Being a part of a team comes naturally for McCownGordon associates

Goals, home runs and hat tricks… our team at McCownGordon is full of former student athletes giving us a unique insight into what it takes to complete sports facilities for our clients. In addition, the passion they have for their sports seeps into their passion for getting the construction right.

These former athletes learned a lot from their time on teams. And they’ve carried with them into the working world. Construction is a tough industry; one they’ve already been preparing for with grit and perseverance.

McCownGordon’s core values of integrity, performance and relationships are all evident in each of these featured associates… even when they were on the field, ice or mat.

Lauren Koval (Zach), Engineering Manager
Outside midfielder for UMKC’s women’s soccer team from 2013-2017

Your fondest memory or best achievement as a student athlete? 

It’s hard to choose just one! My sophomore year we were the WAC (Western Athletic Conference) regular season Champions, so that was a pretty special year. Another accomplishment I’m really proud of is being named on the WAC Academic All-Conference Team every year I was eligible.

How did being a student athlete help prepare you for your future career?

Being a student athlete was so much more than just playing a sport. It taught me work ethic, time management, adaptability, teamwork, perseverance, goal attainment, and the list goes on! Starting each day with early morning practices followed by a full day of class and missing multiple days while traveling for games; we learned to be very focused and efficient with our time.

Although playing a college sport is very rewarding, it is also extremely physically draining, but I learned my body could handle much more than I ever thought possible! Learning to balance being both dedicated to your sport and team, while also focusing on academics helped prepare me for life in the real world. Being a part of a team working to achieve a common goal also taught me many lessons that apply to my career. Forming relationships with my teammates and working to support and challenge each other has many similarities to the workplace.

How does your experience as a student athlete help you in the construction? Does it help you think differently when constructing these types of facilities?

The construction industry is fast paced, and you frequently juggle multiple tasks and responsibilities at once, so my time spent managing both soccer and Engineering School helped me learn what it is like to balance many different roles at once. The teamwork aspect of construction is similar as well, buildings aren’t constructed from one person’s work alone. My time as a student athlete taught me to play my part but also to know when to ask for help and to trust in your teammates to achieve a common goal. And, let’s be honest, there are some days that construction is just a tough industry! The many challenges being a student athlete presented forced me to learn to persevere and push through the hard days, and I’m very thankful for those lessons.

Micquille Robinson, Field Engineer

Football and Wrestling at Fort Hays State University from 2014-2019

Your fondest memory or best achievement as a student athlete?

In 2019 I received the distinguished leadership award, which is awarded to just one male and one female athlete per year who demonstrates the highest level of leadership on their team, community involvement and academics.

How did being a student athlete help prepare you for your future career?

Being a student athlete taught me how to work hard and grind through the tough times. Time management techniques, the ability to be coachable, collaborating and building trust in my teammates and coworkers have also stayed with me from my student athlete days. And having fun!

How does your experience as a student athlete help you in the construction?

Working as a field manager in construction is tough and my experiences in football and wrestling have helped me develop a thick skin. My competitive mindset and drive for improvement helps me keep pushing, always finding ways to make the jobsite more efficient and run more smoothly and push my team members and trade partners to perform at higher level. It has also taught me how to respond to adversity in a positive way.

Melanie Luthi, Senior Project Engineer, Manhattan, KS  

Rowing, University of Kansas

Your fondest memory or best achievement as a student athlete? 

I love all the great bonds I formed with my teammates, many of them whom I still consider dear friends today. My fondest memories are of race days and the adrenaline, excitement, and anticipation of sitting at the starting line. My greatest achievement as a student athlete was being a leader and top performer both on the rowing team and in my engineering education.

How did being a student athlete help prepare you for your future career?

Being a student athlete allowed me to learn many skills that transfer to the workplace including time management and leadership. I especially use many of the leadership and soft skills I was able to develop during my sports career such as communication skills, coaching, and leading by example to achieve workplace success.

How does your experience as a student athlete help you in the construction? Does it help you think differently when constructing these types of facilities?

Collegiate athletics comes with many challenges and opportunities – I think having experience navigating an environment with constant challenges transfers directly into construction operations as there are always challenges that require problem solving and communication amongst our team and trade partners.

Brian O’Rourke, Assistant Controller

Hockey for the University of Nebraska-Omaha from 2011-2015

Your fondest memory or best achievement as a student athlete?

Captaining the team to the school’s first ever Frozen Four in 2015.

How did being a student athlete help prepare you for your future career?

Being organized and effective time management is a necessity as a student athlete, and I’ve honed those skills in my career. Also, leading a team on the rink isn’t much different than in the office. It also reinforced the importance of a strong work ethic and helped me hone my leadership skills.

How does your experience as a student athlete help you in the construction? Does it help you think differently when constructing these types of facilities?

As a student athlete you are constantly expected to prioritize and problem-solve, whether it was on the ice or off. Those experiences were incredibly valuable as they are critical in performing my current role as assistant controller.

Chris Hess, Project Executive K-12 Market

Outfielder for K-State’s Baseball team from 1992-1996

Your fondest memory or best achievement as a student athlete? 

My fondest memories are almost all related to the relationships I formed with my teammates. That strong bond still exists after more than 20 years, we can call each other for anything to this day.  My greatest accomplishment was being selected as an Academic All-American.

How did being a student athlete help prepare you for your future career? 

My student athlete experiences had an undeniable impact on who I am as a person and a professional.  Competing at the collegiate level required preparation, a strong work-ethic, and an undeniable desire to win, learn and improve.  Although success was driven in part by individual achievement and there was tremendous pressure to perform, “winning” was always a team effort and teammates were always there to pick you up when things didn’t go well.  The relationships created were strengthened by having a common goal, working-hard to achieve those goals and knowing we all had each other’s backs.  Not to mention, we got to know each other personally, genuinely cared about each other and knew how to have fun.  There is no doubt all those lessons and experiences apply to what I do and who I am today.

As a leader in the K-12 market, almost all our projects include some type of athletic space in addition to educational space. My student athlete experience gives me a unique perspective on the importance of these facilities for students’ well-being and future. The positive impact sports have on students, student-athletes and the community as a whole is tremendous, and being part of the teams that bring these facilities to fruition is extremely motivating and satisfying.