Cheryl A. (Germanson) Sment ’87

2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement: The Sullivan School of Business and Technology

Cheryl A. (Germanson) Sment ’87, President, CEO and Owner of Interstate Sealant & Concrete, Inc., has built a remarkable career rooted in entrepreneurship, operational excellence and people-centered leadership. From her early beginnings in healthcare to her leadership of a nationally certified infrastructure construction company, Sment’s professional journey reflects innovation, resilience and a deep commitment to developing others.

Sment began her academic path at Carroll, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1987. As a student, she worked in the Admissions Office giving campus tours, an early reflection of her enthusiasm for connection and service. After graduating, she spent the next 17 years in emergency and pediatric critical care as an ICU nurse and in critical care transport. Her passion for public safety also led her to work with Safe Kids of Southeast Wisconsin and the State of Wisconsin’s Child Passenger Safety Program, where she served as a Lead Instructor, educating police, fire and sheriff’s departments on child safety and proper car seat installation.

In parallel with her healthcare career, Sment and her husband pursued several entrepreneurial ventures throughout the 1990s, including subdivision development, home building and co-ownership of a retail franchise. In 2000, she became the owner of Bath Junkie, which she operated until 2004. These early business experiences laid the foundation for her future leadership in the construction and infrastructure industry.

In January 1999, Sment became CEO and majority owner of Interstate Sealant & Concrete, Inc. (ISC), a pavement maintenance and infrastructure construction company serving highways, airports, and military bases across the United States. Under her leadership, ISC expanded dramatically. Over a 27-year period, annual revenue increased from $800,000 to $15.3 million, and the workforce grew from 12 to 68 employees. Sment served as President, CEO and Owner, overseeing administration, field operations and the financial stability of a company certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise in 35 states, and federally recognized as a Women-Owned Small Business through the U.S. Small Business Administration until November of 2025 when she sold her business to a large Infrastructure PE firm that focuses primarily on airfields nationally as well as internationally.

Central to Sment’s leadership philosophy is the belief that organizational success begins with people. She is widely known for her emphasis on company culture, employee development and servant leadership. She is deeply engaged with her team, committed to understanding their motivations and supporting their growth. For Sment, recruiting and retaining talent is not simply a business strategy—it is a responsibility grounded in respect, mentorship and shared success.

Beyond ISC, Sment is actively involved in business and industry leadership at both the state and national levels. She has served as a board member for Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin, is an active member of IGGA for Pavement Maintenance and has been a founding member of Vistage Worldwide since 2005. Since 2014, she has also served as an Outside Director on the Board of Citizens Bank, contributing her expertise in governance and strategic oversight. Her professional contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including Wisconsin Small Business Person of the Year, Minority Contractor of the Year and Women of Influence.

A dedicated alumna, Sment has remained closely connected to Carroll University. She has supported The Carroll Fund, student scholarships and the Walter Young Center, participated in national service projects and served as an alumni mentor. Through her continued service, professional success in entrepreneurial leadership, industry impact and commitment to people, she has made a lasting mark on business and the community alike.

See all the 2026 award recipients