O‑A‑K MI Welcomes 20 New Employees in 2022

January 26, 2023

O‑A‑K MI Welcomes 20 New Employees in 2022

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(Grand Rapids, MI) January 24­, 2023– Owen‑Ames‑Kimball Co. (O‑A‑K), local professional construction firm, announces the additions of Danielle Becklin, Eugene Blesing, Shane Crow, Dan Dennis, Sandy Dyer, Jeremy Fron, Josh Hoch, Lucas Kleyn, Josh Kwiatkowski, Joe Lighthart, Alyson Lloyd, Dennis Loveland, Robert Miller, Nick Morrissey, Tatiana Parsons, Chase Pattison, Ryan Pendrick, Ryan Ruiter, Nate Stader, and Wayne Vandawater.

Danielle Becklin, Marketing Manager, joins O‑A‑K’s Marketing department and holds a Bachelors in Communication from Michigan State University, alongside 10+ years of specialized construction marketing experience.

Eugene Blesing, Project Superintendent, has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. He holds a grade 5 Water Operator license and is First Aid/CPR certified. He is currently on-site at Byron Center Intermediate 5/6 School.

Shane Crow, Project Superintendent, joins O‑A‑K with over 15 years of industry experience and an impressive portfolio of work that spans across various markets. He is currently on-site at Tri County Elementary School but will be moving to Lakeview Schools soon.

Dan Dennis, Project Superintendent, joins O‑A‑K’s team with 25 years of experience. He is a certified Licensed Residential Builder and a Private Pilot in his free time. He is currently working on-site at Rockford’s Crestwood Elementary School.

Sandy Dyer, Accounting, joins the accounting department in the Grand Rapids office. She has an associate degree from Grand Rapids Community College. In her free time, she loves to travel and do a variety of crafts.

Jeremy Fron, Carpenter, has 21 years of construction experience. He has his OSHA 30-Hour and is currently on-site at Van Andel Institute. In his free time, he enjoys hunting and fishing.

Josh Hoch, Project Superintendent, has 20 years of experience in the trades as a structural steel worker. He is currently working at Kenowa Hills Middle School and the turf field and track resurfacing project.

Lucas Kleyn, Assistant Project Superintendent, graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor’s in construction management. After completion of his summer internship with O‑A‑K, Lucas has officially joined the O‑A‑K team and can now be found on-site at Godfrey-Lee Middle/High School. He holds his Michigan Builders License and is First Aid, CPR, AED, and Procore certified.

Josh Kwiatkowski, Project Superintendent, brings over 10 years of experience in the construction industry and is both OSHA 30-Hour and CPR/First Aid certified. He is working on-site at the Kent County Correctional Facility. Josh is both OSHA 30-Hour and CPR/First Aid certified. He is currently on-site at Kent County Correctional Facility.

Joe Lighthart, Assistant Project Superintendent, has over 20 years of experience in residential construction and previously owned and operated his own tiling company. Joe is currently on-site at Rockford Public Schools Aquatic project.

Alyson Lloyd, Project Superintendent, officially joins our Grand Rapids team after being an intern for the summer and finishing her Bachelors degree in Construction Management from Ferris State University. She is currently on-site at Kent Intermediate School District Lincoln campus.

Dennis Loveland, Project Superintendent, backed by over 41 years of experience and an extensive resume that spans across various market sectors.

Robert Miller, Project Superintendent, joined O‑A‑K with 40+ years of construction experience and has served a variety of roles within the industry, including carpenter, mechanic, and Forman. He is currently on-site at Elk Rapids middle school project.

Nick Morrissey, Project Superintendent, graduated from Ferris State University with a bachelor’s in construction management. He has 13 years of construction experience, including eight years as an Engineer in the United States Army. Nick is currently on-site at East Kentwood High School Culinary Arts addition.

Tatiana Parsons, Billing Specialist, joins our Grand Rapids office after graduating with her masters from Grand Valley State University. With her employment, she has acquired her public notary license and become a member of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA).

Chase Pattison, Project Superintendent, graduated from Grand Valley State University with a B.B.A. in Supply Chain Management and supervising construction at Elk Rapids Cherryland Middle School. Chase has acquired an impressive list of certifications including; OSHA 30-Hour, MI Stormwater Management Operator, Aerial Lift/All Terrain Certified, Masonry Fall Zone training, Lead/Asbestos Awareness training and CPR/First Aid certified.

Ryan Pendrick, Assistant Project Manager, joins the team as a recent graduate and former hockey player of Ferris State University. He has earned both an associate’s degree in Architectural Technology and a Bachelors in Facility Management.

Ryan Ruiter, Assistant Project Superintendent, served as intern for the last two consecutives summers with O‑A‑K and became an official team member following his graduation at Hope College. Ryan is currently on-site at Forest Hills Administration Building.

Nate Stader, Project Superintendent, comes with 13 years of experience in a variety of construction field and a Bachelors in Science, in Construction Management from Ferris State University. He is currently on-site at Kentwood Public Schools, Endeavor Elementary School.

Wayne Vandawater, Project Superintendent, joins the Grand Rapids team with over 37 years of industry experience along with a handful of qualifications, including OSHA-30 Hour certified, Aerial and platform lift certification as well as CPR/First Aid certified. He is currently on-site at the new Rockford Elementary School.

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A New Home for Hope College Business & Economics Takes Shape

Sam Cochran, Assistant Superintendent at O-A-K and Hope College alum, walked the job site in downtown Holland with Nick Duthler, Director of Operations for Hope College, for a look at the college's new Business and Economics building.

The project broke ground on October 17, 2025, during Hope's Homecoming weekend, drawing hundreds of alumni, students, and community members to the site. The three-story building, roughly 70,000 square feet, sits on East 8th Street, between the historic Holland City Hall and Firehouse and the Holland Area Arts Council, on a 1.2-acre parcel Hope College has owned for about twenty years. The site was previously home to the Versendaal car dealership.

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The Economics and Business Department is Hope College's largest, serving nearly one-third of its students, and has grown sixty percent over the past fifteen years. The new building, part of the college's "Hope College Means Business" campaign, is expected to open in fall 2028.

"O-A-K has always done fantastic work," Duthler said. "You work really well with our architects, and you work really well with us, and that's what we need in a good partner."

O-A-K is proud to continue its partnership with Hope College. Thank you also to our video partners at Taproot Pictures.

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Kylee's career spans client services, commercial construction, manufacturing, and workplace design, and one thing has stayed constant across every stop: she builds relationships that last well past the first deal. Ask her about her career and she will point back to the people behind it, the clients she got to know, the trust she built, and the partnerships that grew from there.

Relationships have always come first for her, going back to the beginning of her career. "I really got started in business development through sales," Kylee says. "Early in my career, I learned that my strength wasn't just selling a product, it was building relationships, connecting with people, and finding opportunities where I could bring value. As my career progressed, that naturally evolved into new business development. I found that I really enjoyed opening doors, making connections, and turning those relationships into long-term partnerships and business growth."

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Kylee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations from Grand Valley State University. She stays active in the West Michigan community as a board delegate with CREW West Michigan, where she also serves on the programs committee.

Kylee likes to sum it up simply: "Treat people well, listen to what matters to them, and take the time to genuinely get to know them. Build trust first, do the right thing, and let the relationship lead the business." We couldn't agree more, and we're glad to have her in our court. Welcome, Kylee!

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