Interview: Deb Hilmerson, president and CEO, Hilmerson Safety

Deb Hilmerson began her 30-year career in construction by setting precast concrete on the Mall of America parking ramps. Mortenson then recruited her to join in a safety role after funding additional education certification. During her career, she worked in numerous roles at several construction companies, learning to manage finances and operations, before setting out to establish her own company. Prior Lake-based Hilmerson Safety is entering its 20th year of operations, and its work and innovation isn’t slowing down. Hilmerson initially focused on Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance auditing, training, and inspections and acted as a safety coordinator for various companies. But about five years ago, the company pivoted away from these consultation services and focused solely on inventing products to sell to general contractors. She created one of the company’s leading products, the Hilmerson Safety Rail System, after consulting with a number of the nation’s leading general contractors — who now use the safety product on projects of all types. In this interview Deb Hilmerson speaks with reporter Kelly Busche.