Knife River Executive and Leadership Team

August, 2026

Leadership Overview

Knife River has 10 executives leading key functions including strategy, financial oversight, operational management, and human capital development.

Focused on delivering high-quality construction materials and infrastructure solutions, Knife River maintains a commitment to operational excellence and sustainable growth across the western, central, and southern United States.

Leadership Roles at Knife River

  • President & Chief Executive Officer - Brian Gray
  • Chief Financial Officer - Nathan Ring
  • Vice President & Chief Operating Officer - Trevor Hastings
  • President (South Dakota) - Clark Meyer
  • President, Pacific Region - Steve Essoyan
  • Mountain Region President - David Zinke
  • President. Utah - Matthew Morgan
  • President, Knife River Prestress Inc (Krpi) - Peter Gay
  • Chief People Officer - Sarah Stevens
  • Vice President & Chief People Officer - Sarah LaChapelle
  • Brian Gray - President & Chief Executive Officer

    Brian Gray, the President & Chief Executive Officer at Knife River, directs the overarching corporate strategy and long-term vision for the organization. By overseeing the integration of aggregates production with heavy-civil contracting services, the President & Chief Executive Officer ensures alignment across all four business segments. This leadership role involves managing relationships with the Board and driving performance within the S&P MidCap 400 index. Through rigorous capital allocation and market expansion, Brian Gray optimizes the company's competitive position in the construction materials sector. The President & Chief Executive Officer maintains a focus on operational efficiency and safety standards across the western, central, and southern United States. By fostering a culture of accountability, Gray secures the financial health and market reputation of the firm while navigating complex regulatory environments and infrastructure demands.
    Brian Gray

    Nathan Ring - Chief Financial Officer

    Nathan Ring, the Chief Financial Officer at Knife River, manages the fiscal health and capital structure of the organization. Overseeing financial reporting, treasury operations, and investor relations, the Chief Financial Officer ensures transparency and compliance with public market requirements. This leadership role involves analyzing the profitability of aggregates mining and asphalt production to guide strategic investment decisions. By monitoring cash flow across the West, Mountain, Central, and Energy Services segments, Nathan Ring supports the company's growth objectives. The Chief Financial Officer collaborates with executive leadership to mitigate financial risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects. Through precise budgeting and forecasting, Ring drives the financial stability necessary for long-term success. This position requires constant evaluation of market trends to maintain the company's standing as a leader in the construction materials industry.
    Nathan Ring

    Trevor Hastings - Vice President & Chief Operating Officer

    Trevor Hastings, the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer at Knife River, directs the daily execution of construction and material production activities. Overseeing the operational workflows for asphalt, ready-mix concrete, and site development, the Vice President & Chief Operating Officer ensures project delivery meets rigorous quality standards. This leadership role involves coordinating resources across diverse geographic regions to maximize output and efficiency. By streamlining the supply chain for crushed stone and gravel, Trevor Hastings supports the company's commitment to infrastructure excellence. The Vice President & Chief Operating Officer works closely with regional presidents to standardize safety protocols and operational best practices. Through continuous process improvement, Hastings enhances the productivity of heavy-civil contracting services. This role remains vital for maintaining the operational scale required to serve federal, state, and municipal government clients effectively.

    Clark Meyer - President (South Dakota)

    Clark Meyer, the President (South Dakota) at Knife River, directs all regional operations and business development activities within the South Dakota market. Overseeing the production of construction materials and the execution of local paving projects, the President (South Dakota) ensures alignment with the company's broader infrastructure goals. This leadership role involves managing relationships with municipal and state government clients to secure long-term contracts. By optimizing the local supply chain for sand and gravel, Clark Meyer drives profitability and operational efficiency. The President (South Dakota) coordinates with corporate leadership to implement safety standards and environmental compliance measures. Through proactive market engagement, Meyer expands the company's footprint in the regional construction sector. This position requires deep knowledge of local market dynamics to deliver high-quality building materials and contracting services to residential and commercial developers.

    Steve Essoyan - President, Pacific Region

    Steve Essoyan, the President, Pacific Region at Knife River, manages all business operations and strategic initiatives across the Pacific territory. Overseeing the extraction of aggregates and the manufacturing of asphalt and concrete, the President, Pacific Region ensures consistent project delivery for public and private sector clients. This leadership role involves navigating regional regulatory landscapes and infrastructure demands to maintain a competitive edge. By optimizing production facilities and logistics, Steve Essoyan drives revenue growth and operational excellence. The President, Pacific Region collaborates with other regional leaders to share best practices and resource management strategies. Through effective team leadership, Essoyan ensures the company meets the high standards expected by industrial and commercial developers. This role focuses on scaling operations to meet the increasing demand for construction materials and heavy-civil services throughout the Pacific market.

    David Zinke - Mountain Region President

    David Zinke, the Mountain Region President at Knife River, directs the strategic operations and market expansion efforts within the Mountain territory. Overseeing the processing of construction aggregates and the delivery of paving services, the Mountain Region President ensures the company remains a preferred partner for infrastructure projects. This leadership role involves managing large-scale site development and grading contracts for government and private clients. By leveraging regional expertise, David Zinke optimizes production output and cost management. The Mountain Region President works with corporate teams to integrate new technologies and safety protocols into daily operations. Through strong community and client relationships, Zinke drives the company's growth in the region. This position requires a focus on operational agility to respond to the unique environmental and logistical challenges inherent in the Mountain market's construction landscape.

    Matthew Morgan - President. Utah

    Matthew Morgan, the President. Utah at Knife River, manages the operational performance and business development for the Utah market. Overseeing the production of ready-mix concrete and asphalt, the President. Utah ensures that all projects meet the company's quality and safety benchmarks. This leadership role involves building partnerships with local developers and government agencies to support regional infrastructure growth. By streamlining local operations and resource allocation, Matthew Morgan enhances the profitability of the Utah business unit. The President. Utah coordinates with regional and corporate leadership to align local activities with the company's overall mission. Through strategic planning and execution, Morgan secures a strong market position for the firm. This role focuses on delivering reliable construction materials and contracting services while maintaining high standards of environmental stewardship and operational efficiency.

    Peter Gay - President, Knife River Prestress Inc (Krpi)

    Peter Gay, the President, Knife River Prestress Inc (Krpi) at Knife River, directs the specialized manufacturing and distribution of prestressed concrete products. Overseeing the production facilities and engineering teams, the President, Knife River Prestress Inc (Krpi) ensures the delivery of high-strength building materials for complex infrastructure projects. This leadership role involves managing technical specifications and quality control to meet the needs of federal and municipal clients. By driving innovation in concrete design and manufacturing processes, Peter Gay supports the company's broader construction capabilities. The President, Knife River Prestress Inc (Krpi) collaborates with other business segments to provide integrated solutions for heavy-civil contracting. Through efficient production management, Gay optimizes the performance of the prestress division. This position requires a focus on technical excellence and market responsiveness to maintain the company's leadership in the specialized building materials sector.

    Sarah Stevens - Chief People Officer

    Sarah Stevens, the Chief People Officer at Knife River, architects the human capital strategy and organizational development initiatives. Overseeing talent acquisition, employee engagement, and workforce training, the Chief People Officer ensures the company attracts and retains top-tier professionals in the construction sector. This leadership role involves designing programs that promote safety, diversity, and professional growth across all operational segments. By aligning human resources policies with the broader business mission, Sarah Stevens fosters a high-performance culture. The Chief People Officer collaborates with executive leadership to address labor market challenges and workforce planning needs. Through effective management of compensation and benefits, Stevens supports the well-being of the entire organization. This position drives the internal initiatives necessary to maintain a skilled workforce capable of executing complex infrastructure projects across the company's broad geographic footprint.

    Sarah LaChapelle - Vice President & Chief People Officer

    Sarah LaChapelle, the Vice President & Chief People Officer at Knife River, manages organizational culture and internal communications strategies. Overseeing leadership development and succession planning, the Vice President & Chief People Officer ensures the company maintains a robust pipeline of talent for future growth. This leadership role involves implementing performance management systems that reward excellence in aggregates production and contracting services. By championing employee wellness and workplace safety, Sarah LaChapelle strengthens the company's reputation as an employer of choice. The Vice President & Chief People Officer works with regional managers to ensure consistent application of corporate values across the western, central, and southern United States. Through strategic workforce analytics, LaChapelle identifies opportunities to improve operational efficiency and employee retention. This role remains essential for sustaining the organizational stability required to support the company's long-term infrastructure objectives.

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Knife River Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Knife River?
    Knife River is led by Brian Gray (President & Chief Executive Officer), along with executives such as Nathan Ring (Chief Financial Officer) and Trevor Hastings (Vice President & Chief Operating Officer).
    Who is part of Knife River’s executive team?
    The executive team of Knife River includes leaders such as Brian Gray (President & Chief Executive Officer), Nathan Ring (Chief Financial Officer), Trevor Hastings (Vice President & Chief Operating Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Knife River have?
    Knife River has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Knife River’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Knife River includes roles such as President & Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, President (South Dakota), President, Pacific Region.