Real Estate and Development | Construction
Chairman and CEO
Walbec Group | Pewaukee
Kurt Bechthold leads Walbec Group, representing the third generation of family leadership for the Pewaukee-based company. Founded by his grandfather, Walter Bechthold, and later led by his father, Ned Bechthold, Walbec today includes construction firms Payne and Dolan, Northeast Asphalt, Zenith Tech, Parisi, Premier Concrete and Construction Resources Management. The group has about 1,500 employees across the Midwest.
The company frequently works on projects for the federal, state and municipal governments, such as the East-West Bus Rapid Transit project in Milwaukee County and the city of Beloit’s 450-foot pedestrian bridge over the Rock River. Its commercial projects have included work for the developer of the 7Seventy7 apartment tower in downtown Milwaukee, Erin Hills golf course and a go-kart track project at Road America.
Earlier this year, Walbec acquired Verona-based public works and transportation infrastructure contractor Parisi Construction for an undisclosed amount. Last year, the growing company expanded its headquarters campus by acquiring a neighboring building previously occupied by AT&T.
Bechthold has served on the boards of Froedtert Health, Siebert Lutheran Foundation, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Lake Express, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, and the National Asphalt Pavement Association. He is also a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MBA, Northwestern University