Tony Kozak shares his thoughts on stepping into the Controller position, supporting our project and operations teams, and a few personal insights as well.
Kimm Naugle plays a key role in delivering complex construction projects as a Project Engineer at Shannon Construction, drawing on decades of hands-on experience in the construction industry. She joined the team in 2024 to support the Commonwealth Charter Academy project in Moosic, PA. In her role, Kimm coordinates with architects, subcontractors, and project teams to ensure communication remains clear, documentation stays organized, and issues are resolved efficiently.
Early Days in Construction
Kimm’s connection to construction began long before she ever stepped onto a job site professionally. Her father was a residential contractor and home builder in New Jersey, and she grew up surrounded by tools, materials, and construction projects.
From an early age, she was eager to participate. She often jokes that she got her start in construction as a baby. When she was about a year and a half old, her father handed her a hammer and let her tap nails into scrap wood while he worked. At one point he had her pull the nails back out and was surprised to see that they came out perfectly straight – a small sign that even as a toddler she already had a natural feel for the work.
Another story she remembers involves her father replacing a floor and giving her scrap pieces of wood to play with. While he worked, Kimm carefully arranged the pieces into a perfect square on the floor. Eventually she used up all the scrap pieces and began using the actual flooring materials so she could keep building.
Construction quickly became second nature.
By the time she was eighteen, her father purchased a house that needed a full gut renovation and told her the project was hers to run. With that encouragement, Kimm dove in and began helping manage the work, applying everything she had absorbed from years of watching and learning on job sites.
She later joined the Drywall Finishers and Allied Trades union out of Wilkes-Barre, gaining hands-on experience in the field and continuing to build her skills in construction.
From the Trades to Project Management
After her father eventually closed his construction business, Kimm continued working in the industry, moving into modular home construction.
When the housing recession hit in the late 2000s, construction opportunities became limited. Looking for new opportunities, she relocated to Hawaii, where she spent eight years working in drywall and continuing to build her trade skills.
While Kimm was working on a construction project at the VA hospital, she met a project manager who encouraged her to look at the construction industry from a different perspective. In a conversation that stayed with her, the project manager suggested that Kimm had the experience and mindset needed to pursue project management herself.
That conversation planted the seed.
Kimm began to realize that the knowledge she had developed through years in the trades could translate into leadership roles within the industry. She also recognized that the physical demands of trade work can become difficult to sustain long term, which motivated her to pursue additional education.
In her early forties, she contacted Colorado Technical University and enrolled in their Project Management program. She completed the coursework online while continuing to work, balancing school with the demands of the construction industry.
Kimm earned her degree in Project Management in 2017.
Toward the end of her program, she also started her own drywall finishing business, applying the skills she had developed in the trades while gaining experience managing projects, clients, and scheduling on her own.
Joining Shannon Construction
In 2024, Kimm joined Shannon Construction as a Project Engineer to support the Commonwealth Charter Academy campus project in Moosic.
While the Moosic project is her primary assignment, she also assists with other CCA projects as needed, including work in Williamsport, Blue Bell, Mount Pocono, and Wyomissing.
Her role requires constant coordination and organization. She manages submittals, maintains daily logs, operates a 360-degree site camera used to track project progress, and helps address issues that arise throughout the day.
“It can feel like putting out fires sometimes,” she says. “There are always problems that come up, and you just have to figure out how to solve them.”
Another important aspect of her role is communication. Construction projects involve many different parties including subcontractors, architects, engineers, local municipalities, and the client.
Kimm often serves as a liaison between those groups, helping ensure questions are directed to the right person and information flows smoothly across the team.
“A big part of the job is knowing who to go to for what,” she explains.
On some days that coordination may include meetings with borough officials regarding permitting. Other times it means working with architects or subcontractors to resolve questions that arise during construction.
Watching a Building Take Shape
Despite the many moving parts of the job, Kimm says her favorite part of construction is seeing projects come to life.
One of the most memorable aspects of the Moosic project has been the transformation of the building’s central atrium.
Originally, the three-story structure did not have an open center. During construction, crews carefully cored out the middle of the building, removing sections of the existing floor slabs to create a dramatic new atrium space that visually connects all three levels of the building.
The design now features communicating stairs rising through the center of the building, topped by a skylight above and anchored by a striking chandelier. Structural steel was installed and welded in place to support the new opening and reinforce the surrounding structure.
Kimm remembers watching crews weld the steel framework that would ultimately support the space.
Seeing that transformation firsthand, from demolition to finished structure, has been one of the most rewarding parts of the project.
“You start with drawings, and then suddenly it’s real,” she says.
Learning the Bigger Picture
Working on a large project like the Commonwealth Charter Academy development has given Kimm a broader view of how complex construction projects come together.
Coming from a trades background, she was accustomed to focusing on the work directly in front of her each day. In the field, the routine often meant showing up, completing the day’s tasks, and moving on to the next stage of work.
What she did not always see was the extensive coordination happening behind the scenes.
“I’m still learning,” she says. “There is so much that goes into a project like this.”
Today, she sees the full picture. From scheduling and documentation to communication with architects, subcontractors, and the client, she understands how many moving parts must align to keep a project moving forward.
Her background in the trades gives her a valuable perspective in that process. Having worked in the field herself, she understands how decisions made during planning and coordination directly impact the crews doing the work on site.
That perspective allows her to help bridge the gap between field operations and project coordination, ensuring that information flows smoothly and issues are addressed quickly so the project can continue moving forward.
Skills for Success
When asked what skills are most important for someone in her role, Kimm emphasizes quick thinking and strong organization.
“You have to be able to think on the fly,” she says.
Unexpected issues can arise at any time, often first thing in the morning. The key is responding quickly while also thinking strategically about the best solution.
At the same time, she says strong time management is essential. Urgent issues may require immediate attention, but she works to make sure those challenges do not derail the rest of the day.
“It’s about prioritizing,” she explains. “You handle the immediate fires first, and then you keep moving forward with everything else you need to accomplish.”
A Supportive Team Environment
One of the things Kimm appreciates most about working at Shannon Construction is the team environment.
“What I like most is the team,” she says. “Everyone is really supportive. If I need help and ask for it, I know it’s there.”
At the same time, she values the independence she has been given to grow in her role.
“They let you spread your wings and figure things out, but there’s still a safety net,” she explains.
That balance allows her to take ownership of her work while knowing support is always available when she needs it.
A Strong Client Partnership
Kimm also speaks highly of the experience working with the team at Commonwealth Charter Academy.
“They’ve been absolutely wonderful to work with,” she says. “They listen, they’re understanding, and they’ve really been great partners throughout the project.”
Strong collaboration between the client and the construction team helps ensure projects run smoothly and remain focused on delivering a high-quality result.
Looking Ahead
Kimm says she genuinely enjoys the work she is doing today and continues to learn something new on every project.
For now, she is focused on building experience and growing in her role as a project engineer. Working on complex projects, coordinating with different teams, and seeing how projects come together behind the scenes continues to expand her understanding of the industry.
Over time, she hopes to continue developing within the field and eventually move into project management.
Outside of Work
After busy days coordinating projects and solving problems on site, Kimm enjoys spending time outdoors. In the summer you will often find her in the pool, and she enjoys staying active whenever she can.
She played both basketball and softball in high school and remains very sports-oriented today, enjoying recreational activities like horseshoes.
Time outdoors helps her recharge before returning to the fast-paced world of construction.
