We’re proud to share that Hilmerson Safety® has once again been recognized by Finance & Commerce as one of Minnesota’s In the Lead: Best Women-Owned Businesses for 2026.
The annual recognition celebrates women-owned businesses making an impact across Minnesota. For founder and CEO Deb Hilmerson, being recognized again is especially meaningful because it reflects a journey that began in the field more than 30 years ago.
From the Jobsite to a Construction Safety Manufacturer
Deb built her career in construction safety, working alongside the same contractors and crews Hilmerson Safety serves today. That experience shaped a simple belief: construction safety products should do more than meet a requirement. They should solve real problems for the people using them.
Since founding Hilmerson Safety in 2001, Deb has turned that philosophy into American-made, construction-grade™ safety systems designed with input from construction professionals and built for the realities of active jobsites.
“There are times you forgot how far you’ve come and I think it’s important to stop and recognize that. As a student-athlete at the University of Minnesota back in the 1980s, I vividly recall cutting through the Engineering School to get to basketball practice. I’d see all those really smart people, and think I wasn’t smart enough to be in those classrooms.
Today, I own a company that designs, engineers and sells construction safety products. When I returned to campus not long ago, it felt surreal to see products I created, with my name and logo on them, in use on two big projects, including an extensive renovation at the College of Science and Engineering. Talk about a full circle moment!”
Today, Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ and Hilmerson Barrier Fence System™ products can be found on construction projects across the country.
Being named among Minnesota’s Best Women-Owned Businesses is a recognition we’re proud to receive, and one we share with our team, customers and the construction professionals who continue to challenge us to build better.
