My name is Jeremy Boniella. I live in Maryland, east of Baltimore. I'm married with three stepsons who are spread out across the US. I also have two dogs that keep me entertained.

I got into precast concrete in 1998, when I took a job as a ticket drafter with Concrete Technology, Inc. I was with CTI for 12 years, through their acquisition from High Concrete Group. I became a Senior Drafter, Assistant Project Manager and finally a Design Team Leader with High. My highlight was working on Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

I left in 2010 and worked for a year as a contract drafter and then went on to work for Tri-Tech Engineering for two years. At Tri-Tech I detailed steel structures. After that, I was a Project Coordinator for Consulting Engineers Group for more than five years. I am looking forward to working with Gage Brothers and continuing to grow as a detailer and meet people who are as enthusiastic about precast as I am.

We're happy to welcome Jeremy to the Gage Brothers team!

Get to Know Jeremy:

Q. Where did you grow up?

A. I was an Air Force kid, so I grew up all over, including Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, and Ohio.

Q. How did you get into this line of work?

A. I graduated from a vocational high school in the drafting program and it all started from there.

Q. What attracted you to the drafting technician position at Gage Brothers?

A. Being able to keep in the precast industry and work remotely were huge factors for me.

Q. What are you looking forward to the most with your new job at Gage Brothers?

A. Working with like-minded professionals and continuing to gain new skills.

Q. What is your dream vacation spot?

A. I've always loved Amelia Island, Florida.

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?

A. I excelled in math and always enjoyed the challenges.

Q. What are your hobbies?

A. I ride a motorcycle, go to the gym regularly, and enjoy time with my dogs and family.

Q. What is your favorite movie?

A. The Dark Knight.

Q. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?

 

Laurel is one of the recent additions to the Gage Brothers drafting department. The Sioux Center (Iowa) native graduated from Western Christian High School before attending Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City. She studied Architectural Construction and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science.

Laurel relocated to Texas in the 1980’s to find a job and settled in Plano, just northeast of Dallas. She has worked in the field of concrete for the duration of her career, from forming and shoring, to precast concrete. She moved back to the Midwest last August just in time for that long winter that never seemed to end.

Laurel lives in Sioux Falls with her mother and daughter, Tara. She enjoys working at Gage Brothers and living close to her family once again.

We're glad to have Laurel as a member of the Gage Brothers team!

Get to Know Laurel:

Q. Where did you grow up?

A. Sioux Center, Iowa.

Q. How did you get into this line of work?

A. I have always enjoyed drawing, so this was a logical next step for a career.

Q. What are you looking forward to the most working at Gage Brothers?

A. Learning new things about precast concrete and learning Revit.

Q. What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) things about your job?

A. Using Revit during the drafting process.

Q. What is your dream vacation spot?

A. I would love to visit Ireland, it looks so beautiful.

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?

A. Art was my favorite subject.

Q. What are your hobbies?

A. I enjoy playing on my iPad.

Q. What is your favorite movie?

A. Any film that was directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Q. What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?

A. I've eaten calamari, which was pretty chewy.

Please join all of us in giving a warm welcome to Jordan Twedt, who was recently hired as an Engineer for Gage Brothers.

Jordan joined our team last month after graduating from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Jordan has previously interned with the South Dakota DOT and American Engineering Testing where he has performed site inspections, bridge inspections, and concrete testing.

Welcome to the Gage Brothers team, Jordan!

Get to Know Jordan:

Q. Where did you grow up? Tell us about your hometown.

A. I grew up on a small family farm near Hendricks, Minnesota. Hendricks is a small town in southwestern Minnesota best known for Lake Hendricks, the large lake it sits on the shore of which is also the source of the Lac qui Parle River.

Q. How did you get into this line of work?

A. I have always enjoyed building things, from toys and models as a kid to bigger projects with my dad and brother. This, coupled with an enjoyment of math, led me here to Gage Brothers.

Q. What are you looking forward to the most working at Gage Brothers?

A. I would probably say the variety of interesting projects that I will be able to work on or with others in the engineering department.

Q. What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) things about your job?

A. Well so far, I have really enjoyed the work atmosphere here.

Q. What is your dream vacation spot?

A. Anywhere on a beach by the ocean, that’s all I would need.

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?

A. I had a really fun and interesting science teacher in high school and he made all those classes really enjoyable, so probably science.

Q. What are your hobbies?

A. I enjoy woodworking, reading, playing video games, and spending time at the lake.

Q. What is your favorite movie?

A. Definitely the Avengers movie series.

Q. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?

A. I would have to say octopus for sure.

Please join all of us in giving a warm welcome to Eric Schierholz, who was recently hired as a Project Manager for Gage Brothers.

Eric joined our team last month.

He has a variety of construction experiences— ranging from erecting grain bins, climbing cell phone towers, surveying, building bridges, and railroad track maintenance management. Eric has always been committed to safety. His safety achievements include Union Pacific Railroad’s lowest injury rate in its 150-year existence and serving as the safety lead during his bridge construction time.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University. 

Welcome to Gage Brothers, Eric!

Q. Where did you grow up? Tell us about your hometown.

A. Salem, SD. Small town of 1300 people. 

Q. How did you get into this line of work?

A. My dad has always been a handy man around the house and when I was growing up, I would always help on various projects.  When I was in college, I poured concrete during the summers

Q. What are you looking forward to the most working at Gage Brothers?

A. Good company culture, the people are very nice and welcoming. 

Q. What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) things about your job?

A. I like to interact with people and be part of a project that comes together on time.

Q. What is your dream vacation spot?

A. Egypt, I have always been fascinated by the pyramids. 

Q. What was your favorite subject in school?

A. Math

Q. What are your hobbies?

A. Golf, Camping, and Softball

Q. What is your favorite movie?

A. Shawshank Redemption

Q. What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?

A. Raw bird egg at a sushi restaurant

Caleb Merrick was hired in June 2016 for Quality Control, he is now a Quality Control Lead I and will be transitioning over to the new plant this month!  You might recognize him from the Blink365 posters where he models perfect stretching form or as the guy in the plant who wears a Santa hat and Christmas tie around the holidays.   

When he isn't testing concrete and verifying form accuracy, Caleb enjoys playing pool competitively two nights per week, a hobby that he started when he met his coworker, John Akins here at Gage. He also enjoys competing as a runner, coming up he will be running a 6-mile relay in Minneapolis. 

Last year he ran the Sioux Falls Marathon (26.2 miles!)  He said it was long and tiring and it was not a good idea to work the next day. He had to train for 9 months for it and does not plan to run another marathon. Completing this goal was one of his Bucket List items.  Caleb's Bucket List is extensive: he would like to see the Northern Lights, take a hot air balloon ride, and has plans to go skydiving this summer. Some of the things he has already scratched off his list are scuba diving in Lake Superior and visiting another country. He took the opportunity to stay in the rain forest of Costa Rica for 1 1/2 months studying the topography pattern of leaf cutter ants and the paths they carve into the earth. He did this through the University of Minnesota where he majored in Environmental Biology Conservation and Entomology (the study of insects). 

Caleb has always been interested in insects, specifically ants and bees. They interest him because they occupy the same space as humans but in a very different way, he also enjoys how they have civilizations and even raise livestock. He documented his studies and was even published a few times.  

Here are some facts about Caleb:

• He HATES cheese.  Ever since he was a little kid, he has hated the taste and texture of all cheeses. He even eats pizza without the cheese.  He has NEVER even eaten a Dorito!
• Caleb does not have any pets, but if his building would allow them, he would choose either a tortoise or to rescue a dog from the shelter.
• Favorite Movie:  Tommy Boy, comedies are the best and he always enjoys a good Christmas Claymation.
• If Caleb could go anywhere, it would be Madagascar where he would study animals.
• His spirit animal (animal he identifies with the most) is an Arctic Fox.  He likes their personalities and how they jump in the air and bury their heads in the snow to catch a meal.
• Burger King is his favorite fast food restaurant and he is most likely having a Whopper.
• Cast as Horton from Horton Hears a Who, Caleb was the star of his high school's production of Seussical the Musical, though his singing parts were performed by someone else.
• Despite six years of piano lessons and being a percussionist, he never mastered an instrument and cannot keep a beat.
• His parents are his role models because, "they seem to be doing well."
• Favorite childhood memory: Going to the Omaha Zoo and going inside the Komodo Dragon exhibit and being allowed to touch it. He also fed the crocodiles. 
• In his Netflix queue: Daredevil, New Girl, the Office and Parks & Recreation.
• Most ridiculous thing that has ever happened to him: He thought he was going on a fishing trip with his friends, instead they took him to a friend's wedding where he had to DJ the event! He facilitated the activities for the night and played all the music. When asked how it went, he just replied that the couple is still married. 
• While Caleb seems to be a fun-loving, funny guy, he is a serious intellectual. He has plans to re-read his favorite books, Theory of Everything and Physics of Evolution.  
• Planet Earth is typically playing as background noise when Caleb is at home.  
• He believes the micro-chip is the most important technological advancement because it allows computers to process faster giving us more information.
• When Caleb says he listens to all music, he is not kidding. His current Pandora shuffle plays: Eric Church, Blink182, Mozart, swing, Scott Joplin, 80's rock, and Slipknot to name a few.
• If a movie was made about him, Caleb would be played by Ben Savage.  
• One thing that cheers Caleb up on a bad day is looking at pictures of turtles eating fruit with their little mouths. 

Show Caleb you read about him and think he is rad by bringing him his favorite beverage, an original Sunkist!  

Please join all of us in giving a warm welcome to Jharna Pokhrel, who was recently hired as an Architectural/Structural Engineer for Gage Brothers. Jharna joined Gage Brothers in August 2018. She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University (Nepal), and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering degree with an Emphasis on Structures from South Dakota State University.

Welcome to Gage Brothers, Jharna!

Q. Where did you grow up? Tell us about your hometown. A. I grew up in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kathmandu is a beautiful valley surrounded by hills/mountains. It is almost the size of Sioux Falls, but much more populated and polluted. Besides pollution, its natural beauty is outstanding with numerous cultural heritage sites and a sub-tropical climate. Q. How did you get into this line of work? A. Buildings/structures always fascinated me. Later, my interest led me to the field of Civil Engineering. Q. What are you looking forward to the most working at Gage Brothers? A. At Gage Brothers, everyone seemed welcoming, cheerful, extrovert, and full of life. I am overwhelmed by the amount of dedication everyone has when it comes to working. Q. What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) things about your job? A. It is impressive to have such a strong engineering team here at Gage Brothers. I like the idea of how something designed on paper will be used in a real structure. Q. What is your dream vacation spot? A. Santorini, Greece. Q. What was your favorite subject in school? A. Mathematics. Q. What are your hobbies? A. I like reading novels, sketching, and sometimes trying out do-it-yourself projects. Q. What is your favorite movie? A. Recently, I binge watched ‘The Godfather’ series. Q. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? A. While in Nepal, I ate ‘tisyo’ (which is solid bites of buffalo’s spinal cord fluid) thinking it as a mushroom. It tasted good, but it is something I would never ask for again.

Please join all of us in giving a warm welcome to Tom Abrahamson, who was recently hired as the Payroll Specialist for Gage Brothers. Read on to learn a little bit more about him. Q. Where did you grow up? 
A. I grew up in North Mankato, Minnesota
Q.  How did you get into this line of work?
A. I went to college for accounting. Payroll has been what I have specialized in with my jobs since graduating college.
Q. What are you looking forward to the most working at Gage Brothers?
A. Everyone has been super encouraging in my time here so far. Everyone is quick to give praise for a job well done, no matter how mundane or routine the task may seem to your job duties. Also, I have really appreciated how relaxed, welcoming and fun the work environment has been.
Q. What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) things about your job?
A. I really enjoy being able to help our employees. Whether it’s resolving a paycheck issue, printing out pay stubs, or helping an employee navigate their payroll information on Paycom, it’s very rewarding being able to help our employees.
Q. What is your dream vacation spot?
A. Australia
Q. What was your favorite subject in school?
A. Math or accounting since I deal with that realm every day for my job.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. I started playing wheelchair basketball when I was in high school and played five years in college as well. I also started playing sled hockey two years ago. I also enjoy helping with my church’s youth group on Wednesday nights.
Q. What is your favorite movie?
A. The Sandlot
Q. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?
A. In my high school Spanish class, we went to a local Hispanic restaurant. Calamari was one of the appetizers we sampled.
Welcome to Gage Brothers, Tom!

Tito has been working on the Gage Brothers Crane Crew since last December. Originally from Bulgaria, Tito received the opportunity to come to the United States through a lottery system that granted only 200 people from his country dual citizenship in the U.S. and Bulgaria.
In 2005, he arrived in Sioux Falls to stay with a childhood friend who had come here a few years before and they worked together at a greenhouse. The only people he knew when he first arrived were some people from Europe and the people he met while working. Tito's whole family lives in Bulgaria, but he has been back to visit five times since moving to the U.S. He typically stays for about six weeks so he is able to visit everyone in his family.
Travelling is Tito's passion-- he has been to places in Asia, Mexico and South America. The most interesting place he has been is the Philippines, which is where he met his fiancé. The pair were engaged recently, and she will be moving to Sioux Falls this summer.
CONGRATULATIONS TITO!
One of his life goals is to save up enough money to retire and go on a 265-day cruise of the world which includes stops in 94 countries!
Here are some more interesting facts about Tito:
If he were an animal, he would be a bird, so he could fly free and travel everywhere.
His favorite food is steak on the grill.
He has one pet, a cat named Nicky Jr.
The music he enjoys the most is relaxation music.
He plans to add to his tattoo collection during his next trip to Europe (he already has a few of Viking warriors and a dragon).
Tito can speak 4 languages fluently: English, Russian, Serbian and Bulgarian.
Connect with Tito to learn more about him!

Warren Meyer is approaching his 47th year of employment at Gage Brothers. That makes him one of the longest-tenured employees in company history!
He started working at the company in 1971 with his brother, Harlan. It seems like everyone acquires a nickname when they work at Gage Brothers, and co-workers started calling him Oscar…like Oscar Meyer hot dogs.
Warren began his career in the Steel Shop and a few years later, his supervisor passed away from a heart attack and Warren was promoted to Supervisor. He has been in charge of the department ever since.
Warren’s advice to new Gage Brothers employees: is to have a positive attitude and be accountable for your work—there is always a solution to every problem.

In terms of the Gage Brothers Core Values, Warren is most connected to the core value of Ownership. Ask anyone in the Steel Shop what his favorite phrase is and they will immediately respond, “Double check, double check, double check.”
According to Warren, if you are going to do something, remember to do it well because it is your name and ultimately the Gage Brothers name on it—our work is our reputation and we have a pretty good one.
When pressed as to why he has worked so long at Gage Brothers, Warren said it is because he knows his job well, has had advancement opportunities and that in 47 years he has never been bored.
Warren's efforts have helped the company achieve precast excellence for decades, and we are all grateful for his dedication and loyalty to Gage Brothers.

Please join all of us in giving a warm welcome to Trent Koppes, who was recently hired as the Environmental, Health and Safety Specialist for Gage Brothers.
Trent will perform safety orientations/training, coordinate employee health screenings and testing (hearing, respirator fit testing, etc.) and ensure Gage Brothers’ compliance with OSHA 1910 General Industry requirements .He will also maintain company safety campaigns and programs and serve the lead role in the administration of the return to work and transitional duty programs.

Trent lives in Parker, S.D., with his wife, Tiffany. Trent & Tiffany are the proud parents of six-month old identical twin girls (Addison and Carly), who take up most of their free time. They also have two dogs— an 11-year old beagle and a 9-year-old German Shephard/collie mix from the Humane Society.
Welcome to Gage Brothers, Trent!

Q. Where did you grow up? Tell us about your hometown. A. I grew up in Eldora, a small one stoplight town in central Iowa. My family had a hog farm before we moved to town. I spent most nights and weekends in high school cruising the loop. Q. How did you get into this line of work? A. I went to community college and earned a Pre-Engineering Associate of Arts degree and decided that more engineering wasn’t for me. I then went to Iowa State and found the classes for the Occupational Safety degree very interesting. Safety is Safety and there are different challenges in every industry and nowadays most companies are very concerned with the safety side of things. Q. What attracted you to the environmental, health and safety position with Gage Brothers? A. I was interested in working both in Sioux Falls and in a new industry. I also like the Lean and 5S aspects of manufacturing and what that can do for not only the production, but how much it helps safety. Q. What are you looking forward to the most with your new job at Gage Brothers? A. Learning about the processes and getting to know the people, helping with Lean and 5S and working with employees to make their jobs safe. Q. What is your dream vacation spot? A. Australia Q. What was your favorite subject in school? A. Probably physics or accounting. Q. What are your hobbies? A. I enjoy playing softball and baseball and shooting my bow. I like to hunt when I can, but lately I have been spending a lot of time with our six-month old twin girls! Q. What is your favorite movie? A. Top Gun or Tommy Boy. It’s a toss-up; I could probably quote the majority of the lines from either movie. Q. What's the most unusual thing you've ever eaten? A. Tamales or Chile Relleno.