For the second year in a row, two of our Future Leaders Council's Executive Committee members have attended the AGC of America Leadership Development Conference for members involved in their chapter's emerging leader groups. This year, Jon Gierhan (Midlands Contracting, Inc.), Jed Paulsen (Paulsen, Inc.) and Carly Smith (AGC Nebraska) spent time in Vancouver, WA. 

Session topics included personal growth in leadership, advances in headwear technology, mental health awareness and workforce development. Beyond the sessions, the opportunity to chat with leadership from other FLCs across the country is extremely valuable. We hear about what does and doesn't work as far as type of event, time of year and frequency. Our Guns & Greens event piqued the interest of other chapters.

A big thank you to AGC of America and the Oregon-Columbia Chapter for hosting yet another wonderful event.

Join our FLC Chapter by clicking here.

Friday, September 22, 2023

First Flight
1st Place: Keith Petersen / JJ Petersen / Quinton Otto / Dan Pedersen (-14)
2nd Place: Joe Patent / Clarke Beller / Sean Krueger / Tom Docter (-13)
3rd Place: Ezra Schelcht / Connor Lemon / Zach David / Tyler Crandon (-13)

Second Flight
1st Place: Dave Rexin / Christian Dostal / Shon Davis  (-8)
2nd Place: Tyler Chicoine / Kirk Vondra / Troy Eberspacher / Colby Yeakley  (-8)
3rd Place: Justin Tomlin / Gary MacDonald / Hunter Dodson / Dustin Cooper (-8)

Third Flight
1st Place: Tyson Vogt / Terry Rogers / Nate Kollars / Jay Twomey (-5)
2nd Place: Zach Yelkin / Brett Broman / Andrew Jensen / Brent Davis (-5)
3rd Place: Sean Christensen / Trey Dodson / Christian Hilgenberg / Travis Hilgenberg (-4)

Flag Prizes: 
Hole #1 - Longest Putt Made - Greg Asche
Hole #2 - Closest to Pin in 2 - Quinton Otto
Hole #3 - Closest to Pin from off Green - Ramon Diaz
Hole #4 - Longest Drive in Fairway - Travis Smith
Hole #5 - Closest to Pin in 1 - Jeff Bremer
Hole #6 - Longest Putt Made - Todd Krieger
Hole #7 - Closest to Pin in 2 - Dale Burkhead
Hole #8 - Closest to Pin in 1 - Christian Dostal
Hole #9 - Closest to Pin from off Green - Josh Dolbow
Hole #10 - Closest to Pin in 2 - Julio Franco
Hole #11 - Closest to Pin in 1 - Monte Kratzenstein
Hole #12 - Closest to Pin in 2 - Travis Sondgeroth
Hole #13 - Closest to Pin in 2 - Zach Yelkin
Hole #14 - Longest Drive in Fairway - Jesse Reeves
Hole #15 - Longest Putt Made - Tyler Crandon
Hole #16 - Longest Drive in Fairway - Zach David
Hole #17 - Closest to Pin in 2 - Heath Stewart
Hole #18 - Closest to Pin from off Green - Matt Morrow

• What does a typical day at work look like for you?
• Tom: Jobsite visits, answering emails, making sure people have equipment
• Travis: Estimates, helping with HR & accounting, meetings with outside partners such as bonding, insurance and bankers

What do you like most about your job?

• Tom: Winning a bid and seeing the job progress as it should
• Travis: Performing well (safe, timely, profitable) on jobs and hearing good things about our work

What aspect of your job do you find the most challenging?

• Tom: Finding qualified help
• Travis: Helping to manage the projects from a personnel perspective.  This includes our own work force, clients, engineers and the public at large.

How did you get into the heavy highway construction industry?

• Tom: Went to UNL and started working for his uncle (Rogge Engineering) before starting K2 Construction with Travis in 2001
• Travis: Went to Penn State University for Civil Engineering and was branched engineer in the Army

​What is your favorite moment of your career so far? Favorite project?

• Tom: Favorite moment was restructuring of the company in 2008 that made Travis and I sole partners. Favorite project was the parking lot on the east side of Memorial Stadium.
• Travis: Favorite part of the job is giving longevity bonuses to our long-term employees. Favorite project was dismantling cell towers when Verizon & Alltel merged in 2009.

What are your hopes for our industry?

• Both: Hope that future generations begin to see the value of a career in the trades.

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• Tom: My father because of his work ethic and my father-in-law because of his business knowledge.
• Travis:  My family because they provide the motivation and inspiration to continue to try and do better.

What did you want to be when growing up?

• Tom: Veterinarian
• Travis: Business Owner

What was the first job you ever had?

• Tom: Working on the farm
• Travis: A landscaping program for the kids of the families stationed at the Air Force Base in Turkey.

If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

• Tom: Take more risks.
• Travis: Figure out what is important and spend more time on those things.  Don’t waste time on non-productive areas of your life.

What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• Tom: Be a better golfer
• Travis: Singing

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

• Tom: Relax at the lake
• Travis: Golf

Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they?

• Tom: Locating underground pipe with witching sticks
• Travis: They must be so hidden no one has found them yet.

If you could meet anyone (past or present), who would you be?

• Tom: Warren Buffet
• Travis: Jesus

What is your biggest pet peeve?

• Tom: Greased equipment
• Travis: Hypocrisy

What is your greatest strength as business partners?

• We have a very balanced relationship and complement each other well. What one of us might not be so good at, the other is. When we met, we were buddies but also had a lot of respect for each other and knew it could work out well if we started our own company.

What do you admire about the other?

• Tom: I admire how much time Travis spent with his mother before she passed from cancer last winter.
• Travis: I admire his work ethics and how he is always willing to share his knowledge.

Who’s the better golfer?

• Tom: Travis.
• Travis: Me.

Monday, June 5, 2023

The first-ever Guns & Greens Tournament was hosted last Friday, May 5th, at Heartland Public Shooting Park and Indianhead Golf Course in Grand Island, NE. A full flight of 20 teams tested their skills at sporting clays and golf.

1st Place: Matt Soucie, Eric Hunsley, Keegan Nelson, Tyson Vogt
2nd Place: Jarod Hendricks, Doug Carroll, KR Buck, Casey Buck
3rd Place: Paul Hallett, Kraig Kuhnel, Paul Kostal, Cory Whitemore
4th Place: Jon Gierhan, Brett Delehant, Troy Cumpston, Chase Bassett
5th Place: Drew Hoffman, Jerad Knott, Tyler Hohenstein, Rick Washburn

Best Shooting Scores:

• 48/50 - Paul Hallett
• 47/50 - KR Buck
• 46/50 - Steve Peck

The 'move-up' hole at the golf course raised $700 for Construction Angels, supporting families who have lost a loved one in a work zone accident. 

Thank you to our sponsors and members who supported this event! It was a huge success. To join the FLC, click here.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

• In our industry, there is never a typical day! I try to be early enough to make the coffee and spend the morning being available for our team.

What do you like most about your job?

• Growing our team. It has been great watching our team personally and professionally grow.

What aspect of your job do you find the most challenging?

• Weather. We do our best to plan for the weather, but you still can’t paint in the rain!

How did you get into the heavy highway construction industry?

• This is probably the most asked question; how did you ever get into this?! I grew up on a family farm in Central Iowa and when my dad sold the farm to a local owner of a barricading company, he got me a job sweeping the shop, flagging, and throwing cones during the summers of high school and college.

What has been your favorite project?

• There have been many great projects across Nebraska, but the most memorable was when we put Interstate 80 into a head to head through the middle of Omaha. We cut out the center concrete median wall and pushed traffic side to side for bridge work on 84th Street. This project took the entire HSI Team to complete.

What are your hopes for our industry?

• To continue to increase safety & awareness for our team, our customers, and the traveling public. We are on roadways with traffic driving only feet away from us. Safety needs to be top of mind and always improving.

If you could provide one piece of professional advice, what would it be?

• Part of being successful is being willing to ask thoughtful questions, and listening to the entire answer before formulating a response.

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• The most influential person in my career has been Randy Miller of Iowa Civil. Randy was a mentor, business partner, and provided opportunities in my early days.

What did you want to be when growing up?

• I always thought I would be a farmer, but when dad sold the farm I thought I would teach. Somehow I ended up throwing cones!

What was the first job you ever had?

• Since I never got paid on the farm, my first real paying job was working at Larry’s Grocery Store in Slater, Iowa.

Before working at your current company, what was the most unusual or interesting job you have ever had?

• I was a college women’s basketball coach for Des Moines Area Community College and Upper Iowa University.

If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

• Life is awesome. Go and live it how you dreamt it!

What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• Dunk a basketball. Never had the genetics to get above the rim!

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

• Spend time with my wife Tiffany, and two kids, Blakely and Brecken, doing something outdoors.

Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they?

• I don’t know if it’s a hidden talent, but back in college, I water skied for Iowa State University and our team went to the 2004 Nationals in Louisiana.

If you could be anyone (past or present) for just a day, who would you be?

• A member of the Lewis and Clark exploration team. To see the west before civilization impacted it.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

• Don’t be late!

Favorite restaurant?
There are too many to list, but the most consistent restaurant for me and my family is Texas Roadhouse!

The 2023 AGC Nebraska Annual Convention was our biggest one yet! Over 400 members and industry partners joined together at the Embassy Suites in Lincoln for an eventful couple of days.

On Tuesday, the Central Community College - Heavy Equipment Operator Technician Program Students had the opportunity to participate in speed interviews with 12 of our Contractor member firms. Both our members and the students were able to form meaningful connections.

Next was our Annual Board of Directors Meeting, where we welcomed three new board members, Brian Engel (Paulsen, Inc.), Mike Newman (Van Kirk Brothers Contracting), and Rocky Torres (Contractor Services, Inc.). Tuesday night ended with our Past Presidents Dinner.

All current Board members and all past Presidents are invited to attend this dinner. Past Presidents in attendance included Mike Collins, Dick Ludwig, Gregg Perrett, Doug Williams, Katie Wilson, Tyler Chicoine, Steve Peck, Justin Grusing, Steve Samuelson, Dave Neill and Tom Crockett.

Wednesday began with the Member Meeting. These have become a key part of our Construction Industry Days and Convention. It is the best time for all members to learn what the Chapter is doing for the industry at the committee and task force levels. The Past Presidents Panel, hosted by the Future Leaders Council, immediately followed the Member Meeting. This gave FLC members a chance to ask a variety of questions related to careers and AGC involvement to a group of 6 past Presidents.

Lunch was filled with awards and recognition. 2022 President, Tyler Chicoine, 'passed the gavel' to 2023 President, Sean Vontz. We recognized the UNL Construction Management scholarship recipient and the three CCC-Hastings scholarship recipients. Koss Construction Company was also awarded the 'Most Likes' award for the video filmed at their wet batch plant that received nearly 1,000,000 views on Tik Tok and Instagram. Tom Crockett was awarded the VCS Award for his vision, commitment, and service to our industry and the AGC Nebraska Chapter. To wrap up our lunch, Governor Jim Pillen spoke to the membership regarding his plan for the next four years to get roads built. 

Off-site activities were added this year to give members options other than the traditional Casino Afternoon. Members could choose from a distillery tour at Sideshow Spirits, axe throwing at Craft Axe Throwing, or staying at the hotel for a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament. All three options were loaded with fun!

Upon returning from the off-site activities it was time for the Associate's Expo and PAC Auction. We are so grateful to our Associate members who took the time to share about their companies with our Contractor members. This year's PAC Auction raised $68,000 for our efforts in the legislature. Thank you to everyone who donated items and bid!

The Nebraska Department of Transportation joined us on Thursday for our industry day and joint committee meetings. The recently appointed Director, Vicki Kramer, spoke to our membership at lunch. Our Keynote Speaker, Gordon Fowler, delivered a fun presentation on the five different generations in the workforce today. The Annual Convention concluded in the afternoon with our Closing Reception where members and NDOT personnel are able to get to know each other.

We hope you all had as much fun as we did! 

If you have any feedback on the Annual Convention, please reach out to Carly.

Make sure to check out our calendar for upcoming events.

President, Kea Constructors, LLC

​What does a typical day at work look like for you?

• ½ office and ½ traveling between jobsites. In the office, it’s a lot of estimating, submittals and planning for future work. We have jobs in South Dakota to and Nebraska, so lots of miles to cover.

 
What do you like most about your job?

• The variety, I am not a desk jockey.

 
What aspect of your job do you find the most challenging?

• Finding personnel, training our people, and growing the business

 
How did you get into the industry?

• I did one semester of Architecture at UNL and realized that wasn’t for me. I got a job at Kiewit right out of high school as l laborer on a paving crew. I continued employment there through college and went full time following my graduation in Construction Management.

 
What is your favorite moment of your career so far? Favorite project?

• 1998. Foreman/Field Engineer in charge of the structural steel on 11 bridges from Fayetteville Arkansas to Fort Smith. The project ran through the Boston Mountain Range. Because of the rock, girder delivery had to be coordinated with the blast and shoot operations through the mountains to obtain access for the trucks. This project was extremely challenging and stressful but in the end was very rewarding.

 
What are your hopes for the industry?

• That we can show the younger generation that there is a huge value in having a career in construction.

 
If you could provide one piece of professional advice, what would it be?

• Be patient. Lose the ego. Do your best always, no matter how small the task. It won’t go unnoticed.

  
What did you want to be when growing up?

• I’m still growing up. I’ll let you know when I know.

 
What was the first job you ever had?

• Butcher in my uncle’s shop in Elkhorn, NE.

 
If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

• Lose the ego, live in the moment, and take chances when you’re young.

  
What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• The ability to speak Spanish and play the guitar.

 
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

• Live music and fish with my son.

 
If you could have lunch with anyone (past or present), who would you choose?

• Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to his Presidency, he was a conservationist, soldier, avid hunter, just a hard-charging individual.

 
What is your biggest pet peeve?

• Laziness.

 
Favorite restaurant?

• Drover, or anywhere with a good steak and a stiff drink.

Despite the icy road conditions, we had a record number of members attend our 2022 Holiday Party at the Lincoln Cornhusker Marriott Hotel.  The day was packed with events - an FLC Brunch & Learn, Committee Meetings, General Session, From Builder to Leader Launch, the FLC Toy Drive - all wrapped up with the Holiday Party.

We hope everyone had a great time and made it home safe. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Estimator / Project Manager, Perrett Construction Ltd.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

• A wide variety ranging from estimating, project management, planning equipment moves, trucking, and meetings.  

 
What do you like most about your job?

• The variety of the work I do, very rarely am I doing the same thing two days in a row and also get to meet and work with a wide variety of people.

 
What aspect of your job do you find the most challenging?

• Being the low bidder, but still making an acceptable profit.

 
How did you get into the heavy highway construction industry?

• My dad said I had to go to Engineering College if he was going to help me pay for college. I liked spending time outdoors, and with large equipment, so Construction Management was the only degree in the Engineering College at UNL that interested me.

 
What is your favorite moment of your career so far?

• The day we finished Hwy 275 west of Norfolk, most challenging project of my career (so far).

 
Favorite project?

• New Mexico Hwy 104, East of Las Vegas, New Mexico.  It was a project I helped bid and then ran it as a Job Superintendent for Kiewit.  We did every aspect of the project except the guardrail and fencing. We performed the Grading, Pipe, Concrete Box Culverts, Crushing Aggregate, Base Course, and Asphalt Paving. We also had to drill and shoot some of the cuts.  I was 28 years old and was one of the oldest on the project.  

 
What are your hopes for our industry?

• That the regulations don’t become so restrictive it is almost impossible to build a project, and there is enough work to bid, that competent contractors can be profitable.

 
If you could provide one piece of professional advice, what would it be?

• Bidding work cheaper than your crews can build it profitably is not a good option.

 
Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• Gray Kite, I worked for him for 4 years at Kiewit in New Mexico.

 
What did you want to be when growing up?

• U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot

 
What was the first job you ever had?

• Walking Beans

 
Before working at your current company, what was the most unusual or interesting job you have ever had?

• Albuquerque, New Mexico at a wastewater treatment facility expansion project.

 
If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self one thing, what would it be?

• Don’t waste your time on people or things you can’t control, spend your time and energy on things you can affect.

 
What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• Play Guitar

 
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

• Ride Dirt Bikes

 
Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they?

• I can ride a pretty good wheelie on my dirt bike.

 
If you could be anyone (past or present) for just a day, who would you be?

• Crazy Horse, June 25, 1876

 
What is your biggest pet peeve?

• Slow people…..slow walkers, slow talkers, slow workers.

 
Favorite restaurant?

• Husker House in Columbus, Nebraska