Build Me Up

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of our lives. But perhaps no industry was as impacted as the aviation industry. The rapid shutdown of air travel is forcing the industry to get innovative as they navigate their way through this challenging economic setback.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, managed by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), served nearly 40 million travelers in 2019. It was named Best Airport in North America for the fourth year in a row, with constant construction projects underway. Kraus-Anderson has been doing constant work at MSP Airport since the 1990s. The latest project to complete is the Silver Ramp, a 5,000-car parking garage and new hub for car rentals. More is underway, including dining, shopping, and improvements to check-in, baggage claim areas and more.

To learn more about how one of the busiest airports in the country is planning for the future amidst a global pandemic, we sat down with Brian Ryks, Executive Director and CEO of the MAC, as well as Rich Jacobson, Executive Vice President at Kraus-Anderson Construction.

Often times, when we use the term "innovation," people quickly jump to flashy, technologically advanced innovations. But that is not always the case. BX Civil and Construction (BX-CC), a highway construction company based in South Dakota, is making very intentional investments in both its people and technology. BX-CC CEO and Owner Kari Karst knew that investing in technology was vitally important to keeping the company moving forward. The stringless paving technology has increased efficiency, but it has also helped foster a growth mindset among BX-CC's employees. On the latest episode of the Build Me Up podcast, Kari Karst and BX-CC Field Technology Specialist Taylor Popham discuss stringless paving, the evolution of the construction industry, and how the company's employees have embraced this technology.

We have a mental health crisis in our country, and often it is the children that slip through the cracks. In Minnesota alone, over 100,000 children need treatment for serious emotional disturbances. Many children with complex mental illnesses will need weeks or months of round-the-clock care to get well, but the average stay in children's psychiatric hospitals is 7-10 days, on average. The Hills Youth and Family Services, based in Duluth, Minnesota, is working to address this growing need across the state.

Their latest facility, Cambia Hills of East Bethel, is the first purpose-built psychiatric residential treatment facility for children in Minnesota. It combines specialized education services and residential treatment all under one roof. Its innovative partnership with the Northeast Metro 916 School District is providing flexible learning opportunities for Cambia Hills residents, ranging from ages 6-17.

In the latest episode of the Build Me Up podcast, The Hills Youth and Family Services CEO Jeff Bradt, along with District 916 Assistant Superintendent Daniel Naidicz and Tammy Bednar, Principal at Cambia Hills, discuss their partnership, this state-of-the-art facility, and the growing need for mental health treatment.

The concept of mobile device management (MDM) may seem trivial, but the technology behind it is what keeps a company running. In the construction industry, reliable and on-the-go communication is key to running a project. The MDM process is hugely important. KA's Mobile Technology Coordinator Judd Jennrich, KA Project Manager Mike Stark, and Jamf Account Executive Ryan Ward sit down to discuss the innovative, behind-the-scenes process of getting a phone in the hands of every employee at a company.

The Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis is part of a nationwide network of high schools that provide unique opportunities for urban students with limited education options. Part of Cristo Rey's core mission that sets them apart is their Corporate Work Study Program. Their students spend one full work day each week in a corporate office setting, performing tasks and learning valuable professional skills to set them apart when they graduate and enter the work force. Kraus-Anderson has been a longtime corporate partner with Cristo Rey.

Brian Garcia graduated from Cristo Rey this spring, and he worked at Kraus-Anderson through its Corporate Work Study program for the past four years. Brian's growth is both a testament to his hard work, his strong education from Cristo Rey, and the support from people like Lori Charlesworth, KA's Office Manager and facilitator of the intern program over the past several years.

In the latest episode of Build Me Up, we talk to Kesiah Kolbow, Cristo Rey's Corporate Work Study Program Director; Brian Garcia and Lori Charlesworth about Cristo Rey's model, the value of high school students getting work experience, and the impressive growth of Brian since he began at KA as a first-year high school student.

Building Information Technology, or BIM, is a complex facet of the construction, architecture, and engineering industry. Kraus-Anderson BIM Manager Heather Kossila and BIM/VDC Specialists Andrea Blair and Allie Bindert sit down to discuss how BIM technology is evolving within the industry, how the age of social distancing is impacting their work, and the career paths they took before finding their passion for BIM.

Sam Ebute is the director of the MN Trades Academy, a paid internship experience for high schoolers to expose them to career pathways in construction. But his own journey to the industry did not follow a traditional path. In this special episode, guest host and KA's Director of Inclusion and Diversity Laurie Trousil sat down with Sam to learn more about his early life in Nigeria, the culture shock of moving to Menomonie, Wisconsin, and the events in his life that led him to mentoring Twin Cities youth. His story of courage, resilience and compassion built from adversity, is a timely and inspiring message for all of us.

The Maple River School District serves students in the rural communities of Southern Minnesota. Faced with aging facilities and a declining school population, the district set out to pass a $63.3 million bond referendum for a new school that would house Pre-K through 12th grade students. In its 4th attempt, the referendum passed by less than 10 votes. Kraus-Anderson's Gary Benson and Tony Sjolander talk with Maple River Superintendent Dan Anderson and two Maple River school board members, Karson Duncanson and Dave Schoneck, both of which were opposed to the referendum before voting yes, on how they are moving forward with uniting their community.

The United Way of Bemidji Area, a local non-profit in the northern Minnesota community, has been working tirelessly to serve its residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Director Denae Alamano and Kraus-Anderson Bemidji's Director of Business Development Tracy Pogue, who also serves on the United Way board, discuss how the community has come together in unprecedented ways. The generous donations to the Emergency Fund, established for COVID-19 relief, has made countless new initiatives possible. From the Gifts of Hope program that helps both local families and struggling businesses, to the Backpack Buddies food packs providing lunches for children, the Bemidji community is finding hope amidst the pandemic.

The Team 2052 KnightKrawlers, Irondale High School's robotics team, is using its skills to 3D print face shields for healthcare and other essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Coach Scott Davis, Build Team Student Captain Kyle Warren, and Public Relations Student Captain Maria Johnson discussed how they gathered support and supplies from the community, the trial and error involved in their operation, and the impact they are seeing in the community.