Gilbane Builds Chicago
Gilbane brings more than 150 years of Gilbane company leadership and proven expertise across the country to our work in Chicago, a city we have called home for more than four decades. We live here; we work here; we build here. We are creating economic opportunity and forging meaningful relationships – one hospital, one school, and one community-based project at a time. But it's not just the buildings that set Gilbane Chicago apart—it's the people. In our new profile series, Gilbane Builds Chicago, we look behind the curtain and share stories from the talented and diverse team that make it possible for us to build more than buildings.
Meet Connie Fierke, General Superintendent
Wisconsin native makes Chicago her home through Gilbane
“Chicago was a huge shock to me when I got there, but it’s been a great shock.”
Connie Fierke is “a country kid at heart.” She grew up in a small town in Northern Wisconsin with her family. While she initially considered a career in teaching, her high school teachers persuaded her to pursue a different strength: the sciences. Connie decided to study civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin, where she played rugby and began to explore her options.
While attending a career fair, Connie learned about Gilbane Chicago, and everything clicked.
“I never thought construction was an option, but I couldn’t have fallen into a more right profession,” she said.
Connie has now been a member of the Gilbane team for 14 years and has immersed herself in city life, becoming a part of Chicago’s community through her work on projects such as Will County Courthouse and the DeKalb County Jail.
Every day, she drives past Elmhurst Hospital, her first project with Gilbane and the site where she decided she wanted to become a superintendent. Her boss and former mentor, Guy Lockhart, was a senior general superintendent on the project, and despite being late in his career, Connie was impressed by his work ethic.
“I just felt like he still worked every day, like he still had something to prove,” she said.
Connie now tries to take that same kind of approach. As superintendent, she leads a team of subcontractors. While meeting the client’s needs—and dreams—is a part of the job she loves, she is just as focused on empowering her team members to succeed in their specialties.
“I take a lot of pride in getting everyone together, getting them on my team, and getting them all pulling in the same direction,” she said.
That work often falls outside the 9-to-5 routine, but Connie enjoys throwing herself into projects and delivering the highest quality product possible. The demands are made lighter by a work environment that Connie describes as having a “family feel.”
“It’s still a family-owned company, and that’s something that comes with the territory,” she said, adding that she never doubts that her work “family” will back her up on tough decisions. “I’ve always felt like Gilbane would do the right thing no matter what. I can always make an ethically sound decision, and even if it’s not popular, Gilbane has my back.”
And she has theirs. Gilbane gave her the experience and skills she needed to be successful, and as she reflects on her career so far, she encourages up-and-coming talent to seize those same opportunities.
“Try a variety of things. Reach out and try to get your foot in the door somewhere,” she said. “It’s all on-the-job training. You start fresh from nothing, from years of experience and learning as you go.”
