Jon Downer knew this was no regular job as soon as he parked outside a facility on Nellis Air Force base on fall day and thought, I’ve been here before.
It was September 2020, and The Korte Company had been contracted to tear down one of the facilities and replace it with an updated building with advanced technology. As soon as he walked inside, Jon knew what he would see around every corner.
His father was stationed here when Jon was a young man. He’d taken Jon to lunch in the base exchange commissary. “Out back, they had what they called the petting zoo,” Jon said. “They had a hodgepodge of military equipment, including planes and other equipment from over the decades. My dad used to take me back there and show me all that stuff when he was a supervisor.”
Jon’s father retired from the Air Force 30 years ago. “They held his retirement ceremony in a little auditorium in this building,” said Jon.
When they left the building that day 30 years ago, Jon and his father had no idea that the Air Force wasn’t done with either of them yet.
Traveling every road
As a military family, the Downers moved a lot when Jon was growing up.
Born in Indiana, Jon had lived in six states by the time he went to junior high in Las Vegas, the town where both his parents grew up. Then he spent his high school years in Okinawa, Japan.
“It was an experience,” said Jon. “I saw a lot of different places and experienced a lot of different things. I’ve got myself into trouble with my friends on two continents.”
As a young adult, moving had become a habit. Even after settling down and getting married, he still had the urge to roam. “Every three or four years, all the sudden, I’d think, ‘Man, I got to move.’ I hated it growing up, but then, as an adult, it seems like it’s bred into you. It took a while to shake that off.”
Building a career
Jon also changed jobs a lot in his early career — different jobs, different industries — but none he wanted to build a career on. It wasn’t until he stumbled into the world of construction at a temp job in 1995 that things started to click.
“I just have a knack of knowing how things go together,” said Jon. “It just felt natural to me.”
Jon worked at various companies as he climbed the career ladder through the early 2000s. He learned to read plans and found a great mentor in a man named Joe Duvall.
“He really gave me that good base that I rose from,” Jon said. Joe taught Jon to speak clearly to building owners and to try to explain things in layman’s terms rather than using construction jargon. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Joe.”
Later, Jon worked as an assistant project manager. In 2001, he became a project engineer and then a project manager. As his career progressed, he became a senior project manager in larger and larger construction jobs.
Now, Jon carries on the tradition of passing along what he has learned to new team members. “I appreciate the mentorship that was given to me, and I try to give that to the team,” Jon said. “I’m 100% about helping the teams be successful. We’re in this thing together.”
Moving up
Jon’s dedication to supporting and mentoring his team has led him to be promoted again this year.
As a project executive, “I train the project team. I supervise, train, and manage the managers,” Jon said. I try to tell them: don’t get distracted. Do what you’re supposed to do and keep ahead of things on the job. Make the project successful.”
When it comes down to it, being a great project manager is very simple. Be honest, above all. Be a good person. Manage subcontractors with clarity and firmness. Explain the work to owners simply and clearly — cut the fancy nomenclature.
And, of course, “Get out there and make your budget and make your schedule,” said Jon. “That’s what a construction company needs to do.”
Jon loves to share his knowledge with his team, and he is also proud to share his accomplishments with his family. “I drive around town and point out different projects that I’ve been involved with over the years to the kids,” said Jon.
Life at home
Jon is a mentor at work and an inspiration at home. So much so that his oldest son, JD, has followed in his footsteps and entered the building trade. He’s an electrician, and he loves what he does. “It’s good to see him doing what he loves and making good money,” said Jon.
Jon is married and has four kids. He shares his daughter Chelsea and son JD with his first wife. In 2004, he married his second wife, Jill, and gained stepson AJ. Together, they later welcomed a son, Tyson. This year, Jon and Jill are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.
Because all his sons play competitive soccer, the family spends a lot of time on the pitch. Jon enjoys hunting and fishing with his father and with his children. They also love traveling. “We travel whenever we can,” said Jon, “when it’s not soccer season.”
Jon loves working at a company that values family as much as The Korte Company does. “Everybody says that they’re a family-oriented business, but Korte really is.”
Nellis Air Force Base: Family at work
So, when family and work collided at Nellis Air Force Base, it felt natural.
“I pulled up to the building and had that flashback, remembering meeting dad here and just being on the base. It was a weird déjà vu, for sure. I called my dad and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to tear down your old office.’”
As the work on the new facility progressed, Jon shared his family connection with the Air Force team. Taking on this project had a lot of meaning to Jon, and the Air Force agreed. “We had the ribbon cutting in May of 2023, and they invited my dad to attend,” said Jon.
When Jon’s Dad saw the new facility, he was struck with how technology had changed since his time on base. “Dad was impressed,” said Jon. “He said, ‘Man, I couldn’t even imagine this.’”
As an added bonus, the petting zoo lives on. “We ended up moving the planes and other military equipment over to the new Tactical Threat Facility and making a new petting zoo.”
For Jon and his dad, it was a very special project. “Now there’s a brand-spanking new building for new people coming up to make new memories in,” said Jon.
