2021 40 Under 40: Dana Haase

Dana Haase knows what she wants, and she’s building a path to get it. Just 18 months after joining Nabholz Construction, Haase, 30, was tasked to run a project as acting superintendent and was quickly promoted to assistant superintendent at the company. She says she is the first female to hold that position at the 72-year-old business spanning seven states and employing 1,200. Next up? To be the first female named superintendent.

“I plan to use my accomplishment to mentor other young women to pursue a career in construction,” Haase says.

As an assistant superintendent, she works with a team of field staff, design professionals and owners to coordinate manpower and methods to complete projects.

Haase also is a leader in industry associations: vice president of Springfield Contractors Association’s Generation Next and secretary of the local National Association of Women in Construction. In 2020, she won NAWIC’s Rosebud Award.

Professional aha moment? No one knows everything, even the guys that have been in construction for 30 years. The key to a successful construction project is team coordination with many people working together to solve problems.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received? Learn the good and bad qualities of everyone you work with. Take the good to become a great superintendent.

Favorite hobby or pastime? Hunting. My husband introduced me to it seven years ago, and now that’s our biggest passion.