Steve Northway, Chief Operating Officer

Just wanted to publicly thank my business partner, my nephew, my friend for his years of commitment and service to Northway Construction. For those who haven’t heard, Ed Northway has left Northway Construction to pursue another business venture. We wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor!

Here is the news release that ran in the Brainerd Dispatch:

BAXTER — Steve Northway, a pioneer in the Brainerd lakes area construction industry, will become Chief Executive Officer at Northway Construction Services in January of 2013.

Steve will remain Northway Construction’s Chief Operating Officer as well, leading the Baxter-based construction company he started with his nephew, Ed Northway II, in 2006.

“We both had a passion to create a great company that would build the highest quality homes, provide world class customer service, and take the best care of our people,” said Steve Northway. “And that’s exactly what we did.”

Ed Northway, who currently serves as Northway Construction’s CEO, is transitioning from his position to start a new business venture outside of the construction industry.

“I’m excited to use the leadership, sales and marketing skills I’ve gained at Northway Construction in my new endeavor, but it’s bittersweet to be leaving,” said Ed Northway.

In the last six years, Northway Construction built Minnesota’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified home, meaning it was the first home in the state to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s benchmark for the design, construction and operation of energy efficient, environmentally friendly buildings.

Northway Construction also completed the state’s first LEED-certified whole-house remodel project, converting a drafty outdated cabin on Agate Lake into a modern day Nordic-looking getaway.

Last year, another remodeling project gained Northway the national Excellence in Construction Eagle Award from Associated Builders and Contractors as well as the Contractor of the Year Award by the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

“I’m proud of our company’s growth and everything we have accomplished in the last six years,” said Ed Northway. “I’m looking forward to what lies ahead, both for me and Northway Construction.”

Northway Construction specializes in building and remodeling homes and commercial buildings throughout the Midwest.

JJ Levenske, President of Construction

We have all been asked this question in the checkout line at a retail store, but it only really sank in with me just the other day.

If someone at the checkout is asking “Did you find everything you were looking for?” it is obviously too late in my buying decision and actions to change course, even if I didn’t find everything I was looking for. Let’s put ourselves in the construction consumer’s shoes and think about this more.

Are we asking the right questions at the wrong time? I will openly admit that I too have been too late in asking the appropriate and timely questions to potential clients. Why do we do this? The more I thought about it, the more it donned on me that we all take the knowledge of what we respectively do for granted.

Have you ever noticed that in certain professions the same protocols or questions are asked regardless of your experience or perceived knowledge? I had an open discussion about this with my doctor the other day and the response I received was so simple, “We do it because we have no idea how much that person knows about what we do.” BINGO! With all the stresses and decisions during the construction process, perhaps it’s time to get back to the basics and assume everyone knows nothing about construction. We can easily avoid any gap in communication by explaining the different processes and procedures in the most rudimentary way, from beginning to end.

So, next time someone in the checkout line asks “Did you find everything you were looking for?” let that serve as a reminder to make sure your clients are finding what they’re looking for, at the very beginning of the construction process AND at the end.

JJ Levenske, President of Construction

We sold our house recently and are currently renting a quaint and cute cabin for a few months on the lake. From where we came from, it’s tiny and packed but we are growing closer as a family. It has also made me have an epiphany of sorts when it comes to the effective use of space. I’m finding myself trying to utilize more unique spaces and achieve efficiency with every square inch. It has been a humbling, but somewhat rewarding, experience.

Poor design frustrates you for life.

Good design is timeless.

Choose wisely.

On the flip side, I was with some clients last week and we toured some palatial homes so they could get a sense of space for their future home. One home in particular was huge by today’s standards, yet every square foot was thoughtfully laid out. For a family of seven, it was maximized for their own efficiency, from storage to everyday use.

Whether small or large, one of the highest duties we as contractors and architects have is to make sure our clients understand this concept and allow them to find their own “efficiencies” and best use of space. More and more we are relying on modeling to achieve this goal. It’s incumbent on all of us to make sure this is one of the core elements in our design. After all, if we can give the client “more” within “less space” the outcome is almost always a success, both financially and from a client satisfaction standpoint.

Steve Northway, Chief Operating Officer

Listen as Northway Construction interviews Gord Cooke of Building Knowledge Inc in regard to the top 5 items every home owner should consider as they approach a new build or remodel.