Executive Management

Mr. Gray was named president of Knife River effective January 1, 2023, and was named its chief executive officer effective March 1, 2023. Prior to these promotions, he was president of Knife River’s Northwest segment, a position he held from 2012 to 2022. While at the Northwest segment, Mr. Gray led the acquisition of eight companies and also was instrumental in the development of the Knife River Training Center and corporate-wide safety, training and sustainability programs. He has 30 years of experience at Knife River and has served on numerous industry boards, including the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (current) and the Oregon-Columbia chapter of the Associated General Contractors. Mr. Gray has a degree in civil engineering from Oregon State University and in 2022 was named to Oregon State's Academy of Distinguished Engineers.

Mr. Ring is vice president and chief financial officer for Knife River. He has 21 years of experience with the company, including with former affiliated businesses MDU Construction Services Group, Centennial Energy and MDU Resources Group. Mr. Ring most recently led the acquisition strategy for Knife River as vice president of business development from 2017 to 2022. He also served as vice president, controller and chief accounting officer for MDU Resources from 2014 to 2016. Prior to these roles, Mr. Ring held positions as a controller for Knife River and MDU Construction Services Group. He has also held roles in various accounting, financial planning and tax departments for the Company. He has a bachelor of accountancy degree from the University of North Dakota and is a certified public accountant.

Mr. Liepitz is vice president, chief legal officer and secretary of Knife River. He previously was vice president, general counsel and secretary for MDU Resources Group, Knife River’s former parent company. Mr. Liepitz has 19 years of experience with the company, having started as an attorney in 2003. For 17 of the 19 years, he has provided internal legal counsel to Knife River. Mr. Liepitz earned his juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law, as well as degrees in English and philosophy from the University of Minnesota – Duluth.

Mr. Hastings is vice president and chief operating officer for Knife River. He has 27 years of experience with the company, including with former affiliated businesses MDU Resources Group, WBI Energy and Centennial Energy. Mr. Hastings was president and CEO of WBI Energy from 2017-2023. Prior to that, he spent 10 years with Knife River. He was named vice president of business development and operations support from 2007 to 2014 and from 2015 to 2017; in 2014 to 2015, Mr. Hastings served as interim president of Knife River's Energy Services region to direct a transition in leadership. From 2001 to 2007, Mr. Hastings was an executive at MDU Resources subsidiary Centennial Energy, serving as its vice president of business development and president and CEO of its international component, Centennial Energy Resources International. He has a bachelor of economics degree from the University of North Dakota and serves on the university's advisory council for the College of Business and Public Administration.

Ms. Christenson is vice president of administration at Knife River. She has 45 years of experience with Knife River and has oversight of Human Resources, compensation and benefits, compliance and employee relations. She was appointed vice president of administration in April 2009. Prior positions at Knife River have included vice president and chief accounting officer from 2003 to 2009, controller from 1995 to 2002 and numerous other accounting roles from 1977 to 1994. Ms. Christenson has a degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota.

Mr. Pladsen is vice president of support services at Knife River. He has oversight of information technology, safety, environmental management, training, capital budgeting and national accounts. He joined Knife River in 2007 as director of information technology, with a focus on deploying standard information systems and business processes across the Knife River operating companies. In 2012, Mr. Pladsen began overseeing the capital budgeting process and national account programs in addition to his information technology role. In 2015, Mr. Pladsen also took on a leadership role of Knife River's safety and environmental programs. He was named vice president of support services in 2019 and added the responsibility of the corporate training program, along with the design and construction of the Knife River Training Center. Mr. Pladsen has a degree in mechanical engineering from North Dakota State University.

Mr. Quade is vice president of business development for Knife River. He has 28 years of experience with Knife River and previously was president of the company’s North Central segment, a position he held from 2012 to 2023. Prior to that, Mr. Quade was president of Knife River's Central Minnesota operations. He earned his juris doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law and has a management degree from St. John's (Minnesota) University. Mr. Quade also serves on the executive committee of the National Asphalt Pavement Association.

Ms. Kadrmas is chief accounting officer for Knife River. She has 23 years of experience with the company, and previously was vice president and region controller for the company's Northwest segment, a position she held from 2014-2023. Prior to that, she was director of accounting for Knife River from 2012 to 2014, and she was financial planning and reporting manager from 2005 to 2012. Ms. Kadrmas has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Dickinson State University and is a certified public accountant.