VAA News

After almost 38 years, Gene is retiring from VAA at the end of 2018. A mentor to the next generation and a foothold in VAA’s agribusiness projects, his influence on the firm’s culture has not gone unnoticed. A graduate from Minneapolis’ Dunwoody College of Technology and a former VAA Partner, Gene’s career began at a design-build firm […]

VAA celebrated the season with an ugly sweater day and a Partner-served luncheon in the Plymouth, MN office. An annual tradition, the lunch is a way for our leadership to take a moment to engage with each employee and share gratitude for collective efforts throughout the year. This sincerity is also paired with a light-hearted […]

Gene Haldorson is our final club member of 2018 and longest-running employee to date. After 37 years, Gene’s authenticity and no-nonsense leadership is as valuable today as it was when he joined the firm in 1981. We thank you for being you and congrats on this milestone. How did you first learn about VAA? Dick […]

Gary is celebrating 34 years with VAA and is our fourth official member of the 25 & Up Club. Joining the firm only seven years after its inception, he has quietly shaped the growth of VAA with his unshakable dedication to his work and his clients. We thank you for being you and congrats on […]

Bernie Jansen is our third recognized club member and resident agribusiness guru. Serving as a Partner at VAA for 18 years, Bernie is currently a Principal and still values hitting the road for face-to-face visits with long-time friends – our clients. We thank you for being you and congrats on this milestone. How did you […]

VAA was recently recognized for its support of military service members by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Staff Sergeant Dan Starr, a VAA technician and combat engineer with the Army Reserves, nominated Quin Vincent, Partner, and Doug Rohkohl, Associate Senior Designer, for the Patriot Award. In speaking about his reasons for […]

Our second featured “25 & Up” club member is Connie Cronquist. As a Front Desk Administrative Assistant for the past 26 years, Connie is the personality / friendly face of the company. We thank you for being you and congrats on this milestone. How did you first learn about VAA? I was job hunting in […]

Our 40th anniversary ends by highlighting five employees who have been with VAA for over a quarter of a century. Each shares a snippet of their VAA story in a Q&A session. We begin with Partner / Structural Engineer, Kelsey Brown. Well respected for his technical skills and calm demeanor, he never misses an opportunity […]

Teams took turns pulling a 70,000-pound Gulfstream IV airplane in an event supporting the Special Olympics. Several employees from VAA’s South Dakota office participated, contributing to the overall $4,500 raised for the cause. Watch news coverage of the event and hear one of our own, Shawn Vanhove, interviewed about the effort.

As more corporations adopt formal goal-setting programs, it is important to understand how to engage staff in the process and how goal-setting can be used effectively to benefit individuals and companies overall. S.M.A.R.T. goals – statements that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely – have become the standard for organizational goal-setting. Use of this […]