Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin: Steve Klessig of Keller, Inc., elected ABC national secretary

LAS VEGAS – Steve Klessig, vice president of architecture and engineering for Keller, Inc., Kaukauna, was elected Tuesday as secretary of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) National Executive Committee.

Klessig, the Midwest region vice chair of ABC, was elected by the association’s 200-member board of directors – comprised of delegates from each of ABC’s 70 chapters across the nation – during a meeting at ABC’s Leadership Institute in Las Vegas.

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” Klessig said. “This is not something I take lightly, and I want all members to know I will work extremely hard to advance merit shop and free enterprise principles, which are at the core of this organization. I want to convey my sincere thanks to the ABC National Board of Directors for its vote of confidence.”

Klessig is the second ABC of Wisconsin member to serve as national secretary, the other being Steve Westra. Westra went on to become national chair in 1992.

Under ABC’s bylaws, the secretary serves on the association’s Budget & Finance Committee; is responsible for the recording and safekeeping of all minutes of the board, executive committee and general membership meetings of ABC; and is eligible for nomination to the chairman-elect position after completing a one-year term as secretary. The secretary succeeds to the chairman-elect position when the office becomes vacant and assumes the duties of the chairman-elect in the chairman-elect’s absence. 

Klessig became the Midwest region vice chair in 2015 and represents ABC members and chapters in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. As region vice chair, Klessig oversees the activities of the national association, sets policy and assists the national chairman in carrying out the mandates of the ABC Board of Directors. Klessig will remain the Midwest region vice chair during his term as secretary.

“We are incredibly excited for Steve to have this opportunity,” said John Mielke, president of ABC of Wisconsin. “Steve has been a dedicated ABC member and a leader throughout his career, and we know he’ll bring his strong Midwest work ethic to the secretary position for the benefit of ABC members throughout the country.” 

Klessig was chair of the ABC of Wisconsin Chapter in 2014, and Keller, Inc., was a founding member of the Wisconsin chapter in 1974. Klessig holds ABC’s seat at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Wisconsin Commercial Building Code Council. 

In addition to his roles with ABC, Klessig served on the board of directors of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards for 11 years and was on the Brillion Public School Board for 30 years. Klessig also serves on the Brillion Junior Achievement Board. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Wisconsin Society of Architects. Klessig also sits on the board of directors for the Brillion Community Foundation and the Endries Foundation, and is an active member and trustee chair of Zion United Methodist Church.

Klessig graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has been practicing architecture since his graduation in 1984. He lives in Northeast Wisconsin, where he and his wife, Faye, raised four children.