Downtown Des Moines skyline in Central Iowa

About K. Johnson Construction

Construction is a team effort. We make that team work.

A Central Iowa commercial construction team built around clear communication, accountable decisions, and careful field execution.

Our approach

Start with the owner’s priorities. Keep the whole team connected.

K. Johnson Construction is a full-service general contractor and construction manager serving commercial clients across Central Iowa. We bring the owner, design team, trade partners, and field leadership into a clear working process from the earliest plan through final closeout.

That means listening before prescribing, making the budget and schedule part of the conversation, and addressing field conditions with direct communication. The goal is more than a finished space—it is a project team that knows what matters and what comes next.

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 day-to-day decisions that shape every KJC project.

Passion.

We bring energy, curiosity, and pride to the work—from the earliest plan through the final detail.

Integrity.

Direct communication and accountable decisions keep owners, designers, trade partners, and field teams aligned.

Commitment.

We stay focused on the client's priorities while navigating the budgets, schedules, and field conditions that shape every build.

Our team

Good work starts with good people.

Meet the people who plan the work, lead the field, manage the details, and keep KJC projects moving.

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 team, aligned around your project.

Whether the work begins with early planning or a defined set of documents, KJC keeps the owner’s priorities visible and the people responsible for delivery connected.

Explore our services

Start the conversation

Tell us what you’re planning.

Share your project, priorities, and timing with the KJC team.