Publication: GroundBreak Carolinas, October 25, 2025
GroundBreak Carolinas is honored to spotlight Charlotte-based Keith Poettker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Poettker Construction Company, who has been named to the Class of 2025 GroundBreakers — an exclusive group of individuals recognized for going above and beyond to make a difference in the construction community across the Carolinas.
Established in 1980, Poettker Construction Company is an award-winning, multi-generational construction management and design-build firm operating in the Midwest and Southeast regions. Keith Poettker assumed leadership in 2021 following his father’s passing and more than doubled Poettker’s revenue from $183 million to $404 million in 2024. Keith Poettker’s eye for growth and development, along with core values of trust and mutual respect, have secured significant partnerships throughout the region.
Keith Poettker relocated to the Charlotte area in 2020 to oversee Poettker’s regional expansion. Since 2023, Poettker has managed over 3.3 million squre feet of distribution and warehouse projects in the Carolinas — 88% of which came from repeat clients and referrals. Poettker’s financial success over the past several years has earned recognition as an ENR Southeast Top Contractor and among the Top 30 largest general contractor firms in the Charlotte Business Journal for three consecutive years.
GroundBreak Carolinas recently caught up with Keith Poettker for an insightful conversation about his role and vision for the 45-year-old company.
Tell us what you are most passionate about when it comes to the AEC industry and/or your role within your organization?
“Continually striving for safety excellence and ensuring our employees and subcontractors return home safely to their families, free from injury, is something I am incredibly passionate about.”
What are some of the things you are doing inside and outside of your workspace and organization to improve the construction industry and encourage others to make construction a potential career choice?
“I’ve seen firsthand how early exposure to construction, from early education through high school, can inspire students to pursue careers in the industry. To foster that spark, Poettker partners with community and technical colleges, associations, and universities across the Southeast to connect students with hands-on learning and excellent trades apprenticeship and construction management programs. Additionally, we advocate for earlier engagement with high school and middle school students to show them the opportunities a construction career can provide. In 2023, we launched our NextGen initiative, which brings K-12 students to project sites for groundbreaking ceremonies, class tours, and milestone celebrations, all to help them envision themselves in construction careers.
“Within our organization, I’ve built a culture where safety is collaborative, not combative, and where employees are empowered to take ownership of their careers. We invest heavily in education, training, coaching, and leadership opportunities, creating a workplace where hard work is rewarded and long-term growth is possible. As a result, our people feel valued, prepared, and motivated to advance the industry as a whole.
“The trade labor shortage remains one of — and will continue to be — our industry’s most significant challenges. Ensuring we have qualified personnel — from management to trades — on the right projects is always a concern. To help overcome this, Poettker partners with subcontractors and vendors who possess the capacity, capability, character, and capital to deliver high-quality work while also supporting workforce development.”
How do you see technology’s influence?
“Keeping up with technological advances is imperative to business growth and meeting customer expectations, but you don’t want to adopt new technology simply because it’s trendy. It’s essential to adopt technologies that can streamline productivity, enhance real-time decision-making, and ultimately deliver tangible benefits to clients. At Poettker, we’ve seen this most clearly with drones and BIM software.
“We recently launched an in-house drone program to support our preconstruction, safety, quality, operations, and marketing teams. Drones enable us to collect topographical data in hours instead of days, which helps us provide more accurate bids, reduce the risk of costly change orders, and expedite site selection. They also enhance safety by monitoring hard-to-reach areas, ensuring crews are following protocols, and documenting utility locations for long-term reference. On the quality side, drones can identify inconsistencies in building materials or even detect roof leaks and energy loss through thermal scans.
“Beyond drones, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has reshaped how we proactively plan our projects and collaborate with subcontractor partners. By integrating real-time data into the design process, we can streamline constructability reviews, visualize the facility, reduce errors, and accelerate schedules.
“Together, these tools make our work more efficient and our teams safer, while also providing clients with greater transparency, precision, and confidence at every stage of their project.”
What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?
“I think my greatest accomplishment is continuing my father’s legacy of leading a safety-first, family-oriented culture. Guiding the company through transformative growth, doubling revenue within four years, and expanding operations, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to safety and people, is something I’m truly proud of.
“Since taking on the role of CEO and chairman of Poettker in 2021, our company has made significant strides in safety and risk management, earning national and regional honors, including the Associated General Contractors (AGC) – National Construction Safety Excellence Award (First Place), the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) STEP Safety Certification and Accredited Quality Contractor, and an ENR Top 400 Contractor.
What do you think are the most important personal attributes one must possess to be successful in the construction industry of tomorrow?
“I believe the most important personal attributes for success in the construction industry are mutual respect, humility, accountability, a dedication to safety excellence, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
“Strong values build strong teams, and in this industry, your reputation will carry you further than any title. I also think that to be successful, you must be a relationship builder who lives by the Golden Rule and embraces a servant leadership approach. If you do these things with sincerity, you will earn respect, and people will follow you.
“Safety will always remain central to the future of our industry. Acting as your brother’s and sister’s keeper on the jobsite creates a culture where everyone looks out for one another.
“Finally, success requires resilience and a commitment to growth. Never give up on yourself and never stop learning. The ability to take lessons — both good and bad — and apply them throughout your career is one of the most valuable attributes you can develop.”
What are the 3-5 Leadership Principles that you have discovered and executed that have contributed to your success?
“I take a servant leadership approach rooted in the principles of faith, trust, mutual respect, and living by ‘The Golden Rule.’ This principle was instilled in me by my father, Chuck Poettker, who was a Bronze Star Vietnam War Veteran. After losing three members of his platoon in combat, Dad vowed that if he survived, he would dedicate his life to building something meaningful. He returned home, began his construction career, and developed his respect for the importance of always looking out for one another.
“I also foster a family-oriented culture by treating employees, clients, business partners, and subcontractors as family. I believe that an organization’s most valuable resource is its people, and one of the most important things a leader can do is invest in and empower their employees through education, coaching, and collaborative oversight. Our company’s average employee tenure is 10 years, and many of our employees are second and third-generation workers with deep family ties to the company’s inception.
“By consistently fostering an environment where people feel valued and supported, I’ve seen firsthand that when you take care of your people, clients, and business partners, the bottom line takes care of itself.
Looking back over your construction career, is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance? Why?
“That’s a difficult question to try to answer because all the decisions I’ve made throughout my career, whether successful or not, have led me to where I am today. I have made many mistakes over my career, but those have contributed to significant lessons learned for me personally and professionally. All of those decisions, mixed with my background, have shaped my management and servant leadership approach today. I do feel like I do a better job today prioritizing decision-making to ensure I am most productive with my time. If I could go back to my younger self, I would probably try to guide that individual in decision-making to stay focused, improve work-life balance, and reduce stress. I would also tell that individual to spend as much time as possible with his father because he was available, a great mentor, a fountain of wisdom, and an extraordinary leader. On top of all of that, he didn’t charge for his time or advice.”
What do you see as the future trends of the construction industry over the next 5-10 years?
“The construction industry is embracing AI, automation, and technology to improve efficiency. From streamlining business processes to predictive scheduling, risk mitigation, and real-time safety monitoring, AI is being utilized to enhance productivity and alleviate strain on the workforce. This trend is the new way of the future. At Poettker, we’ve already begun integrating AI, drone technology, and virtual simulation into our process to enhance planning and risk management.
Poettker Gives Back – Under Keith’s leadership, Poettker launched the Poettker Gives Back program, supporting over 50 nonprofit organizations in 2024. Notably, the company raised over $121,000 for Dream On 3 Carolinas – a charity making sports dreams happen for children with life-altering conditions – through its inaugural Southeast Charity Clay Shoot and impact contributions for their gala. Poettker continuously supports Scouting America Mecklenburg County Council, demonstrating commitment to youth development and community engagement. Keith supports the Good Fellows Club, a Charlotte organization providing emergency assistance to families in need. These contributions reflect Keith’s unwavering commitment to philanthropy, education, and community engagement, making a positive impact throughout the regions where Poettker operates.
