Mark Skender, former CEO of Skender Construction and a transformative figure in Chicago’s building industry, died Friday at age 61 from complications of cancer, the company announced.
Skender led the family-owned construction firm as CEO from 2014 to 2020, after serving as executive vice president since 1989. During his more than three decades with the company, he was credited with modernizing operations, expanding the firm’s reach and reputation, and championing lean construction practices that emphasized efficiency, teamwork and innovation.
“Mark was more than a leader — he was a visionary who helped shape the future of our company and our industry over three decades,” Skender Construction said in a statement. “He played a pivotal role in transforming Skender into one of the city’s most forward-thinking and community-focused construction firms”.
A graduate of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park, Skender earned a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He was also an adjunct professor at Northwestern and co-founded the Chicago Community of Practice for the Lean Construction Institute, mentoring industry professionals and advancing construction education.
Skender’s tenure included the launch of an advanced manufacturing facility for modular construction on Chicago’s Southwest Side in 2019. The facility closed a year later due to pandemic-related financing challenges, but the effort reflected his commitment to innovation.
He is survived by his wife, Roxanne, and children, Elena and Daniel. A celebration of life will be held in the coming days at Old St. Patrick’s Church, 700 W. Adams St., Chicago.
“His influence lives on in the buildings he helped bring to life and in the people and teams he inspired every day,” the company said.
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