Publication: Illinois Business Journal, January 2019

In addition to serving a diverse list of clients, Poettker Construction Co. closed out 2018 with a project closer to home. It is building a new headquarters on land just south of the current location in Breese, Ill. The firm broke ground in July on the 39,400-square-foot multilevel office building and 12,000-square-foot warehouse facility. The new accommodations will streamline communications between departments making construction projects run more efficiently, helping to better serve their clients. Poettker expects to complete the project and move in summer 2019.

The new year sees the firm nearing completion on several large projects. Locally, the two-story, corporate office for Ameren Illinois and the VA Engineering Warehouse at Jefferson Barracks are wrapping up. Further afield, an Air Force Reserve Center in Robins AFB, Ga., will open, while the design/build construction of an elementary school in Fort Jackson, S.C., will continue into 2019.

These are just a few of the projects that are keeping the family-owned and operated company busy.

“We try to stay well diversified with our portfolio,” says Ryan Poettker, vice president project management. “Some of the markets we’re focusing on and continue to grow in are corporate office facilities, education (both K-12 and higher education,) health care, industrial, retail, senior living and utility infrastructure.”

He said they are proud to have been named one of the region’s Best Places to Work by the St. Louis Business Journal in 2018, says Poettker. This year alone, Poettker added more than 30 new employees in project management, estimating, and skilled supervisory roles.

The company has continued to succeed and grow throughout 2018, its second year with Keith Poettker as president. In January 2017, company founder Charles (Chuck) Poettker handed over duties as president to his son. Chuck remains involved with the business as CEO and chairman of the board. Keith and Ryan Poettker’s sister Kimberly Luitjohan is vice president finance. Their brother Kevin is director of business development.

Ryan Poettker credits the smooth transition with the engagement of a succession planning company.

“We worked on the succession for several years and all the planning has paid off. We’re looking forward to another successful year in 2019,” he said.