Theresa Kern

Theresa Kern has been president and sole shareholder of MA Steel Erectors, Inc. since 1981, one of the area’s largest women-owned subcontracting firms specializing in all facets of reinforcing steel placement for the commercial, industrial, heavy and high-rise construction markets. Kern has supervised her company’s participation on some of Chicago’s largest construction projects including the McCormick Place expansion, Millennium Park, Dan Ryan reconstruction and Illinois Toll Highway expansion. Kern currently serves on the board of the Associated Steel Erectors of Chicago and as the National President of Women Construction Owners and Executives.

Since 1994, Kern has held the position of management trustee on the Iron Workers Local #1 Health & Welfare Fund, a fund with 2,000 participants and assets in excess of $30 million. Kern also serves as a management representative for the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiating committee with the Structural Ironworkers Union Local #1 and is also a voting board member of the International Foundation of Employee Benefits, a 6,000+ member organization representing Jointly Trusteed Taft-Hartley Benefit Funds.

Professional Memberships

• Women Construction Owners & Executives, National President
• Associated Steel Erectors of Greater Chicago
• International Foundation of Employee Benefits
• American Subcontractors Association
• Women Impacting Public Policy
• Illinois Roadbuilders