When Michele O’Rourke traded her pharmaceutical sales job for steel-toed boots and demolition dust, she didn’t just join the family business—she rewrote the playbook. In a field dominated by men and wrecking balls, O’Rourke brought her own kind of grit: a style that stands firm, trusts her instincts and puts people first. At O’ROURKE Wrecking, leadership isn't just about tearing things down—it’s about building up Cincinnati.
“I never set out to break into the demolition world,” O’Rourke explains. “It found me by default.”
After her father-in-law passed away, she stepped in to support her husband and the family company. What began as a stopgap quickly became a calling. She learned the business from the ground up, proving that hard hats have no gender—and that vision and values matter as much as blueprints and bids.
“At the time, there weren’t many women in leadership roles in this industry,” she explains. “What kept me going was seeing the pride our team took in their work and knowing I had the opportunity to help grow a company that could make a real impact on projects and people.”
Today, O’ROURKE Wrecking is a nationwide contractor specializing in demolition and environmental cleanup. Their work spans from precise, small-scale jobs to major commercial and industrial takedowns, including asbestos removal, environmental hazard mitigation and rapid emergency response.
“What makes our work both unique and complex,” she says, “is that no two projects are ever the same. Each brings its own set of engineering, safety and environmental challenges.”
The company has handled some of Cincinnati’s most high-profile projects—from the implosion of Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium to the careful dismantling of the Millennium Hotel and preservation of the historic Albee Arch at the Duke Energy Convention Center. Each job requires detailed planning, precision and clear communication.
For O’Rourke, though, demolition isn’t about destruction—it’s about transformation.
“It’s about understanding the lifecycle of a structure,” she shares, “knowing how to take it apart responsibly and doing so in a way that leaves the site and the community better than we found it.”
Her leadership style reflects that philosophy: intentional, grounded and collaborative.
“I lead with high expectations,” she shares, “but I’m equally focused on creating an environment where people feel valued and heard. Early on, I probably felt like I had to carry everything on my shoulders. Now, I see leadership as a shared responsibility.”
Over the years, her trailblazing journey as a leader of a certified woman-owned business has fueled a personal mission—to open doors for other women in construction. O’Rourke mentors rising professionals, helps women secure board seats and has created scholarships through the Spirit of Construction Foundation.
“To me, that’s what real leadership is—using your platform to elevate others,” she says.
That mindset extends beyond the job site.
“Cincinnati is home,” says O’Rourke. “It’s where our business was built and where our people live and work. Giving back is part of who we are.”
Whether it’s supporting local schools, cleaning up illegal dumping sites or funding swim programs for kids in Ziegler Park, O’ROURKE Wrecking stays deeply connected to the people and neighborhoods that surround them.
That commitment hasn’t gone unnoticed. O’Rourke was recently recognized with the first annual Voices of Vision Award, given by Women100 Cincy and Indian Hill City Lifestyle, honoring her role as a business leader and community builder. It’s a fitting tribute for someone who didn’t plan to be here—but once she arrived, never stepped back.
OROURKEWrecking.com | 513.871.1400
“To me, that’s what real leadership is—using your platform to elevate others.” —Michele O'Rourke