Few people know that Chris Kirch is still working at the same place he worked in college. “I grew up in the Valley and went to school at NAU, and I was in construction management,” says the president of Kitchell Contractors. “Kitchell had a project at Flagstaff Medical Center, so I had the opportunity to intern with Kitchell.” Kirch says that internship was a game-changer for him. “To have that hands-on, boots-on-the-ground experience while I was in school led me Read More

At Kitchell, safety isn’t just a priority—it’s a core value deeply embedded in our company culture. To reinforce this commitment and honor the memory of an employee lost to a workplace accident, Kitchell established the Samuel Monge Memorial Safety Award in 2018. Named after Samuel Monge, a laborer who tragically lost his life on the Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) project in 2010, the award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to promote safety and embody Kitchell’s values. This year, Read More

The School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, recently held its Hall of Fame and Academy of Distinguished Alumni event, celebrating some of the most influential names in the construction and engineering industry. More than 150 industry leaders, faculty, and alumni gathered for this invitation-only reception to recognize four outstanding alumni and two industry leaders for their significant contributions and unwavering commitment to excellence. This year, Read More