Downtown Des Moines skyline in Central Iowa

About K. Johnson Construction

Construction takes a team. Good people make it work.

A Central Iowa commercial construction team shaped by mentors, built on accountability, and committed to doing the right thing when the work gets hard.

Our approach

Bring the right people together. Keep the priorities clear.

Commercial construction is as much about people as plans. KJC brings the owner, design team, trade partners, field leaders, and office together in one accountable process—from the earliest decision through final closeout. Every role stays connected to what success means for the owner.

We listen first, keep budget and schedule visible, and do not avoid tough conversations. When conditions change, we gather the facts, decide together, and stay with the work until the job is done. That is how we protect trust and keep the team moving.

Bank Iowa Johnston branch completed by K. Johnson Construction
Commercial construction · Central Iowa

The values behind the work

How we show up matters.

Passion, integrity, and commitment guide the easy decisions—and matter even more when the work gets hard.

Passion.

We bring energy, curiosity, and pride to the work—and keep learning from the people around us.

Integrity.

We say what we know, speak up when conditions change, and do the right thing even when no one is looking.

Commitment.

We stay in the client’s corner through the hard decisions and follow through on what we say.

Our team

Meet the people who make the team work.

Meet the people who share what they know, connect field and office, and help one another become better builders.

Keagan Johnson, Owner at K. Johnson Construction

Keagan Johnson

Owner

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Keagan Johnson is the owner of K. Johnson Construction (KJC) and holds a Construction Engineering degree from Iowa State University. Since 2012, he has successfully delivered a wide range of projects throughout the Des Moines market, including office, historical, industrial, restaurant, and multifamily work. Keagan is detail-driven, highly motivated, and deeply committed to exceeding client expectations through strong estimating, project management, and solution-focused leadership. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Kayla, and their children—Karson, Kam, and Klaire—along with sports, hunting, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones.

Kyle Gerleman, Lead Superintendent at K. Johnson Construction

Kyle Gerleman

Lead Superintendent

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As a K. Johnson Construction Superintendent, Kyle has a strong foundation of construction experience on a variety of projects including historical, restaurant, office and industrial. Kyle is responsible for day-to-day management, construction sequencing, logistics planning, quality control, schedule management and identifying/resolving construction issues. Kyle’s willingness to push through adversity to solve problems is a key element to the success of KJC projects. When not at KJC, Kyle enjoys spending time with his wife, Hannah, his two kids, Will and Hallie. You also might catch him in a tree stand during deer season.

Lane Thornburgh, Administrative Director at K. Johnson Construction

Lane Thornburgh

Administrative Director

Lane Thornburgh manages the company financials such as client billing, accounts payable and payroll and keeps KJC projects organized. Lane enjoys the diversity her job offers with time split between Controller and Project Coordinator tasks. She likes building relationships with her teams and appreciates the company’s focus on client relations. Lane enjoys going to concerts, a good Netflix binge and traveling with family and friends.

Nick Backus, Superintendent at K. Johnson Construction

Nick Backus

Superintendent

Nick Backus brings a deep well of hands-on experience to every project he oversees. Nick thrives on complex builds that demand broad construction knowledge, relentless communication, and the ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently to keep projects moving forward. When he’s not crushing it in the field, you’ll find Nick cheering on the Cyclones or watching sprint cars turn left around the track.

Trevor Ergenbright, Assistant Project Manager at K. Johnson Construction

Trevor Ergenbright

Assistant Project Manager

Trevor Ergenbright brings a rare combination of construction understanding, clear communication, and excellent follow through to every project he touches. His ability to quickly grasp project requirements and translate them into efficient, high-quality results sets him apart in the field. A true team player, Trevor consistently goes above and beyond to support his colleagues and ensure each project is completed to the highest standards. He is a key reason clients continue to return to KJC. Outside of work, Trevor enjoys cheering on the Hawks, spending time in a tree stand during hunting season, and fishing the river whenever he gets the chance.

Ethan Knudson, Assistant Project Manager at K. Johnson Construction

Ethan Knudson

Assistant Project Manager

Ethan Knudson is a fast learner with exceptional attention to detail and a strong ability to identify and resolve the missing pieces on a project. He takes initiative to understand challenges as they arise and works proactively to keep projects moving forward. Ethan excels at combining technical construction knowledge with key project parameters such as budget and schedule, helping ensure successful outcomes from start to finish. A dependable team player, he consistently goes above and beyond to support his colleagues and deliver projects to the highest standards—making him a valued contributor and a key reason clients continue to return to KJC. Outside of work, Ethan enjoys cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, volunteering for youth ministry, and spending time with his wife and two boys.

Jon Sage, Senior Project Manager at K. Johnson Construction

Jon Sage

Senior Project Manager

Jon is a driven construction professional with an extensive depth of experience and industry knowledge. His ability to track, coordinate, and execute projects at both the big-picture and minute-detail levels is rare and extremely valuable. Jon has a proven track record of delivering successful projects time and time again, consistently holding himself and his team to the highest level of accountability. His disciplined approach and leadership make him a trusted contributor to every project he leads. Outside of work, Jon enjoys tending to his farm, getting haircuts while on vacation, and leading his incredible family alongside his wife and four daughters.

Built for collaboration

A capable field and office team, working as one.

KJC was built with both sides at the table. That keeps constructability, communication, cost, schedule, and the owner’s priorities connected from the first plan through the work in the field.

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Start with people you can count on.

Tell us what you’re building and what matters most.