U-M CEE alumna and VP at Turner Construction, has leveraged her diverse experience in engineering to lead major projects like the Henry Ford Health Destination: Grand hospital. Her dedication to building strong professional relationships and supporting future engineers highlights her enduring connection to the University of Michigan.
After 20 years with Turner Construction, U-M CEE alumna Kirsten Deenik has amassed a great deal of engineering experience. Through it all, her connection to the University of Michigan has always remained strong.
From working in the field on major construction projects to overseeing construction teams and project operations, Deenik’s time with Turner has spanned many roles and diverse experiences.
“I started out in the field working on the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit,” said Deenik. “From there, I moved to Grand Rapids and worked on several large hospital projects. I then started moving around the Midwest and then back to Michigan where I took on the role of the Operations Manager for our Michigan office.” Deenik also serves as Vice President and Construction Executive for the company.
Deenik’s Civil Engineering career is nothing short of impressive; however, she wasn’t always certain of what path she would take. The powerful impact of the Civil Engineering field helped to put her indecision to rest.
“When I arrived at U-M, I knew I wanted to study some form of engineering, but I hadn’t decided exactly what I wanted to do,” Deenik explained. “I ended up choosing Civil Engineering because I felt like I could have the most impact on the communities that I would get to live and work in and really help to build not only buildings but communities.
“I also felt like it was much more versatile,” continued Deenik. “A degree in Civil Engineering allowed for more of a focus on the people-based side of engineering.”
For Deenik, the path to Civil Engineering didn’t begin at Michigan; Deenik obtained her bachelor’s in physics at Albion College, but her time at CEE was nonetheless impactful. Field-specific courses made their mark, preparing her for the jump from the academic to the professional world.
“The program was rigorous, but I always felt supported,” Deenik said. “The construction classes I took were relevant to what I do now on a day-to-day basis. Our classes were taught by professors who came from the industry, and those classes were probably the most impactful for me throughout the program.”
However, Deenik found just as much value in the multidisciplinary nature of the CEE curriculum. “Those construction classes were especially helpful, but I think the broader knowledge that came from taking a materials class, or a soils class was as well,” explained Deenik. “That deeper level of knowledge showed that I had the ability to learn at a high level, retain information, and then perform. That really helped me enter the industry with a lot more confidence.”
Today, Deenik applies that confidence and knowledge to a wide range of impactful construction and management projects with Turner.
“Part of the responsibility that comes with being an officer at the company is that the operations staff report to me,” Deenik explained. “I monitor the progress of our projects and assist in managing any issues with subcontractors and trade partners to help maintain those relationships. I also work on client relationships across the board for all of our projects in Michigan.”
Deenik has overseen and managed large-scale projects in Michigan and beyond. Right now, she’s a construction lead on a billion-dollar project, managing a team that is working to construct the “Henry Ford Health Destination: Grand” hospital in downtown Detroit as an expansion of Henry Ford Health’s “Future of Health” program.
“I have a team that reports to me, and together we work through the steps of how we’re going to build a state-of-the-art healthcare facility on a tight urban site over the next five years,” said Deenik.
Throughout her career and her many responsibilities at Turner, Deenik has seen the importance of building and maintaining long-lasting professional relationships. To students looking to pursue a similar career path to her own, she offers some advice:
“While the construction industry may seem like a huge industry, each community in each market is, in actuality, very small,” said Deenik. “So, each relationship that you build is critical. Having a good working relationship with the architect and the owner is invaluable — that relationship will grow throughout your career, and you’ll continue to grow together. These crucial relationships are what I draw on on a daily basis in my role.”
Though her time at Turner has seen her play a variety of roles in locations across the Midwest, Deenik has always remained connected to U-M CEE and motivated to help the future generation of engineers succeed.
“My biggest connection has been continuing to be a part of campus recruiting,” said Deenik. “For the first ten or twelve years after I graduated from CEE, I recruited every year at Michigan.
“I’ve had the benefit and the opportunity of being a part of a great company, and being able to provide experiences for others who are coming out of Michigan’s program is, I think, a responsibility. It’s an honor for me to be a part of that process and to support the Leaders and Best.”
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Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering