Dedication to the field of construction engineering and the expansion of education. Accomplished business leader and mentor
Inducted 2025
Eugene Postma was only 8 when he started helping his father with construction projects. As he grew, Postma consistently worked in construction, building his career from a summer laborer at age 14, until starting as a carpenter full-time at 18, and becoming a project superintendent in 10 years. An onsite injury changed Postma’s original career path, bringing him home to Iowa after several surgeries and physical therapy. Postma enrolled at Iowa State for his bachelor’s with the support of his wife and young son.
At Iowa State, Postma immersed himself in the department, earning a membership to Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, and leading the Associated General Contractors of America Student Chapter as vice president. After graduating with honors, Postma successfully landed a position as a project manager in a refinery. He progressed to a district engineer with EFCO Construction equipment then branch manager, turning the lowest-performing branch into the best and launching his executive leadership journey. After 12 years with EFCO, in 2004, Postma joined the APi Group where he led as President and CEO of the Western States Fire Protection (WSFP), growing the business from 18 to 32 branches. After 9 years of leading the WSFP team, Postma moved into the COO position of the APi group; Postma greatly expanded APi in revenue and services. In 2020, Postma helped the business go public and supported the successful transition until retiring in 2023.
Throughout his career, Postma was involved in professional and charitable organizations, lending his time, funds, and leadership. He is a board member for the American Red Cross, Denver, and he served on the National Board of Directors of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, and the National Board of Directors for ACE Mentors, which provides after-school programs to diverse secondary students involving Architecture, Construction and Engineering. Postma served on the department’s Construction Engineering Industry Advisory Council at a critical point in our program’s history, growing faculty, funding and advisory council membership over 15 years.
Postma’s lifelong passion for construction excellence, business leadership, and contributions towards the expansion of construction education in outreach have positively impacted the lives and careers of the Cyclone Engineers of today and the future.