Build Me Up

Kyle Hanson, the recently-named Executive Director of Agate Housing and Services, as well as Michelle Perrin, the nonprofit's Director of Outreach and Shelter, join this week's episode of "Build Me Up"! They tell us about the organization's recent merger and name change (Fun fact: The Lake Superior agate is Minnesota's state gemstone!), dive further into the services and programs provided, and exp...

Gail Shore, founder of Cultural Jambalaya, and this year's Cultural Jambalaya Diversity Award Winner, Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens, join Build Me Up ! Dr. Stephens discusses her racial equity and social justice efforts within the St. Louis Park school district, as well as her students' passion and commitment to building a fair and just society for all. Gail explains Cultural Jambalaya's mission and tells...

This episode, "Build Me Up" is joined by Alex Titterud, Bre Nava, and Josh Carr — a group of KA employees who turned their desire for connection, collaboration, and learning into a companywide initiative. We dive into Kraus-Anderson's Emerging Professionals group and discuss where the idea came from, how the group has evolved, and how it benefits the organization and its employees. "Together, buil...

BJ Jungmann, Terry Ritchie, Jason Rentmeester, and Quinn Hutson — individuals involved with the delivery of the beautiful Burnsville Fire Station — join "Build Me Up" to give listeners an inside look at the new building. We discuss the guiding principles that influenced the build, how the features play a role in the mental and physical health of the firefighters, and more. Make sure to visit the K...

After a short Fourth of July break, "Build Me Up" is back! Kraus-Anderson 's Joe Baumann, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 's Melissa Wenzel, and buidling material reuse advocate Natalie Heneghan join the podcast to explain deconstruction. They highlight the benefits of the process, further explain some of its challenges, and give resources for those interested in implementing the process into t...

Hearts and Hammers' Randi Prebil and Kraus-Anderson 's Connor Hart join the "Build Me Up" podcast to discuss the wonderful organization that is Hearts and Hammers . We talk with the pair about how the nonprofit adds value to the communities in which we live, why people should volunteer, what to expect on program day, as well as Hearts and Hammers' short- and long-term goals.

We sit down with Korey Dean, founder of " The Man Up Club ," an organization that's goal is to empower young, black men to make positive life choices and equip them with the tools to be successful post-high school. Joining Korey is Jaeveon Mottley, a member of "The Man Up Club" and recent barber school graduate.   Korey explains the meaning behind the name, the building blocks of the curriculum, a...

This episode, we're joined by Barry Davies, Barb Pecks, and Terry Coleman — individuals all involved in various ways with construction trade unions. The trio helps us debunk stereotypes and common misconceptions associated with trade unions in this myth-busters-esque episode.

This episode, we're joined by Laurie Schneider, founder of the Pollinator Friendly Alliance, as well as Tonya Kostick and Brendan Ward, Kraus-Anderson employees and the keepers of our KA bees. We talk about various types of pollinators, the important role they play in our ecosystem, and how KA started beekeeping. Our guests also suggest ways in which all individuals can do their parts to help pres...

In this week's "Build Me Up" episode, Sara Wilkins, of Kraus-Anderson Insurance, joins Dani and Laurisa to talk about ergonomics and its benefits to both employees and their employers. They talk through some common workplace / work-from-home problem areas, and Sara explains a few easy changes that will make a positive, long-term impact. This conversation causes our hosts to self-examine and implem...

Chad Ronchetti, Charity Johnson, and Beth Peppersack joined this week's podcast to discuss their varied involvement in STARBASE, a nonprofit that introduces students to the world of STEM. We discussed the students' day-to-day activities on base, the needs the organization is addressing, how businesses/individuals can get involved, and a lot more. Use the links below to access STARBASE's free kits...

Career development and community retention are hot topics concerning Minnesota's Iron Range. Paul Noll, Morgan Seopa, and Willie Spelts joined "Build Me Up" to discuss the design and build of Rock Ridge High School, a designated Career Academy, and how the school and its programs hope to have a lasting impact on the community.

Career development and community retention are hot topics concerning Minnesota's Iron Range. We were joined by Paul Noll, Morgan Seopa, and Willie Spelts to discuss the building of Rock Ridge High School, a designated Career Academy, and how the school and its programs hope to have a lasting impact on the community.

Working as a project engineer, Ana Kraft was frustrated by the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed for professional women. She regularly went from a meeting room to the manufacturing floor but, unlike her male counterparts, had to excuse herself to change from office shoes into bulky work boots that never fit quite right. Instead of complaining, Ana created a solution. Click to li...

We last spoke to Kraus-Anderson's Rich Jacobson and FMI Corporation's Jay Bowman in February of 2020, about a month before COVID-19 struck the United States.   We're sitting down with them again, two years later, to chat about the construction industry's emerging trends and how the pandemic may have modified some of their responses.

When Semih Ayhan and Tuncay Ozdenak moved to the U.S. from Turkey, they brought their passion for Mediterranean cuisine. When they met in 2014, they decided to bring their family recipes together and opened their first food truck. Med Box Grill quickly became a staple across Minnesota, and lines would be long and winding no matter where they parked the food truck. As demand grew, they decided they...

Affordable housing continues to be a challenge for communities across the country. Construction costs continue to rise and developers are facing complicated funding and zoning restrictions, among other challenges. Access to housing is crucial for a healthy community, and the City of Duluth, Minnesota, is working to support people experiencing homelessness through several affordable housing project...

According to  CREW Network's 2020 Benchmark Study Report , women make up just under 37 percent of the commercial real estate industry. This number has not changed much over the past 15 years. While the number of young women joining the industry is growing, commercial real estate still has a ways to go in terms of inclusion and diversity. CREW,  or Commercial Real Estate Women, is a network of prof...

The construction industry continues to face a labor shortage, and in cities like Duluth, Minnesota, located along Lake Superior's North Shore, ambitious construction and development projects are clouded by the shortage of skilled workers in the trades. 218Trades  was designed to provide education and resources for young people in the Duluth area considering a career in the trades. They work direct...

The COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a halt in 2020. Every industry was affected, and retail real estate was hit particularly hard. As e-commerce continues to rise and brick and mortar stores are closing their doors, realty properties need to adapt and evolve. Essential businesses like grocery stores are busier than ever, but ongoing staffing shortages are impacting everyone. KA's Senior Vic...

When Minneapolis Firefighter Jake LaFerriere survived career-ending burn injuries in 2010, he felt little hope for his future. But he soon discovered that his mission in life had changed from firefighting to helping burn survivors find hope and healing, and the non-profit  Firefighters For Healing  was born. Over the past decade, Firefighters For Healing has helped countless burn survivors and fam...

As the construction industry continues to evolve, self-performing work is becoming a popular topic of conversation. The ongoing labor shortage makes it difficult to build up future field leaders, and new technology is needed to make work safer. The flexibility of self-performance for general contractors can create longterm solutions and ultimately benefit the client. Kraus-Anderson's Director of S...

The City of  Rochester, Minnesota  is home to the world-renowned  Mayo Clinic,  and the city is booming with economic growth. At the heart of it all is the  Destination Medical Center,  or DMC, initiative. This $5.6 billion dollar economic development plan is the largest in Minnesota's history and is positioning Rochester as a global destination for health and wellness. The City of Rochester welco...

There is no doubt that people are the most valuable asset to any organization. A company's commitment to identifying and developing talented leaders is critical to its longterm success. Kraus-Anderson partnered with the  University of St. Thomas  to create its Executive Development Program, or EDP, designed to provide in-depth and hands-on training in team development, empowerment and delegation,...

According to the National Association for Women in Construction , women still only make up about 10% of the construction industry workforce. Outreach and opportunity are critical in building a more diverse workforce and addressing the industry's ongoing labor shortage. The Association for Women Contractors (AWC) works to empower women business owners and service providers in construction. With a n...