Breaking Ground & Breaking Barriers

Erin Kirschenmann is Reshaping Montana’s Construction Landscape and Leadership

In the world of commercial construction — steel buildings, heavy civil work, and projects that demand grit and precision — women rarely sit at the head of the table directing projects. But at KE Construction in Billings, President Erin Kirschenmann has spent more than a decade proving that leadership in this industry doesn’t have to look the way it always has.

Erin didn’t enter the construction industry through a family legacy or a traditional route. She initially envisioned herself in hospitality, running a resort. Instead, she carved out her place in construction the same way she approaches everything — with curiosity, persistence and a willingness to learn every job from the ground up. Today, she leads a company with around 65 employees, manages a growing leadership team, designs buildings across the region, and still makes time to build forts with her young daughters at the end of the day, her favorite kind of construction.

“I thought, what woman would choose construction?” Erin says. “But, it kind of just seems like it evolved, and I ran with it.”

Originally from Michigan, Erin came west after meeting a friend from Montana on a high school trip to Washington, D.C. A visit turned into a transfer to Rocky Mountain College, where she completed her business degree, and unknowingly designed the KE Construction logo for a class project. “It was just something to check a box,” she says with a laugh. “And now it’s still our logo 12 years later.”

Erin met her husband, Bryce, during those early Montana visits. They married young — Erin was 21, Bryce 24 — and KE Construction grew alongside their marriage. “I’ve never known marriage outside of our company,” she says. “We call KE our third kid because it takes all our time, money, and energy.”

Finding Her Voice in a Male-Dominated Industry

Although Erin and Bryce run KE Construction side by side, with Erin’s strengths in leadership, client relations and design, and Bryce’s strengths in sales, the industry doesn’t always see them as equals. Erin has spent years navigating the quiet but persistent tendency for clients, vendors, and even new hires to default to requesting “one of the guys” when they need answers. More than once, someone has bypassed her entirely, asking for Bryce or another male employee, even when Erin is the person leading the project. It’s a subtle dismissal, rooted in longstanding assumptions about who belongs in construction, and one she’s had to confront with steady confidence and consistent follow-through.

“I think a lot of it is follow-through and transparency,” Erin says. “Telling them what I’m going to do, how I’m going to do it, and then actually doing it builds their confidence in me. I am the one who’s got it together.”

Erin can also easily describe and pitch what an end product will look like, painting a picture with words, while Bryce ensures they build it correctly, and then Erin wraps up by ensuring they stay on budget.

“I’ll talk them through how our bidding process works,” she says of the trajectory, “and as we work through design, we constantly refer to their budget so there are no surprises.”

Building a Career from the Ground Up

Erin’s first experience in construction wasn’t at KE. She interned with another firm, where she quickly learned what it meant to be a woman in a male-dominated environment. “I didn’t know how to navigate it,” she admits.

Ironically, she found herself back in construction almost immediately, this time helping Bryce with bookkeeping in the evenings. As the business grew, she stepped in full-time, taking on whatever role was needed: laborer, estimator, project manager, bookkeeper, human resources manager, information technology manager, designer, safety and quality control manager, and marketing director. “I’ve been in their shoes,” she says. “I’ve worn the hard hat. I’ve done the labor. That matters when you’re leading people.”

One of her favorite photographs hangs in her office showing her and Bryce, much younger, building a mini-storage unit together. “It reminds me how hard the work is on your body,” she says. “And how important it is to understand what our crews go through.”

That empathy has shaped her leadership — and her estimates. “If you’ve never done the work, you’ll say something takes a day when it really takes three,” she explains. “Having been out there changes how you lead.”

Designing Outside the Rectangle

KE Construction is known for its metal buildings, structures often stereotyped as simple rectangles. Erin has made it her mission to challenge that assumption.

“I love taking what people think of as a rectangle and making it beautiful,” she says.

Her designs lean modern and clean, often incorporating sleek metal cladding, wood accents, and bold color choices. She’s self-taught, guided by a natural artistic eye inherited from her grandfather, an oil painter.

“My favorite clients are the ones who say, ‘I trust you. Go for it.’ That creative freedom is incredible.”

She uses computer design tools, occasionally experimenting with AI for inspiration. “Some of the AI ideas aren’t buildable,” she laughs, “but it’s a great tool. The sooner you embrace it, the further ahead you’ll be.”

Leading with Transparency and Humanity

As KE Construction has grown, Erin’s role has evolved into one centered on leadership, communication and culture. She oversees three directors who report to her, and she’s intentional about staying connected to the people behind the projects.

“Being a real person matters,” she points out. “I check in on people. I take accountability. I admit my faults. If I expect that from my team, I have to model it.”

She’s equally committed to building community within the company. KE recently launched “Good Company,” a series of summer mixers designed to help employees from different crews connect. “We have so many people who never cross paths,” she says. “Seeing them introduce themselves and hang out longer than expected — it made me proud.”

This year, KE Construction is launching a wellness program unlike anything Erin has seen in the industry. Their new office will feature a full gym, and they’ve hired a registered dietitian with a background in strength training to lead the initiative.

“I don’t want people leaving KE saying their bodies are wrecked,” she says. “I want them to leave better than when they came.”

Balancing Leadership and Motherhood

Erin and Bryce have two daughters, ages 5 and 2, and she lights up when she talks about them. “We’re in the thick of parenthood and running a business that keeps growing,” she says with a smile.

Her daughters already know that their mom builds large structures. They drive past buildings she has designed, with Erin pointing out her work. Back at home, they build forts together, demonstrating that creativity and building come in many forms.

She hopes her legacy is one that lasts.

“You hope your building stands for a long time,” Erin says as she imagines her girls hopefully driving by them as adults. “I’ve designed quite a few buildings, and when I step back and look at them, it’s very humbling.”