The legacy of Crossland Construction’s Founder, Ivan Crossland Sr, is still ever-present in a multitude of both significant and small ways, says his son and the company’s current President of the Midwest Region and Owner, Curt Crossland.
“‘Red Iron’, that was his nickname,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “He was the kind of guy who didn’t believe in ‘can’t’. Even when we didn’t have the right tools or equipment, he’d say, ‘We can do it’ and somehow, we always did.
“He believed that effort, attitude and follow-through were important.”
“I learned that leadership isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about being willing to learn, work and lead from the front.”
Ivan founded the construction company in 1978, but in 1990, following a cancer diagnosis, he began training his six sons to one day take over the business.
“I was 23 when Dad made me a superintendent,” Crossland recalls. “My first job was at a fire station in Joplin, and I was as green as they come. I didn’t know half of what I needed to know, but I showed up every day and figured it out. To this day, I still drive by that station and remember the lessons I learned on that site.
“It’s where I learned that leadership isn’t about knowing everything, it’s about being willing to learn, work and lead from the front.”
The heart of the company
There are certain non-negotiables embedded at the heart of Crossland Construction’s culture.
“Stay humble, keep learning and treat every project like it matters, because it does,” Crossland advises. “Whether it’s a US$200,000 job or a US$200 million one, every project deserves the same level of care, urgency and pride.
“That’s what makes us who we are. You’re building a relationship, a reputation and, hopefully, a customer for life.”
“Integrity isn’t a sometimes thing. It’s how we’ve earned trust over the years and how we’ve kept it.”
With mottos including ‘Build it like you own it’ and ‘Always do the right thing’, Crossland Construction has successfully encouraged a mindset that promotes the entire team working toward a common goal.
“It means never putting money ahead of what’s right, even when it costs you,” Crossland explains. “Integrity isn’t a sometimes thing. It’s how we’ve earned trust over the years and how we’ve kept it.”
From modest beginnings as a small family business to now being one of the nation’s top contractors, Crossland Construction is continuing to expand, with over 2,000 employees spanning 12 divisions. By nurturing internal talent and promoting from within, the company not only ensures it retains a skilled and experienced workforce, but it also helps to foster an environment that sees staff awarded for loyalty and longevity.
“We’ve always believed in expanding with leadership from within,” Crossland reveals. “A lot of our office division managers literally started their careers with us as interns. They’ve grown up in this company. That’s intentional.
“We don’t go out and hire someone from the outside to lead a new office – we invest in our own people. We want to see them grow and prosper. When you’ve got someone in the driver’s seat who’s lived it from the ground up, they lead differently.”
Prioritizing education
In an industry evolving at a rapid pace, Crossland Construction remains at the forefront by ensuring education is a top priority.
“The way we see it, the only way to stay ahead is to stay hungry, to keep learning, adapting and investing in our people,” Crossland says. “Technology, labor markets and client expectations, they’re all shifting fast. But our edge is in our people.
“Because we self-perform so much of our work, we have to be hands-on experts in everything from concrete to steel to dirt work. That means staying sharp, staying curious and always improving.”
Through initiatives such as its Apprenticeship Program, Superintendent and PM Academy and Emerging Leadership Program, Crossland Construction is training the next generation of employees from within, focusing on upskilling existing talent rather than looking externally.
“We don’t chase trends,” Crossland says. “When our teams understand the why behind the work, they show up stronger, solve problems faster and deliver better results.
“That mindset, that culture of constant learning, is what keeps Crossland Construction in front.”
“The only way to stay ahead is to stay hungry, to keep learning, adapting and investing in our people.”
With milestone projects including The PSU Tech Center, The Gathering Place, Leggett & Platt Corporate Addition, Arvest Ballpark, The Walmart Amp, Branson Aquarium and The Hunt Tower, Crossland Construction has truly made its mark on the region.
“Most recently, the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, located in Northwest Arkansas, was another defining moment for us,” Crossland says.
“This project sits at the intersection of healthcare, education and architecture, and it’s a symbol of what’s possible when our people rise to the challenge. It has already been featured in Time magazine.
“It’s been a showcase of the best of Crossland Construction: problem-solving, collaboration, craftsmanship and commitment.”
Crossland enthuses that developments such as this prove the company is not just growing in size but is perhaps, even more importantly, growing in capability and reputation, too.
This year, the company also ticked off a major goal, making it on to the Top 50 of Engineering News-Record’s 2025 Top 400 Contractors list – something it had hoped to achieve before its 50th anniversary in 2027.
Expanding across the country
Now, looking ahead at the next five years, Crossland Construction is preparing to open its third office in Texas – another big step forward in one of the fastest-growing markets in the country.
“It’s a sign of the confidence we have in our people and our process,” Crossland notes. “But growth for us has never been about chasing dots on a map. It’s about planting roots where we can build real, lasting relationships.
“We don’t just show up, throw a sign on a building and expect to win work. We earn it by listening, by showing up, by doing what we say we’re going to do.”
“This company isn’t just about what we’ve done, it’s about what the next generation can do.”
Reflecting on how far Crossland Construction has already come, nearly five decades since his father founded the company, Crossland is proud that this legacy still shines through when it comes to how his team conducts business.
“We were just a small family company out of Columbus, Kansas, working out of the family garage, doing whatever it took to get our next job,” he adds.
“It’s proof that you don’t need to come from a big city or have all the advantages in the world. If you show up, work hard, treat people right and keep pushing to get better, you can build something incredible. That’s the message we want to pass down.
“Because this company isn’t just about what we’ve done, it’s about what the next generation can do. And I want them to know the opportunity is real. You just have to go after it.”
