Get to Know Forte: Five Questions with Wally Tufvander

1. Where does your construction background come from?  How did you get started in project management?

Growing up in a family of loggers in northern MN, I was always working with my hands. Being a hands-on person, Construction Management at North Dakota State University (NDSU) was a natural fit.  I started my career with United Properties (now Cushman & Wakefield), built schools with Bossardt Corporation, managed asbestos removal projects with Twell Environmental (family business), and then back to corporate real estate project management with Cushman & Wakefield, Turner & Townsend, and Forte.   I have been involved in construction, real estate, and the owner representative space my entire career.

2. If you could be doing anything else except working, what would it be?

I love the outdoors.  When I’m not working, I embrace the 4 Minnesota seasons.  I’m a coach for my son’s high school mountain biking team and enjoy hunting and fishing (hard and soft water) with my friends and family.  My entire family loves the outdoors. If I didn’t have to work, I would spend more time in the field with my 5 year old black lab Artie (Artemis- Greek Goddess of the Hunt).

3. Why is Forte the right fit for you?

That’s easy!  The people.  It sounds clique, but our entire company has a can-do attitude.  Everyone is willing to help each other out and go the extra mile.  Jim Jetland, Steve Brown, and Phil Simonet, Forte’s principals, live our values and it shows.

4. If you weren’t in commercial real estate, what would you be doing? What did you want to do when you grew up?

I have an engineering and linear thinking mindset.  I wanted to be an engineer or a scientist as a kid. I started in Electrical Engineering at NDSU, but switched to Construction Management because engineering was not hands on enough. If I had to work outside of commercial real estate, I would probably build something.

5. What’s your favorite place to hang out in the Twin Cities?

I live on the west side of the metro and love all the dining options in downtown Wayzata.  My favorite places to spend time are outside the Twin Cities, up north or out west in a boat, on the ice, or in the woods or fields.  

Learn more about Wally Tufvander’s Project Management expertise here.