, or just catching up, the energy and creativity of the team make each day inspiring.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Real Estate and Development | Real Estate
President and CEO
GRAEF | Milwaukee
John Kissinger built his career working on prominent projects such as the Quadracci Pavilion at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the renovation of Lambeau Field and the expansion of Chicago’s McCormick Place. He leads Milwaukee-based GRAEF, a civil engineering, planning and design firm with nearly 300 employees in 10 offices. The firm has done work on projects throughout the state including Milwaukee Tool’s corporate headquarters in Brookfield, University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Southeast Recreational Facility and the Bradley Symphony Center in Milwaukee.
Education: Bachelor’s, UW-Milwaukee; masters, UW-Madison
Fun fact: “I like to dance!”
Business leaders you’d like to have dinner with: “(The late) Bill Shook and (the late) Michael Cudahy. Bill Shook was a construction executive with Clark Construction and a great mentor of mine. Michael Cudahy was trained as an engineer and I always found him to be an interesting conversationalist.”
Top of your bucket list: “Visit Machu Picchu.”
Nonprofit cause that has special meaning to you: “The GRAEF Foundation, which was formed by our founders. The GRAEF Foundation annually awards college scholarships to engineering majors at five universities including the Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Platteville, UW-Madison, and Marquette University. We also fund a scholarship for underrepresented engineering students through the ACE mentor program of Chicago. We also fund a variety of other STEM programs.”
