"We're not only in the family business, but equally we're in the business of being a family" - Joe Michuda
In the fall of 1916, two immigrant brothers from Czechoslovakia came to the States in pursuit of the American Dream. Tony and Leo Michuda began their construction careers as carpenters for Pullman Railcars, and began their business doing general carpentry for the Chicago Public Schools.
For the past 100 years, the Michuda family has conducted themselves and the business with the belief to “Never sell out on your values and ethics.” Even when times were challenging, founder Leo Michuda never compromised on his values. As business evolved, Leo Michuda Jr. joined and began engineering new ways to service waste water and larger road work projects across major highways.
Grandson Leo A. Michuda was committed to growing the family business and fulfilling his passion for music. He earned both an engineering degree and a master’s degree in violin. While earning his master’s at The Julliard School of Music, Leo A. met his fellow musician wife, Anne Perillo. Leo A. balanced serving as president of Michuda Construction and playing with the Illinois Philharmonic for 30 years.
Mark and Josef followed in their father’s footsteps, going on to lead the business into the healthcare market and the creation of the famous Navy Pier Grand Ballroom. With new approaches to quality control, lean delivery methods, and value engineering, Michuda was recognized in 1999 as The Illinois Family Business of the Year.
Today, Michuda is a full-service, general contracting and construction management firm with a focus on the healthcare market. They understand that the spaces they build have a profound impact on their clients' traditions.
Their philanthropic efforts are driven by their core belief, “Support your traditions, so that others may build theirs.” They continue to innovate to evolve a new vision, while leveraging the traditions of the family that are inherent to their success.