Nate

Hard to believe it’s 2026 already! While VK Civil had a busy 2025, we were able to take some time in December to celebrate with our clients and our team. The annual municipal client lunch was a fantastic time for us to connect with the area communities that we serve while enjoying a meal. Additionally, the VK team spent an evening on a friendly gingerbread building competition. Three of Nate Vriesman’s children were our guest judges, deciding who earned the first, second, and third place creations. Each team told the story of their creation, vying for the judges to [...]

Jeff Gritter has spent the past ten years of his long and successful career at VK Civil, and that is cause for celebration! VK has seen major growth since Jeff’s introduction to the company, and his work has greatly impacted the communities VK serves. Jeff’s professional career began nineteen years before he joined VK Civil at the Kent County Drain Commission, where he served Kent County for four years. He then took a position as a staff engineer for Gaines Township, faithfully serving Gaines for fifteen years until he joined VK. While holding these positions, Jeff gained experience in [...]

We were excited to participate in the Western Michigan University Business & Technology Research Park Trunk or Treat Event on October 24 in the BTR park. Mario (Cole) and Princess Peach (Cole’s fiancé Emily) did a wonderful job representing VK! The event was a great success. Additionally, Dan and his wife Sarah had an amazing time joining Arkos Design in their celebration of 20 years in business. Costume theme was 1920s. Arkos is a terrific landscape design partner, and we were humbled to be a part of their 20th celebration.

Ten fruitful years are now in the books for Aaron Van Proyen at VK Civil! He joined the team in 2015 and has served many clients and communities with experience and commitment. Like most young adults, Aaron was undecided about which career path to take once he graduated high school. Architecture and computer science were his top choices until he heard about civil engineering from a family friend. Not fully sold on the idea of engineering, Aaron enrolled in Calvin University as a computer science major, while taking engineering classes as a supplement. It was not too long before [...]

On a recent cold, blustery January day, VK Civil hosted a Strength Finder’s workshop. In the 3 years since the last time we held this workshop, our team has grown significantly and half the room was filled with new faces. New perspectives mixed with seasoned insights, reinforcing that every team member brings something valuable to the table. That’s why, from day one, every team member takes the Clifton Strengths Finder test. This tool not only helps us understand our unique talents, but it also suggests ways for us to collaboratively work effectively together to optimally serve our clients. One [...]

This January Tom Van Zegeren celebrated his 10-year anniversary with VK Civil. Tom’s journey with the company began in 2015, but his legacy in the construction industry began in 1974, exemplifying decades of hard work, leadership, and dedication. As a kid, Tom loved being outdoors, a passion that led him to a career as a pipe layer and later a foreman. He spent the majority of his career at Bond Construction where he solidified his reputation as a knowledgeable and skilled leader. One memorable project involved a 90” storm sewer installation in Grand Rapids, where Tom led the crew [...]

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Thank you for an incredible 2024! We braved the winter weather and celebrated a fantastic year at our annual municipal client Christmas luncheon. VK Civil is blessed to serve the people and communities around us, and we are grateful for their trust. Happy New Year! The VK Civil Team