Rick Hermanson, CEO of Hermanson Company, one of the leading mechanical construction firms in the Pacific Northwest, has been honored with induction into the University of Washington Construction Management Hall of Fame. This prestigious recognition was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown Seattle on May 10, 2024.

The UW Construction Management Hall of Fame, established in 1995, annually recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to the construction industry, education, and community. This year, alongside Rick Hermanson, the inductees included Darlene Septelka, a noted educator, and Diane Kocer, a prominent non-profit leader.

The bi-annual Hall of Fame event also serves as a fundraiser to support students pursuing construction management degrees, highlighting the inductees' successes and contributions to nurturing new talent.

Rick Hermanson's induction into the Hall of Fame is a testament to his lasting impact on the construction industry and his commitment to advancing Hermanson Company and the broader community.

Rick Hermanson Hall of Fame Bio

Rick discovered his interest in the construction industry at an early age when he would work summers as a "clean-up kid" in the sheet metal shops where his dad, UW Construction Hall of Fame member Jerry Hermanson, was an executive. After graduating high school, he worked in the shipyards refurbishing battleships, working on the Polar Sea and Polar Star Icebreakers, and then on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline before eventually starting his sheet metal apprenticeship at a competitor. When his dad started Hermanson Corporation in 1979, Rick asked if he could come to work for him, where he found his passion in special projects and quick-hitting Design/Build work.

At Hermanson Corporation, Rick worked his way through project management and sales and eventually stepped into the role of President in 1998. In 2000, Rick and a small group of partners bought Hermanson Corporation from his father, renaming it Hermanson Company.

In 2019, he transitioned into the CEO role, focusing on identifying opportunities and preparing the company for future growth. Rick's holistic understanding and first-hand experience in how the industry works on all levels and his natural enthusiasm and leadership abilities have been integral in turning Hermanson into a comprehensive mechanical construction, engineering, and service firm.

Honoring his father's legacy, Rick passionately advances mechanical construction workforce development and helped copilot the first Heavy Metal Summer Experience camps in 2021, introducing high school students to career opportunities in the trades.