CMiC Team Member Spotlight: Seth Knight

nkreeger • October 17, 2024

As we put together our CMiC Core Team, we recognized the importance of selecting members with a wide range of skills and experiences, knowing that CMiC will impact team members in every department and business unit across the company. Seth Knight, Director of Project Controls, is a key member of the team, responsible for helping guide our operational groups through the implementation process and leading decision-making on new processes, standards, and workflows.

 

Seth graduated with his Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 2010 and began his construction career full-time at the Illinois Department of Transportation as an Engineer Tech. He then transitioned to White Construction where he served as a Project Engineer, assisting in project management for the construction of wind farms, providing support to superintendents and subcontractors with scheduling & production. He also helped with maintaining cost control, document control, change orders, earned value, production, forecast, and billings for assigned projects. In 2015, Seth joined the Keeley family as a Project Manager, working on projects across Missouri and Illinois. He was quickly promoted to Project Controls Manager where he developed a project controls program for the Civil Group. He revamped & managed the job cost review to bring enhanced information to leadership, instituted the MFR process to create visibility into the risk in major projects, and developed & managed a procurement process to reduce risk in subcontracted work and purchasing. He also implemented a new cost code format for better cost control & production tracking, and managed the forecast, business unit scorecard, and opportunities to drive accountability. After serving in this role for four years, Seth was promoted to his current position as Director of Project Controls. Seth and the Project Controls team within each business unit are focused on standardizing processes across the company, maintaining accountability in operational financial reporting & forecasting, leading analytics around KPI development & reporting, driving risk awareness in operations, and providing expertise in applying our business processes to software tool selection and implementation.

 

In his role on the CMiC Core Team, Seth serves as a trusted liaison between the Core Team and Operations. His experience from both the operational and financial sides of the business will allow him to ensure all processes are fully implemented, standardized, and streamlined as they are built out within CMiC.

 

“CMiC will provide a whole new level of visibility and standardization in our organization.  With everyone providing the same information in the same place, we will be able to provide metrics at every level of the organization to make business decisions at a faster pace than we can today.  The increased efficiency will show in our bottom line as we become more proactive and accountable around the risk in our business.”

 

Seth’s construction operations experience and project controls expertise will pave the way for a successful implementation and rollout of CMiC that all Keeley’ns can be proud of. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the process and what it means for you and your team, you can reach out to Seth directly at sknight@keeleyconstruction.com

Earth Day: The Legacy We’re Building

April 21, 2026
Earth day is more than a date on the calendar; it’s a reminder of who we are building for. At Keeley, our work leaves a mark. Long after projects are completed and teams move on, what we build remains. But beyond structures and space, we are also shaping something less viable: the world future generations will inherit. It’s easy to focus on deadlines, deliverables, and the day-to-day demands of our work, but Earth Day challenges us to zoom out; to think about the children who grow up in the communities we build, the resources we use today, and the long-term impact of the choices we make right now. Because the truth is, sustainability isn’t just about being “green” its about being responsible stewards of the future. That means every decision matters. How we use waste, materials, how we protect the environment around our job sites. These choices ripple forward, influencing the quality of life for people we may never meet. The construction industry has a unique opportunity, and responsibility, to lead by example. Thoughtful planning and sustainable practices can lower environmental impact, improve long-term building performance, and create healthier spaces for communities. Every decision we make today helps shape the communities of tomorrow. You don’t have to be on a job site to make a difference. This Earth Day try to find one thing to change, whether that is turning off lights and electronics when not in use, reducing your paper waste in the office, or bringing a reusable water bottle or coffee cup. When we all do a little, it adds up. Years from now, future generations won’t see the schedules we met or the emails we sent. They will experience the outcomes of choices we made. That’s the legacy we are creating – together. This Earth Day let’s think beyond today. Let’s build with the future in mind.

Glove Recycling Program

March 4, 2026
Purpose Keeley Construction is committed to improving safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency across all projects and facilities. The Closed Loop PPE Recycling Program provides a structured process to collect, clean, inspect, and reuse certain PPE items rather than immediately disposing of them. Through this program, PPE items are collected, transported to a recycling partner, laundered, inspected for quality, and returned for reuse when appropriate. The goal is to reduce waste, extend the life of PPE, and support Keeley’s sustainability initiatives. The program supplements existing PPE purchasing practices and does not replace the need to maintain adequate PPE inventory on site. Scope This policy applies to: Keeley Construction offices and job sites participating in the PPE recycling program Team members and supervisors responsible for PPE usage Safety and operations personnel overseeing jobsite compliance Facilities participating in PPE collection and distribution The program currently includes PPE types such as: High impact gloves Dipped gloves Insulated gloves Leather gloves Safety vests These items are collected, sorted, cleaned, inspected, and paired for reuse when possible. Program Overview The PPE recycling process consists of three primary steps: 1. Collection Used PPE is deposited into designated 55-gallon collection drums located at approved facilities or job sites. These drums are labeled and provided as part of the recycling program. Only approved PPE items may be placed in these containers. 2. Processing and Laundering Collected PPE is transported to the recycling partner’s facility where items are: Sorted and evaluated Laundered and sanitized according to manufacturer guidelines Metal detected and inspected for quality control Items that meet safety and quality standards are prepared for redistribution. Items that fail inspection are removed and documented as scrap. 3. Return and Reporting Clean PPE is returned to Keeley facilities along with processing reports documenting: PPE items recovered Scrap quantities Sustainability metrics These reports help track waste reduction and provide visibility into PPE lifecycle management. Safety and Compliance Requirements To maintain compliance with the recycling service agreement: Only non-hazardous PPE may be placed in collection containers. PPE contaminated with hazardous materials, regulated chemicals, or biohazards is strictly prohibited. Any excluded materials remain the responsibility of the facility generating the waste. Team members must follow all OSHA and company safety procedures when handling used PPE. Site Responsibilities Each participating site is responsible for: Maintaining proper PPE inventory levels Ensuring only approved items enter recycling containers Keeping collection areas organized and accessible Coordinating collection schedules with the recycling provider Supporting program tracking and reporting This program is intended to reduce PPE replacement costs and waste, but it does not eliminate the need to purchase new PPE when items are damaged or unsafe. Sustainability Impact By participating in the PPE recycling program, Keeley facilities can: Reduce PPE waste sent to landfills Extending the lifespan of PPE equipment Support broader sustainability and environmental goals The program supports responsible resource management and contributes to waste reduction initiatives across operations.

Idle Time: Small Habits, Big Impact

March 4, 2026
Let’s talk about idle time. In January, Keeley drivers logged more than 720,000 miles. That’s a lot of movement, a lot of work getting done, and a lot of progress being made on our jobs. But our scorecard also showed something worth paying attention to: our company-wide average idle rate is 30.6%. That means almost one-third of the time our engines are on, they’re not actually moving us forward. No one leaves a vehicle running on purpose to waste fuel. It usually happens in small moments — waiting on a load, sitting through a delay, warming up longer than needed, or just getting distracted. But those small moments add up. Across our groups, we’re seeing idle rates range from 20% all the way into the 40% range. That tells us something important: this isn’t about equipment; it’s about habits. Some teams are already proving that lower idle time is possible. And this isn’t just about “being green”. When we let engines idle longer than necessary, it impacts: Fuel costs on our jobs Wear and tear on our trucks and equipment Air quality on and around our jobsites The overall efficiency of how we operate It’s not dramatic. It’s just real. Idle time is one of those things that quietly reflects how tight we run our jobs. When crews are communicating well, when staging is coordinated, and when drivers and operators are thinking ahead, idle time naturally drops. It’s a byproduct of being dialed in. The good news? Fixing it doesn’t require new technology or big changes. It starts with awareness. Simple things make a difference — like shutting down during extended waits, avoiding unnecessary warm-up time, and talking through load timing so trucks aren’t sitting. No one expects perfection. But even a few percentage points of improvement across Keeley would mean real fuel savings and fewer unnecessary emissions across hundreds of thousands of miles. Next time you’re sitting in a running vehicle, ask yourself: Do I need this on right now? One decision doesn’t change much. But hundreds of those decisions do. That’s how culture shifts happen. That’s KeeleyGreen.