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History

History

A Timeline of Innovation

Todd & Sargent has specialized in design, engineering, and construction services since 1933. We have a proud heritage of successful projects and strong partnerships that have led us to where we are today.

1930's

1933

George Todd starts his construction business in Ames, Iowa. Originally called Ames Construction, it is renamed the George Todd Construction Company in 1935. The business builds wood cribbed grain elevators and feedmills throughout Iowa. George works out of his farmhouse as the company gets its start.

1940's

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1940

The George Todd Construction Company quickly builds a reputation for quality construction and honest business practices. The company continues to focus on wood cribbed grain elevators and feedmills, but expands its territory to include the states surrounding Iowa.

1950's

T&S-Sign-1959

1958

Warren Sargent moves his family from Pennsylvania to Ames, Iowa to partner with George Todd. On October 1, 1958 Todd & Sargent Construction Company is formed. Warren’s background included a Civil Engineering degree from Iowa State University and several years in the steel industry.

Warren-Portrait

1959

Warren directs the company into steel construction, and in 1959 the company builds its first all steel feedmill for Goodman Milling in State Center, Iowa.

1960's

1962

The company is incorporated in 1962 and changes its name to Todd & Sargent, Inc. As a part of this transition George sells his interest in the company to Warren; George continues to work for the company until 1969 when his health forces him to retire.

Todd-Sargent-First-Company-Plane

1964

The first company airplane, a Cessna 140, is purchased in 1964. Aviation would become an important part of the company over the years to help T&S meet its clients’ needs across the country. Warren, Lee, Phil, and others all flew the company plane over the years.

1966

Todd & Sargent completes its last wood cribbed structure in 1966 for Farmers Coop Elevator in Lincoln, Iowa. Limited bin capacity, susceptibility to fire and termite damage, and a higher construction cost per bushel all led to the demise of new wood structures in the Midwest.

Sterling-CO-1969

1969

Todd & Sargent expands into slipform concrete construction in 1969 completing its first project of this type for Ceres Land Company in Sterling, Colorado. This unique construction method has remained a hallmark of the company to this day.

1970's

lee-1970

1970

Lee Sargent joins the company full time in 1970 after graduating from Iowa State University in Civil Engineering and is named Vice President of Engineering in 1971.

Phil-1976

1976

Phil Sargent joins the company in 1976. After graduating from Iowa State in Economics in 1970 Phil worked at Cargill for five years prior to moving back to Ames.

1977

Todd & Sargent’s first “CanDo” Review is published in 1977 by Jean Sargent and Becky Rippel. It consisted of two pages of typed text with no pictures or graphics, however was the beginning of our company newsletter which is still published to this day.

1980's

1980

George Todd passes away in 1980 after a lengthy illness.

Sargents-1983

1983

Lee Sargent is named President of the company in 1983 replacing Warren, who remained Chairman of the Board. Phil is named Executive Vice President.

Iams-Aurora-1984

1984

The company constructs its first pet food facility for the Iams Company in Aurora, Nebraska. This was the first of many successful pet food projects for Todd & Sargent.

1985

Todd & Sargent, Canada, Ltd. is founded in 1985 to serve the needs of a growing Canadian agriculture industry.

1988

Todd & Sargent celebrates 65 years in business and 30 years under the Todd & Sargent name. In that time, the company built hundreds of grain, feed, pet food, and industrial facilities across 22 states and three Canadian provinces.

1990's

1993

The company’s home office on Arrasmith Trail is flooded in 1993 from the Skunk River in both July and August. The threat of flooding would become a recurring event over the next decade.

2000's

West-Central-Soy----Ralston-2001

2001

The company builds its first biodiesel production facility for long-term client West Central Coop, which evolved into a long-term partnership with Renewable Energy Group.

Soymor-Glenville-Final-Pict-2005

2005

Todd & Sargent wins the 2005 ABC National Award of Excellence for the SoyMor Biodiesel Facility constructed in Glenville, Minnesota.

2006

Bill Bokhoven is named President of Todd & Sargent in 2006, replacing Lee Sargent who remained Chairman of the Board and CEO.

Warren-Color-2007

2007

Our co-founder, Warren Sargent, passes away in 2007 at age 90. An accomplished Pole Vaulter, Engineer, Army Veteran, Entrepreneur, Pilot, Skier, Photographer, and Philanthropist—Warren is greatly missed but his legacy lives on in Todd & Sargent.

Todd-Sargent-Ames-Office

2007

After 45 years on Arrasmith Trail, Todd & Sargent moves in 2007 into its new headquarters at 2905 SE 5th Street in Ames. This 20,680 square foot office was designed and furnished to serve the company’s needs well into the future.

2008

The company celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2008, and 50 years since Warren Sargent became partners with George Todd and changed the name to Todd & Sargent. Celebrations included an open house at its headquarters in Ames.

2010's

Jon---Can-Do-Photo-2010

2010

Jon Sargent joins the company as Vice President in 2010; his background includes a Finance degree from the University of Iowa, an MBA from the University of Chicago, and five years of experience in the finance industry in Chicago.

jon_sargent

2017

After the retirement of Bill Bokhoven, Jon is promoted on January 1 to President. He focuses on driving company values, leading our executive team, developing big picture strategy, and removing roadblocks for the organization.

2020's

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2022

Todd & Sargent opens a new office in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which serves as the company’s Canadian headquarters. The expansion allows the company to bring its breadth of industry experience into Canada to serve a wider array of industries. Rori Bouchard is named President of Todd & Sargent Canada and Lesley Whitten is named Operations Manager.

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Careers
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Karl Kratzke

Director of Industrial Projects

As the Director of Industrial Projects at Todd & Sargent, Karl Kratzke leads the development and management of projects within the industrial processing sector. With nearly 20 years of experience, his expertise spans a wide range of markets, including oilseed, biofuels, biochemicals, liquid processing, food ingredients, feed ingredients, pharmaceuticals, and pet food. In addition to his background as a General Contractor, Karl spent nearly four years on the leadership team of a major food ingredient company, where he managed capital projects from concept to production, along with plant engineering and facility operations. A member of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, he is dedicated to advancing industry standards and driving innovation. Karl holds a Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Minnesota State University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Food Systems Leadership from the University of Minnesota.

Jon Sargent

CEO

Jon Sargent provides overall strategic and corporate direction to Todd & Sargent. In his role as CEO, he focuses on setting the company’s vision, leading the company’s leadership team, and ensuring the company lives its values every day. Jon is a member of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), Construction Management Association, and former board member of Associated Builders & Contractors of Iowa. Jon graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.B.A. in Finance and from the University of Chicago with an M.B.A. in Economics. He is also a member of The Sargent Group, Inc. Board of Directors. Jon has been with Todd & Sargent since 2010.

Brian Watson

Director of Project Management

Brian Watson is responsible for project management at Todd & Sargent, bringing consistent project delivery to our clients. He works closely with our project management teams and clients to ensure project quality, schedules, and budgets are met. Brian is a member of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society and International Association of Operative Millers. Brian graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Construction Engineering and has been with Todd & Sargent since 2014.

Christie Mohlke

Vice President – People

Christie Mohlke leads all HR functions at Todd & Sargent, such as culture, recruiting, training, compliance, employee onboarding and orientation, employee relations, benefits, and more. She has over 10 years of experience in human resources focusing on operations management. Christie graduated with a B.B.A. in Marketing from Austin Peay State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Cumberland University. She is a member of the National Society of Human Resource Management and is designated as a Professional of Human Resources.

Lesley Whitten

Director of Operations – Canada

Lesley Whitten oversees all aspects of our Canadian operations, from project management and engineering to field operations to ensure each facility meets client expectations. She has more than 15 years of experience in the construction industry, and she has worked on many new grain elevator builds, large scale elevator and facility upgrades, fertilizer facilities, and canola crushing plants while serving in roles from project coordinator up to project management manager. Lesley holds a CET (Certified Engineering Technologist) and PMP (Project Management Professional) accreditation.

James Bucher

Chief Financial Officer

James Bucher is responsible for Todd & Sargent’s finance, accounting, and information technology functions. He manages the T&S accounting team, banking and insurance relationships, and oversees the annual audits of the company’s financial statements, benefits plans, and insurance programs. James graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Accounting and holds his Certified Public Accountant designation. James has been with Todd & Sargent since 2017.

Pat Taggart

Vice President – Field Operations

Pat Taggart is responsible for field operations at Todd & Sargent. His duties include overseeing safety, field construction teams, construction scheduling, and project quality assurance. He also oversees Todd & Sargent’s warehouse team. Pat graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. in Agriculture Studies. Pat has been with Todd & Sargent since 1983.

Bryan Coussens, P.E.

Vice President – Design & Engineering

Bryan Coussens is responsible for all aspects of Todd & Sargent’s design and engineering function. Bryan manages Todd & Sargent’s team of engineers, drafters, and designers to meet our clients’ complex engineering needs. He provides structural, process, and value engineering for projects in the grain, feed, flour, biofuels, and specialty industries. Bryan also reviews projects for code requirements and compliance. Bryan is a member of the American Concrete Institute and the American Institute of Steel Construction. He graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Civil Engineering. Bryan has been with Todd & Sargent since 1996.

Scott Sylvester

Vice President – Business Development

Scott Sylvester is responsible for developing and maintaining strong client and partner relationships as well as identifying new market opportunities at Todd & Sargent. He has over 20 years serving clients and partners in the Ag and Industrial construction markets. He is an active member with the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and past member of Food Processing Suppliers Association and Iowa Lean Consortium. Scott graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a General Studies degree, with an emphasis on communications and psychology.

Alex Kerrigan

Vice President – Project Development

Alex Kerrigan is responsible for project development at Todd & Sargent, bringing ag and industrial projects from concept to reality. Alex works closely with each client’s team to develop successful facility designs and compile comprehensive and competitive cost estimates. Alex is a member of the American Feed Industry Association, Grain Elevator and Processing Society, International Association of Operative Millers, and National Grain and Feed Association. Alex graduated from the University of Notre Dame. Alex has been with Todd & Sargent since 2002.

Rori Bouchard

President – Canada

Rori Bouchard leads our Canada team to fulfilling the company mission and vision and ensures our company lives its values every day. He has more than 15 years of industry experience, with specialized knowledge in all facets of the construction of ag-industrial facilities with experience as a project manager, business development director, and managing director, among other roles. Rori is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists of Manitoba and Grain Elevator and Processing Society. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Management.

Jon Sargent

President & CEO

Jon Sargent provides overall strategic and corporate direction to Todd & Sargent. In his role as President & CEO, he focuses on setting the company’s vision, leading the company’s leadership team, and ensuring the company lives its values every day. Jon is a member of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS), Construction Management Association, and former board member of Associated Builders & Contractors of Iowa. Jon graduated from the University of Iowa with a B.B.A. in Finance and from the University of Chicago with an M.B.A. in Economics. He is also a member of The Sargent Group, Inc. Board of Directors. Jon has been with Todd & Sargent since 2010.