Modest Beginnings, Exceptional Future

Where you’ve been says a lot about where you’re going.

1970s

Founding – On Sept. 14, 1971 Leo Wanzek, a graduate of North Dakota State University with a degree in Civil Engineering, and his wife, Janet, founded Wanzek Construction, Inc.  They operate their company out of their Fargo, N.D. home.

First Contract – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hires Wanzek to complete a visitor’s center on Lake Ashtabula near Valley City, N.D.  In subsequent years, Wanzek completes dozens of heavy/civil and municipal projects in the state.

Corporate Office – Wanzek builds a corporate office on a 30-acre property outside of West Fargo, N.D.  Since then, the company has expanded the office four times to keep up with sustained growth.

 

1980s

Industrial/Millwright Work – Wanzek expands on its foundation of building bridges and municipal projects to take advantage of opportunities in the industrial and millwright markets.

Ag-Industrial – American Crystal Sugar (ACS) of Moorhead, Minn. hires Wanzek as the site work and foundation contractor on its first two sugar beet storage buildings in Moorhead.  The project is the beginning of a long-term relationship that continues today.  In addition to building similar freezer buildings at every ACS plant, Wanzek regularly completes capital and maintenance projects.  

Equipment Fleet – Wanzek adds a Komatsu PC-300 excavator to its equipment fleet to improve service.  The excavator is one of the first of its kind in the Fargo, N.D. – Moorhead, Minn. area.  Today Wanzek has more than 500 pieces of heavy equipment in its fleet.

NDDoT – Wanzek completes its first projects for the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDoT).  Since then, the company has built dozens of NDDoT bridges across the state.

Future President – In 1986, after completing his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Jon Wanzek, son of Leo and Janet joins the family business.  The first major project he manages is a railroad overpass bridge near Valley City, N.D.  In 2007, he becomes the company’s president.

Flood Control – Wanzek completes flood control projects for the cities of Devils Lake, N.D., Enderlin, N.D., Argusville, N.D. and Halstad, Minn.

 

1990s

Memorial Bridge – Wanzek completes the highly meticulous task of removing an old metal deck from trusses on the Memorial Bridge between Bismarck and Mandan in North Dakota and replacing it with a concrete deck.

Wal-Mart Build Out Program – Wanzek works with Wal-Mart to construct a new discount shopping center in Jamestown, N.D.  The project leads to six others for Wal-Mart in Devil’s Lake, N.D., Grand Forks, N.D., Dickinson, N.D., Fargo, N.D., Detroit Lakes, Minn. and Thief River Falls, Minn.

Ethanol – Wanzek branches into the ethanol industry when it becomes the general contractor for a 15MMGY plant in Claremont, Minn., for Al-Corn Clean Fuels.  Wanzek creates an Ethanol Division and, over the years, expands its commitment to the industry.  Today more than 400 craftspeople are involved in ethanol projects for Wanzek.

ProGold – Wanzek constructs the foundation package for the new ProGold High Fructose Corn Syrup Plant in Wahpeton, N.D.  Wanzek later lands the raw water intake and effluent discharge system project for the plant.

Crane Service – in 1996 Wanzek launches its Crane Service Division with the purchase of a new 70 ton Link Belt Truck Crane.  Since then, the Crane Service Division has further developed, adding multiple cranes up to 660 ton lift capacity and employing several additional certified operators. 

 

2000 to PRESENT

Expansion – Due to rapid growth and the overwhelming need for equipment maintenance and storage of fleet equipment, Wanzek builds a separate maintenance facility in West Fargo, N.D.  In addition more than 16,000 sq/ft have been added to the corporate office to keep up with sustained growth.

Wind Beginnings – Wanzek enters the competition for wind energy construction projects.  The company purchases its first Manitowoc M2250 300 ton crawler, a crane with tremendous lifting capacity and erects its first wind tower in Moorhead, Minn.  Wanzek later adds four additional heavy-lift Terex-Demag Cranes to the fleet, solidifying the company as a major player in wind energy construction.

Wind Leadership – Throughout years of sustained growth in wind energy construction, Wanzek has made its mark as an industry leader.  Wanzek’s notable clients include Florida Power and Light Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, Edison Mission Energy and Duke Energy Generation Services.

Biofuels – Wanzek builds on positive client relationships in the ethanol and biodiesel industries and completes dozens of projects across the country.  Its notable clients include Abengoa Bioenergy Corp., POET Energy, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill, Seaboard Foods and VeraSun Energy.