February 26, 2026
By Lane Kimble
RIO MAR, Puerto Rico — Standing alone on a stage in front of 200 people Wednesday night, Mike Hahn recognized he got there by standing on the shoulders of giants.
Hahn listed names like Michels, Gannon, Hanson and Sikma as he reflected on his early days of joining WTBA.
“These guys are titans of the industry and here’s this young guy that’s just new to the game,” Hahn said. “Just to sit and listen to what those guys talked about in the same room when the next day, the next week they’re going to go compete against each other, I couldn’t comprehend how that relationship worked at the time.”
Safe to say Hahn has figured it out. Wednesday, he became the newest WTBA Board President.
“I want to thank those of you in the room for putting your trust in me for this next year to lead the organization,” Hahn said. “It’s truly an honor.”
Hahn, who is Lunda Construction Vice President of Wisconsin Operations, has been around the association and industry for many years. He started in WisDOT’s Bureau of Structures, then worked for a consulting firm on the Marquette Interchange before joining Lunda.
Hahn also served previously as the WTBA of Tomorrow chairman and went through ARTBA’s young leadership program – all steps that helped him grasp a key piece of understanding.
“This whole industry is bigger than anyone in this room and anything that’s happening out there. You need everyone, not just one,” Hahn said.
The new president has some significant goals for his one-year term.
He’s pushing for long-term funding solutions to close a $1.3 billion shortfall in Wisconsin’s next budget, craft a fair policy on potholing, continue to grow WTBA membership numbers, put a new permanent Design-Build program to good use, and improve field relationships with WisDOT.
Hahn says he’ll depend on professional connections to accomplish as much of that as possible, but knows he also has his most important personal relationship–his wife Jill–to stand beside through the challenges and celebrations that await.
“She gave everything in her life for me and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Hahn said, choking back tears. “Thank you.”
