Journeyman electrician joins CANCO team as superintendent

3 weeks ago

After 32 years working for electrical contractors, journeyman electrician Doug Kopsieker found himself at a bit of a career crossroads. One of the construction firms he had worked alongside began recruiting him for a superintendent role. When a second builder caught wind of that, they started courting him as well.

Looking for a bit of advice on whether making the move would be the right decision, Kopsieker reached out to Carl A. Nelson & Company (CANCO) Project Manager Tad Morrow, with whom he had worked on several projects in the Washington, Iowa, area.

“Fifteen minutes later, Chris Smith called,” Doug said, referring to CANCO President Chris Smith — who had a job offer of his own.

“I’ve had a good working relationship with CANCO,” he added. “I knew if I was going to do it, this is where I wanted to be.”

Doug didn’t start out in construction right after graduating high school in 1987. Instead, he took a job at a local foundry not far from his boyhood home in Packwood, near Fairfield in southeast Iowa. When the foundry closed a couple of years later, Doug found himself out of work — and determined not to be in that position again.

“I knew if I got a trade, I could go anywhere,” he said. “I wouldn’t have to start over.”

That decision led him to the electrical trade. He earned his journeyman’s license and spent more than three decades with just two companies — both close to home. That proximity helped him build relationships with the CANCO team, working as a subcontractor on projects like the YMCA of Washington County and in the Mid-Prairie Community School District. Over time, Doug worked to build a reputation for reliability and quality — something he believes helped open the door to his new path in construction.

Doug officially started his new role on June 3. He acknowledges there will be a learning curve — particularly when it comes to the record-keeping and high-tech tools CANCO uses in project management. Still, he’s confident that his decades of experience on commercial projects will serve him well as he steps into a leadership role — and provide CANCO with a valuable perspective.

“I’m excited, but I’m nervous, too,” he said.

Off the job site, Doug has been married to his wife, Lanelle, for nearly 33 years. They have three children: daughters Haley (32) and Hannah (30), and son Kolton (22), who is currently serving with the Iowa National Guard in Syria. The Kopsiekers also have three grandchildren — ages 13, 5, and 2 — all living nearby. Kayaking, fishing, and family travel are favorite pastimes. Doug also enjoys hunting.