Micah Vainikka
Competitive by nature, Micah enjoys the thrill of exploring and winning new projects, strategizing, and collaborating with other people, as well as leading a high-performing and incredibly supportive team. He is a true relationship-builder and highly dedicated to the success of his team and project partners. Since joining Knutson in 2013, Micah has touched all market sectors in his role, but boasts substantial experience with healthcare and life science projects. He is also a LEED Green Associate, with a vested interest in sustainability and green building principles.
Nate Day
Since joining the team in 2022, Nate has enjoyed how exciting it is to work with clients when everyone is eager to make their dreams come to fruition. He has 20 years of industry experience, ten years of which have been heavily focused on design/build project management; with this experience, he approaches every project with design and construction being a unified front. Nate enjoys working on projects related to sustainability, building envelope, and mechanical and electrical systems, but also appreciates how each project is different in terms of intensity and variety. Since 2012, Nate has been an advocate for careers in construction, heavily involving himself with the ACE Mentor Program of the Twin Cities.
Austin Gapinski
With nearly ten years of previous industry experience, Austin joined Knutson in 2023. Preferring to get down to the details on structural and enclosure systems, he also has substantial experience with self-perform carpentry, making him a well-rounded asset for the Minneapolis preconstruction team. Austin’s favorite part of his job is collaborating with a variety of people who all bring different levels of experience and areas of expertise to the table to solve problems, and enjoys utilizing statistical and mathematic tools like spreadsheets to do that.
Kyle Holmes
Kyle entered the construction industry when he joined Knutson, dedicating himself to problem solving for clients since his first day in 2015. In fact, that investigative, analytical part of his job is his favorite part; he enjoys that each project has its own unique set of problems and he plays a large role in being part of their solution. Kyle focuses primarily on negotiated projects in all market sectors, having worked in healthcare, higher education, long term care, life sciences and hospitality. Kyle is a valued member of Knutson’s preconstruction team and an energetic, positive presence well beloved by the project teams he works with.
Curt Kluznik
A seasoned industry veteran with 25 years of construction expertise, Curt joined Knutson’s preconstruction team in 2022. Focusing primarily on the healthcare, K-12 education, hospitality, entertainment, defense, and retail market segments in his work, Curt believes that building strong relationships equates to completing successful projects, and takes special care in getting to know his clients as a result. His favorite part of working as a Senior Estimator is solving challenges for clients through the preconstruction and construction phases of a project or building program, serving as a true project partner to them every step of the way.
Tim Kuechle
Tim is an incredible asset to Knutson’s preconstruction team. Due to his calm demeanor, team-oriented nature, and steadfast dedication to solving problems, Tim excels at complex projects and is able to provide solutions that benefits all parties. Tim has extensive experience with healthcare and hard bid projects, making him an invaluable associate for project teams looking to work with an industry professional who can bring unique perspectives to their project from the get-go. Tim joined Knutson’s team in 2019 and most enjoys being part of a collaborative team that can overcome any obstacle or problem with its supportive culture.
Houston Walsh
Houston joined Knutson in 2022, a soft-spoken and forward-thinking addition to the Minneapolis preconstruction team with over seven years of previous industry experience. Primarily focused on estimating and the technological side of preconstruction, Houston works to leverage these aspects to benefit both Knutson and our project partners’ needs. He most enjoys the innovative part of his job and believes that utilizing new and emerging technology builds a strong foundation and future for the projects he assists with.
