Westphal & Co. Inc. announced that Maiken Westphal has been named the company’s CEO, succeeding her father, John W. Westphal. John Westphal retains the title of chairman and continues to work full-time in the company.
Maiken Westphal, whose most recent position was vice president of preconstruction, represents the fourth generation of the Westphal family to lead the firm. Ownership of the company transitioned in 2020 to Maiken and her brother Fritz Westphal, a foreman in the company’s globalcom technologies division.
As CEO, Maiken Westphal will be responsible for all day-to-day management and operations of the company, including strategy, building backlog, maintaining operational excellence on the jobsite, promoting safety, and overseeing the company’s finances.
She has a degree in biochemistry from UW–Madison and has worked at the company for most of her life, starting out as a yard/warehouse laborer and electrician helper. Beginning in 2012, she held the roles of assistant project manager, estimator, project manager, and project executive.
In his capacity as chairman, John Westphal, who has led the company for 41 years, will focus on strategy, organizational development, mentoring, special initiatives, client relations, and community relations.
