Patrick D. Michels Elected to National Academy of Construction
The National Academy of Construction has elected Patrick D. Michels, president and CEO of Michels Corporation, headquartered in Brownsville, WI, as a member of its class of 2021. He will be formally inducted October 21 during the NAC annual meeting.
In electing Michels, NAC cited him for his “expansive leadership in service to heavy civil, infrastructure, energy, utility, and transportation sectors and innovative approaches in guiding businesses and affiliate companies.”
Wayne Crew, General Secretary of the Academy, said, “Our 2021 class is diverse, experienced, and dedicated. Pat Michels is a most deserving new member. His dedication to improving our nation’s infrastructure and his leadership in the pipelines, transportation, and energy sectors is exemplary. We welcome him.”
Other new members for 2021 include Joseph Aiello, Burcu Akinci, Jon Avery, Burçin Becerik-Gerber, Denise Berger, Susan Bogus, Abbigail Brown, Tim Byers, Bo Calbert, Randy Castro, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, Jeff Ehret, Marcos Díaz González, Christine Flaherty, Thomas Foley, Gretchen Gagel, and Michael Garvin.
Also elected to the Academy were: Howard Goldberg, KN Gunalan, Sandy Hamby, John Hooper, Barb Jackson, Ashok Kothari, Robert C. Lanham, Jr., Randy Larson, Cris Liban, Keith Manning, Vilas Mujumdar, Eric Nichol, Karen Rae, Mike Rigsby, Janaka Ruwanpura, Rich Schrader, Miroslaw Skibniewski, Ed Smith, Sue Steele, and Rao Surampalli.
Election criteria for NAC is rigorous: leadership, exceptional service, a continued commitment to making a contribution, past recognition by peers for innovation, and being recognized as “best of the best.”
Michels’ company was established by his father in 1959 as a gas pipeline and telephone cable company. He began his career with the company’s line and cable division as a laborer, advanced to general superintendent, and then served as vice president of the division for nine years before becoming president of the corporation in 1998.
Today, Michels Corporation is one of the top 50 energy and infrastructure contractors in North America. Under his leadership, the company operates worldwide, has more than 40 U.S. offices, three offices in Canada, and supports 8,000 employees. The company was recognized as the number one pipeline contractor in the U.S. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from St. Norbert College in DePere, WI.
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