A Northeast Metro District 916 Alumnus Graduates to a Construction Career

The following is an excerpt from a presentation delivered to the Northeast Metro District 916 Advisory Group in October 2014 by Chris Knutson, assistant project manager with Kraus-Anderson and an alumnus of Northeast Metro District 916 Career & Technical Center.

My name is Chris Knutson. I was 24 years old when I delivered this presentation. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in December 2013.

A few days after graduation, I became a full-time assistant project manager with Kraus-Anderson in Minneapolis.

I was thrilled to be working in my educational field and gaining experience in the construction industry. I was honored to work alongside seasoned, successful project managers. I was excited to be challenged every day, held accountable and assigned to multimillion-dollar projects.

I was confident that I was beginning a lasting career with Kraus-Anderson.

Considering the sluggish economy and competitive job market at the time, how did a recent college graduate land a construction career right out of the gate?

There were many bright, intelligent college graduates competing for jobs. So, how did I get here?

I attribute my success to the stepping stones I encountered in my life: positive influences from instructors, teachers, family members, work and educational experiences, industry mentors and sponsors. It came down to relationships, partnerships and connections.

At the beginning of my path was the Construction Occupations course at Northeast Metro District 916.

How did the Construction Occupations course shape a construction career?

To back up a bit, I grew up in Cottage Grove with two parents, a dog and one older, know-it-all sister. In high school, I played football, completed my schoolwork, earned average to above-average grades, spent time with friends and went hunting and fishing with my dad.

I always held a job through high school and was often recruited by friends of my parents in the building trades to help with special projects.

In my junior year at Park High School, there was a growing expectation to begin thinking about life after high school. My counselor and I talked at length about career and educational goals, programs and colleges that matched my skills and interests.

It was overwhelming. It felt like too big of a commitment when I did not yet know what I wanted to do.

My counselor suggested that I test the waters before declaring a major in a four-year undergraduate program. He told me about a partnership between Park High School and Northeast Metro District 916 that allowed high school students to attend a technical college course and gain experience in the skilled trades.

It seemed like a great option, and I immediately enrolled in the Construction Occupations course.

When I arrived for my first class, I met instructor Tom Spehn. He explained that the course would combine practical classroom study with a hands-on project. We were going to build a house.

Our classroom learning began with basic math and reading rulers, then progressed to design and dimensioning, including wall layouts, window and door framing, and reading construction drawings.

Mr. Spehn was an excellent instructor: interesting, knowledgeable, encouraging and engaging. I quickly became interested in the subject matter and excited to be part of the house-building project.

I felt like a giant sponge, absorbing as much information as I could from my instructor and the contractors working alongside the students. The experience helped me realize I had a passion for building, creating and designing structures.

Career and technical education programs can help students explore real-world career options, develop practical skills and build professional connections. Learn more about construction career opportunities and high school students exploring construction careers.

How did scholarships and relationships create new opportunities?

In the final weeks of the course, as the house neared completion, Mr. Spehn told the class about a scholarship opportunity available to students pursuing construction-related degrees. He pulled me aside privately and strongly encouraged me to apply for the Kraus-Anderson Scholarship.

I applied, and weeks later, I was proud to receive an Outstanding Student Achievement Award and the Future Builders Scholarship at the Northeast Metro District 916 course-completion ceremony.

Those were important stepping stones. I confidently declared my concentration in a construction-related field, applied to the University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Construction Management program and was accepted to begin in fall 2009.

The program at UW-Stout was intense. In addition to traditional class credits, it required a preapproved, industry-related internship to satisfy degree requirements.

Toward the end of my sophomore year, I was actively seeking internship positions. With a struggling economy and weakened job market, it was a challenge. I worried that I would not be able to secure an internship.

Then I recalled the relationships that helped lay those initial stepping stones. I reached out to Tom Spehn at Northeast Metro District 916, as well as Mike Smoczyk of Kraus-Anderson, who had awarded me the Future Builders Scholarship.

They took the time to listen, offer advice and guide me. They also brought other scholarship opportunities to my attention. I pursued several and received additional support, which helped reduce my student-loan obligations.

How did an internship lead to a full-time construction management career?

By the summer of my junior year, I had secured a project manager internship with Kraus-Anderson. I worked hard and was committed to doing an excellent job. I built relationships with staff and management and stayed in contact with those connections.

It paid off. I was asked to return as a part-time employee during winter and summer breaks from school.

Before my final semester of college, I began discussions with Kraus-Anderson about future employment. I returned to UW-Stout for my final semester with an offer and acceptance letter in hand. I became a full-time assistant project manager immediately after graduation.

Internships provide students with opportunities to apply classroom learning, build professional relationships and better understand the day-to-day responsibilities of a construction career. Explore construction internships and construction career pathways with the Building Information Modeling team.

Why do mentoring and industry partnerships matter in construction?

Northeast Metro District 916’s Construction Occupations course was truly a stepping stone for me. I learned valuable trade skills, made professional connections and confirmed my interest in the construction industry. The experience supported my college coursework and helped accelerate my learning in my present role.

I later became a member of UW-Stout’s Industry Advisory Board and was elected to review scholarship applications. I was honored to participate in that process.

I wanted to give back. I wanted to be a teacher, mentor and sponsor to other Chris Knutsons who may need guidance, support and financial assistance.

Whether you are a construction professional, educator, industry leader involved in scholarships or someone coordinating internship opportunities, we need to find ways to strengthen relationships, partnerships and connections.

We need to be generous with our time and efforts. We need to be mentors and leaders. We need to keep Construction Occupations and other skilled-trades courses available to high school students. We need to lay stepping stones that create stronger pathways for young people.

For additional perspective on mentoring future construction professionals, explore the ACE Mentor Program and construction workforce development.

My name is Chris Knutson. I was 24 years old, and I was very grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Construction Occupations course at Northeast Metro District 916. Thank you.

In this presentation excerpt, Chris Knutson shared how Northeast Metro District 916’s Construction Occupations course, industry mentorship, scholarships, a construction management degree and an internship helped shape his career path. Learn more about construction careers, internships and a related story about a Northeast Metro District 916 alumnus beginning a construction career.