MIKE KELLY, CEO

Mike Kelly is founder and CEO of Kelly Construction and Design (KCD). He was so passionate about construction that he started taking on small client projects while still in college.

PRIMARY ROLE

Mike sets the pace for the company and manages its direction. He oversees all the business functions of the company. At the same time, he is closely involved with clients during preconstruction and contract negotiations. Not a week goes by that Mike doesn’t also make spontaneous job site visits.

MANAGEMENT STYLE

Ask Mike Kelly about his management style and he quickly turns the spotlight to the “highly qualified people” who make KCD the successful company it is. But the truth is, Mike is a forthright, fearless problem-solver who leads by example. “Get it done.” “Take the interruptions in stride.” “Come back with a better solution.” These are the words he lives, and inspires others, by.

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT

Kelly family lore has it that at age 8, Mike commandeered the family’s yellow sand buckets to block off the sidewalk in front of their house, setting up the very first Kelly construction zone. Then he used his mom’s watering can to drench the sidewalk. No neighbor kid or brother dared ride their bikes on the freshly poured asphalt.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ISO 3 cleanroom for Motorola | Northbrook, IL
Entire American Airlines terminal renovation | Chicago, IL
Pharmaceutical Plant addition | Morton Grove, IL

HOLLY HAWKINS, President (WI)

With more than two decades in the business and fresh from managing a $200MM project, Holly Hawkins joined KCD in 2019. She is so well-known and respected in the industry that, when learning of her move, one subcontractor called KCD with a clear, four-word message: “Take care of her.”

PRIMARY ROLE

Business development and operations management of the Wisconsin office.

MANAGEMENT STYLE

Coach, collaborator and problem solver, Holly is the consummate team player. “Everyone has a job AND we’re all there to help each other do the best job possible.” She helps co-workers over the hurdles and does whatever it takes throughout the project. “There’s nothing Mike and I ask others to do that we don’t also do ourselves. And yes, sometimes that means sweeping the floor.”

LITTLE-KNOWN FACT

Holly’s grandfather used to tell her about his dream of becoming an architect. So Holly set her sights on becoming one herself. Later, when she had to step up and work with the contractor on the renovation of her parents’ home while still in high school, she made an important discovery: Construction Management. From then on, she knew exactly what she wanted to do in life.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Start to finish of the Corners of Brookfield project in Brookfield, WI
Recipient of Milwaukee Journal’s 40 under 40
Awarded 2019 Waukesha County Advocate of the Year
Recipient of AGC Wisconsin Horizon Award
4518 W. Irving Park Rd
Chicago, IL 60641
773.533.1110
CONTACT US
225 East St. Paul Ave. Suite 205
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414.272.1110
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