The demands and opportunities facing McGough are constantly changing, but in Kari Boyens’ first year as the business development lead for our Iowa operations in Des Moines, she also has seen the value of our long history, unchanging values, and tradition of quality work.
“The construction industry is so much more about relationships than many people realize,” Kari said. “It’s about working with people that you enjoy, building trust and supporting it with quality. In my first year, I’ve seen firsthand how McGough’s reputation translates into stronger, successful relationships and opportunities.”
That reputation is part of what drew Kari to us following a long local career focused on healthcare – first in radiology and then in healthcare design and construction. When the opportunity with our Des Moines office arose, the reviews from peers who had worked at McGough made an impact.
As her first anniversary approaches, Kari shared some of what she’s learned, the opportunities she sees in Iowa, and how she is helping build upon McGough’s decade in Des Moines.
What Has Been Your Biggest A-ha Moment Since Joining McGough?
First and foremost, it has to be the culture. I had heard wonderful things before joining, but experiencing it firsthand is different. From the top down, McGough stresses that you should do the right thing in every situation. Do the right thing, ethically, morally, and professionally, and you’ll always be in a good position.
Many companies describe themselves as family-owned, but McGough truly makes you feel like part of that family. Early in my tenure, health issues impacted my family. My boss knew about the situation and checked on me often, telling me specifically to focus on my family. That meant a lot to me.
Another example: A few weeks after joining, I was in a large executive meeting. Tom McGough Jr. found me in the room just to introduce himself and say he was happy I was here. In a room where everyone wants his time, that gesture made me feel like I truly belonged.
What Are Some Things That Surprise People You Talk to About McGough in Iowa?
There are many people who do not understand the sheer size and scale of McGough. They are often surprised to learn we have 14 offices and operate in national markets ranging from healthcare and industrial to data centers. They are also surprised by our bench strength, our number of employees, and our specialty services.
Despite that national reach, people are pleasantly surprised to know that we are local and engaged in the community. Iowa is a very relationship-driven market where people want to see a familiar face and know that you are going to be around. We aren’t looking for one big project and then leaving town; we are here for every client, big or small. That opens the door to much larger conversations once people realize we are invested here.
What Are Trends in Healthcare That You Are Watching?
Healthcare is going through a precarious time right now. We are watching legislative and Medicaid changes that will affect both large and small healthcare organizations. I sit on a hospital board for a local county, so I see firsthand what communities and health systems are thinking and talking about.
Those national external forces will have local impacts, and I want McGough to be ready to assist healthcare providers in any way we can. Even if investments in major new or expanded facilities will likely be on hold as the market shakes out, I see our role as being a resource to help with future spending, capital planning, master plans, and facility assessments. We will help clients understand where things might be heading so they don’t get behind.
What Other Opportunities Are Emerging In Iowa?
We are closely following all things industrial. McGough has specific expertise in several areas of this sector. One is water and wastewater; we know there are a number of municipal facilities looking to expand or upgrade, and we have experience with the nuances of those projects and working with local governments. The other is power generation. Our national industrial team has experts who understand this space deeply.
Many of the opportunities tie together. We need more data centers to support the AI revolution, and those data centers require immense power, meaning we need more generation capabilities. Society will have to move fast to keep up, and we are positioned to help build the infrastructure required.
What Are Some Key Projects Over The Years That Stand Out In Iowa?
We built a facility at Iowa State University called the Advanced Teaching and Research Building (ATRB). It’s a fantastic space that really showcases our capabilities for complex, technical projects.
On a different scale, we worked on Two Rivers Park in downtown Des Moines. It sits right on the water and has a unique overlook feature that we built. Even though that was a smaller project dollar-wise, it was a great project for the community. It speaks to us really caring about the relationship and the local impact, rather than just being here for the massive projects. Work like this highlights our commitment to being a true community partner.
