Your Voice Matters

I joined the Keen team in February 2017 shortly after graduating from Iowa State in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering. I knew very little about construction but I had a good knowledge of the agriculture industry. I started as a Project Engineer on the operations side. In this position I worked on site in Tipton, IN for 4 months and then in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada for about 10 months. Being onsite allowed me to quickly learn more about the construction process and agriculture industry from a seed processing standpoint. We won an Excellence in Construction award for the Tipton Precleaner Project.

I worked on the operations side for about 3 years and then moved to the Engineering department. I realized I enjoy being hands on and deep within the design portion of projects. Here I was able to apply my learnings from the operations side and infuse them into the design phase of projects. My time on the operations team has really helped me excel in the Engineering department. I have been on the Engineering team now for about 4 ½ years and have designed around 10 projects. I am currently designing a greenfield site.

MY WHY
Growing up, I enjoyed putting things together and was a big fan of Lego sets. I enjoy creating something from nothing. In this case, I enjoy seeing a digital design come to life in reality. I enjoy the challenge of finding ways to improve the installation process to make it quicker and easier for the team in the field. Also, taking lessons learned from previous projects and implementing them on new projects. Family comes before work for me, so there is an added benefit that what I enjoy helps support my family.

I was hired as the first project engineer for Keen in 2016 just two years after the company started. This provided a unique opportunity to grow with the company and help mold the processes. In those early days I spent time on site in California, Indiana, and Canada. I forged relationships during this time with customers and our field teams. I was mentored by the owners and leaders of the company in those early days and still am. Now I get to mentor new and growing members of the team.

MY WHY
I work to provide a great life for my family and create opportunities for us. I work at Keen because I love the people I get to work with and I like with work we do and how we execute the work. I work at Keen because of the opportunities that have been offered to me based on the belief and trust in me.

I started at Keen in September 2016 as the first commercial focused project manager. The intent was to diversify the project types and help build a strong local presence. With the help of leadership and by following Keen’s four guiding principles, we have grown the commercial team to 12 dedicated full-time employees. I had a very proud moment receiving the Excellence in Leadership award at the recent Annual Company Training event. I earned the MBI Master Builder designation in 2023 for completing 150 credits in leadership, project management, ecology, ethics, safety, and additional electives that support builders in all we do. My journey at Keen is just beginning and cannot wait to see what the future brings, working with piers that you respect and admire leads to amazing things.

MY WHY
I choose to work with Keen because of the commitment Keen makes to invest in people. This investment goes beyond the professional growth and has a large emphasis on the personal, community, and family growth. A quick look at the Keen Kids wall as you enter through the front office doors is the best way to start your day.

I started at Keen in February of 2019 as a Project Coordinator. Keen was half the size it is now, and I was one of four project coordinators. I am now a Senior Project Accountant leading a team of six Project Accounts. In 2021 at Keen’s annual holiday part I won the Excellence in Quality Award. I am also on the Keen University Committee and get to be at the forefront of training our employees. When I started I was in my last semester of college and had zero construction experience. My mentors poured and continue to pour into me to get where I am today. Now I lead a team and help with training for all employees.

MY WHY
I work to support my family, pay my bills, and one day retire. I choose to work at Keen because of the people and the work I get to do. I get to work with people that want to make processes simpler, do tasks more efficiently, and improve the way Keen delivers projects.

Nick joined Keen in 2022 as a Quality Assurance Technician. He can always be found with a smile and a can-do spirit. He has worked on many projects but the two he is most proud of being a part of are our 2023 and 2024 Excellence in Construction winners for long-time customers. In 2022 Nick’s peers nominated and awarded him for the Excellence in Quality award.

MY WHY
My “why” Is my commitment to support my family and be able to create meaningful memories with our girls as they grow up. I find satisfaction in the challenges that come with working on a wide variety of project types and collaborating with a diverse group of customers. These challenges allow me to use my creativity and keep me engaged.

I was a Construction Engineering major at Iowa State University which lead me to two summers as a project engineer intern at Keen. After working on two projects and graduating from Iowa State, I was hired full time as a project engineer. Our team that completed the 595 Towers multi-purpose building won an ABC Excellence in Construction award that I am very proud of. It was the project I started as an intern and completed as a full-time employee. Seeing it constructed from the beginning to the end and the Towers being one of the most prestigious buildings in the metro makes me very proud to be apart of something so special.

MY WHY
My why is to support my family and demonstrate that hard work and determination does pay off. I also appreciate the sense of accomplishment of starting a project that is nothing and seeing it be planned, coordinated, built, and constructed to become a masterpiece. The work that we do has a direct influence on the community who get to occupy and interact with these buildings and facilities, and I am very proud of that.

I started at Keen in May of 2024 as a quality assurance intern, and then in January 2025, I started full-time as a project engineer on the Industrial Team! In my time with Keen, I’ve been able to be involved in several projects all throughout the Midwest, Georgia, and even Canada! I enjoy doing fast-paced work, and every day is something new and exciting.

MY WHY
I am driven by building relationships and connecting people to the solutions or teams that they need. Interacting with our customers and seeing how valuable each of our projects is to improve safety, efficiency, and long-term performance, and interacting with our field teams to enable them to deliver our final product, is one of the most rewarding parts of my role at Keen. The other: the people of Keen. We operate as one team, committed to the same goal: delivering quality work, and everyone goes home safely at the end of each day.

I started at Keen July of 2022 as a Project Coordinator, leaving the mortgage industry after 10 years, with no knowledge in the construction industry. I have had many amazing opportunities to grow within my profession at Keen. I’ve learned to maintain projects, provide sales, and use tax training to research and develop a process for OCIP (Owner Controlled Insurance Program). I am entrusted by my team. In 2024, I won the Excellence in Quality Award. I am a Project Accountant III now and have continued to take on more responsibilities where my suggestions are valued and appreciated.

MY WHY
I work to create better opportunities for my life and the people in it. I choose to work at Keen because I value a work-life balance. Keen understands that life happens, and everyone is willing to help in order to get the job done. One of their core values is to Protect People and Keen truly lives up to that. You can see it in the relationships with our customers, how the project is delivered, and the continuous training to develop people. I continue to work at Keen because of the team I get to work with and the opportunities that continue to be given to me to be better and do better.

My journey with Keen began in the summer of 2024 as a Project Engineer Intern. As a mechanical engineering student, it was incredibly rewarding to get hands-on experience across a wide range of industrial projects, from feed and grain mills to bottling lines. I especially enjoyed being on-site and seeing things come together, like the startup of a new conveyor line.

Throughout the summer, I was exposed to every phase of construction, from discovery and preconstruction to commissioning and closeout. That experience, with outstanding mentorship, gave me a solid understanding of project management and what makes a project successful.

By the end of the summer, I was surprised by how much I had learned and grown in just three months. The support from the Keen team made it easy to stay motivated and dive deep into the work. That’s why coming back for a second summer was such an easy decision. Now, I’m excited to build on that foundation and explore areas I only scratched the surface of last summer.

MY WHY
What drives me is building a strong foundation for a future where I can support and provide for a family of my own. I love working with well-rounded, motivated individuals who push and support each other to grow. I thrive on a sense of purpose and that stems from contributing to meaningful work.

My journey with Keen began in the summer of 2025 as a Marketing Intern, while pursuing my degree in Marketing and Sales at Iowa State University. Coming into the role, I had no experience in the construction or engineering industry, but my team took the time to teach me, challenge me, and help me grow. After two internships with Keen, I couldn’t imagine building my career in any other industry.

I’ve seen firsthand how committed Keen is to develop its people. They’ve supported me through changing school schedules, accommodated important life events, and created an environment where I’ve always felt comfortable asking questions, getting involved, and learning from those around me. My mentors have played a huge role in my growth, and I’m grateful for the time they’ve invested in me. Keen has shown me that investing in its people is more than just a value, it’s something the company puts into practice every day. I’m excited to continue my journey with Keen and see where it takes me.

MY WHY
I work to build a future for my family, and I choose Keen because I believe in the work we’re doing to protect people and make a positive impact in the communities we serve. It’s important to me to work for a company whose values align with my own, and Keen has shown me that people truly come first.

My journey at Keen started in November 2025 as a part-time Drafter Intern while pursuing my degree in Industrial Engineering at Iowa State University. Since joining the team, I have had the opportunity to apply concepts from the classroom to real-world seed projects while developing valuable design and drafting skills. One of the most rewarding parts of my experience has been working on seed-side projects, where detailed design and planning play a critical role in creating efficient, safe, and reliable facility operations. Through these projects, I have gained hands-on experience with engineering drawings, problem-solving, and collaborating with experienced professionals who have helped me grow both technically and professionally. Every project has provided a new opportunity to learn, and I continue to build skills that will serve me throughout my engineering career.

MY WHY
My passion for construction and engineering comes from the opportunity to continuously learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact through the work I do. Throughout my time at Keen, I have developed skills that will help shape my future career while working alongside people who genuinely support my success and encourage me to improve every day. What motivates me most is the desire to build a successful future for myself and my family, while taking pride in contributing to projects that create lasting value. Being part of a team that invests in my development and challenges me to reach my full potential has reinforced why I chose this path, and it continues to inspire me to do my best every day.

I started at Keen in May of 2017 as a Project Engineer with an emphasis in Design and Preconstruction. In that role, I contributed to the development of process flow diagrams, sizing and specifying material handling equipment, and procurement of equipment and materials. As the company grew and developed an Engineering Department, I was able to grow with it by transitioning into a Design Engineer role and later, a Mechanical Engineer role. This pathway allowed me to acquire a broader understanding of plant systems and engineering disciplines, and then a specialized understanding of mechanical systems like dust collection and compressed air, and now the ability to coordinate the design of industrial facilities and projects with teams consisting of multiple engineering disciplines.

MY WHY
Growing up in Iowa, I had the opportunity of always being involved in the agriculture industry. The first job I ever received a paycheck for was detasseling and rouging corn fields. Later, while studying Mechanical Engineering, I worked part-time for the Iowa State University Seed Science Center’s Plant Pathology lab and Seed Conditioning lab, where I developed a strong understanding of seed treatment and processing equipment. Unknowingly at the time, I was paving the way towards a career designing systems for others. What keeps me rooted with Keen is their community involvement and support for the industry and community, from contributions and involvement in professional organizations, to support of local youth programs. You can see and feel the impact we make on the community.

My career at Keen began as a Recruiting Coordinator and quickly evolved into an HR Coordinator role as business needs expanded and my responsibilities grew. Nearly four years later, I am proud to serve as an HR Generalist.

Throughout my journey, I have had the opportunity to lead our Keen Cares engagement committee and serve on the Keen University committee, which is dedicated to employee development and creating meaningful learning opportunities. These experiences have allowed me to contribute beyond my day-to-day responsibilities and help shape the employee experience at Keen.

When I joined Keen, I had no prior experience in the construction industry. Today, I cannot imagine being part of any other industry. What has made my experience so rewarding is Keen’s commitment to developing and investing in its employees. With the organization’s support, I achieved a personal and professional goal by earning my SHRM-CP certification, something I had been passionate about since the beginning of my HR career.

I truly love what I do. I enjoy working alongside the incredible people at Keen every day, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact on both our employees and the organization. The combination of meaningful work, continuous growth, and a strong company culture is what motivates me to come to work each day.

MY WHY
I work to provide financial stability, create opportunities for myself and my family, and find purpose through helping others and contributing to something bigger than myself.