Kiewit Building Group is best of the best: Kiewit named Contractor of the Year by Alaska Business Monthly.

• Author: Martin, Gary L.
• Position: BUILDING ALASKA - Cover story

Kiewit is a well-known name in Alaska, especially in the construction industry, where it garners great respect. The name is synonymous with the terms quality, integrity and dependability. Kiewit has played a major role in building Alaska since 1949.

For its long-term commitment to excellence, Kiewit Building Group Inc. has been named "Contractor of the Year," by Alaska Business Monthly. According to ABM's publisher, Vern McCorkle, the company earning that honor must be well respected, has demonstrated continued superior performance and has made positive contributions to the community.

Bruce Tresslar, president of KBG and senior vice president and division manager of Kiewit Corp., says he hopes KBG will be viewed by past, present and future clients and design partners as the builder of choice, providing the best value in construction. He said, "Our number one job is to be a partner to our clients and other stakeholders on projects that help solve problems."

In keeping with that thought, Kevin Welker, KBG's senior vice president and Alaska area manager, said, "Due to Kiewit's leadership and long-term relationships with local designers and subcontractors, we are able to deliver rewarding and successful projects that meet or exceed our clients' schedule, budget and quality expectations."

Kiewit Building Group is a subsidiary of the employee-owned Kiewit Corp. that is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its roots can be traced back to 1884, when Peter and Andrew Kiewit formed Kiewit Brothers, an Omaha masonry-contracting partnership. Peter and Andrew were sons of a brick-maker.

Peter, who had six children, was born in 1900. His youngest son, also named Peter, was the person best known for developing Kiewit into a major national company. In 1889, Kiewit Brothers was awarded its largest contract to date, the masonry work for the seven-story Lincoln Hotel. Soon after completing it, the brothers dissolved their partnership.

In 1924, another milestone was reached when the company signed its first million dollar contract. It was for work on the 10-story Livestock Exchange Building in the South Omaha meatpacking district.

The company continued to grow and survived several corporate changes, each within the family. In 1931, Ralph Kiewit left the company and his son, Peter, decided to sell shares of company stock to key managers. The philosophy was employee-ownership would be a major factor in the company's future success.

From there, the company continued to grow...