Mortenson Construction Executive Voted Industry Newsmaker

Minneapolis, MN — Mortenson Construction Senior Vice President John Wood has been selected as one of the top construction industry newsmakers by Engineering News-Record (ENR). The ENR Top 25 Newsmakers are chosen “for their innovations and achievements, for giving back to the industry and the public, and for going beyond the duties of their day-to-day jobs.” ENR, the leading construction industry publication, has selected individuals for this annual recognition since 1964. 

John Wood is credited for Mortenson’s entry into sports construction two decades ago and its development into one of the largest and most successful sports builders in the U.S. Mortenson is currently ranked as the second largest sports contractor by ENR and has built many of the leading sports facilities around the U.S., including Target Field, which Mortenson completed three months early.

“John Wood is the consummate professional,” said Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter. “Target Field and its reputation as one of the great ballparks in America would not have been possible without Mortenson Construction and specifically John’s leadership, vision and sense of collaboration. The complex nature of the Target Field project required a smart, dynamic partner like John Wood.”

Mortenson has built nearly 100 sports and entertainment venues in the United States to date, including Target Field, Minneapolis; Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul; Target Center, Minneapolis; TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis; KFC Yum! Center, Louisville; FedExForum, Memphis; Coors Field, Denver; Pepsi Center, Denver; Sprint Center, Kansas City; ShoWare Center, Kent, Wash.; Camelback Ranch Spring Training Facility, Glendale, Ariz.; and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Scottsdale, Ariz.

“John has played an instrumental role in the success and growth of our company for the past 34 years,” said Mortenson President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Gunkel. “John has successfully led many of the company’s most challenging and complex projects. He is an unwavering champion for the active engagement of the broader community in our projects and is always focused on the development of the next generation of Mortenson leaders. I am very proud to have had the opportunity to work along side of John for so many years”

John Wood joined Mortenson as a project manager in 1977. He was made an officer of the company in 1983 and then became a senior vice president in 1994. Wood led Mortenson’s Minneapolis office for many years and currently has responsibility for the oversight and direction of Mortenson’s Sports Group and Phoenix office. As a member of Mortenson’s senior leadership team, he also is involved in the general management of all company operations.