Born with a tireless will and a passion for learning, Jay Korte built his life on the same principles that power The Korte Company. He’s led a life of enthusiasm, commitment and constant curiosity.
Learning responsibility from a young age, Jay understands accountability and leadership. They both come in handy as our director of client relations, along with the many other roles he served here.
While he will soon retire, his legacy will live on for years to come at the company and beyond.
Growing up a working boy in Illinois
Growing up east of Pierron, Illinois, Jay was the youngest of four brothers in a rural country house. Summers were spent riding three-wheelers, tackling chores and following his dad to construction sites whenever he could. It was a simple, wide-open kind of life — one that shaped his work ethic early on.
His father, Larry, was employee number three at The Korte Company. Jay followed closely in his footsteps, starting at The Korte Company when he was just 14 or 15. While most teenagers were still in bed, he was checking tools in and out of inventory, among other responsibilities.
“I’d open the warehouse and get the pot of coffee going for the superintendents,” he said.
Jay wasn’t the only one drawn to the trades either. His three older brothers all worked in construction, each carving out their own path in the field and reinforcing the idea that hard work wasn’t optional — it was the family standard.
Those early years laid a foundation for Jay’s career. He learned that the smallest details make the difference in major projects.
Jay was also influenced by Uncle Ralph Korte at a young age. Jay remembered our company founder telling him, “‘You can always learn the business side when you’re in the business in construction. It’s harder to learn the technical side or engineering side.’”
Taking his advice to heart, Jay entered the University of Illinois as a civil engineering major with an emphasis in construction management.
College put Jay’s work ethic and diligence to the test, and he graduated. He earned an AGC scholarship, went to national conferences, wrote papers featuring Korte projects and, on breaks, came home to work in estimating or on job sites.
Jay wasn’t just getting an education. He was apprenticing with an entire industry. By the time he graduated in 1990, he didn’t need a “welcome” into The Korte Company. He’d been part of it for years.
Laying a broad foundation
Like many at The Korte Company, Jay wore a lot of hats over the years. He held titles like project engineer, assistant superintendent, estimator, superintendent, director of preconstruction, project manager, project executive, the list goes on.
He laughs about it now, calling himself the company’s “Jose Oquendo” — a utility player who could play nine different positions without flinching.
But versatility wasn’t the point. Curiosity was. Empathy was. Teamwork was.
He understood what it meant to stand in the field with a crew waiting on a decision. He knew what it meant to sit behind a desk building the estimate those crews would inherit. That gave him an edge. He could foresee problems and understand how they would affect everyone involved.
Building community at Korte and more
What Jay loves most was the people.
He was not the sort of guy to weld a beam, but he was the guy who brought a team together that can get any job done. He enjoys creating a sense of “camaraderie and collaboration.” That’s why his eventual move to business development and client relations felt like a natural fit.
While Jay cultivated relationships inside The Korte Company, he also spent time serving the wider region.
For over 13 years, he was a driving force within Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois. He served as chairman and led multiple committees that worked to strengthen the region’s economy. With Jay’s help, the organization won the national Abilene Trophy four times in a decade for its outstanding support of Scott Air Force Base.
Jay also served with United Way, supported education, championed military families and became a familiar face among civic leaders across Southwestern Illinois. This was how Jay continued the stewardship The Korte Company has long provided the region. Stories about Uncle Ralph’s charity and service motivated him to always give more and work harder for their community.
Beyond the buildings: Life after construction
For decades, Jay built more than structures. He’s built pathways to success for his coworkers and community members.
Now, he’s ready to slow down and enjoy the simple life he and his wife, Renae, worked toward together. She retired from a long career as a speech-language pathologist. Instead of work trips, their travel plans include visiting their sons in Madison and Denver and taking a ski trip to Telluride.
Although he’s retiring, Jay’s story at The Korte Company isn’t over.
Jay’s legacy lives on in the crews he guided, the clients he supported and the region he uplifted.
