Conco Construction

Craig Nelson believes strongly that you develop leadership and share the credit for success. With a degree in Construction Science from Kansas State University and nearly four decades’ field management experience, he is significantly invested in equipping the Conco team with the internal processes, skill-building opportunity, support structures and rewards to be successful for the client. He believes the client experience is best delivered through a desire for and focus on excellence. Under Nelson’s watch, Conco hiring practices are rigorous. New talent is coached and mentored to push hard, stretch as far as possible and perform to the highest standard. A hands-on leader, he keeps the lines of communication open to ensure the entire team—from executive leadership to the young construction laborer—is well supported. A serial winner of awards, Nelson believes Conco’s highest pursuits are healthy skylines in the communities the firm serves and lasting relationships with clients.

Just beginning her fourth decade of at Conco, Basto oversees accounting, procedures, financials and auditing. She says Conco is a family. She loves the fact that Conco self-performs, and acknowledges that her role gives her a “unique perspective on what it takes to make a project happen…how many people it takes, how many nails, screws, hammers…the magnitude of equipment needed…critical scheduling of labor. Each client comes with different requirements, which keeps the job ever-changing.

“It is very rewarding to know that the people you work with actually put their hands/muscles/minds into the final building. I love seeing a project come together. I work with the WIP (work in process) reports, and find it interesting to watch that information in comparison to what I hear at each weekly production meeting.”

With a career high of 150 projects awarded nationwide, Derek Dahm has an impressive record for winning the work he estimates. He’ll tell you his secret weapon is accuracy. At Conco, “the ability of our own skilled forces to self perform multiple trades allows me to be more accurate in budgeting phases of a project. I have in-depth knowledge of costs across more trades.”

With 20 years’ experience prior to joining Conco, seven of those in the role of chief estimator, he has worked as an “assistant superintendent, assistant project manager, estimator and everything in between.” A graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in Construction Science and Management, Dahm manages all bidding processes at Conco. He also assists Conco project managers in value engineering and establishes and maintains effective working relationships with vendors and subcontractors.

Dahm says he likes the always-changing nature of a day and that every project is unique, but appreciates the constancy of Conco’s client-centric culture.

With a degree in Construction Science and Management from Kansas State University, Seth has more than two decades’ experience as a project estimator in the construction industry. He recognizes the value of cultivating a bird’s-eye view of a project while also counting small, individual pieces, and making sure subcontractors fully understand scope.

Peterman says Conco’s signature is professionalism. “It’s very team driven here. Everyone’s office door is always open and people are willing to help each other out. No corners are cut and every project team is looking out for the client’s best interest. Involving multiple people throughout various aspects of the project ensures we build a quality project on time and under budget.”

At an open house, Kyle Blasdel relates, the owner/client walked up to him and said, “Wow! That was easy!” When asked what he meant he said it felt just like yesterday that Conco was sketching his building on notepads and napkins. “He thanked me for making the process enjoyable and taking care of all the details so he could focus on his primary business. He said, ‘Now that I know it’s this easy to build with you guys we’ll most definitely start the next one sooner!’”

Closing in on nearly a decade at Conco, Blasdel has a degree in Architectural Engineering from Kansas State University and a professional engineering license. He says Conco is a fast-paced, high-energy company focused on serving clients better than anyone else. “New opportunities present themselves every day and we have to find innovative ways to solve them. Conco is consistent about doing the little things right day in and day out. We keep our promises, work hard every day and get a little better each time. We work diligently to make the process inviting, safe and enjoyable.”

As Director of Field Operations Aaron Korte is responsible for getting all of Conco’s craftsmen in the right place at the right time. He’s also heavily involved in recruitment at the college level.

With a degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Pittsburg State University and just over a decade in experience at Conco, he’s got a lot to say to students about what Conco offers. “You get the satisfaction here of knowing what hard work and dedication will produce. There’s no last name on the door at Conco. You set your own career path based on performance and capabilities, not bloodlines.

Korte says he loves being in a position to build solid relationships throughout the company and into the community. “I believe Conco’s dedication to clients is unmatched. Quickly mobilizing and adapting to many different situations shows that we take every client’s needs seriously. And once the job is done we don’t just leave. We build the kind of relationships that bring about repeat business with most clients.”

Conco is resilient, Korte says. “Not a single person in this company backs down from a challenge. In fact, that’s when we thrive.”

On the Conco scene fewer than five years, Chris Biggs sees things through fresh eyes. “Conco is very different from most GCs today in that we self-perform a much larger percentage of the actual construction. This helps us control cost, scheduling and quality of the work in place to make us more competitive in the market.” He says Conco is resourceful. We diagnose challenges early on and come together to develop solutions before problems impact project cost or scheduling. With a degree in Construction Science & Management from Kansas State University, Biggs provides estimating and project management for clients across multiple industries. He likes taking a set of plans from start to finish, and appreciates the extra effort and often extra hours Conco superintendents put forth to make sure projects go as smoothly as possible.

Conco goes the extra mile for its employees too, he says. “We’re more than just workers. When one of us battled health problems, it was exciting to see the company band together and do anything we could to help out. Leadership genuinely cares for its employees and is not just focused on making money.”

David Pipes has a degree in Construction Science and Management from Kansas State University. With Conco for nearly a decade, he manages large projects and assists in the overall scheduling and management of the company’s manpower and equipment. He appreciates working for one of the few self-performing GCs in the region and says Conco employees get exposure and hands-on experience you can’t get working for someone else.

“I value most the relationships I have built with members of our team. They will always do whatever they can to help me and the client regardless of what time it is or how many hours we have already worked. The client experience is very important at Conco, and part of our Build to Last mentality.

“This company is about commitment,” he says. “If you aren’t committed to what we do, and how we go about doing it, you won’t last. If you are you will thrive.”

Ryan Pearson says he’s been on both the customer and vendor side of Conco and through those interactions learned that Conconian values are “much more than something written on paper. I saw various Conco employees demonstrate them on numerous occasions. Witnessing firsthand these values in action helped attract me to become part of the team.”

With a degree in Agribusiness from Kansas State University, Pearson has 20 years’ experience in operations and equipment management. Prior to joining Conco, he served 17 years at Foley Equipment Company as rental operations manager, with responsibility for all operational aspects of fleet management, transportation, rental coordination and yard operations across two states and 14 locations. He spent two years at Ditch Witch of Kansas as service manager.

At Conco,Pearson is responsible for the truck fleet, shop and yard operations, and overall management and utilization of Conco’s equipment and tools. Joining Conco leadership in demonstrating a high level of commitment, he says his ultimate goal is to provide best-in-class internal customer service to help maximize production within the field operations group.

Trent began his career at Conco Construction as a Cool to be Blue intern. Having had previous experience with other self-performing contractors, he appreciates that Conco has experienced in-house crews that can perform at the highest capacity to support a client’s vision. An important member of the project team, Trent says he respects Conco’s tenacity and commitment to deliver value. “That earns a client’s loyalty and repeat business.” Trent has a B.S. Degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Pittsburg State University.

Este veterano de dos décadas de la industria de la construcción y el desempeño de instalaciones dice que Conco es minucioso . Día a día, se enfoca en resolver problemas y administrar personas para cumplir y superar las expectativas del cliente. “El Equipo del Grupo de Rendimiento de las Instalaciones es muy atento y se anticipa a los problemas antes de que se informen”, dice. Previamente propietario de Simon Palmer Properties/re Black Building Management, Troy otorga mayor prioridad a la atención a los detalles mientras administra los mejores activos de los clientes de Conco Fpg. “Nuestro trabajo es asegurarnos de que permanezcan sólidos como una roca”.

Microsoft: MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional)
?Sonicwall: CSSA (Certified Sonicwall Security Administrator), CSSP (Certified Sonicwall Security Professional)
CompTIA: A+, Networks+

With a degree in Technology Management and a minor in Business from Kansas State University, Bill Ramsey connects the dots at Conco between IT infrastructure and business processes, systems, software and technology. He takes care of the Conco family—and Conco, he says, is a family—much the same way Conco takes care of its clients. He does what he does best so the Conco team can do what it does best to free clients to do what they do best. He says integrity best describes Conco. “There have been multiple times when it would have been convenient to take the easy way out, but Conco does what’s necessary to make things right with clients and employees.”

He believes that attitude finds its way deep inside the Conco culture. “I remember when one of our first major software upgrades to our email system went horribly wrong. I was here for more than 24 hours straight working with the vendor to get the system back up and running. But what I remember the most out of the whole situation is that no one ever got upset about the downtime. They offered support, help and whatever else I needed. I have never worked for a place where that was so abundant.”

With a B.S. degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Oklahoma State University and an extensive track record for community involvement, Shannyn is focused on the details that perpetuate Conco’s legacy of excellence. Prior to joining Conco she was marketing and communications manager for Koch Industries, with responsibility for developing cross-company relationships to support business objectives. She has a keen appreciation for how positive, committed collaboration between colleagues, clients and partners undergirds success. Conco’s culture, she says, is indestructible, firmly rooted in putting people first. “It’s the common denominator here. We care about our service, product and relationships above all else and I believe these priorities allow us to continue to be a best-in-class organization.”

Rob has more than two decades’ experience in the construction industry in a variety of roles, and advanced certifications and training—GHS & OSHA hazard communication, lean construction, mold awareness prevention and control, silicon dioxide safety, forklift safety and competent person scaffolding. With a B.S. in Construction Science and Management from Kansas State University, his diverse background includes overall project management, estimating, budgeting, scheduling, owner and subcontractor contract administration, field coordination and quality control and safety. He has considerable experience with hospitality/multifamily residential projects.

Davis calls Conco an exceptional company, with a pervasive, across-the-board desire to be best-in-class, never ordinary and always working to improve.

Shawna Glasscock says Conco is a driven company that makes her a better person. With a diverse background that includes the retail side of the construction industry—selling paint, lumber and hardware at her hometown lumberyard—and a detour in the medical field, she is no stranger to hard work. At Conco she’s responsible for implementing and coordinating all accounting activities to promote efficiency and expedite contract costing.

True to Conconian values, Glasscock has a passion to volunteer where she is needed. She has given her time to several music festivals, and served at the Lord’s Diner, Tallgrass Film Festival, Colwich HSO and Andale Booster Club.

Brad Painter values the fact that Conco has integrity. The company believes in being transparent in decision-making, he says, which helps retain employees and build long-term client relationships.

As project superintendent, Painter is in charge of delivering on deadlines and budgets for large industrial projects. He’s focused, he says, on building strong working relationships with clients and other contractors. He enjoys interaction with clients and design teams.

“I believe building relationships and producing quality work are key principles to building a strong company.” That’s a solid viewpoint for one of Conco’s youngest team members.

A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a degree in Industrial Technology, Painter loves working in a positive, fast-paced environment with great leadership that supports work efforts and decision-making. He says working for a self-performing company has several advantages, including the ability to set schedules and increase quality of work.

Eric Cheers served in the role of project superintendent for more than a decade, gaining a strong background in construction management, contractor supervision and project estimation. As general superintendent, he brings regional experience to Conco across multiple project segments and industries, including hospitality/multifamily, senior living, student housing, medical, commercial, municipality and retail. Prior to joining Conco, he served a Missouri contractor as project superintendent. Focused on bringing best practices to client projects, Eric pulls from a broad set of certifications—Walmart Superintendent and Project Manager Training, OSHA, LEED Green Associate, Procore and Walmart Stormwater Compliance. He says the strength within Conco is everywhere you look, from craft experts to the executive team. “We push ourselves and those around us to improve and strengthen our teams. We’re built on a strong foundation with the courage and strength to take on new opportunities and challenges, and grow and improve in every aspect of the construction world.”

As a superintendent, Jon Piper works with design teams, owners and trade professionals to build large, complex commercial buildings. He says he loves being able to drive a job, with better control, because of Conco’s self-performing crews. “As a self-performing general contractor, we’re more diverse and adaptable than our competition.

“There was one instance on a fast-paced project where we needed to move a milestone up a few weeks to beat some bad winter weather. We pulled together to man the job appropriately to get it met.”

Jon has a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from John Brown University. With Conco long enough now to understand the company culture, he says he appreciates how high-performing team members are placed in roles where they can grow and maximize their potential. That intentionality creates a company full of driven people who work together for a common goal.

And everything at Conco, Jon emphasizes, is calculated to deliver an exceptional client service experience. “Our ability to be so hands on with what we do allows us to give superior service to a diverse group of owners.”