People Award Archives - ��ý Construction

Keith ��ý Honored as a 2025 GroundBreaker

nisaschmitz — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:19:58 +0000

Publication: , October 25, 2025

is honored to spotlight Charlotte-based Keith ��ý, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ��ý Construction Company, who has been named to the Class of 2025 GroundBreakers — an exclusive group of individuals recognized for going above and beyond to make a difference in the construction community across the Carolinas.

Established in 1980, ��ý Construction Company is an award-winning, multi-generational construction management and design-build firm operating in the Midwest and Southeast regions. Keith ��ý assumed leadership in 2021 following his father’s passing and more than doubled ��ý’s revenue from $183 million to $404 million in 2024. Keith ��ý’s eye for growth and development, along with core values of trust and mutual respect, have secured significant partnerships throughout the region.

Keith ��ý relocated to the Charlotte area in 2020 to oversee ��ý’s regional expansion. Since 2023, ��ý has managed over 3.3 million squre feet of distribution and warehouse projects in the Carolinas — 88% of which came from repeat clients and referrals. ��ý’s financial success over the past several years has earned recognition as an and among the for three consecutive years.

GroundBreak Carolinas recently caught up with Keith ��ý for an insightful conversation about his role and vision for the 45-year-old company.

Tell us what you are most passionate about when it comes to the AEC industry and/or your role within your organization?

“Continually striving for safety excellence and ensuring our employees and subcontractors return home safely to their families, free from injury, is something I am incredibly passionate about.”

What are some of the things you are doing inside and outside of your workspace and organization to improve the construction industry and encourage others to make construction a potential career choice?

“I’ve seen firsthand how early exposure to construction, from early education through high school, can inspire students to pursue careers in the industry. To foster that spark, ��ý partners with community and technical colleges, associations, and universities across the Southeast to connect students with hands-on learning and excellent trades apprenticeship and construction management programs. Additionally, we advocate for earlier engagement with high school and middle school students to show them the opportunities a construction career can provide. In 2023, we launched our NextGen initiative, which brings K-12 students to project sites for groundbreaking ceremonies, class tours, and milestone celebrations, all to help them envision themselves in construction careers.

“Within our organization, I’ve built a culture where safety is collaborative, not combative, and where employees are empowered to take ownership of their careers. We invest heavily in education, training, coaching, and leadership opportunities, creating a workplace where hard work is rewarded and long-term growth is possible. As a result, our people feel valued, prepared, and motivated to advance the industry as a whole.

“The trade labor shortage remains one of — and will continue to be — our industry’s most significant challenges. Ensuring we have qualified personnel — from management to trades — on the right projects is always a concern. To help overcome this, ��ý partners with subcontractors and vendors who possess the capacity, capability, character, and capital to deliver high-quality work while also supporting workforce development.”

How do you see technology’s influence?

“Keeping up with technological advances is imperative to business growth and meeting customer expectations, but you don’t want to adopt new technology simply because it’s trendy. It’s essential to adopt technologies that can streamline productivity, enhance real-time decision-making, and ultimately deliver tangible benefits to clients. At ��ý, we’ve seen this most clearly with drones and BIM software.

“We recently launched an in-house drone program to support our preconstruction, safety, quality, operations, and marketing teams. Drones enable us to collect topographical data in hours instead of days, which helps us provide more accurate bids, reduce the risk of costly change orders, and expedite site selection. They also enhance safety by monitoring hard-to-reach areas, ensuring crews are following protocols, and documenting utility locations for long-term reference. On the quality side, drones can identify inconsistencies in building materials or even detect roof leaks and energy loss through thermal scans.

“Beyond drones, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has reshaped how we proactively plan our projects and collaborate with subcontractor partners. By integrating real-time data into the design process, we can streamline constructability reviews, visualize the facility, reduce errors, and accelerate schedules.

“Together, these tools make our work more efficient and our teams safer, while also providing clients with greater transparency, precision, and confidence at every stage of their project.”

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?

“I think my greatest accomplishment is continuing my father’s legacy of leading a safety-first, family-oriented culture. Guiding the company through transformative growth, doubling revenue within four years, and expanding operations, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to safety and people, is something I’m truly proud of.

“Since taking on the role of CEO and chairman of ��ý in 2021, our company has made significant strides in safety and risk management, earning national and regional honors, including the Associated General Contractors (AGC) – National Construction Safety Excellence Award (First Place), the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) STEP Safety Certification and��Accredited Quality Contractor, and an .

What do you think are the most important personal attributes one must possess to be successful in the construction industry of tomorrow?

“I believe the most important personal attributes for success in the construction industry are mutual respect, humility, accountability, a dedication to safety excellence, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

“Strong values build strong teams, and in this industry, your reputation will carry you further than any title. I also think that to be successful, you must be a relationship builder who lives by the Golden Rule and embraces a servant leadership approach. If you do these things with sincerity, you will earn respect, and people will follow you.

“Safety will always remain central to the future of our industry. Acting as your brother’s and sister’s keeper on the jobsite creates a culture where everyone looks out for one another.

“Finally, success requires resilience and a commitment to growth. Never give up on yourself and never stop learning. The ability to take lessons — both good and bad — and apply them throughout your career is one of the most valuable attributes you can develop.”

What are the 3-5 Leadership Principles that you have discovered and executed that have contributed to your success?

“I take a servant leadership approach rooted in the principles of faith, trust, mutual respect, and living by ‘The Golden Rule.’ This principle was instilled in me by my father, Chuck ��ý, who was a Bronze Star Vietnam War Veteran. After losing three members of his platoon in combat, Dad vowed that if he survived, he would dedicate his life to building something meaningful. He returned home, began his construction career, and developed his respect for the importance of always looking out for one another.

“I also foster a family-oriented culture by treating employees, clients, business partners, and subcontractors as family. I believe that an organization’s most valuable resource is its people, and one of the most important things a leader can do is invest in and empower their employees through education, coaching, and collaborative oversight. Our company’s average employee tenure is 10 years, and many of our employees are second and third-generation workers with deep family ties to the company’s inception.

“By consistently fostering an environment where people feel valued and supported, I’ve seen firsthand that when you take care of your people, clients, and business partners, the bottom line takes care of itself.

Looking back over your construction career, is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance? Why?

“That’s a difficult question to try to answer because all the decisions I’ve made throughout my career, whether successful or not, have led me to where I am today. I have made many mistakes over my career, but those have contributed to significant lessons learned for me personally and professionally. All of those decisions, mixed with my background, have shaped my management and servant leadership approach today. I do feel like I do a better job today prioritizing decision-making to ensure I am most productive with my time. If I could go back to my younger self, I would probably try to guide that individual in decision-making to stay focused, improve work-life balance, and reduce stress. I would also tell that individual to spend as much time as possible with his father because he was available, a great mentor, a fountain of wisdom, and an extraordinary leader. On top of all of that, he didn’t charge for his time or advice.”

What do you see as the future trends of the construction industry over the next 5-10 years?

“The construction industry is embracing AI, automation, and technology to improve efficiency. From streamlining business processes to predictive scheduling, risk mitigation, and real-time safety monitoring, AI is being utilized to enhance productivity and alleviate strain on the workforce. This trend is the new way of the future. At ��ý, we’ve already begun integrating AI, drone technology, and virtual simulation into our process to enhance planning and risk management.

��ý Gives Back – Under Keith’s leadership, ��ý launched the ��ý Gives Back program, supporting over 50 nonprofit organizations in 2024. Notably, the company raised over $121,000 for Dream On 3 Carolinas – a charity making sports dreams happen for children with life-altering conditions – through its inaugural Southeast Charity Clay Shoot and impact contributions for their gala. ��ý continuously supports Scouting America Mecklenburg County Council, demonstrating commitment to youth development and community engagement. Keith supports the Good Fellows Club, a Charlotte organization providing emergency assistance to families in need. These contributions reflect Keith’s unwavering commitment to philanthropy, education, and community engagement, making a positive impact throughout the regions where ��ý operates.

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Keith ��ý Named 2025 Most Admired CEO

nisaschmitz — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:46:50 +0000

Publication:

Keith ��ý, Chairman & CEO, earned the prestigious from the . The program recognizes established leaders in the Charlotte region who have demonstrated a strong vision for their companies and a commitment to the community. They have a proven track record of innovation in their field, outstanding financial performance, promoting diversity in the workplace and making an impact that extends beyond the boardroom.

Honorees for this signature awards program, now in its eighth year, were chosen following a nomination process earlier this year. Each holds the title of chief executive or an equivalent, such as president or managing partner.

Keith’s mentorship and servant leadership approach has propelled the company to achieve unprecedented success in a time that has challenged many construction companies due to labor and supply chain constraints. Since Keith’s appointment to CEO and Chairman in 2021, ��ý’s revenue has more than doubled from $183 million to $404 million in 2024.

A major factor in the company’s financial success is the relationships and strategic partners that have helped the company grow over the years. To serve those relationships better, Keith moved to the Charlotte area to oversee the firm’s southeast expansion efforts and lead this strategic growth effort.

Centrally located across all of the firm’s market sectors, Charlotte was an ideal market for establishing an office to better serve its clients looking to expand their real estate portfolio in the region.

Keith’s eye for growth and development, along with his core values grounded by faith, trust, mutual respect, and “The Golden Rule,” have secured the company with some wonderful partnerships throughout the region. His decision-making process is based on a long-term approach centered around what is in the best interest of protecting and growing the relationship. Since 2023, the company has managed over 3.3 million SF of distribution and warehouse projects in the Carolinas, and industrial buildings represented the largest share of ��ý’s revenue that year. Also that year, ��ý made the Charlotte Business Journal’s largest general contractors list and has since ranked as one of the Top 30 largest general contractor firms for two consecutive years.

When Keith took on the role of CEO and Chairman after his father’s untimely passing in July of 2021, he continued his father’s leadership approach of treating employees, clients, business partners, and subcontractors as family. Keith has prioritized investing in his employees early on and continuously, as evidenced by the company’s impressive 10-year average employee tenure. Today, many of ��ý’s employees are second- and third-generation workers with deep family ties to the company’s inception, and those employees have helped solidify a family-first culture by embracing an atmosphere where everyone has the knowledge, training, coaching, and oversight to be aware of their surroundings and look out for one another.

Keith has created a culture that rewards hard work, empowers employees with the ability to make decisions, and provides them with training and opportunities to grow and expand their talents and career aspirations. In addition, the ��ý Team partners with community and technical colleges, associations, higher education schools, and universities throughout the Southeast region, leveraging their talents and excellent workforce development programs to create a robust workforce filled with talent, leadership, passion and the willingness and empowerment to mentor and coach others.

Recognizing that employees perform best when they know and understand their coworkers, Keith fosters team bonding through events like the annual holiday party, chili cookoff, cornhole tournament, lunch and learns, food truck visits, and family outings at various Charlotte professional sport team games.

The Charlotte Business Journal celebrated the honorees on June 5 at The Westin Charlotte hotel uptown.

Meet Keith

Describe your leadership style or guiding philosophy and how you put that into action within your organization:

“I take a servant leadership approach rooted in the principles of faith, trust, mutual respect and living by ‘The Golden Rule.’ I foster a family-oriented culture by treating employees, clients, business partners and subcontractors as family. Prioritizing and investing in employees early on and continuously creating a culture that rewards hard work empowers employees to make decisions and provides them with training and opportunities. Our company’s average employee tenure is 10 years, and many of our employees are second- and third-generation workers with deep family ties to the company’s inception.

Describe a difficult decision or major change you’ve made as the leader of your company over the past year, how you handled that and how it impacted the business:

“We recently wrapped up our 2030 strategic plan. As a family-owned business, our firm’s previous strategic plans were developed and implemented by a small group primarily consisting of my siblings and I (all company owners) and a few long-term leaders. With the firm’s growth over the past decade, we knew our approach needed to be adjusted. Although I wanted to empower others to take more ownership of the strategic direction of the company, I was worried about potential bottlenecks with so many opinions on direction. Ultimately, the ownership group decided to expand the committee, which proved beneficial.

“Additionally, our industry is evolving rapidly due to technological advancements. This brings both challenges and investment opportunities. Decisions on these investments are crucial for building efficiency and meeting client expectations. While I am optimistic about the strong ROI in operational efficiency, the implementation phase does strain the organization.”

Describe your top accomplishment of the past year:

“In 2024, ��ý Construction reached an impressive $404 million in revenue. This milestone was driven by the completion of 1.3 million square feet of new facilities and renovations in the Southeast across various sectors, including distribution and warehouse, federal and defense, and retail. Key projects included the 702,000-square-foot Gaston Commerce Center logistics park in Gastonia and the 472,000-square-foot Innovation Logistics Center in Salisbury. ��ý’s commitment to safety and quality was recognized by several prestigious organizations.

“Furthermore, the company supported over 50 nonprofit organizations through philanthropic partnerships, advocacy, fundraising and volunteering initiatives. ��ý raised over $121,000 for from its first Southeast Charity Clay Shoot and impact contributions for the gala.”

What is the top priority for Charlotte to ensure a strong business environment?

“Economic growth and development in the region have significantly benefited the community, including a growing tax base and a surplus in career opportunities. To ensure a strong business environment, Charlotte must keep up with affordable housing demands along with the infrastructure expansion and maintenance needs tied to this growth.”

What was your first job, and what is one lesson you carried forward from that?

“In the mid-1980’s, when I was around 6 or 7 years old, I started going with my father to help at our business, ��ý Construction. My task was to pick up nails and screws around the laydown yard. For every 60 nails I picked up, I would earn a soda. My dad would remind me that picking up nails was a very important job. I remember feeling upset when I missed a nail and someone ended up getting a flat tire. I didn’t realize it then, but my dad was teaching me to take ownership of my work. To this day, when visiting our project sites, I pick up nails throughout my walk.”

Who inspires you, and why?

“My father stands out as the mentor who taught me the principles of servant leadership.”

What is something you do for fun?

“Spending time with my wife and 6-year-old son. We enjoy camping trips and traveling together. I have a passion for fine wine and often research and schedule vineyard tours during our travels. My wife and I try to have regular date nights at our favorite restaurants in the area. Recently, my son took up golf, and watching him learn and grow in this sport is a lot of fun. Additionally, I enjoy boating, snow skiing, running and entertaining friends and family.”

What is one of the best books you’ve read recently, and why?

“Rebound, by Coach Matt Doherty. This book was filled with lessons learned and some wonderful leadership takeaways. Of course, the greatest book is The Bible.”

What is your best advice for future leaders?

“Never give up on yourself and learn from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them. Be a relationship builder and always treat others as you would want to be treated. Empower and encourage others to make decisions and embrace a servant leadership approach. If you do these things with sincerity, you will earn respect, and people will follow you.”

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��ý Construction EVP & COO Receives St. Louis Business Journal Honor

daniellebergmann — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:02:24 +0000

Jon Carroll recognized with 40 under 40 distinction

Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Jon Carroll, has been named to the 40 Under 40 class of 2022. Carroll, along with other young business leaders in the greater St. Louis area, was honored for his contributions to the company and community at a special awards gala on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

“Jon has been instrumental in ��ý’s growth over the years, especially for developing quality relationships with clients utilizing the construction management delivery method and leading technology and process initiatives for the operations team,” said Ryan ��ý, president of ��ý Construction. “He truly exemplifies the kind of dedicated professionalism and strong community relationship culture that we value at ��ý, and we are very proud of Jon for receiving this award.”

The St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awards salute young professionals making a difference in their organizations and communities. More than 600 nominations were submitted and reviewed by a panel of previous 40 Under 40 winners who helped the Business Journal choose members of the new class, who appeared in the November 4 print edition of the St. Louis Business Journal. In addition to Carroll’s honor this year, the St. Louis Business Journal highlighted alumni from prior years, including Ryan ��ý, a member of the 2018 class, and Kimberly Luitjohan, who received the honors in 2020.

Carroll began his career at ��ý in 2007 as a project engineer after graduating from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville with a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management. Carroll further developed his project management and leadership skills by serving in multiple roles within the company including project manager, project director, and vice president. In 2021, Carroll was promoted to his current role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, where he oversees the risk management, project management, and operations departments, which have grown to nearly 230 employees, a 22 percent increase in the past year.

Carroll’s passion for education and safety goes beyond the projects he manages at ��ý. He is the vice chair on the board of directors and on the steering committee for Clay County, IL’s CEO organization. As one of 62 CEO programs across the US, this organization is an immersive mentorship for youths to learn to be responsible, enterprising, and entrepreneurial thinking individuals. Carroll has been active in coordinating private tours and presentations of active project sites with local colleges and high schools to show students the depth of construction industry job opportunities available, from field trades and project management to technology and financial based positions.

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2020 40 UNDER 40 HONOREE | Kimberly Luitjohan, Vice President Finance

daniellebergmann — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 14:08:40 +0000

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Kimberly Luitjohan, 35 |��Vice president, finance, ��ý Construction Co.

Established in 1980, ��ý is a second-generation, family- and veteran-owned construction company specializing in construction management, design and build, general contracting and self-perform work across variety of industries.��Kimberly Luitjohan��has been instrumental in managing the firm’s growth by overseeing accounts payable, job cost tracking, payroll, human resources, IT and asset management. Her headlining achievement is implementing multiple strategic changes to streamline cross-department collaboration, improving ��ý’s processes for efficient growth management, while giving back to the community through mentoring, advocacy and fundraising. Under her direction, Luitjohan’s department has implemented a robust financial management system to manage ��ý’s 600% increase in revenue.

What’s the biggest risk you ever took?��Diving into the accounting department at age 20. My family business was facing tremendous challenges and needed me. I had to learn all the steps and procedures that touched the accounting department. Looking back, it was the scariest part of my career so far, but we kept the faith and things worked out for the best.

What do you do to support your community?��I serve on the HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital-Breese Foundation Leadership Council and assist with ��ý’s annual golf fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters and toy drives for local organizations, including SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis. I also serve as the founder and organizing committee lead for my church’s annual cookie walk and craft bazaar.

What’s your favorite activity outside the office?��I have 5-year-old twins who keep me very busy. They have just started playing sports, and I enjoy watching them play. I also enjoy boating and snow skiing.

What’s one word that would describe you?��䲹��Բ�.

What did you want to be when you were younger?��I was reconciling bank statements in second grade, so accounting was in my blood. I do remember a time when I wanted to be a mortician. I am very fascinated in the process of how things work, but I have a very queasy stomach, so accounting was a much safer route.

What’s your favorite St. Louis restaurant?��Pappy’s Smokehouse

What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?��I enjoy going to St. Louis Blues games.

Past:��I have worked in all the different departments at ��ý Construction Co.

Present:��As vice president, finance, improves processes to manage growth at ��ý Construction Co.

Future:��There is a lot of blood, sweat and tears in our family business, and I want to continue to mold the business to be ready for the next generations. The transition to the third and fourth generations will be more challenging, and I want to see the transitions go as smoothly and successfully as possible.

This article originally appeared in the February 14, 2020 40 Under 40 Special Feature Section of the St. Louis Business Journal.��

Also featured in: Illinois Business Journal, St. Louis Construction News & Review and RiverBender.com

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POETTKER RECOGNIZED AS TOP 75 BEST PLACES TO WORK

daniellebergmann — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 18:18:01 +0000

Publication:

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40 UNDER 40: RYAN POETTKER STREAMLINES TECH, SAFETY INTO HIS FAMILY BUSINESS

daniellebergmann — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 17:26:33 +0000

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There was no other place Ryan ��ý wanted to be than at his family’s business, ��ý Construction Co.

As a child he would often run away from his babysitter, his parents said, to head into the office.

“I’ve always wanted this,” said ��ý, 37, who now serves as vice president of project management for the Breese, Illinois-based firm.

��ý has been in that role for 10 years, helping the family-owned company’s revenue grow 267 percent to $121 million over the same period. He’s helped add technology, too, including building information modeling to enhance construction capabilities, allowing the company to eliminate costly elevation clearance issues and scheduling delays, and implementing the cloud-based project management system Procore. He also helped to establish a corporate compliance team to manage the quality and safety that oversaw more than 900,000 man hours of work in 2017.

“Ryan started out at a very young age going along with his father to job sites… He has been involved with construction all his life, and has been able to see both sides of employees working in the field to V.P. responsibilities involved with construction work,” said Tom Albers, vice president of operations for ��ý Construction. “I admire his accomplishments and his respect of all his co-workers that he shows to them every day that he comes to work.”

Some of ��ý’s favorite projects include the more than $20 million McKendree Metro Rec Plex in O’Fallon, Illinois; the $9.5 million HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital outpatient surgery addition in Breese; and the roughly $23 million Lincoln National Cemetery expansion in Joliet, Illinois. He is also serving as point person for ��ý Construction’s new 40,000-square-foot headquarters that features an additional 12,000 square feet for warehouse space. The new headquarters, located about a quarter-mile from the firm’s current location, is slated to be complete in the first quarter of 2019. Costs were not disclosed.

“We’ve significantly outgrown our current (12,000-square-foot) facility,” ��ý said.

Outside of work, ��ý is involved with Relay for Life (his wife, Jenna, is a cancer survivor) and is a board member at the Clinton County YMCA. He’s also hoping to get back involved with coaching youth football when his children, 4-year-old Jade and 2-year-old Dawson, are old enough.

College?�� Bachelor’s degree in construction management with a minor in business,��-Edwardsville

��Best leadership advice?�� Build trust with your employees.��Once you have trust, you get the truth.

��What are you currently reading?�� St. Louis Business Journal,��, and Simon Sinek books

What’s the best part about your job?�� Seeing and helping our younger employees grow into leaders.

What would you go back and tell your 20-year-old self?�� Be more involved in social activities. In college, I was pretty serious and wish I could have had more fun.

��Who would be your dream mentor?�� Jack Welch

��What’s one thing that everyone needs to do or try in St. Louis?�� Cardinals and Blues home games. If you have kids, the zoo and Grant’s Farm.

��Favorite restaurant?�� Mungo’s in O’Fallon, Illinois, and 801 Chophouse in Clayton

��Favorite app?�� Procore for work, ESPN for fun

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People Award Archives - ������ý Construction

Keith ������ý Honored as a 2025 GroundBreaker