C-Level Construction Leadership Through a Field-First Perspective
Hilmerson Safety® is proud to share that founder and CEO Debra Hilmerson has been recognized by Finance & Commerce as part of the inaugural 2026 C-Level and Leadership Awards.
The award recognizes leaders who are helping move their industries forward through innovation, leadership, and long-term impact.
For Deb Hilmerson, that work started in the field.
Born in the Field, Made in America
Long before patents, product development, or leading a company, Deb Hilmerson was working construction jobs herself.
She started her career laying precast concrete on projects like the Target Center and the Mall of America parking ramp. Over time, she moved into construction safety leadership roles, eventually becoming Safety Director for Mortenson Construction’s national industrial division.
But the field never left her perspective.
She understands what it feels like to work at height.
She understands production pressure.
And she understands what happens when safety systems fail.
“I’m passionate about fall protection because years ago I worked at height, and at times I was afraid because I didn’t have the safety gear I needed,” Hilmerson says. “People should be able to go to work and go home safely at the end of the day.”
That belief became the foundation for Hilmerson Safety.
Designed From Real Jobsite Experience
One thing that continues to separate Hilmerson Safety is how closely the company stays connected to the field.
Beginning in 2016, Deb and her team drove to hundreds of jobsites across the country talking directly with superintendents, safety managers, and tradespeople about the problems they were dealing with every day.
What was breaking down.
What was slowing crews down.
What was creating waste.
What wasn’t holding up on real jobsites.
That feedback shaped the systems Hilmerson Safety builds today.
The Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ was designed to install faster, last longer, and eliminate the constant waste and replacement cycle of traditional wood rail systems.
The Hilmerson Barrier Fence System™ was developed to solve recurring issues with temporary perimeter fencing and barrier damage on large commercial projects.
Every system is built around the same idea:
Make safety simpler.
Make it stronger.
Make it last.
More Than Products
For Deb, safety has never been about checking boxes.
It’s about protecting workers and improving the way the industry operates.
Throughout her career, she has been involved in organizations focused on advancing construction safety and mentoring the next generation entering the trades and safety profession.
She has been a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers for more than 20 years, served as a past board member of the World Safety Organization, and remains active in organizations including the Association of General Contractors of Minnesota and the Association of Women in Construction.
She also continues to advocate for more mentorship and more real conversations across the industry.
Built With Purpose
This recognition reflects more than leadership or business growth.
It reflects decades spent in the field, listening to workers, solving real jobsite problems, and pushing for safer construction practices through practical, durable solutions.
That mission continues to drive everything Hilmerson Safety builds today:
Safer jobsites.
Stronger systems.
Protection workers can trust in the field.
Congratulations to Debra Hilmerson and all of the inaugural 2026 Finance & Commerce C-Level and Leadership Award honorees.
