Nine distinguished alumni of the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Engineering were honored Saturday at a virtual ceremony to celebrate the 2021 Alumni Awards. Among the alumni recognized was Christman Constructors, Inc. President, Douglas J. Peters, who received the Civil and Environmental Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award. 

Recipients of this award, which was first presented in 2003, must be graduates of the department, national leaders in their profession, contributors to the department, the college, or the university in some meaningful way, and community leaders whose actions reflect favorably on Michigan State University. Nominations are made by faculty, alumni and other supporters of the department. The department's professional advisory board selects the winner.

Douglas J. Peters is nationally recognized as an innovative leader in the construction industry who has managed more than $1 billion in self-perform construction projects across the U.S. over the past 29 years.

“I am humbled by this honor from Michigan State University and the College of Engineering, and would like to thank the many people who have influenced my career in the construction and engineering profession,” says Peters. “My accomplishments are the direct results of the efforts achieved by great teams of men and women who tackle challenges together to honor our commitments.”

Peters studied Civil Engineering at MSU and was a member of the Chi Epsilon National Civil Engineering Society. After graduating in 1992, he joined the U.S. Army as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Spartan Army ROTC Battalion, Engineers, second lieutenant.

After his service with the U.S. Army, Peters earned a master’s degree in project management from the Northwestern University Department of Civil Engineering. He joined Christman as a project manager in 2001 and was promoted several times until he became President of Christman Constructors, Inc. in 2016. Peters is also a member of Christman Enterprises and Christman Constructors, Inc., board of directors.

Peters oversees all operations for Christman Constructors, Inc. and has provided pivotal leadership on the most complex and technical projects in the company’s portfolio. Peters has also used his engineering skills and knowledge to tackle the industry-wide labor shortage challenge by developing CopperWorksSM, a patent-pending human resource leveling iOS application, which earned the Associated General Contractors of America 2020 Innovation Award.

“Doug’s competitive spirit and passion for construction and engineering truly embodies our company values,” says President and CEO of The Christman Company, Steve Roznowski. “He is continually finding unique ways to improve the industry and the services his team provides to our clients. This is a well-deserved honor for Mr. Peters.”

Peters would also like to thank his parents, Joe and Betty, and his two children, Douglas and Kendall, for their support.