Leadership
The People Behind the Work
Keen Project Solutions was built on the belief that how you treat people matters as much as what you build. The leaders who guide this company share that belief and it shapes every decision they make, from how projects are staffed and delivered to how the culture is protected and grown. Meet the people who put those values into practice every day, for our clients, employees and communities.
Founders
Dustin Waters
President & CEO
Dustin provides strategic leadership and alignment for Keen Project Solutions. His role centers on setting a clear vision, shaping enterprise strategy, strengthening governance and promoting a culture of employee ownership.
What do you focus on to make a difference for your clients and team?
I believe meaningful results start with respecting people, setting clear expectations, explaining the “why” behind important decisions and creating an environment where individuals can do their best work. My focus is on building strong teams that solve problems, serve clients well and continuously improve.
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership philosophy is rooted in empathy, accountability and doing the right thing — even when it’s difficult. I believe trust is earned through consistency, honesty and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.
Matt Frandsen
Chief Growth Officer
Matt provides executive leadership for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and design-build projects. He also leads our business development initiatives and works closely with clients to identify opportunities, solve challenges and support their long-term objectives.
What do you focus on to make a difference for your clients and team?
I’m a relationship builder. My role is to help our teams understand our customers’ needs so we’re focused on and prepared to deliver the solutions they’re seeking. I spend my time listening and learning about their operations and situation, then connect them with the right resources to achieve their end goals.
What’s important to you, at work or in life?
Culture is everything. I’ve always believed it’s our responsibility as leaders to reinforce our culture and ensure everyone understands and demonstrates our values as we serve each other and our customers. Outside of work, my family is the focus of my attention. We have active kids and spend our time following their activities. We enjoy sports, hiking and travel, and we always stay busy outdoors.
Cory Larson
Chief Development Officer
Cory provides leadership across project development, preconstruction, business strategy and team development. He works closely with clients and project teams to align business objectives, operational requirements, budget expectations and project outcomes.
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership style is direct, transparent and relationship-driven. I believe trust is earned through honesty, accountability and consistently following through on commitments. I encourage open dialogue, ask thoughtful questions and work to remove obstacles that prevent people from reaching their full potential. I also believe great leaders build great teams. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is bringing together talented individuals with different perspectives and expertise, aligning them around a common purpose and creating an environment where they can succeed.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I enjoy helping clients and teams take complex ideas and transform them into practical, achievable plans. Every project represents a significant investment and carries unique opportunities and risks. I take pride in serving as a trusted advisor who is willing to have candid conversations, advocate for the client’s best interests and develop solutions that create long-term value.
Leadership Team
Lorie Kane
Chief Financial Officer
Lorie provides strategic financial leadership and oversees the company’s financial operations to support long-term growth and stability. As a member of the executive leadership team, she helps guide financial strategy, drive operational efficiency and ensure the organization remains financially strong.
What do you focus on to make a difference for your clients and team?
I focus on making the complex simpler and helping people understand the “why” behind the numbers. Finance is most valuable when it goes beyond reporting what happened and provides information that helps people make better decisions.
What’s important to you, at work or in life?
Family has always been incredibly important to me. My parents instilled in me a strong sense of family and the importance of spending time together, and that’s something I’ve carried forward with my own family. I have two grown sons and two wonderful daughters-in-law, and I recently joined the grandma club — which has been pretty amazing. My fiancé and I also enjoy spending time outdoors together, especially hunting, fishing and taking our Shih Tzu on adventures.
Jeff Scandrett
Chief Operating Officer
Jeff focuses on developing high-performing teams, strengthening operational excellence and driving continuous improvement through Lean principles, accountability and an unwavering commitment to safety and quality.
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership philosophy is simple: empower people to solve problems, deliver exceptional results and leave clients in a stronger position than when the team first mobilized.
What do you think makes the biggest difference when it comes to project success?
I believe the greatest results are achieved when project teams become a true extension of their clients’ organizations, working together to solve problems, overcome challenges and deliver lasting value.
Mike Larson
Director of Engineering
Mike leads and develops the engineering team to deliver high-quality, timely services that meet client expectations. Through strategic planning, resource management and oversight of project execution, he helps ensure engineering efforts align with project scope, budget, schedule and quality objectives.
What do you focus on to make a difference for your clients and team?
Continuous improvement is a core part of how I work. I’m always looking for opportunities to strengthen our team’s capabilities, refine our processes and improve the way we deliver projects — whether it’s through adopting innovative tools, leveraging emerging technologies or challenging traditional ways of working.
What has shaped the way you lead?
Farming has taught me the value of preparation, adaptability and looking for a better way. Those principles guide both my leadership approach and my commitment to developing future technical leaders. When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me on the farm raising corn and soybeans. The same hands-on problem-solving mindset I use to troubleshoot equipment in the field is what I bring to my work at Keen.
Matt Moore
Project Director
Matt works closely with seed industry clients to plan and deliver capital projects that support production, processing, treating, packaging and warehouse operations. He provides strategic leadership throughout project development and execution, helping clients align facility investments with operational goals.
What do you focus on to make a difference for your clients and team?
I focus on our seed industry clients’ end goals and solving the problems in front of us so we can provide real value as an EPC partner.
How has your background influenced your work?
I grew up in a rural farming community working on row-crop farming operations, so I have close ties to the Iowa farmers who ultimately plant the seed our clients produce.
Wade Nasheim
Project Director
Wade helps ensure teams are aligned, accountable and positioned to perform at a high level. He also supports business development efforts and oversees major projects to maintain safety, quality, schedule and financial objectives.
What do you focus on to make a difference for your clients and team?
My background as an engineer and project leader allows me to bridge the gap between strategy, design, construction and operations. I enjoy bringing structure to challenging situations, identifying risks before they become problems and helping teams make informed decisions that improve project outcomes.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
I’ve spent my career working in industrial facilities and capital projects, but what I enjoy most is helping people grow. Some of the most rewarding parts of my job are mentoring younger professionals, developing future leaders and helping teams solve problems together.
Greg Schulte
Project Director
Greg oversees projects from inception through completion, ensuring safety, budget, schedule and quality objectives are achieved. He also supports business development efforts, building client relationships and helping grow key market sectors.
How would you describe your leadership style?
My leadership style is rooted in trust, accountability and treating people with respect. I’ve found that people do their best work when they feel supported and know their contributions matter. I also try to lead by example. I’ll never ask someone to do something I’m not willing to do myself.
What helps set a project up for success?
I believe successful projects are built on relationships and trust. Whether I’m working with a client, a contractor, or someone on my team, I focus on being approachable, responsive and someone people can rely on when challenges arise. I spend my time making sure everyone understands the goal, has the information they need, and feels comfortable raising concerns early.
Explore the approach behind the team.