Christopher (Chris) Burke hadn’t considered a career in construction management. He grew up in St. Paul, Oregon, working on a farm where hard work is what mattered most. He says he didn’t have a clear direction when he started college. One of his good friends suggested mechanical engineering. He figured, since he liked math, why not? Burke says if there is one thing that potential students should know about the College of Engineering at Oregon State University is that it’s diverse. The College offers something for everyone. Although he started out in mechanical engineering, by his second term realized it wasn’t an ideal fit.
Following the advice of some great friends and academic mentors, Burke switched gears to the CEM program and never looked back. Chris feels that the College of Engineering at OSU provided a tremendous educational foundation. It also facilitated many important relationships – personal and professional – which he still holds dear. After graduation, he decided to begin a career with Granite Construction Company. Granite is ‘America’s Infrastructure Company’ and a leader in heavy civil construction which provides infrastructure solutions for public and private clients. He is currently the Vice President of Granite’s Nevada Region, which employs over 300 people annually. Burke feels that their success today is measured by an engaged workforce that safely delivers exceptional client satisfaction and emphasizes sustainability.
Nearly 22 years later, he is still with the company and knows that OSU facilitated his career with Granite. Burke’s education and work experiences have afforded him many great opportunities and believes success in life and business is owed to an amazing team, mentorship from friends and leaders, and of course, his family. He serves on the Industry Advisory Board at OSU, is a current Board Member of the Nevada Mining Association and is the President of the Nevada Chapter of the AGC in 2022. He advises: The future of engineering will be focused on technology and sustainability, but always be mindful of the people.