Leadership
HAGEN HARKER
President
email Hagen | LinkedIn
Crazy! Hard to find a better word to describe the last three years of life on earth! Sparing the details, which we know all too well, I find that the human spirit is rebounding as usual. As they say, time heals. But, life has structurally changed in a number of ways, such as work from home routines and how people are living and working in their home spaces. Architects and developers are adapting quickly as they bring new designs to the market place and we can tell you our precast building systems are in high demand. Reducing noise between units with our floor systems is a very high priority! Speed of construction is key as developers are faced with higher interest rates on construction loans and our precast systems are easily saving upwards of 30 to 45 days on the schedule and even more depending on the time of year and site conditions. Furthering our product demand is the tightening standards for energy savings and heating and cooling efficiencies. Warehouses, manufacturing buildings and multistory, multifamily structures are calling for precast wall systems to answer the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) building codes.
Our preconstruction team is ready to serve early in the design process, in fact we’re sitting with architects and developers right out of the gate and engineering their projects as they work through the concept drawings, saving weeks on schedule.
Enough business. Here’s to family vacations and time with friends. Wishing you all the best and good health.
Be sure to check out our Precast Chalk Talk short take videos where we bring all things precast to life by adding a bit of humor and passion for our customers and our Mid-States people.
Peace.
Hagen.
CHARLES HARKER
Chairman Emeritus
JEREMY OLIVOTTI
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Accomplishments
My greatest blessing was marrying my amazing wife. Over 28 years later I’m so grateful she said yes. We have two amazing daughters and we are having a blast cheering on their success.
At Mid-States I get to work with some of the most incredibly talented people and together we build some great buildings where people live, work, learn, and play. Every project has its own story, but the most special ones to me are because of the people we build them for and with. Getting to work with our customers to help them accomplish their project goals is very rewarding. Knowing they trust us with the projects that are so important to them is something we do not take lightly.
Starting my career at Mid-States on our installation crew, one of the biggest accomplishments is that Jaron and I worked together and did not kill each other.
Extracurricular
My wife and I enjoy leading a small group from our church. Grateful that I have been able to help teach a leadership course at Mid-States. One of my favorite verses is Joshua 1:9. Still living in 2016, man I wish my Cubs were good again.
Off the Clock
Favorite place in the world is sitting on the back deck with my wife and a good whiskey with some music in the background. Greatest movie franchise: Rocky (this is a fact not open for debate). Remember The Titans is up there, too. One of the best ways to spend an early morning: on a paddle board on Lake Geneva when the water is like glass. We usually take our dog which ends with us falling off the boards. A coffee and a good book is a close second. We also have a wood burning sauna (pronounced SOW-na) and enjoy it a few times a week.
Secret Life
Harrison Ford went to my grandfather’s house in Upper Michigan for an authentic Finnish sauna. That’s right, Han Solo/Indiana Jones.
JARON COMBS
Vice President of Manufacturing and Construction
Accomplishments
Raising three amazing children into responsible, contributing, independent adults with my amazing wife. We now have all 3 kids in college. Mallory is a junior at UW-Platteville, Camden is a sophomore at Minnesota State, and Lacy is a freshman at UW-LaCrosse. Extremely proud of all three of them!
Extracurricular
Junior Achievement, Town of Beloit PFC & Board of Review
Off the Clock
Family vacations, pickleball, golfing, and starting our new adventure as empty-nesters.
Secret Life
Wife and I have started tent camping again and enjoy going to stockcar races at Jefferson, Madison International and Dells Speedway.
MIKE WOLFF
Vice President of Safety and Quality
Accomplishments
I have been with Mid-States for 16 years and am proud that we are achieving world-class quality and safety at Mid-States. I am an active member on various PCI Committees, serving as Council Chairman of the Quality Activities Council and Chairman of the Safeguarding Impartiality Comittee, along with President of the PCI IL/WI Board of Directors. I hold various safety and quality certifications along with an associate’s degree in criminal law, a bachelor of science in business, and an MBA. My greatest blessing and accomplishment is my family. I have an amazing wife and four great children. Three graduated from college and one is attending UND. All of my children have given me grey hair.
Off the Clock
I am now a grandpa and love spending time spoiling my grandson. I enjoy grilling out, watching the Badgers, Packers and Brewers. I love to spend time with my family: family trips, fishing, cooking out, or sitting on a deer stand or duck blind with them.
MICHAEL MCNETT
Chief Information Officer
Accomplishments
I’ve celebrated 20 years of marriage with my incredible wife. Together we have raised two awesome children. My oldest has a career in emergency services and my youngest is off to college. I’ve had the honor of being part of Team Mid-States for eight years. I’m truly blessed to be able to work with such amazing people.
Off the Clock
I like to plan crazy adventures full of Type II fun. We’ve ended up in some awesome places like the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, The Prince of Whales Hotel, or the mayor’s house in Han Sur Neid, France. I’ve also slept in a farmer’s field, sandbars on the Wisconsin River, and an off-grid cabin in Alaska. There is no better way to feel alive than going into the cold, dark wilderness during the winter to camp under a tarp while your friends fight over how to make fire.
Secret Life
I won an Apple Pie Contest seven years ago. They haven’t had the contest since, so I’m the Reigning Apple Pie Contest Champion for the past seven years.
Here is an alfredo sauce recipe that may change your life. Step 1. Whisk together over medium heat: 4 tablespoons of butter, 3 tablespoons of flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of pepper. Step 2. Pour in 2 cups of milk. Whisk. Don’t stop whisking. Step 3. Add ½ cup of parmesan cheese. Then, add some more parmesan cheese because you are from WI and ½ cup isn’t enough. Don’t stop whisking. Step 4. When it thickens up, pour over some noodles. Step 5. Eat way too much because it’s the best thing you’ve ever had.
I devote a lot of my time outside of work as President of my local squirrel observation group. As the only active member I have yet to observe any squirrels ☹.
I delivered pizzas when I was in college, so if my wife complains about my driving I remind her that I used to be a professional.
I’m a big fan of the Oxford Comma.
I type two spaces after a period. Haters gonna hate.
BOB MACDOUGALL
Director of Finance
Accomplishments
By far, my greatest accomplishments have been my marriage of 14 years to my best friend and wife, Ereka, and together raising our four amazing children - our sons Madden, Grayson, and Bowen, and daughter Ellie. Following would be graduating with honors (Cum Laude) from Upper Iowa University in 2011 with a BASc degree, majoring in Accounting, and advancing my career over the years which was made possible only by the grace of God and a few people He has placed in my life who have given me mentorship and opportunities to which I am forever grateful.
Off the Clock
In my spare time I enjoy fishing with my oldest son, Madden; shopping local department stores for the latest yard inflatables with my middle son, Grayson; playing baseball in the yard with my youngest son, Bowen; and touring our backyard chickens and garden with my daughter, Ellie. I also enjoy vacationing with my family, golfing, hiking, hunting, fishing, woodworking, kayaking, and trail riding our side-by-side.
MATTHEW KEITH
Director of Preconstruction
Accomplishments
My greatest accomplishment is marrying my beautiful wife, Amanda. Together we have three wonderful children all with vastly different interests. Our oldest son (7) believes he is destined to play for the Brewers, our daughter (5) believes she is a Disney princess, and our youngest son (1) would give Joey Chestnut a run for any food competition.
Extracurricular
I spend my spring and summer coaching one of my son’s baseball teams, along with leading our small town’s baseball organization.
Also, a devoted sports fan. I love the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, and Brewers, along with an avid Packers hater.
Off the Clock
Off the clock, I love supporting my children in their interests. As a family, we love to spend time outdoors whether it be on a lake, in the woods, or on the side by side.
Secret Life
Sports principles/predictions to live by:
Michael Jordan = G.O.A.T.
The DH shouldn’t be in the NL (#LetPitchersHit).
The pitch clock is great.
The 2018 Chicago Bears should have won the Super Bowl.
Justin Fields will win MVP by 2025.
HANNAH MARTENSEN
Director of Human Resources
Accomplishments
In 2022 my husband and I welcomed a sweet baby girl, Ivy, to our family. Transitioning from wife, to mom, to working mom has been a great challenge and accomplishment. I’m so grateful that I have the opportunity to come to work every day, contribute to the amazing team at Mid-States, and support my family.
Off the Clock
”New mom” means I’m never really off the clock anymore! I love spending time with Ivy, my husband, Chris, and our huge extended family. I have a golden retriever, Orla, who I’m out playing fetch with almost every night.
Secret Life
Growing up, I was a competitive Scottish Highland Dancer. My dad played the bagpipes and we performed around town in what we called “The Bob and Hannah Show.”