VP, Estimation & Project Management at McGill Restoration

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

• Right now, bouncing between managing the I-480 job that we are doing with Hawkins, reviewing bids, and distributing estimates to the team.

What do you like most about your job?

• Reviewing bids and deciding just how aggressive to be.

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

• Managing people, it’s a lot harder than managing projects.

How did you get into the heavy highway construction industry?

• I took the long way around. In the early 2000s, I moved to Texas and worked in the automobile industry for a few years before moving to New York City and getting my Construction Management degree from NYU in my 30s. I have been with McGill Restoration for six years now.

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

• While I was in New York City, I interned for MTA, the company that inspects the foundation systems in the subway tunnels. I was there when they were building the new World Trade Center and got to be involved with that process.

What are your hopes for our industry?

• That the material and labor issues don’t derail the industry.

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

• Don’t rush into anything. Make sure you choose the career path you truly want before settling in.

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• Dino, a superintendent of mine in New York. He had a lot of experiences to share with me and really taught me how to survive and thrive in this industry.

What did you want to be when growing up?

• An astronaut.

What was the first job you ever had?

• Worked at a golf course.

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

• Back in New York City, I bartended at a hotel right by Grand Central Station. All kinds of people came through there.

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

• Slow down and appreciate the moments instead of rushing through life.

What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• Public speaking.

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

• Play golf. Thankfully, my seven-year-old enjoys going out so I get to play on the weekends with him.

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

• Neil Armstrong on the day he went to the moon.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

• Lazy people that put in very little effort.

Favorite restaurant?

• Cent’Anni back in Brooklyn.

Assistant Project Manager at Judds Brothers Construction Co.

Lukas is a 2022 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Construction Management Program from Milford, Nebraska. He worked as an intern at Judds Brothers Construction Co. for 3.5 years before transitioning to his full-time position in May.
  
What does a typical day at work look like for you?

• About half the time in the office and the other half in the field. Anything from laying pipe and pouring concrete to ordering materials and reviewing one calls.

What do you like most about your job?

• The varying aspect of it, I am not stuck on one thing. It is fun to get out in the field but also get to come back in the office.

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

• The long lead times and pleasing the field guys has been the most challenging.

How did you get into the heavy highway construction industry?

• I applied for an internship at Judds Brothers after seeing their listing on Husker Handshake my freshman year and have enjoyed it so much that I stayed through college and now into my career.

What is your favorite project of your career so far? 

• A steam tunnel replacement at East Campus in 2020. It was a little bit of everything that we do all in one project.

What are your hopes for our industry?

• To see it get younger. About 90 percent of my graduating class at UNL went commercial, but heavy highway is the place to be.

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

• Try new things, that’s how I figured out how much I enjoy utility contracting.

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• John Judds. He took me in with no experience, has introduced me to so many people and gives me the right amount of freedom to learn as I go. 

What did you want to be when growing up?

• A bridge contractor. From playing with Legos as a kid and even now, building a bridge over water seems really cool.

What was the first job you ever had?

• Farming for my dad is really the only other job I have had.

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

• Get involved as much as you can in college. 

What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• Operate an excavator. The loader and skid steer are no problem, but something about an excavator hasn’t clicked for me yet.

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

• Go to the lake and wakeboard with friends.

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

• No, but hopefully one day I will be able to golf well enough for it to be a hidden talent. I’m trying to learn.

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

• Scott Frost. I’m curious to know what kind of pressure he is feeling going into his 5th season.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

• When people are late and end up wasting other people’s time.

Favorite restaurant?

• Huhot

Thank you to all sponsors, players and participants of our 2022 Summer Golf Outing! We had another great year filling the course with 38 teams. The predicted rain leading up to the event held off to make for a wonderful day on the course. Save the date for our Fall Outing at Quarry Oaks on September 16th.

First Flight:
1st Place: Brett Gallinger, Brad Wegner, Jim Connell, Jon Gierhan (57)
2nd Place: Jon Jackson, Brady Lollman, Sean Vontz, Jarred Horsky (57)
3rd Place: Keith Petersen, JJ Petersen, Quinton Otto, Dan Pedersen (58)
Second Flight:
1st Place: Leo Faustgen, Kevin Stenger, Troy Cumpston, Brett Delehant (63)
2nd Place: Tyler Chicoine, Sean Stanley, Jeff Bremer, Curt Bremer (63)
3rd Place: Gary Kinloch, Glen Dingman, Terry Rodgers, Keegan Nelson (63)
Third Flight:
1st Place: Tom King, Mike Werner, Jake Buss, Jared Hardy (66)
2nd Place: John Webster, Kane Nordmeyer, Kelly McCoy, Jake Paulsen (66)
3rd Place: Tyler McNitt, Brad Beck, Taylor Ostransky, Travis Boyll (66)

Main Event Sponsor: Murphy Tractor & Equipment Co., Inc.

Lunch Sponsors: Constructors and NEBCO, Inc.

Hole Sponsors: 
Ash Grove CementBosselman Energy/Bosselman Carriers
Copple Insurance Agency, Inc.
Elder Corporation
Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc.
Flint Hills Resources
FNIC Group
Graham
Great Plains Redi Mixed Concrete
Green Thumb LLC
Highway Signing, Inc.
INSPRO
Jebro, Inc.
Logan Contractors Supply
Lutz
Lyman Richey Corporation
Martin Marietta
Mersino
NMC/NMC Cat Rental Store
Paulsen, Inc.
Prairie Wealth Advisors
Purple Wave Auction
Raka Rentals
RDO Truck Center
Ritchie Bros
RoadBuilders Machinery & Supply Co., Inc.
​Road Machinery & Supplies Co.

President of Bosselman Energy Companies
HER ADVICE TO MEMBERS: Expect long lines, high prices and shortages this season. Order early!

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

• Visiting construction sites, working with customers, office work.

What do you like most about your job?

• Making sure our customers are happy.

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

• Making sure people are happy. It takes a lot with the supply chain issues and coordination of delivery to make sure customers have what they want. That’s what makes it so rewarding when the job is done.

How did you get into the heavy highway construction industry?

• Bosselman Energy is a family business, her grandfather founded the company, and her dad is now the CEO. Krisha has been with the company for 14 years after having a few other jobs after her time at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

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

• The most memorable moment was the grand opening of a site in Plainville, KS

What are your hopes for our industry?

• Krisha’s hope for the industry is that the conflict in Ukraine will end soon. It is something that is drastically affecting the oil trading industry.

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

• “There’s no I in team.”

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• Her father. Although she is the president of the company, he remains the CEO and his opinion really matters. He mentored her throughout her life in order to prepare her for her current role with the company.

What did you want to be when growing up?

• Krisha went to the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and worked in media sales after college in Colorado before coming back to the family business.

What was the first job you ever had?

• Paper route

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

• Handing out Pepsi at an Annual Ski Equipment Expo

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

• "Buy Apple stock."

What is one skill/ability you wish you had?

• "Play the piano. I played the clarinet for a time in high school."

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

• "Spend time with my 4 year old."

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

• “If I told you, they wouldn’t be hidden.”

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

• "Pete Davidson, he’s hilarious."

What is your biggest pet peeve?

• "I try to tolerate most things."

Favorite restaurant?

• Mexican food

Left to right: Daron Bean, Jon Duden, Krisha Dolton, Eddie Dimmit

What are your hopes for our industry?

• Michelle: For construction trucking to get more specific recognition, aside from just trucking.

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

• Michelle: Be as flexible and accommodating as possible within your means

Who has been the most influential person in your career?

• Both: Father

 
Background:
 
What did you want to be when growing up?

• Michelle: This. I am a wife, mother, business owner and can homeschool our two kids.

What was the first job you ever had?

• Michelle: Shopko 
  
• James: Lee’s Chicken

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

• Michelle: Phlebotomy, blood draws, healthcare

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

• Michelle: Be a better judge of character
  
• James: Be less trusting

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

• James: Relax and go fishing

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

• Michelle is a published writer, specializing in devotional books

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

• James would want to be president for a day

What is your biggest pet peeve?

• Michelle: Saying you’re going to do something and not doing it

Favorite restaurant?

• James enjoys smoking meat; they don’t eat out too often but enjoy Ruby Tuesday or Texas Roadhouse

The AGC Nebraska Staff spent the last week of March in Grapevine, TX, at the AGC of America National Convention. We attended sessions related to memberships, workforce development, Culture of CARE, professional development, and NCCER partnership. ​

One of our focuses for 2022 is to bring back our chapter's FLC, and we were able to gain great insight into best practices in Texas. Katie and Carly met with the Austin Chapter's CLC Chair, who shared their successes and challenges. In addition, Carly attended a breakout session that three college seniors in construction management led. They spoke to the importance of culture at a company, even above pay and benefits. We are confident that having a successful FLC at our chapter will serve as a vital member benefit to attract and maintain the next generation of workers.

The fun side of this Convention included great networking opportunities, live armadillos, and plenty of beer. Seems about right. Sheila and Carly met many of the other Chapter Executives that Katie has had long-standing relationships with. Our Keynote Speaker from the Nebraska Convention, Shannon McKain, was able to meet us for dinner one night since she lives in the Dallas area. It was great to see so many familiar and new faces.

Congratulations to the first cohort of graduates from the From Builder to Leader Program! 

We loved hearing what each participant learned over this 8-week Leadership Training Program. From the DiSC Assessment, to the SBI model, it is without doubt that strategies will continue to be implemented into the working habits of each participant.  

Cohort #2 is coming soon, stay tuned!

The Project Managers' Conference was back in Kearney this year and we were pleased to attend. Topics discussed at the joint sessions included leadership, e-Ticketing, Doc Exchange, Civil Rights, Ogallala Rest Area Construction, an FHWA update, bridge deck membrane, seeding, the Great Resignation and more.

At our evening reception, sponsored by Garcia-Chicoine Enterprises, Inc., we announced two award winners. 
Lyle Leader PM Award - Joe Kuehn, District #1, Project Manager
​David Coolidge Award - Tim Weander, District #2, District Engineer