Salute to Alumni

M.A. "Mort" Mortenson, Jr., continued

With 2,000 employees in 10 regional offices, the company's recent projects have included Denver International Airport, Coors Field, the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and a host of other structures from hospitals to hydroelectric facilities. The company is currently building the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, a project Mortenson calls "spectacular" for its many irregular shapes and forms.

"If I had to do a second career, I'd be a high school math teacher. But I grew up with construction. My father and grandfather were both in the building business," says Mortenson. He succeeded his father as president of the firm in 1969, drawing on the leadership and management experience he gained as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Now at the height of his career, Mortenson says the most rewarding thing for him personally has been in creating the rewards that help his employees reach their potential. "This is one of the most exciting times for the construction industry, whether in design or building, because it is ripe for the application of new technologies," he says.

M.A. Mortenson Co. has built its reputation on quality work and professional service, emphasizing long-term relationships with customers, integrity, and fairness. "Early on, I had a desire to build a company that we could perpetuate for the benefit of future generations, not only for my own family, but for others," he says. Clearly, he has succeeded in building a company that can last.