The Power of One: Rose Manthe Looks Back on 42 KA Years

Kraus-Anderson Companies Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant Rose Manthe wraps up her 42-year history with Kraus-Anderson in January. Here, she traces an eventful career filled with rewards, change, and challenges; and reminds us of the Power of One person to effect lasting and positive change.

Photos above: Rose Manthe; and Rose touring the progress of the new KA headquarters construction with Bruce and Dan Engelsma, 2017. 

You started at KA in April 1980 as an administrative assistant and real estate coordinator for what was then KA Development and Finance Company (KADFC). Talk about your beginnings at KA.

ROSE MANTHE: After three years working in a St. Paul law firm, I wanted to see what the “west” of the river did for work and fun. I was scheduled for two interviews, the first at Kraus-Anderson and the second at a law firm.  I interviewed at KA, was offered the job, and never made it to the law firm interview.

KA Realty, along with KA Insurance and KA Advertising offices, was in downtown Minneapolis at 523 S. Eighth St., and KA Construction Company’s office was in the adjoining building at 525 S. Eighth. A door separated the two businesses. When I arrived, KA Development and Finance was relocating to the 2510 Minnehaha Avenue office building, located in the Kraus-Anderson Building Company building at 2500 Minnehaha Avenue. My first day at KA was in 2510 with a chair, table, typewriter (no furniture had arrived yet), and boxes on the floor marked Hawaii E and R Co. I was told by Diane Gears that this was my project and she didn’t know much about it.

What were some of your initial duties? What projects/developments were you involved with?

ROSE MANTHE: Hawaii E and R Co. (partners Lloyd Engelsma and Gene Rancone) was the start of KA’s entry into the timeshare world. In the 1970s, KACC built Banyan Harbor Condominiums on Kauai, Hawaii consisting of whole ownership and timeshare units, and also Maui Sunset Condominiums. I enjoy research, and I quickly learned all about condominium declarations, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and the rest of what it takes to put together Homeowners, Timeshare Owners, and Fractional Owner associations, as well as get these properties registered in the states of Hawaii, California, Colorado, and Minnesota so that KA could sell the condominiums they were building. Being thrown into the timeshare/condo industry the first day on the job was a huge learning curve, and to work with KA’s timeshare/condo sales/closings, I needed to get my real estate license with years of continuing education to follow.

During this time, Maui Hill Condominiums was under construction by Kraus-Anderson of St. Paul Construction Company, and I quickly learned the various steps of a construction draw from a developer’s perspective.

In addition, Mountainside at SilverCreek was under construction in Granby, Colorado, by Kraus-Anderson Building Company. As with Banyan Harbor and Maui Hill, as whole-unit condominium sales declined, the remaining units on these properties were converted to timeshare or fractional ownership; which meant annexing and de-annexing units from the timeshare programs and dealing with the regulatory agencies in these states.

KA, always seeing an opportunity to start a new business, created Trans-Pacific Financing Ltd., (led by Chris Dokken) to facilitate owner financing for the various condominium and timeshare sales that were made by yet another KA brokerage/sales entity, Lea Properties LTD.

When did you begin working with Tore Wistrom? What were the highlights of working with him?

ROSE MANTHE: In about 1983, Tore came over to KA Development from KACC. Working for Tore was great. He was a team player and hard-working. He was always quick to be sure I knew what was going on in every aspect of his work, and we were able to back each other up under most all circumstances. We worked on various projects, from property management to leasing to buying/selling/mitigating commercial property to the resort condo/timeshare business to management/leasing of commercial real estate owned by KA. At one point, I was the third in line to be called if there was a problem at any of our commercial properties. My son Billy was about 7 or 8. When Bill was out of town, and I got called in the middle of the night to handle a problem, Billy was happy to wake up and tag along with me as there was a great banister that he could slide down while I checked out the property.

Did you interact with Lloyd Engelsma in those early years?

ROSE MANTHE: I had a lot of interaction with Lloyd and Bruce. Lloyd would stop by unannounced to our office at least a couple of times a week just to check in and see what everyone was up to and what updates we had for him. Once he knew you were responsible for something, you were his go-to, whether you still did the task or not. I talked to Lloyd several times every week. Bruce, at the time, was doing company and project financing work for KA and followed KA development closely. In the 80s, KA had a KA Ski Club, which is when I first chatted with Bruce more personally as I rode the chair lift up with him at Trollhaugen Ski Resort.

Who are some of the KA women who made an impression on you early in your KA career, and why?

ROSE MANTHE: Cheryl Gerde. She was the first employee outside KADFC I met when arriving at KA. She worked on the “other side of the door” with KA Building Company. We were fast friends for all our years at KA and beyond.

Jan Goebel. She was the corporate secretary and executive assistant to Lloyd. I soon learned that all my work with the resort properties and the various entity names that we worked under were closely monitored by Jan to ensure they remained compliant with state and federal regulations. This was my entry into the learning of the corporate secretary role.

Mary Jo Kelly. I looked up to her for her kind spirit, soft but strong nature, and as a successful businesswoman active in many organizations supporting women in business.

MaryAnne London. I admired her self-confidence and amazing creative ideas, her business communication skills, and her ability to throw a fabulous party, no matter how big or small the budget was.

In 1997, you transferred to work at KA Construction’s “Midwest” office in Circle Pines. Talk about your time there.

ROSE MANTHE: When I first arrived at the CP office, they were asking, “What do we do with Rose?” Sheryl Fodness was soon to go on maternity leave (her baby, Lindsay Stafford, now also works at KA), and I was to take on some of her workload until she returned. I read the Project Assistant/PA manual and chatted extensively with other employees to learn as much as possible about this KACC Midwest office. Pat Swanson had millions of stories from the start of that office. Natalie Price taught me a lot about the marketing side of the business, and Ramona Holmes and Anne Schiller taught me about being a PA, from bid lists to closeouts. I never could memorize those construction category codes.

Talking to Jan Goebel one day, she told me to “Listen and look around; what is missing in this office?” I thought that improving the communication gap between departments and employees was needed. We began to have PA and accounting meetings together. The office was getting large enough to have some of its own HR duties of vacation approvals, new hires, terminations, and training. I gladly took on establishing this role, which, in April of 1998, was taken over by Diane Toll.

I remember working with Jeff Engelsma when he’d go to meet with a client. Before he left, he’d stop by and ask me what he should bring to the client (a KA hat, shirt, or what??). Upon his return, he’d stop by my desk and ask, “I’d like to send a ‘thank you’ letter. Can you help me with that?”

And, of course, meeting and working with my dear friend Mark Kotten who shared the love of hunting along with my husband Bill and son Billy.

As it was at the Minnehaha office, this was a work-hard, play-hard group of employees. We shared work experiences and family stories; we shared the happy times and the sad times in support of each other. Friday, mid-afternoon, was the time to gather near or in the marketing area to discuss the past week and prepare for the next.

After a year at Circle Pines, you answered the call to become Executive Assistant to Bruce Engelsma as he stepped into the CEO role for Kraus-Anderson Companies.

ROSE MANTHE: Because I enjoyed my role at KACC Circle Pines and loved all the folks that worked in that office, it was a very difficult decision for me. I consulted with my good friend and former boss, Tore Wistrom, for guidance. He gave it a big green light. On April 6, 1998, I arrived at the Minneapolis office, and my desk outside Bruce’s office was right next to Tracey Martin, who at the time worked for Sharon Layeux. Tracey left KACC in 1999 to move to Kentucky and returned to KA in October 2014. Today, she is my successor, taking on the role of Assistant Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant to the CEO. It was great fun working in the Executive Area, which included the KACC marketing department. We were in the mix of all the excitement of proposals, presentations, and project wins. When we didn’t win, we were upbeat and moved on to the next project. After 5:00 pm, it was not unheard of that Cam Dehlin would break out into song, and Bruce and I would join in singing. We were also across the hall from the field superintendents, which was always a chance for great conversation early in the mornings.

How did your experience working in multiple KA companies and offices help you be more effective as your KA role expanded to serving the overall enterprise?

ROSE MANTHE: Working in multiple KA offices gave me a connection with the employees to help them understand the various cultures of each office and how to relate/work cohesively together. When we closed the St. Paul and Minnehaha offices and relocated employees to downtown Minneapolis and Circle Pines, it was a huge culture transition. Human nature is to hang around with those that you relate to or know, so cliques did exist and made for some difficult transition. Finally, the consolidation move to the 501 building brought us all together. The Power of One.

The Power of One. Talk about that initiative.

ROSE MANTHE: In 2004/5, KA rolled out the “Power of One” campaign. As Bruce explained the meaning, “At KA, one employee makes all the difference. And one company, KA, is here to support you in creating excellence.”

It was a process to get us all on board and working as one company. Our five KA construction entities merged under Kraus-Anderson Construction Company in 1982, establishing business groups or divisions. Monthly division leader meetings began in January 2000 to help align the leadership of the construction entities. At the same time, all other KA entities were crossing borders to the “Power of One.”

You’ve also been involved in a number of initiatives that have helped build a more cohesive identity for KA and our people.

ROSE MANTHE: We established multiple events, eventually creating an Initiatives Committee comprised of representatives from across all KA entities. It was amazing for everyone to share what their offices did to build culture and to realize how interrelated we all really are. Our KA Fall Giving Campaign, KA Wellness Committee, KA Party Committee, and KA Walk for Hope all developed in the early 2000s.

Additionally, KA was looking for more ways its employees could be involved in the community. Listening to our employees’ input, gaining knowledge from the Minnesota Council on Foundations, and connecting with others in the construction industry with employee volunteer programs, I helped create the KA Has Heart volunteer program.

Talk about your role in preserving KA’s history.

ROSE MANTHE: As Corporate Secretary, I’ve been very involved in keeping track of the official minutes and board records of our various corporate entities, including records and some artifacts that go back over a century. Jan Goebel, my predecessor, championed our initial company history efforts. We are fortunate to have a corporate history center maintained by historian and archivist Matt Goff, who helps us preserve our history and share it with our people and our communities.

Twin Cities Hearts & Hammers is another community effort that is close to your own heart.

ROSE MANTHE: Hearts & Hammers Twin Cities was founded by Bob Walker from HGA Architects. KA was its first corporate sponsor, with Bruce Engelsma and others serving on their Board of Directors. The first home refurbished was in 1997.  The second home in 1999 was huge, and I was instrumental in organizing a team of 80 volunteers for a day of fun, hard work, and even a little matchmaking. Over the next few years, I was influential in establishing many of the forms and processes that are still used today in organizing a volunteer team to refurbish a home. KA is still active with H&H, which refurbishes roughly 100 homes annually.

Talk about your role as Corporate Secretary.

ROSE MANTHE: I gained more knowledge about the role of Corporate Secretary upon arrival downtown to work for Bruce. I was already efficient at being a recording secretary for many of KA’s resort property associations. In 2000, Kraus-Anderson Companies, Inc. was established as the parent KA entity, and I was elected Corporate Secretary of this entity. This was the start of in-person board meetings (vs. Written Actions or Writings in Lieu of Meetings). In 2004, Jan retired as corporate secretary of KA Construction Company, and I was elected secretary of that entity and all the remaining KA entities. Today, KA has five entities with in-person quarterly board meetings.

What are some other non-KA entities you’ve worked closely with through the years?

ROSE MANTHE: Dunwoody College of Technology. KA has been involved at Dunwoody in many capacities for many years.

AGC of Minnesota. I’ve served on their annual meeting planning committee for several years.

Capital City Partnership., St. Paul, MN (formed in 1996  – 2010).  Bruce was on their Board from 1997-2010, and I joined a committee of Admins whose bosses were serving on the Capital City Partnership Board, which was designed to keep the Admins informed of what’s going on in this organization and in this Capital City.

Who have been some of your key mentors over the years?

ROSE MANTHE: Jan Goebel for sure.

Tore Wistrom, who did not micromanage and encouraged me to learn more and be active in the company business.

Bruce Engelsma, who believed in me and encouraged ideas to bring employees closer together through fun team-building events. He also taught me how to delegate and how to say “No” when asked to take on more work…  just not to him.

My dad, who worked for the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press for 43 years as a mailer machinist and union leader and then continued part-time for seven more years working with the Dispatch and Tribune, filling in for vacations, etc. He taught me to work hard and love what I do, to show up every day (I used to get perfect attendance awards at school and dance classes).

My mom, who taught me how to budget money and how to be creative, and sew, which is a skill I can take into retirement. I took Home Ec in high school. We had a sewing project but had to share a machine with another student. I took my project home and completed it (I had my own sewing machine). The teacher accused my mom of completing my project, and my mom blasted back, saying she had eight children at home and I had been sewing since fourth grade, defending the fact that I had done my own work.

What are you proud of about the time you’ve spent at KA?

ROSE MANTHE: I’m proud to have made a difference. To have known and interacted with many of the employees that have come and gone from KA. My hope is that employees today will come for the work they love and stay for the people that become their family. You can practice your skill at any company but to be part of a corporate family that supports you through your life’s ups and downs is a benefit not always available.

Any advice to the newer KA employees?

ROSE MANTHE: The grass is not always greener on the other side. I’ve seen employees leave KA only to return a few or several years later.  Sometimes it’s not about the money but more about loving the work you do and the people you do it with.