President
Hooper | DeForest
Steve Lindley is president of Hooper Corp., where he oversees external affairs and strategy for the DeForest-based electric power and mechanical contractor. Hooper employs about 1,300 office staff and tradespeople across its Madison-area headquarters and regional offices in Colorado, Florida and Ohio. Under Lindley’s leadership, in 2021, the firm opened a new corporate headquarters and fabrication facility on 50 acres in DeForest. That same year, Hooper merged with wholly owned subsidiary General Heating & Air Conditioning to become a unified company and brand.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Idaho – Moscow; CPA certification
If you could time travel: “It would be interesting to be in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, for the initial signing of the U.S. Constitution.”
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “Place a higher priority on the state funding and support of education from K-12 through post-secondary. Strong support of education is so critical not only for our families, but also to support our business community.”
First and most recent concert: “First was the Doobie Brothers. The last was Dave Matthews.”
Advice for first-time leaders: “Develop the ability to listen to people attentively and sincerely to understand their perspective.”