A University of Wisconsin-Stout alum who is executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kraus-Anderson, one of the Midwest’s largest construction companies, is returning to campus to speak on leadership.
Rich Jacobson, a 1989 graduate in industrial technology with a concentration in construction, has been chosen as the 2023 Cabot Executive in Residence. He will present “Leading by Example,” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 28, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. The event is free and open to the public.
Jacobson will discuss his career journey as it relates to Kraus-Anderson’s core philosophy of building enduring relationships and strong communities. He oversees day-to-day operations for the company, based in Minneapolis, which manages more than $1 billion in projects annually from coast to coast.
After graduating from UW-Stout and working in the engineering department of Hyatt Hotels, Jacobson joined Kraus-Anderson as a project manager in 1992. He managed major construction projects in every industry sector, including education, health care, retail, industrial, hospitality and recreational.
Kraus-Anderson was founded in 1897.
As part of the residency, Jacobson will meet with students from various academic programs, as well as faculty and staff.
In UW-Stout’s new First Destination report, recent graduates from the accredited Bachelor of Science in construction program reported 100% employment within six months of earning their degree and an average starting salary of $61,000.
The program is part of UW-Stout’s School of Management and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.
Cabot Executive in Residence program
This is the 37th year of the Cabot Executive in Residence program, which is named in honor of Arthur R. Cabot, a successful pet products manufacturer. His son, Scott Cabot, earned a bachelor’s degree from UW-Stout in 1978 and a master’s in 1979.
Recent Cabot executives have included alumni Todd Wanek, president and CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries; Stephen Marcus, chairman of Marcus Corp.; and alumna Shelly Ibach, CEO of Sleep Number.
A Cabot Wall of Honor, featuring plaques of previous Cabot presenters, was established in 2014 in Jarvis Hall.
The event is being coordinated by UW-Stout Continuing Education and Conferences.
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