Corna Kokosing Names First Female CEO

Columbus, Ohio (July 25, 2019)—Corna Kokosing Construction Company (CK) has announced that its board of directors has elected Lori M. (Burgett) Gillett as chief executive officer (CEO). Gillett becomes the company’s first female CEO in the history of the 63-year old Columbus-based commercial construction company. 

In 1995, the Burgett family, also owners of the Kokosing group of companies, purchased Corna & DiCesare Construction Company. CK is headquartered at 6245 Westerville Rd. on a nearly 60-acre campus. CK has been women-owned for more than two decades and will now be woman-led.  

“CK is a unified team with a great culture and enduring strength,” Gillett said. “We have earned a stellar reputation by delivering high quality projects and this work has led to long lasting relationships with many loyal, repeat customers. I am honored to be part of a team that is so passionately committed to excellence.”   

“Lori adds another dimension to an already-strong leadership team,” said Jim Negron, CK executive vice president. “She brings considerable industry experience, as well as a deep family and historical perspective. We’ve been colleagues for years and are united in our commitment to CK’s ongoing success and investment in the communities where we live and work.” 

Gillett has a civil engineering degree from Ohio Northern University. She began her professional career as a construction laborer and has experience as a project engineer and leader in a broad and diverse range of market sectors. She has held many leadership roles, including vice president of Kokosing’s utility division and president of Environmental Pipeliners and Wabash Steel.

She currently serves on the Governor’s Executive Workforce Development Board and Ohio Northern University Engineering Advisory Board, and she is a passionate advocate for developing the next generation workforce in the construction industry.

For more information, visit corna.com.