Leadership
HAGEN HARKER
President
email Hagen | LinkedIn
Mid-States is on the move!
Benefitting our family culture, we became an employee-owned company in 2022. This structural change has allowed us to add two new plants, through acquisition, to the Mid-States product capabilities and plant capacities.
At our new Germantown, Wisconsin (International Concrete Products) plant, a highly skilled team of project managers, estimators, carpenters, finishers, quality personnel, safety personnel, schedulers and managers bring an enormous breadth of experience for delivering the highest in class pure architectural precast concrete products.
Additionally, our new plant in Browntown, Wisconsin beings added capacity for hollow core and prestressed beam and floor systems (podiums) as well as the added product line for double tees, which are ubiquitous in parking decks and can provide a specialized floor system for our commercial structures. The team at out Browntown location has a love for precast concrete stemming 20 plus years, a young, vibrant group that is up for any precast concrete challenge.
A huge thank you to our customers for trusting us with your past, present, and future building projects. Please know the Mid-States team has never been better positioned with product choice, design capabilities and production capacity to deliver on your future projects. We all are grateful for your business!
On a personal note, I am and always will be a God-fearing man who places my beautiful wife Jane, and our two boys, Charles and William, at the precipice of all I do and am. Love you guys!
CHARLES HARKER
Chairman Emeritus
JEREMY OLIVOTTI
Senior Vice President | Sales & Marketing
Accomplishments
My greatest blessing was marrying my amazing wife. Over 30 years later, I’m still so grateful she said yes. We have two incredible daughters, and we’re having a blast cheering on their success.
At Mid-States, I get to work with some of the most incredibly talented people. Together, we build great buildings where people live, work, learn, and play. Every project has its own story, but the most special ones to me are meaningful 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 projects that matter so much 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 didn’t kill each other.
Extracurricular
My wife and I enjoy leading a small group from our church. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to lead some incredible men’s retreats over the past few years. One of my favorite verses is Joshua 1:9. Still living in 2016—man, I hope my Cubs win another one.
Off the Clock
My favorite place in the world is sitting on the back deck with my wife, a good whiskey, and some music in the background. Greatest movie? Braveheart. Greatest movie franchise? Rocky. (This is a fact and not open for debate.) One of the best ways to spend an early morning is on a paddle board on Lake Geneva when the water is like glass. We usually take our dog, which usually 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
Senior Vice President | Operations
Accomplishments
Raising three amazing children into responsible, contributing, and independent adults alongside my incredible wife has been one of my greatest accomplishments. A highlight of the past year was getting our entire family of five together for an unforgettable trip to Costa Rica.
Working with Craftsmen with Character was especially meaningful—watching the students grow and gain direction in their lives was truly inspiring. We were fortunate to have outstanding support from our community partners; not a single company turned us down when asked to get involved.
We also celebrated our oldest daughter graduating from UW-Platteville, while the other two are heading into their senior and junior years at Minnesota State and UW-La Crosse. To top it all off, Mid-States brought home the Corporate Cup for the second year in a row!
Extracurricular
Town of Beloit PFC, Planning Commission and Board of Review. Combs & Father.
Off the Clock
Family vacations, pickleball, and continuing to enjoy the empty-nester lifestyle for at least nine months of the year, which includes vacations without the kiddos!
Secret Life
Wife and I enjoy tent camping, walking around Lake Geneva, and going to stockcar races at Jefferson, Madison International, and Dells Speedway.
MICHAEL MCNETT
Senior Vice President | Administration
Accomplishments
I’ve been happily married for over 20 years to my incredible wife, and together we’ve raised two amazing kids. Our oldest works in emergency services, and our youngest is in computer science. I’ve also had the privilege of being part of Team Mid-States for ten years. Every day, I’m grateful to work alongside such an exceptional group of people.
Off the Clock
I’m a fan of Type II fun — the kind that’s miserable while it’s happening and legendary afterward. That mindset has led to adventures in places like the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Prince of Wales Hotel, and even the mayor’s house in Han-sur-Nied, France. I’ve also spent nights in farmers’ fields, on sandbars in the Wisconsin River, and in an off-grid cabin in Alaska. There’s nothing quite like heading into the cold, dark wilderness in winter to camp under a tarp while your friends argue over how to start a fire.
Secret Life
Here’s an Alfredo sauce recipe that might change your life:
Over medium heat, whisk together 4 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp flour, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper.
Pour in 2 cups of milk. Whisk. Don’t stop whisking.
Add ½ cup of parmesan. Then add more — because you're from Wisconsin, and ½ cup is laughable. Keep whisking.
When it thickens, pour over noodles.
Eat way too much. You’ve earned it.
I proudly support the Oxford comma. And yes, I type two spaces after a period. Haters gonna hate.
BOB MACDOUGALL
Vice President of Finance
Accomplishments
By far, my greatest accomplishments have been my marriage of 15+ years to my best friend and beautiful wife, Ereka, and together raising our four amazing children. 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 ,y life who have given me mentorship and opportunities to which I am forever grateful.
Extracurricular
In the summer and fall, I help coach my youngest son’s baseball teams. As a father of four, that’s about all the extracurricular time I get.
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 and traveling across the country in our motorhome with my family, golfing, hiking, hunting, fishing, woodworking, kayaking, and trail riding our side-by-side.
Secret Life
I’ve always been enthralled with airplanes since I was a little kid and have always wanted to get my pilots license, but I’m too afraid I’ll crash.
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 (8) believes he is destined to play for the Brewers, our daughter (6) believes she is a Disney princess, and our youngest son (2) you can find on any John Deere tractor.
Extracurricular
I spend my spring and summer coaching 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.
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 2018 Chicago Bears should have won the Super Bowl.
· Caleb Williams is a future MVP.
HANNAH MARTENSEN
Director of Safety and Human Resources
Accomplishments
With two little ones—ages three and one—every day feels like a major accomplishment! I’m incredibly grateful for my amazing husband, who meets the chaos of parenting with patience and humor. The transition to being a working mom has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my life. I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to contribute to a fantastic team at Mid-States while also supporting and providing for my family.
Off the Clock
I have 11 nieces and nephews, so most of my time off the clock is joyfully spent with family. I’ve recently entered my “crafty mom era” and love putting together fun little projects for school events and cousin get-togethers. At home, I’m kept company by our sweet golden retriever, Orla, who’s always up for a cuddle or a never-ending game of fetch.
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.”