Midwest People: March 2026

Why It Matters

These appointments position the firms to better serve growing industrial, health‑care, and defense construction markets, while strengthening client‑facing strategy and regional execution.

Key Takeaways

• Aaron Retherford becomes Kadean Construction president.
• Travis Mulder leads Kadean health‑care and commercial units.
• Burns & McDonnell adds eight senior directors across specialties.
• New roles emphasize food‑beverage, defense, and transmission sectors.
• Leadership shifts aim to boost client engagement and growth.

Pulse Analysis

The Midwest construction sector is entering a talent‑driven phase, where senior appointments signal strategic intent as much as operational necessity. Companies are increasingly using promotions to lock in expertise that can navigate complex regulatory environments and client expectations. In a market where labor shortages and project complexity intersect, aligning leadership with specific business units helps firms accelerate decision‑making and maintain competitive margins. Executives with cross‑disciplinary experience are especially valuable as developers seek integrated solutions across industrial, health‑care, and infrastructure projects.

Kadean Construction’s March reshuffle places Aaron Retherford at the helm as president, giving him direct oversight of enterprise strategy and the industrial business unit. By consolidating the nationwide health‑care operations under Vice President Travis Mulder, the firm creates a unified front for a segment that has seen a 12 % annual growth in hospital construction. The addition of Jim Driscoll as vice president of industrial strategy and Joe Kelley as senior manager of business strategy further tightens the pipeline from early client engagement to project delivery. This layered leadership model is designed to improve alignment across Kadean’s diversified portfolio.

Burns & McDonnell’s Kansas City office announced eight senior‑level promotions, extending its reach into food‑and‑beverage, transmission, and Department of Defense projects. Chris Freeman now leads the global facilities group’s food‑beverage portfolio, while Andy Mashek takes charge of DoD aviation contracts, reflecting the firm’s push into high‑security infrastructure. The broadened leadership bench equips Burns & McDonnell to capture emerging market share in the Great Lakes region, where demand for specialized construction services is projected to outpace national averages.