Rising Young Professional of the Year – Kara Nemec – Mortenson

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Kara Nemec enjoys seeing the impact her construction projects have on their community.

“I’ve worked on projects at Froedtert and when those are done, you know people are being helped in those buildings,” said Nemec, an assistant project manager at Mortenson. “I’m now working on Milwaukee’s new public museum and that building will have an immense economic and cultural impact on the community.”

Nemec recently finished an Embassy Suites project built on Judge Doyle Square in downtown Madison. The project included the installation of cold-formed structural metal plates and a sweeping curved radius at the front.

“The project showcased Kara’s ability to manage complexities,” said Mortenson’s Lindsey Weber.

Nemec also worked on the renovation of Milwaukee Tool’s new downtown office building, known as Project Red Beacon. She managed phases of demolitions and build-outs, allowing the company to bring 1,200 workers downtown.

Beyond her professional achievements, Nemec is committed to community service and leads outreach efforts within Mortenson, including organizing volunteer initiatives and supporting local charitable causes. She organized Women in Construction Week events for several years while working on Embassy Suites project.

“Construction doesn’t have a lot of women in it, so to me it was important to help promote the industry,” Nemec said. “I share why I love how every day is different.”

She also supported local Madison women and minority-owned businesses by purchasing team meals and gift card prizes from them. “I enjoy impacting the community where I live and work.”

As part of the work at Milwaukee’s new museum, Nemec said the team plans to volunteer monthly at the nearby Sojourner Family Peace Center.

“(Kara’s) dedication to giving back includes organizing volunteer initiatives and supporting local charitable causes, further enriching the community where she lives and works,” Weber said.