Thom Kuhn Retires, Chris Gottman to Head Millstone Weber

Date Posted: December 31, 2024

Posted In: Organizations, People,

by Tom Finan, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Construction Forum

Millstone Weber, a leader in heavy civil construction, announced the retirement of Thom Kuhn, who has successfully served as President and CEO for the past decade. During his tenure, Kuhn spearheaded significant growth, championed employee development, and strengthened the company’s impact on the communities it serves.

Effective January 1, 2025, Chris Gottman, a seasoned leader within Millstone Weber, will step into the role of president and CEO.

“Chris is more than ready,” said Kuhn. “He’s been at this a long time and learned from some of the giants of the industry – present company excepted. Yet he always has his eyes forward and focuses on making things better at Millstone Weber and across the industry. He has ideas. He makes them a reality. Most importantly, he understands what makes MW the place it is – the people who work long hours in often miserable conditions to provide the residents of Missouri, Colorado, and wherever else we work with the finest transportation infrastructure in the world. MW and the construction industry have a bright future in the able hands of Chris Gottman.”

Millstone Weber is a heavy civil construction company specializing in delivering innovative infrastructure solutions. Headquartered in St. Charles with a regional office in Denver, CO, the firm provides services in transportation, heavy highway, bridge, and site development projects. Sales for Millstone Weber were reported at $252.9M in 2023, with $201.7M of that from the local market.

Gottman began his career in 1996 with Fred Weber, Inc. as a Field Engineer after graduating from Missouri S&T with a Civil Engineering degree. Within a few years, he advanced to a Superintendent and later a Project Manager before serving as Senior Vice President at Fred Weber before the merger in 2014. At the beginning of the merger, he took on the role of Senior Vice President of Construction at Millstone Weber. Most recently, Chris became Millstone Weber’s President and Chief Operations Officer in January 2023.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to succeed Thom and be a small part of such a talented and dedicated team,” said Gottman. “Thom has led Millstone Weber over the past 10 years and leaves behind a legacy, not only through the growth and success of our company and employees but also in the communities we serve, ensuring a positive impact that will be felt for years to come.”

Thom Kuhn, grandson of industry legend I.E. Millstone, began his career in 1977 with Bangert Brothers Construction Company. He became President and CEO of Millstone Bangert in 2001 and continued in that capacity following the creation of Millstone Weber.

I.E. Millstone founded Millstone Construction in 1929, specializing in what were then innovative reinforced concrete building techniques. Fred Weber Sr. had founded a road building company that would eventually become Fred Weber, Inc. in 1928. Millstone Construction merged with Bangert Brothers Construction, an airport and roadbuilder, in 1979. In 2014, Millstone Bangert, Inc., as it was then known, merged with the construction arm of Fred Weber Inc. to become Millstone Weber, LLC.

Legacy of Inclusion

I.E. Millstone, who lived to the age of 102, developed a reputation in the 1940s and 1950s for his insistence on inclusion and diversity both in workforce and subcontractors. He was also a well-known philanthropist. Millstone Weber has continued the philanthropic tradition, supporting projects benefitting the immigrant population and the St. Louis Public Schools.

“Project PAVE” a program developed under Millstone Weber’s I-270 North contract with MODOT, has won national attention for its success in bringing young persons in the North County area to the construction industry and helping to mentor and develop M/WBE contractors.