senior vice president, Mortenson Construction
Company: Mortenson Construction
Title: Senior vice president
Education: Bachelor’s degree in architecture and bachelor’s degree in environmental design, University of Minnesota
Family: Wife, Debra; daughters Molly (21), Mara (18) and Hope (16); two golden retrievers and three unusual cats.
City of Residence: Elm Grove
Hobbies and Interests: "Reading, golf and family time."
What are you working on? "Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery/Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison; Children’s Memorial Replacement Hospital, Chicago."
How does the market look to you? "There appears to be some mid-term softening in the capital commitments of private entities, and the credit concerns relating to the bearish housing market seem poised to cast further tightening on the non-residential building market. However, as these cycles go, public spending, especially in infrastructure and higher education sectors, should benefit those firms that have a diversified portfolio of project and team member expertise."
What was the best deal you’ve ever been involved in? "I have never looked at projects as deals – as facility development is more about the relationships we build with our customers and business partners than the financial terms or the bricks and mortar that we leave behind. Every customer relationship, no matter how challenging, should be looked at as an irreplaceable learning experience – the last one being the best one – but all incredibly valuable."
What was the funniest moment of your career? "Today, we laugh the most at those moments in our past that were not nearly as funny then as they are now. Getting together with those friends and associates with whom you have spent years navigating this business to reminisce about the good and the tough times have been the funniest for me – especially when we can each look back and laugh at our own failures."
