NMU alumna Michelle Perttunen, assistant project manager with Mortenson, is featured as the “Rising Young Professional of the Year” by The Daily Reporter, a construction industry news source that also honors top professionals in the field. She grew up helping her dad with house projects and earned two related degrees from Northern: a 2017 associate in engineering design; and a 2018 bachelor's in mechanical engineering technology with a concentration in design.
After graduating, Perttunen was hired by Mortenson as a project engineer and was promoted to assistant project manager this summer. She is currently involved in building an Embassy Suites by Hilton in downtown Madison, Wis. The new hotel, built on Judge Doyle Square, will be nine stories tall and house 262 rooms.
“I like that I learn something new every day and that I also get to meet some pretty amazing people,” Perttunen said in The Daily Reporter story. “I am always stimulated by challenging but rewarding work, and have developed lifelong friendships along the way.
“Nearly every day I am faced with a new challenge: determining the right sequence of work, revising a detail to make it more constructable, or ensuring the quality of work is being maintained in multiple locations at once. Working in construction is hard — it's why we love what we do.”
Perttunen has played a pivotal role in many key Mortenson projects, including the Aurora Medical Center in Sheboygan County, which features 113 beds, 11 critical care units and 13 operating rooms. Through her career achievements and community service activities, she has also served as a role model and mentor for women pursuing careers in construction.
“Michelle is excelling within Mortenson and the construction industry,” said Lauren Giannini, marketing coordinator at Mortenson.
Read the full story on Perttunen and watch a video here.