Passion.
We bring energy, curiosity, and pride to the work—and keep learning from the people around us.
Our approach
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.
The values behind the work
Passion, integrity, and commitment guide the easy decisions—and matter even more when the work gets hard.
We bring energy, curiosity, and pride to the work—and keep learning from the people around us.
We say what we know, speak up when conditions change, and do the right thing even when no one is looking.
We stay in the client’s corner through the hard decisions and follow through on what we say.
Our team
Meet the people who share what they know, connect field and office, and help one another become better builders.
Owner
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.
Lead Superintendent
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Explore our servicesStart the conversation
Tell us what you’re building and what matters most.