The Grainger College of Engineering

Wilbur C. Milhouse III

Wilbur C. Milhouse III
Wilbur C. Milhouse III

For entrepreneurship that advances opportunities for minorities in the engineering field, exceptional commitment to mentoring children and lifting up disadvantaged communities in the United States and abroad, and for dedicated support and service to the University of Illinois.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Milhouse Engineering & Construction

  • BS, Civil Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1994
  • MS, Structural Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1995

Wilbur C. Milhouse III is the Chairman and CEO of Milhouse Engineering & Construction, Inc (Milhouse). He is an award-winning entrepreneur who has transformed over 25 years of diversified civil and structural engineering experience into a global enterprise that has drawn national attention. Milhouse has been ranked as the 5th largest design firm in Chicago by Engineering News Record, widely regarded as one of the construction industry’s most authoritative publications. Founded in 2001, Milhouse is a dedicated, multidisciplinary team of over 250 talented professionals, headquartered in Chicago with branch offices throughout the United States, Africa, and Bermuda. On the international stage, Wilbur has founded both Power and Energy companies in Nigeria, where he is developing a 60 MW thermal power plant. The plant is expandable to 300 MW – enough power to supply the needs of millions of citizens in the Southeastern quadrant of Nigeria.

Prior to founding Milhouse, Wilbur had several engineering roles focused in project management at Teng & Associates, Jackson, Tull & Graham, Infrastructure Engineering Inc., and Patrick Engineering. Wilbur is fiercely supportive of his community and the engineering profession through extensive involvement in civic, charitable and professional organizations. In 2012, Mr. Milhouse broadened his support for the community by co-founding Milhouse Charities – a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing academic achievements and opportunities for minorities and other underrepresented youth by supporting STEM-focused organizations. Wilbur has served on The Grainger College of Engineering’s Board of Visitors and the board of University of Illinois Research Park, LLC, and also served as convocation speaker for The Grainger College of Engineering in 2017.

Wilbur has received the 30th Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame Award (2015), the Project SYNCERE Engineering Excellence Award (2019), and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBELEGENDS) Dynamic Engineers Innovating Change Award (2019). Additionally, he holds nine professional engineering licenses in the United States.