Five Generations In, Beckenhauer Construction Is Still Growing

Norfolk – When Beckenhauer Construction was founded in Wakefield in 1878, Nebraska had been a state for only 11 years.

Nearly 150 years later, the family-owned commercial construction company has built schools, hospitals, churches, businesses and public facilities across Nebraska. It later moved to Norfolk and is now in its fifth generation of family leadership. Through changing technologies and markets, it has kept its focus on quality, integrity, and partnership.

Erin Beckenhauer works alongside two of her brothers at Beckenhauer Construction, where she supports the company’s business development efforts. She said the family history carries special meaning for her.

“It’s pretty cool,” Beckenhauer said. “Just to know that you’ve maintained that line and been able to uphold the quality and integrity of everything to keep a trusted name and to keep everything going.”

She didn't always expect to make the family business her career. She worked for the company for a few summers in college, then moved to Omaha after graduating and entered the corporate world. Extensive travel and a desire to be closer to family brought her back to Beckenhauer Construction in 2008.

Today, the company employs approximately 35 to 40 people and works on commercial construction projects throughout Nebraska and into South Dakota & Iowa. Recent projects include a new jail and law enforcement center for Codington County in Watertown, South Dakota; Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus; the Sarpy County 911 Center in Papillion; and a physical therapy addition at Jefferson Community Health & Life in Fairbury.

Repeat Clients

Beckenhauer measures success by whether clients come back.

"Success is having repeat clients," she said. "Being the trusted partner that owners are going to call us because they know exactly what they're getting and they're getting what they want and what they need for their project."

Many employees have been with the company for years.

"I like to think our employees are our family too," Beckenhauer said. "A lot of them are longer term, and we know their families."

Working With the NBDC

Beckenhauer Construction has worked with the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) since 2008. Consultants with the Nebraska APEX Accelerator, formerly the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), have assisted the company as it explores opportunities in the government marketplace.

Much of that assistance has focused on BidMatch, a no-cost service that helps businesses identify government contracting opportunities. Nebraska APEX Accelerator staff have also discussed prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities within the construction industry with the company and provided access to Govology.com, which offers training and educational resources related to government contracting.

Meghann Buresh, CPP, MBA, Nebraska APEX Accelerator Consultant, said the program works with established companies as well as new ones.

"Even established businesses like Beckenhauer continue to grow, add new staff and navigate an evolving government marketplace," Buresh said. "Nebraska APEX Accelerator can serve as an ongoing resource to help businesses and their teams stay current on government contracting requirements, opportunities and authoritative information as the marketplace continues to change."

The company continues to look for new opportunities while holding on to the principles that have sustained it for generations.

Community Involvement

Beckenhauer Construction has established a charitable fund through the Nebraska Community Foundation to support communities and families in need. The company also participates in food drives, community events and other giving efforts throughout the year.

"We always try to be active in the communities that we're working in," Beckenhauer said, "giving back however we can."

Construction projects can keep employees in a community for an extended period. Crews live and shop locally while a project is underway and become temporary (and sometimes permanent) members of the community.

The company wants each building to serve its owner and community for years.

"We want to be a partner — a trusted partner in business," Beckenhauer said. "It's our communities that are there too. We want the buildings to last. We want quality work done, and we want to keep working with our neighbors."

Looking Ahead

As Beckenhauer Construction approaches its 150th anniversary, the family is already thinking about what comes next. The company is working to grow the business and explore new markets. One of Beckenhauer's nieces currently works for the company, representing the sixth generation, and the niece's brother plans to join as well.