At Stahl we empower our employees, as individuals and as project teams, with the authority to make decisions that are in the best interest of their projects. Because of this, leadership occurs at every level of the company and the management hierarchy is flat. There are, however, certain individuals responsible for overseeing and supporting the empowerment process and ensuring that it operates in harmony with company goals and values.
As the founder of the company that bears his name, Wayne sets the tone for the rest of the company. He particularly enjoys conceptual estimating–budgeting the cost of construction when there are no plans. A civil engineering graduate of Purdue University and a registered professional engineer, Wayne prefers straight lines, right angles, and symmetry to the alternatives. In the category of useless information, he knows pi to 50 places and can name all the World Series winners since 1903.
“Sometimes the difference between success and failure can be the difference between doing something almost right and doing it exactly right.”
As President and CEO, Cathy thrives on building organizations by establishing a strong foundation, assembling the right team, developing, and executing a plan and implementing processes and systems that drive growth and meaningful changes. Cathy has been fortunate to lead a variety of organizations and associations throughout her career, with each experience building upon the last, persistently striving to add value to everything she is a part of.
Cathy is a student at heart and loves to learn and continuously improve. She is a proud graduate of Iowa State University with a Marketing degree as well as the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management with a MBA. She is a LEED Accredited Professional.
Being a part of organizations that are doing great things is a passion for Cathy and she has served on several Boards of Directors including Feed My Starving Children, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, CoreNet Global Midwest, Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, Mount Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth and she currently serves on the Iowa State University Alumni Association Board of Directors as Chair – Elect.
Cathy has been married to Mark for 30 years and has two children, Caroline and Jonny. Traveling to new places and visiting the newest brewery are Cathy’s favorite things to do in her free time.
“Striving to add value in every endeavor is a noble pursuit.”
As Vice President, Lane oversees Stahl’s construction and project management operations to ensure that project goals and objectives, both internal and external, are met. He typically is heavily involved in the front end of a project, setting goals for the construction team; lending valuable insight regarding constructability, scheduling, and logistics; and helping to ensure that our clients get a great project for their money.
Lane is a clear and effective communicator. His management style and approach in confronting issues head-on serve him well in the time-sensitive world of construction. He is open and direct, quick to provide both positive and corrective feedback, and always looks to bring out the best in people. Lane strongly adheres to the Company’s core values and beliefs and does his best to operate in line with those values, during both good times and bad.
Lane has completed continuing education classes through the Associated General Contractors of America, Arizona State University, OSHA, and the University of Minnesota. He completed Lean Kaizen training, is an active member of the Lean Construction Institute, and was a security police officer in the U.S. Air Force.
In his spare time, Lane spends quality time with his family and two dogs and participates in triathlons. He also enjoys watersports, mountain biking, camping, snowboarding, and cheering on any team on which his son is playing. He is a youth group leader for middle and high school students, volunteers on his church council, and donates time to Hearts and Hammers, Place of Hope, and the Senior Citizen Partnership.
“Even in business it’s possible to act with integrity, treat people with respect, and build lasting friendships along the way.”
As Chief Financial Officer, Susan is a strategic leader and is responsible for overseeing the financial health and fiscal operations at Stahl Construction. She plays a pivotal role in financial planning, management, and reporting, guiding the company’s financial strategies and decisions. Susan manages financial risks, ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, and provides insightful analysis to support the executive team in achieving the company’s short and long-term financial objectives. She has a deep understanding of financial management, a proven track record in driving financial growth, and effectively collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive Stahl’s financial success.
Susan has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota and over two decades of experience in the construction industry. Beyond the office, she is a genealogy enthusiast and enjoys reading ancestral familial research. Susan also finds joy crafting young adult books, providing young readers the gift of captivating stories. An outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys exploring state and national parks, reveling in the beauty of nature. As the mother to five accomplished adult children, Susan takes joy in nurturing the bonds of her expanding extended family. Along with her faithful companion Murphy, she also volunteers with Therapy Dogs International, bringing comfort and smiles to patients and residents in hospitals and nursing homes.
“My mission is to reinforce the foundation of success, one solid financial decision at a time.”
As the Director of Operations and the ultimate multi-tasker, Ha is involved in every aspect of our business. There is nothing she doesn’t touch. Consider each operation activity a brick in a wall. Without mortar, the wall is weak and falls over. The mortar is everywhere; it touches every brick and gives the wall its strength. Simply put, Ha is the mortar in our operations brick wall, which is a very, very strong wall.
Regardless how full her plate, Ha is always willing to take on additional work. Her enthusiasm for accepting new challenges and her ability to manage multiple tasks make her irreplaceable. We kid her that when she retires, we’ll have to close up shop.
Ha earned degrees in Applied Science in Administration from Normandale Community College and Human Resources from Metropolitan State University. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and an active member of the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) and Lean Construction Institute.
Away from the office, Ha can be found cooking, baking (the Stahl team can confirm everything she makes is delicious), planning parties, running, hiking, playing and watching tennis, and spending time with her family. She is a library book wagon helper at Children’s Minnesota and celebrates family birthdays by volunteering at Feed My Starving Children.
“Lots of companies claim their employees as their greatest asset. But with Stahl, it is actually true.”