It all started back in Jamestown, Illinois, on a dairy farm. Mornings began early. Very early.
The patriarch of the family, Vince Gnaedinger was a former schoolteacher turned farmer who believed in learning by doing. And when the time came to leave the dairy business behind, that mindset didn’t disappear. It simply found a new place to take root.
The decision to sell the dairy cows wasn’t easy. But even then, slowing down wasn’t part of the plan. Vince said, ‘It’s time to move on,’ And so he did, moving on to The Korte Company to learn a new industry.
Vince was a self-taught individual with an undefeated will that molded his career and that of the next generation. He worked in quality control, watching over asphalt and concrete at The Korte Company until his passing in 2001. His impact was unmistakable.
At his visitation, colleagues and concrete professionals across the region told stories his sons, Brian and Steve, knew already.
Their father left things better than he found them. He asked questions others didn’t. He tested assumptions. In doing so, he quietly helped shift how concrete quality was approached in the area’s construction market.
That’s just how Vince lived and worked, always providing for others. His sons used that guiding principle as the foundation for their intertwining career paths.
Brian Gnaedinger: Building, then finishing what matters
While Vince established the family’s work ethic, his youngest son, Brian, was first to work with The Korte Company. Brian started as a carpenter in 1984, while his father was still a dairyman. Brian got the itch for construction after building houses in a hands-on high school program. By the time he graduated, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Brian started as an apprentice carpenter before moving up to a journeyman and then a carpenter foreman. Along the way, he gained a deeper understanding of how things worked and how to complete projects.
At just 23 years old, Brian built his own home in Highland, Illinois. It took six months, with the help of family and friends. That gave him the chance to hone his management skills, learning what it takes to efficiently coordinate a project.
From building new to finishing right
Brian felt he was a part of a “family-oriented company.” The Korte Company had a lot of their own family members working there as well, so many workdays felt like large family gatherings, including a feeling of warmth and togetherness that instilled a sense of belonging.
For the next 25 years, Brian managed the Special Services Department, now known as Diversified Operations. He oversaw warranty work, punch lists and close-out projects — the critical final chapter that determines whether a client walks away satisfied. Brian’s work spanned 38 states and countless job sites, each coming with unique difficulties and joys. One job especially tested every ounce of Brian’s coordination and perseverance.
When a mall roof collapsed in Fairview Heights just before a holiday weekend, the pressure was immediate. They had to reopen in 48 hours, which meant Brian had to manage everything meticulously to ensure that the mall opened on time.
“They wanted to open Sunday morning and we worked 48 hours straight,” Brian said. “I had to get three different cranes in there to keep the job going because they were all booked already. But we got a temporary roof put on it. Rehkemper and Sons Trust company worked through the night to get us trusses for the morning, so they could open the mall before the holiday weekend.”
The project required tireless hours spent ensuring everything was done on time, only catching a five-minute nap here and there amid the chaos. Brian did not falter or quit. He worked hard and fast, making sure the client was satisfied. That’s what Ralph Korte would call real “grit.”
That grit runs deep in the Gnaedinger family. Brian’s son, Trent, worked in The Korte Company warehouse through a high school co-op class in August 2013 and 2014, and the summer of 2017. He also helped close out the punch list on a project in Florida.
After four decades with The Korte Company, Brian now finds himself in a familiar place, finishing strong. With retirement planned for the near future, he is looking forward to his next project, helping his wife with her business, family travel, kayaking, some golfing and of course, spending time with his grandchildren.
He’ll be keeping things moving, just at a different pace.
Steve Gnaedinger, after two million miles
Steve Gnaedinger took a different path out of high school — one measured in miles. He became a truck driver.
The long road was demanding, but it suited him. Steve logged more than two million accident-free miles over 25 years behind the wheel.
After years of delivering construction materials for Anthony Supply Company out of Greenville, he moved into driving for a local ready-mix concrete company. Around that same time, his dad, Vincent, was working at The Korte Company in quality control. Always looking for a better way, Vincent pushed for equipment that could ease the load on job site crews. This included hiring out a rock slinger truck to place material exactly where it was needed, saving the team a lot of legwork.
That also sounded like a good opportunity to Steve, who started driving the rock slinger while Brian worked in carpentry and Vince in QC and now. They were in different fields, but all on Korte projects.
“And then after that, Dad passed, five years later,” Steve said. “I figured, ‘You know what, I want to follow in his footsteps.’ So I came to Korte Construction in ’06.”
Steve started in special services, did some warranty work, and stepped in as a labor foreman and a small jobs superintendent for projects before becoming a warehouse manager 14 years ago.
At Fort Lee, Virginia, Steve managed labor operations on a 1,000-room hotel project, overseeing dozens of workers while keeping the site moving. This work was a lot different than being alone on the road. He had to dive into the intricate details, managing the workers, handling everything down to the recycling.
Steve’s son, Craig, worked for our highly esteemed Warehouse Manager John Korte, as well as for special services with his father and uncle from 2007 to 2008.
Today, Steve oversees the logistical heartbeat of projects nationwide. It is a role that requires being flexible for hours.
“You have to be knowledgeable and willing to work with different people, starting at 5 a.m.,” he said.
Steve has handled all the demands and then some for years now. And after nearly two decades being part of The Korte Company, he’s looking forward to retirement as well.
Like Brian, Steve will not be slowing down any time soon. Between maintaining a small beef cattle operation, competing and supporting his wife’s own athletic pursuits (she’s played for 40 year), his calendar remains full.
Continuing the legacy
The Gnaedingers have interwoven themselves into the fabric of The Korte Company and have become part of something special, holding memories that they will cherish.
Even now, their often reminded of their father. A comment on a jobsite. A story shared by a longtime colleague. A way of doing things.
The Gnaedinger grit carries on strong as ever. And when the brothers retire, they’ll leave The Korte Company better than they found it, just like Dad.
