Servant Leader of the Year – Brent Yahn – Findorff

There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing a project.

It’s one of the aspects of being a foreman that keeps Brent Yahn returning to the job site.

Yahn works for Findorff and has been in the industry for 31 years. His love for construction dates to his teenage years.

“I started being interested in construction my junior year of high school in woodshop class,” Yahn said. “Then in my senior year I would help my older brother with side jobs on the weekends like building garages.”

One of the most notable projects of his career was oLiV Madison — a student housing project at the corner of Gorham and State streets near the University of Wisconsin campus. The project houses a mix of studio, one-, two-, four- and five-bedroom apartments.

Yahn focused on one floor at a time, conquering the tall task piece by piece. With 41 carpenters under his guidance, he orchestrated the construction of four decks simultaneously.

Every morning, an hour before the workday began, he would pre-plan, ensuring that each crew had the necessary information to meet the day’s expectations. He also used time on Sunday mornings to go through the blueprints to get ahead for the week.

“Brent gives 110% day-in and day-out on whatever task he’s working on,” said General Superintendent Dennis Schwochert, Brent’s boss. “He sets the example on a job site for others on how a true lead foreman should conduct himself. I appreciate how he is a team player and works closely with young crew members to mentor them.”

Outside of work, Yahn enjoys spending time with his wife and son, visiting their permanent campsite on the Mississippi River. “We also go boating about every weekend while we are there,” he added.