Member Spotlight

Lukas Lorenz

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

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