Associate Spotlight: Kate Johnson – Finding Success on the Ice and the Jobsite

Kate Johnson is a spatial thinker who visualizes patterns, scale and how objects relate to each other. She’s a master of time management and handles competing priorities with ease. Composed and focused, she brings a quiet confidence to everything she does.

These are competencies Kate first honed as a young figure skater. Spatial awareness is what keeps skaters safe on the ice. Time management is how skaters prioritize training. Emotional and physical control is how skaters demonstrate their proficiency.

As Kate realized, her competencies are also highly valuable skills for someone pursuing a career in construction management.

The First Steps Off the Ice

Kate earned her degree in construction management from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. An internship at our Minneapolis office during her senior year confirmed her career choice and led to a full-time position as an Associate Project Manager upon her graduation in 2023.

Since joining the team, Kate has contributed to numerous projects, including Corsa Apartments, DeLaSalle High School and Cretin Durham Hall High School. Her most recent project, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School in Savage, MN, allowed her to showcase her notable skills.

“St. John the Baptist was the first construction project I managed from start to finish,” Kate said. “It was a little intimidating at first, but I gained confidence day by day by leveraging my strengths.”

Early Success on the Job

One of Kate’s key contributions at St. John the Baptist was transforming a classroom at the back of the school into administrative offices with a secure exterior entrance for visitors and late-arriving students. She quickly envisioned a solution that maximized the limited space, improved visitor and student flow, enhanced safety and blended seamlessly with the existing building.

“I think about things differently than a lot of people, so I often have a unique perspective to problem-solving and space planning,” said Kate.

For the church, Kate focused on enhancing the sanctuary by making the altar handicap accessible, installing artwork behind the crucifix and adding architectural interest to the sanctuary’s back wall. Work was scheduled to bookend the busy summer wedding season, which meant any delay on the front end could result in scaffolding in the sanctuary during a wedding.

Demonstrating grace under pressure, Kate studied the schedule and identified ways to accelerate the timeline. She quietly coordinated subcontractors and the art studio and delighted the client by completing the project before the first bride said, “I do.”

“Kate is a quiet leader,” said Eric Ryan, Senior Project Manager of Construction. “She has remarkable skills and intuition, and she uses them to achieve extraordinary results. The St. John the Baptist sanctuary renovation project is a perfect example. Kate really impressed the client, and she created a magical experience for the couples married there.”

Lessons That Last

Outside of work, Kate continues to spend her free time at the ice rink—no longer as a competitor but as a coach. As head coach at the Heritage Figure Skating Club in Lakeville, MN, a position she’s had since 2023, Kate trains recreational and competitive skaters from across several south metro communities.

Reflecting on her earlier skating years, Kate said, “While my success as a skater was ultimately up to me, I wouldn’t have accomplished what I did – or have a career in construction management – if it weren’t for my coaches. They not only helped me develop my skating skills but also life skills that helped me succeed on the ice when I was younger and now off the ice.”

“The parallels between figure skating and construction management are remarkable,” she continued. “Who knows. While coaching the next generation of skaters, I might also be preparing the next generation of construction managers.”

---

Our associates are talented, dedicated and knowledgeable. They streamline complex projects and always deliver value to clients. Read more associate spotlights.