Boxes lead Buchko to think outside the box

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Cindy Buchko’s journey into the construction industry happened by accident.

On her first day after being sworn in as a lawyer, Buchko went to her office and found 10 boxes of documents.

“My then-mentor and supervisor at the law firm told me to learn all about interstate pipeline construction because we were taking on a dozen lawsuits involving pipeline construction,” Buchko recalled.

“That is how my career in construction started, and nearly 20 years later I am grateful it was 10 boxes of construction litigation files and not 10 boxes of personal injury litigation files.”

Buchko, general counsel for the Construction Business Group and the Operating Engineers Local 139 Health Benefit Fund, has spent about 20 years practicing law in the construction industry. She is the current chair of the Construction and Public Contract Law Section of the Wisconsin State Bar and works as a volunteer board member for Heartland Farm Sanctuary and the YWCA Foundation.

Her thoughts on leadership in the industry are regularly published, and she has been recognized by other industry professionals for her expertise on legal matters related to construction.

“I knew early in life that I was not very mechanically inclined,” Buchko said. “I was always better with words than with my hands. But working in the construction industry as a lawyer allows me to be part of building important, useful projects, such as helping a client obtain permits for a wind farm or submitting comments to the DNR to support a much-needed highway expansion.

“Lawyers are often perceived as being the impediments to getting things — that we always say ‘no.’ I enjoy dispelling that stereotype by solving problems that hold projects back.”

One of CBG’s primary goals is to ensure contractors comply with state and federal laws.

“Cindy has tirelessly worked to educate the industry about these unlawful practices in hopes of protecting workers from future exploitation,” said Laura Cataldo, senior manager of construction and real estate at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause.

Outside work, Buchko spends a lot of time with her family; her husband, Mark; and 8-year-old son, Dawson.

“I enjoy golfing together and going up north to boat, fish and swim,” she said. “Not a week goes by that we aren’t having dinner or getting together with parents, siblings or other extended family.”