Steve Huizinga

In Steve Huizinga’s youth, he was known primarily as the son of the founder of one of Michigan’s leading mechanical contractors. He began working in the family business at the age of 13 but deeply struggled to find his place. He found it eventually, but it came after years of stumbling through addiction, depression, and the legal system. Working through sobriety and recovery learning to live by more sustaining principles of life: how to admit struggle and weakness, ask for help, and that true strength comes from humbling ourselves and admitting our failures. His career in leadership grew quickly on this foundation, and his passion for building up woman- and minority-owned businesses led him to Freedom Construction, where he is committed to changing people’s lives through employment with empathy. Steve Huizinga is a recognized leader in both the construction industry and the diversity and inclusion space, directing over 350 employees and four subsidiaries in his previous role as president of Allied Mechanical, one of Michigan’s largest mechanical contracting firms. During his 30+ year history in commercial and industrial construction, he has also served on the board of directors for the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, West Michigan Construction Institute, Construction Allies in Action, West Michigan Works Construction Career Council and Associated Builders and Contractors Western Michigan—the latter of which conferred him the National Diversity Excellence Award in 2019.