Morgan Seopa, a project engineer with Kraus-Anderson Construction in Minneapolis, is already playing a key role at one of the busiest construction firms in the Twin Cities area. And she’s doing this despite having only graduated from high school less than four full years ago.
What’s behind Seopa’s early success, and why is the construction industry such a natural fit? Here’s a look at why Seopa chose a career in construction, what she enjoys about the industry and the steps she’s taken to thrive in this career.
Tell us about your background. Where did you grow up and where did you go to school?
I grew up on a lake in northern Minnesota in a little area called Side Lake, about 20 miles north of Hibbing. I still live there now. I graduated from Hibbing High School in 2018 and graduated from Bemidji State University in December 2021 with a degree in project management, with an emphasis on construction and facilities management.
How did you get your start in the industry?
As my time in high school was coming to end, I knew I wanted to be a part of the building process but didn’t know where I fit in. Then I learned about project management. I spent my junior and senior years of high school going to Hibbing Community College, where I received my Associates of Arts degree in May of 2018, a month before graduating from high school. With two years of college under my belt at the age of 18 and not a concrete idea of exactly what I wanted to do, I decided to take a gap year. During that time, I took off to Guatemala to volunteer doing manual construction and renovation labor in a village near Antigua. That experience solidified that I did want to continue in the construction field but didn’t want to be the one with the hammer in my hand. When I returned home, I applied to Bemidji State University to complete my degree in project management.
Did you have a mentor who helped you get on your feet, or is there someone you turn to now for support?
My family and friends have always been my biggest supporters. To say I’m fortunate is an understatement. At work, my mentor is Senior Project Manager Patrick Gallagher. He has believed in me from the start and continues to push me out of my comfort zone, making me achieve things I never thought possible. In addition, the entire Kraus-Anderson Duluth team – including all of the project managers, project coordinators and superintendents — have always been there to help and support me in every step of in my career.
What does an average day at work look like?
Today I am a project engineer and work in northern Minnesota on Rock Ridge Public School District projects, including Rock Ridge Career Academy High School, Laurentian Elementary, North Star Elementary and on the district’s existing demolition projects. I’ve been lucky enough to spend the majority of my time on project sites. Most of my days are filled working in coordination with my team and our contractors. As a project engineer, I enjoy the variety of work on the job site. One day I may spend time reviewing project plans and coordinating them with contractors; and the next day I may be in my office contacting contractors about their bids they submitted for a specific project. I also have had the opportunity to work with the Rock Ridge Public School District’s Career Mentorship Program that serves students in all career fields by connecting contractors with students. It’s been a fulfilling experience exposing students to the different trades and careers available in the construction industry.
What do you like most about your job?
In addition to the variety of responsibilities, part of the reason this career keeps me so engaged and makes my job enjoyable, is because each day is different. There is never a dull day in this industry. No matter the task, each day we are working toward the same goal — a successful project and a happy owner. But what I love most about my job is helping communities grow and improve with each project that we complete. I’m fortunate enough to be working on projects on the Iron Range, which is the corner of the world where I grew up and take pride in. And the team I work with is the cherry on top. They’re an exceptional group of professionals that create a welcoming place to begin my career, and a great place to grow my career. I think that speaks volumes about the culture at Kraus-Anderson.
Looking to the future, what do you hope to achieve/work on that you have not already?
I have really enjoyed working in the K-12 sector and look forward to gaining additional experience in other building sectors, which will help me be a versatile asset to my company. My main goal is to continue to learn and grow as a female in the construction industry, while building relationships along the way. This is just the beginning and I’m eager to see where this career path takes me.
How do you spend your time away from the office?
My time spent away from the office is mainly spent enjoying the outdoors with my 1 ½ year old son and my boyfriend, along with family and friends. We like to hunt, fish, and ride our snowmobiles and side-by-side, and spend days on the lake. We’re lucky to live in area where we get to enjoy all that Minnesota has to offer.