business leadership & rising star Awards
Rising Star Award winners Jenn Wold , Merrick , Inc ; Mike Vowels , Fresh Paint ; Erin Olson , RealTime Talent ; and Business Leadership Award winner Rick Lucio , CEO Hallberg Engineering and President Paul Fettinger ( not pictured ).
Fresh Paint team with Rising Star winner Mike Vowels .
2023 BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AWARD AND RISING STAR AWARD WINNERS
There are certain qualities that set our community ’ s leaders apart from the rest . They have a willingness to go above and beyond what is expected , they think creatively , and they have good organizational and problem-solving skills . Plus , a desire to help make a better future for all of us .
Business Leadership Award Recipients
The winners of the 2023 VHEDC Business Leadership Award are Richard Lucio , CEO / Principal , and Paul Fettinger , President / Principal , at Hallberg Engineering , Inc . They have been running the White Bear Lakebased business since 2013 .
Hallberg Engineering , Inc ., founded in 1979 by Warren and Joe Hallberg , has 45 employees . The company works with architects to design mechanical , electrical and technology systems for buildings . They also offer building commissioning services , and have a branch office in Duluth . Their design work touches such building necessities as heating , ventilation , air conditioning ,
power , lighting and temperature controls systems , as well as technology and life safety systems .
Engineering isn ’ t all they do though . “ We try to venture out and participate in the community as well ,” said Lucio . Not only do he and Fettinger encourage their employees to give back
Hallberg Engineering CEO Rick Lucio , 2023 Business Leadership Award
by volunteering at places like The White Bear Area Food Shelf , they are active in the community as well . They sponsor a yearly scholarship for a White Bear High School Senior who is pursuing a college degree in either mechanical or electrical engineering .
Lucio just wrapped up a five-year term on the White Bear Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors . Fettinger served on the Board of the White Bear Area Educational Foundation for five years .
“ My and Paul ’ s philosophy is that it goes a long way to give back . Time spent volunteering is time well spent ,” said Lucio .
Hallberg Engineering , Inc ., designed the mechanical and electrical systems in the new White Bear Area School buildings , as well as at The White Bear Center for the Arts . They also work with a lot of retail stores locally , and across the United States , including H & M , Urban Outfitters , Comcast / Xfinity , and Aéropostale to name a few . Learn more about the company at Hallbergengineering . com vhedc . com 45