Korte & Luitjohan announce Michael Ashley as site safety specialist

Mike Ashley

Michael Ashley recently joined Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc. (K&L) as its site safety specialist.

Ashley retired in September 2025 after 40 years in the construction industry. His career began in 1985 as owner of Az Construction, a general construction company specializing in commercial, institutional, and industrial work. Ashley then worked at McCarthy as a general foreman before going to S.M. Wilson & Co. where he was a superintendent before becoming field director.

Ashley’s career focus has been on “making sure projects were safe, on schedule, and on budget.” Reflecting on his career, Ashley further observed, “In my 40 years of experience, the construction industry has made major changes, with safety taking the lead. With tighter schedules and a shrinking workforce, the need to maintain a safe work site is critical.”

Karen Boulanger, K&L’s director of Operations, said the new site safety specialist position will oversee field and shop safety practices for compliance with OSHA and other regulatory agencies.  “Mike has been helping us promote a culture of safe work. Proactively he supports project safety planning by participating in hand-off meetings, developing site specific safety plans and coordinating with project managers and superintendents to ensure required safety equipment and PPE is incorporated,” Boulanger noted.

Ashley’s first day at K&L was May 4, 2026, coinciding with the opening day of this year’s Construction Safety Week.

Founded in 1958, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc. is a design-build, construction management, general contractor company based in Highland, Ill.