Construction industry leaders join together to helm 2025 Hard Hats with Heart campaign
CHICAGO, Sept. 9, 2025 — Heart disease disproportionately affects the construction industry. The highly stressful and physically demanding nature of the work often leads to increased rates of cardiac arrest and heart attacks. That’s why the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives, today announced two change agents in the Chicago construction industry – Kevin Connelly, owner and CEO of Connelly Electric, and Charlie Cloutier, project vice president of planning and construction at Northwestern Medicine — as co-chairs of its Chicago Hard Hats with Heart campaign.
The campaign will focus on increasing heart health in the construction industry through education, developing comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans, and raising critical funds toward research and development to improve health care outcomes throughout Chicago.
Advancing heart health in the industry that helps Chicago stand tall
Both of this year’s co-chairs deeply value elevating the American Heart Association’s mission in the construction industry. Connelly Electric is a long-time supporter of the American Heart Association’s local initiatives, including Heart Walk and Go Red for Women, in addition to Hard Hats with Heart. Connelly also has a personal connection to the Association’s charge to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, having recently lost his own brother to complications from a stroke.
“Heart disease and stroke were already top priorities for me professionally because of their impact on the construction industry. The professional became personal after I saw the toll these illnesses took on my family,” Connelly said. “Everyone deserves the chance to pursue their dreams, cherish time with loved ones, and grow into their fullest potential without heart disease cutting that journey short. It’s an honor to lead the Chicago Hard Hats with Heart campaign, which allows the construction world to set an example workplaces across industries can follow.”
Responsiveness to community health needs has been a top priority for Cloutier throughout his tenure leading planning and construction at Northwestern Medicine. Under Cloutier’s leadership, Northwestern Medicine recently completed work on a new 120,000 square-foot facility on the 4800 block of South Cottage Grove to bring high-quality health-focused services directly to the city’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood.
“Construction workers are tasked with the incredible responsibility of creating hospitals, doctors' offices and research facilities. These are places that stand tall as centers for equitable access to critical services addressing social determinants of health,” Cloutier said. “But these industries can’t thrive if the people who build their physical infrastructure aren’t their healthiest selves. I look forward to collaborating with Mr. Connelly to lead our beloved industry to higher heights, with strong, healthy hearts at the forefront of our work.”
Looking toward the next decade of Hard Hats with Heart
Last year, Hard Hats with Heart celebrated its 10th anniversary of driving change in the construction industry. As the initiative begins its next decade, encouraging wellness at every level of the construction industry remains a priority. Hard Hats will continue giving businesses the tools to support employees by implementing programs that encourage healthy eating and stress reduction, promote physical activity during work breaks, and motivate CPR and AED education.
“Hard Hats with Heart finished its first decade strong with a story that includes lives saved through CPR, critical funds raised and more construction industry workers at every level centering heart health in their everyday lives,” said Jasmine Richardson, American Heart Association, Chicago development director for Hard Hats with Heart. “When you build a healthier construction workforce, you build a healthier Chicago. Our next decade will focus on driving positive and lasting change through advancing stories like Kevin’s, Charlie’s, and many of our past chairs, helping workplaces build systems to encourage holistic health for all employees and raising critical funds to support the construction industry. These are all key parts of our work to create a Nation of Lifesavers starting in Chicago.”
Since its start in 2014, Chicago Hard Hats with Heart has raised more than $6 million toward the American Heart Association’s mission. These funds are geared toward addressing the more than 340,000 construction workers nationwide who have been diagnosed with heart disease and encouraging lasting changes in the construction industry that will inspire a healthier, more productive workforce. The campaign will culminate at the annual Hard Hats with Heart event on Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. at Crust Brewing in Rosemont, IL. For more information on Hard Hats with Heart, contact Jasmine Richardson at Jasmine.Richardson@Heart.org.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173
Jorie Goins: Jorie.Goins@Heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
