Exit Interview

Jim Rogers began his career with Story Construction's predecessor James Thomson & Sons as a laborer working on the Hilton Coliseum project, where his dad was the lead superintendent. Jim progressed to foreman and then superintendent, and is known for his creativity and problem-solving abilities on the job site. Though Jim is technically retired, he's still around Story's office and job sites from time to time sharing his wisdom and experience with the younger generations. 

Larry Dix played many roles throughout his career at Story Construction and helped propel the company with developments in estimating, our Small Projects Group, and hiring and bringing up young employees. Like many retirees at Story, Larry's impact is still felt strongly in the company today, even years after his retirement. 

Though he retired in 2009, Jim can still be seen from time to time around Story's office and on job sites. Jim joined Story Construction in 1961 when it was known as James Thompson & Sons, where began as a timekeeper and eventually worked his way up to superintendent. Jim's long career has given him an invaluable cache of knowledge and wisdom that he's still passing down to younger generations, even more than a decade after officially retiring. 

A project manager at Story for more than 25 years, hear about Mike's journey from growing up in Dubuque to college at Iowa State, and then to California before returning to Ames again. Mike retired in the early part of 2020, but his impact on Story and the industry will be felt for years to come.

While Norm Riis was growing up in Denmark, his great uncle James Thompson was growing a thriving construction business in the United States. Decades later, Norm would become president of that company, then known as Story Construction. Norm retired in 2000, and though this Exit Interview is 20 years overdue, we talk with Norm about arriving in the United States and the ensuing decades he spent with Story Construction. 

The first episode of Exit Interview is with Linda Hurd, Story's receptionist since 2016. Linda retired at the end of June 2020. She shares about her life, her careers and her plans after retirement. 

An audio-only edition of the Monthly Update from  Mike Espeset. Subscribe to Exit Interview on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 

Introducing Exit Interview, and podcast by Story Construction. 

The first episode of Exit Interview is with Linda Hurd, Story's receptionist since 2016. Linda retires at the end of June 2020. She shares about her life, her careers and her plans after retirement. 

Mike Espeset talks with his brother Rick to check in on the status of the Indiana State Fair