MONEY

Gohman wins Builder of the Year award

Vicki Ikeogu
vikeogu@stcloudtimes.com
W. Gohman Construction owner Michael Gohman was recently named the 2016 Builder of the Year by the Builders Association of Minnesota.

ST. JOSEPH — With projects like the St. Cloud Aquatics Community Center and the St. Cloud Area Family YMCA well underway, general contracting company W. Gohman Construction has had a busy 2016.

In addition, the St. Joseph-based company has been hard at work both at the local level — with the Central Minnesota Builders Association — and the state level trying to find ways to attract new talent to the industry.

But nothing quite caps a successful year like being named the best in the industry from colleagues from across Minnesota.

At a ceremony in early December, members of the Builders Association of Minnesota recognized Michael Gohman as the 2016 Builder of the Year, an honor that is given to a member of the organization who has given support and time to the industry.

"I was absolutely amazed and astonished," said Gohman. "It is truly humbling to think that my peers honored me this way."

Gohman is a third generation owner of W. Gohman Construction, a business his grandfather founded in 1950.

Forrest Cyr, director of government affairs and communications for the Builders Association of Minnesota, said in a release word of Gohman's accomplishment caught the attention of U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, who thanked Gohman for his work on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives days before the award presentation.

Gohman said he hopes to continue the momentum his company developed in 2016.

"I think 2017 will be a good year business-wise," he said. "On the association side, we will continue to try and work with people to drum up interest for our youth in the construction industry. The future of our industry relies on getting people interested."

Follow Vicki Ikeogu on Twitter @VickiSCTimes or on Facebook at facebook.com/sctimesvicki. Call her at 259-3662.