2025 Women in Construction: Jo Ann Michaels, Viking Construction

What is one project or achievement in your career that you are most proud of, and how did it impact your organization or community? I am most proud of the overall success of my career. I started as a part-time administrative person and worked my way into project engineer, project manger and senior project manager positions. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

Who or what has inspired you most in your career, and what advice would you share with the next generation of women entering the A/E/C industry? My inspiration in my career has come from Anthony Gaglio, Sr. and, in most recent years, Anthony Gaglio, Jr. They have motivated me to be the best I can in a workspace that involves mostly men. I have always been treated with respect and allowed to bring my ideas and methods to the jobsite. My advice to the next generation of women is to be themselves and to be confident, There is room for you in project management positions in the construction field, and it can be a very challenging and rewarding career.

What’s your favorite way to recharge or get inspired outside of work? My grandchildren recharge me. They enjoy seeing projects in progress and once they are completed.

Do you have a hidden talent or a surprising fact about yourself that most people wouldn’t know? I have a degree in Elementary Education, which has helped me to communicate with different people.