Last winter, we celebrated Justin’s 25-year service award! Justin’s journey with Ancon Construction began in March 1999, just months after graduating from Penn High School. A friend working on Ancon’s steel crew mentioned an opening, and although Justin had no construction experience, the challenge intrigued him enough to give it a try.
A superintendent on the steel crew, recognized Justin’s potential early on and brought him aboard as a steel laborer. Those first days involved walking purlins, setting steel, and learning the ropes from the ground up. The superintendent recalls, “Justin was always willing to tackle any task with a positive attitude. He quickly learned what worked and what didn’t, and he carried that knowledge forward.”
As his skills grew, so did his responsibilities. In 2011, Justin was promoted to foreman, and by 2014, he stepped into the superintendent role. His first project as superintendent, an Indratech warehouse addition, was a defining moment. Managing the build from start to finish alongside Doug VonGunten, who is now our current president, left a lasting impression and solidified his passion for leading projects.
Twenty-six years later, Justin has left his mark on a range of projects like the Ethos Science Center, Bethel College Softball Field, the Potawatomi Zoo carousel installation, and welding work at the South Bend Cubs’ performance center. Each of these projects offered unique challenges and rewarding outcomes.
For Justin, the constant variety in construction keeps things exciting. “Every job is different,” he says. “You’re always learning, and that’s what keeps it interesting. I try to take lessons from every project and apply them moving forward.”
His advice to newcomers? Learn from everyone and everything. “Work alongside carpenters, the concrete crew, steelworkers—learn it all. The more you know, the more valuable you are to yourself and the company. Challenge yourself to do it all, and you’ll gain a complete understanding of construction.”
