Construction firm CEO steps down

Construction firm CEO steps down

Ben Wickstrom, left, and Joe Erhardt. Courtesy Erhardt Construction

A long-time West Michigan construction firm is changing leadership.

Joe Erhardt will retire as chairman and CEO of Ada-based Erhardt Construction, effective Dec. 31.

Erhardt served the company for 42 years, including 31 years at the helm of the firm his father, Larry Erhardt, founded.

“After 42 years of active involvement, the time has come to formally step back and allow the next generation of leadership to continue to grow the company and lead it into an exciting future,” Erhardt said.

President Ben Wickstrom will fill the title of CEO and gain controlling interest in the company, beginning in 2018. Erhardt’s retirement is the culmination of an eight-year succession plan to transfer leadership and majority ownership to Wickstrom.

Wickstrom started with the company as an assistant project manager in 1998, after achieving his civil engineering degree from Michigan Technological University. He has held several leadership roles within the company, eventually being promoted to president in 2011.

“I have respect, appreciation and gratitude to Joe Erhardt and Larry Erhardt for the opportunity I’ve been given over the last two decades,” Wickstrom said. “I have been blessed to work for a great company with great people.”

Erhardt will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity, as chairman of the company’s board of directors.

Erhardt Construction

Erhardt Construction is a general contractor, construction management and design-build firm.

The company provides construction for commercial, education, worship, municipal and health care clients.