CCIFP, CRIS, SPHR
Vice President of Operations
Michelle Walker serves as the Vice President of Operations at SSC Underground, a trenchless technology company that delivers underground construction and consulting across the country. With over 20 years’ experience working in the underground construction environment, she brings specialized knowledge from both a business and technical perspective to safety, project management, and logistical issues. Since joining in 1998, Michelle has risen up the ranks and held multiple positions within the organization prior to being promoted to Vice President of Finance & Administration in 2009 and then her current position in 2022. Credentials she has earned include Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional, Senior Professional in Human Resources, and Construction Risk and Insurance Specialist.
In her current role, she works alongside company ownership to direct the core functions of the business on a daily basis. Her areas of responsibility include company strategy, succession, business development, technology integration, accounting/finance, human resources, workforce development, and more. She contributes to project development by ensuring full regulatory compliance, managing funding, creating schedules of values for positive cash flow, and directing all facets of risk management and safety. Michelle has been an integral part of the creation of the company’s core values and has worked with professional trainers to create programs to instill the values into SSC’s team members, so they are exhibited in the daily operations and ingrained in its culture.
Michelle’s combination of business acumen and passion for people merged as she became the founding chairman of the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a nonprofit organization to combat the epidemic of suicide in the construction workforce and provide workplace solutions for the challenges of mental illness and addiction. As an active member of the Construction Financial Management Association, Michelle is a past president of the Valley of the Sun chapter. She is a highly rated presenter on subjects including finance and accounting, workforce development, risk management, and suicide prevention at many industry, business, and human resource conferences.
Notable Awards:
- 2016 – CFMA Valley of the Sun’s “Best Under the Sun General Member”
- 2017 – CFMA Valley of the Sun’s “President’s Award”
- 2020 – Construction Business Owner’s “Outstanding Women in Construction”
- 2021 – CFMA’s “Debra Hahn Memorial Award”
On the personal side, Michelle has been married to Steve Walker, General Manager at SSC, since 1998 and they have two children. Michelle enjoys being an active member of her church community and has served as a small group leader as well as a kindergarten teacher. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking or baking.