Kraus-Anderson promotes Mike Benz to Vice President of Information Technology
January 16, 2018
IT initiatives include cyber security oversight
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (January 2018) – Kraus-Anderson Construction Company (KA), one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest commercial general contractors and construction managers, has promoted Mike Benz to vice president of information technology. As vice president, Benz will guide the operations and execution of all IT systems within the KA family of companies, including its cyber security efforts.
Benz joined KA in 2008 as director of information technology and has been an instrumental resource in the growth of KA’s technical capabilities, including the implementation of new software and systems that improved the company’s operating functions. He also leads the company’s Technology Innovation R&D team to explore and recommend innovative technologies to move the business to the next level of efficiency and competitiveness.
In the past two years, Benz guided two seamless moves for KA. In 2016 he orchestrated all technology for the company’s move to temporary offices. He also managed the seamless transition of the opening of Kraus-Anderson’s new headquarters in 2017 by bringing new systems and technology to the state-of-the-art facility.
Benz also is highly regarded as a thought leader in the critical area of cyber security and recently has earned his M.S. degree in Security Technologies from the University of Minnesota. He has served on the advisory committee of the annual Cyber Security Summit in Minneapolis, which brings together industry, government and academic interests to improve the state of cyber security on both domestic and international levels. Benz is the chair of the National Builders Alliance’s peer group of IT professionals and has spoken on cyber security at its CEO’s forum. He also served on a panel that discussed the topic of IT transformation at a recent Premier CIO Forum, which is an elite invitation-only educational assembly of IT professionals.
“Mike maintains a high level of knowledge and applies contemporary thought to the prospective needs of our business — an approach that reaches beyond the role of a traditional IT manager,” said Al Gerhardt, KA’s president and COO. “His dedicated focus, progressive strategy and responsible decision-making have contributed significantly to KA’s growth and success.”
Benz also earned degrees in Psychology from Binghamton University, NY, and in Computer Programming from Brown Institute.
About Kraus-Anderson
Established in 1897, Kraus-Anderson® Construction Company (www.krausanderson.com) is one of the nation’s premier commercial general contractors and construction managers. Kraus-Anderson, an Affirmative Action, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and has regional offices in Madison, Wis., Bismarck, N.D., and Duluth, Bemidji and Rochester Minn.