WHO WE ARE

Heartland Builders Company, a full-service general contractor located in Columbus, Nebraska, was established in 1988. Our work has earned our reputation as a high quality, customer-driven contractor in the construction of protein production facilities. We maintain control over every facet of our projects with our in-house team of skilled, experienced professionals. Our protein production expertise, unequaled customer commitment, and pride in our workmanship give our customers peace-of-mind as well as a remarkable facility.

Heartland Builders’ passion for our customers, broad experience, and Midwest values are what led to the partnership with Summit Engineering & Construction in 2016. This partnership equips us to serve livestock producers across the US, combining Heartland Builders’ quality construction with Summit Engineering & Constructions’ industry leading technical, engineering, design, and innovation capabilities.

We listen to our customers, understand their unique needs and vision, then work collaboratively to bring the project from design to production. Heartland Builders’ team works tirelessly to make sure the facilities we build for our customers go beyond expectations and accomplish your organizational goals, identify challenges facing your operation, and provide holistic solutions to the toughest obstacles.

Our in-house team of professionals will give you the confidence you need from conception all the way to equipment installation and completion of your project. We treat our customers with the same honesty, integrity and fairness that we would expect. Each project is built on trust and that begins with our exceptional team.

The work we’ve accomplished is a testament to the collaboration, quality and competence needed to earn the confidence of our customers. Take a look at a few of the projects we’ve completed. These various projects feature engineered innovations that optimize animal health, improvements in operational management, and equipment installation that is planned out to avoid costly rework common to external equipment installers.

MEET OUR TEAM

Brian Palmer
General Manager, Sales Manager

Brian Palmer joined the Heartland Builders team in 2019, bringing his knowledge, experience, and intense focus on customer satisfaction with him. He earned an ag engineering degree with emphasis in structures and environment from Iowa State University then went to work for EPS Buildings where his talents and strengths were honed. 

With a lifetime of experience in engineering and sales as well as management for other livestock-specific construction companies, Brian is prepared to build relationships with clients and lead the Heartland Builders team. And that team desires to build lifetime relationships with clients, vendors, suppliers, and teammates. Brian believes constructing the right buildings with the right people brings success to those who entrust Heartland Builders with their projects.

As the general manager and sales manager at Heartland Builders, Brian’s mission is to cast the vision for the future of the company, direct the sales team, assist in managing the financial well-being of the company, and provide leadership for operations. Being part of the Heartland Builders team makes his job easy. “We serve clients a great experience because of the expertise and experience of our team,” he explains.

Brian and his wife, Jane, live in Emmetsburg, Iowa. He enjoys spending time with family, including his stepsons Matt and Andrew Wellik, when he’s not working. Brian also sings with the praise team at his church and counts golfing, boating, yard work, and gardening as his hobbies.

ACCOUNTS

Art Halstead
Account Manager

Jake Ruth
Account Manager

Matt Biede
Account Manager

PURCHASING

Purchasing Manager
Brandy Baker

Warehouse Assistants
Jerome Drozd
Jeff Wessel

CONSTRUCTION

Director of Pre-Construction
Jake Stephens

Pre-Construction Managers
Jon Alons
Tone Carlson

Drafters
Heath Hoefer
Scott Schaecher

Estimator
Mark Bjorneberg

OPERATIONS

Operations Manager
Denny Sliva

Operations Assistant
Tiffannie Shank

Field Operation Manager
Derek Pasonault

Project Managers
Don Collins
Nate Kershner
Brice Nagy
Justin Scamehorn

Site Superintendents
Jeremy Brown
Juan Valdivia
Oliver Colunga
Tom Riddle
Chad Schwichtenberg