Alumni Excellence Academy Inductee 2016

Michael Kounelis

'94, Construction Engineering

 

Michael Kounelis is a regional vice president with the Skillman Corporation. While at WMU he majored in construction science and management. An internship with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) led to further career success in his field of study. For more than 22 years, Michael has been managing construction projects throughout Indiana and Michigan.

Michael works closely with the company owner and management team at the main office in Indianapolis, IN, and another regional office in Merrillville, IN. While managing professional administration of current projects and outreach, Mike also continues to be heavily engaged with current and repeat clients and further relationship development with new and prospective clients.

He is proud to be a WMU graduate and support the hiring of WMU graduates to the company’s regional business ventures. He states, “It is a rewarding experience to be a part of keeping local talent here in our state. Michigan has a well-vetted applicant pool provided by WMU graduates.”

Michael and his wife Kristine (also a WMU grad) have a daughter, Aubrey, currently at WMU. They also have an older daughter Savannah who is a 2016 graduate from the University of Notre Dame. Michael enjoys sports and loves to travel. A family heritage trip to Greece last year proved to be the trip of a lifetime. Michael’s career success spans full-circle and could not have been achieved without that first step back to where it started with a place known as Western Michigan University.