Chicago-based W.E. O’Neil Construction appointed Mike Kalinowski to the newly created role of National Director of Safety.
In this role, Kalinowski will lead the development and alignment of safety standards, policies, and performance metrics nationwide, helping ensure a consistent and scalable safety framework that supports the company’s operations today and into the future.
With 17 years of industry experience, including 10 years at W.E. O’Neil, Kalinowski previously served as the company’s Regional Director of Safety and is recognized for his passion for safety, technical expertise, and collaborative, relationship-driven leadership style.
Kalinowski’s approach to safety leadership has supported strong, consistent results across the organization. For example, in 2025 the company achieved a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.74 across all offices, representing more than 1,085,000 hours worked, well below the construction industry average of 2.3.
He holds a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in risk management and insurance from Concordia University and maintains nine professional safety and risk certifications. He serves as Chairman of the Safety Committee for the Chicagoland Associated General Contractors (AGC).
