Cody Gronemeier: Building with Heart

From Passion to Profession

When Cody Gronemeier was just a kid, his dad built him a miniature workbench to match his own. It quickly became his favorite place to be, spending hours in the shop, hammering finish nails into scrap wood with a tiny hammer and learning the joy of working with his hands. That spark never faded. High school classes in agricultural mechanics and trades gave him the skills to enter the workforce at 17, and by 19, he had earned welding certifications and launched his own business.

“I don’t know that it was ever really a direction I chose,” he reflects. “I just always found happiness in building and fixing things.”

That love eventually led him to McKinstry, where today he serves as Construction Services Manager. Encouraged by former colleagues who told him McKinstry was something special, he took the leap and found they were right.

“It’s a place where people matter, and where the work we do makes a difference.”

A Team Player for Success

For Cody, success has never been about individual achievement. It’s about the team.

“I don’t typically feel like I’m winning if I’m doing it alone,” he says.

What drives him is seeing his “work family” thrive — enjoying what they do, feeling supported and going home fulfilled. He takes the most pride in moments when the team comes together during challenges. Helping junior team members grow into their careers has been another highlight and allowed him to help create an environment of productivity and acceptance that spreads through his entire office.

Supporting Clients and Coworkers through Construction

Two areas of focus have become especially meaningful to Cody since joining McKinstry. First, the agricultural shop project at Three Rivers Independent School District where he led the rehabilitation of the district’s agricultural education shop. Having grown up learning the trades himself, Cody was proud to help design a facility that gives young people the same opportunities. The shop now features critical safety and work equipment so students have the best chance for education and growth within the agricultural and metal trades.

“I’m so proud to have been one of the team leads,” Cody said, “but it would never have been possible without our Project Manager and Superintendents and their passion for the work as well.”

Cody’s other passion focuses on bringing mental health awareness into the construction industry. After experiencing burnout himself at previous companies, he realized how often workers silently carry that weight. By opening up about his own story, he’s been able to connect with his team and guide them toward resources.

“I can see the difference it makes — not just at work, but in how they go home to their families.”

Recently, his team has been working on a new project involving the transformation of 120 acres of pasture and pond into a true community space, complete with walking trails, lighting, fountains and pavilions. Next steps may include using recycled wastewater for irrigation and a fishing pond, adding sustainability to an already meaningful project.

“It’s been rewarding to step outside our normal scopes and make a difference in a rural community,” he says.

Through all of this, appreciation remains central to his leadership style. In construction, he explains, praise is often scarce — workers hear “good job” less than they hear criticism, despite the long hours, tough schedules and constant pressure to deliver early.

“There’s a lot of sacrifice in this work,” he says. “I just want the team to know that it matters, that they matter and that they make a difference every day.”

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