June 2025
New Role Affirms Psychological Health Support at The Walsh Group
CHICAGO, IL – The Walsh Group, one of the largest construction service providers in the United States, has reaffirmed their commitment to the psychological health and overall well-being of their employees with the creation of a Behavioral Health Manager role. This milestone reflects the company’s belief that care for one another must go beyond physical safety, it must also extend to the emotional and psychological challenges their teams face on a daily basis.
"This position is a game-changer, not just for Walsh but for our entire industry," said Building Division President Michael Whelan. "Many in our industry speak about mental health awareness and supporting their teams, but we are taking action. We’re investing in what truly matters: each other."
This effort is rooted in The Walsh Group’s Family Approach to business, where everyone shares a responsibility to support and protect one another. It is a natural extension of an Actively Caring culture, one that values listening, responding and leading with compassion.
The Walsh Group has also announced that Nichole Gaddis has joined the Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Group as the company’s first Behavioral Health Manager. Gaddis will help guide the direction of behavioral health strategy by developing impactful safety programs and trainings. She will collaborate with Risk Management, Human Resources and Legal to design proactive wellness initiatives, while serving as a resource to project teams and craft professionals in identifying psychosocial risk factors and promoting a culture of support.
"Nichole’s background and extensive experience in mental healthcare make her uniquely qualified to lead our efforts in this space," said Brian Geist, Vice President of HSE. "At our core, we believe that safety extends beyond physical measures, it includes the mental and emotional well-being of our people.”
Nichole brings over 15 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, with a strong background in mental health, social services, and healthcare. Her experience spans inpatient and outpatient settings, and she is widely respected for her sound judgment, problem-solving abilities, and compassionate leadership.
"Nichole’s role will embody how we lead, with care and accountability," said Dan Walsh Jr., Transportation Division President and part of the fourth generation of family ownership. "To be the Employer of Choice, our job is not only to build infrastructure, it’s to support the people who build it."
"The creation of this role reinforces what we’ve always believed at The Walsh Group - that people are our greatest asset," said Water Division President Duane Petersen. "This role, and Nichole’s expertise, will help us further strengthen our culture where individuals are supported, heard and empowered."
Founded in 1898, The Walsh Group is a family-owned company providing construction services throughout the building, transportation and water markets. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, The Walsh Group operates as Walsh Construction, Archer Western Construction and Walsh Canada across 21 regional offices and is consistently listed among the top U.S. contractors per Engineering News-Record.