Q&A: Kohlenberger reflects decades-long construction career.

Byline: Brian Johnson

Don Kohlenberger may not always have the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon, but the construction industry veteran has been a leader behind the scenes of some of the most high-profile projects to come along in recent years.

As an owner representative and consultant, Kohlenberger has quietly contributed to the success of complex projects such as the Baker Center renovation, the Latitude 45 apartment tower and Mayo Clinic Square, all in downtown Minneapolis.

He's currently a project manager and owner rep for The Dayton's Project, an ambitious $250 million renovation of the historic 1.3 million-square-foot building that used to house the Dayton's and Macy's department stores in downtown Minneapolis.

After earning a construction management degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Kohlenberger went on to work as a senior project manager for Adolfson & Peterson Construction and vice president of construction for Egan Cos., among other positions.

In 2009, he established Hightower Initiatives, a provider of consulting and management services for the construction industry. Kohlenberger's services range from owner representation and constructability analysis to contract negotiation and construction oversight.

A strong advocate for the industry, Kohlenberger is a mentor to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) construction companies in the Twin Cities, and an entrepreneurial adviser for the Metropolitan Economic Development Association. He's also the chair emeritus of the construction program at Minnesota State University, Mankato, among other leadership roles.

In the following interview, Kohlenberger talks about his construction roots and how his consulting business evolved, among other topics. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: How did you get into the construction business?

A: I was raised on the South Side of Chicago, and my father was a bricklayer and became a project superintendent. Over the years, he worked around the nation on construction sites. So my experience with construction was a lifelong love of buildings and the built environment. It was a natural progression for me to get an education in construction management and apply it on the industry.

Q: How long have you been in the industry?

A: For over 30 years. My first job in construction was cleaning brick on a project, and then I worked my way through college as a bricklayer. After college I worked on large-size development...