Carrying the Smet legacy forward

Heather Graves

Staff

June 29, 2026

DE PERE – For four generations, the Smet name has been synonymous with construction in Northeast Wisconsin.

Now with brothers Sam and Ben and their cousin Cullan part of the company, the trio said the family-owned business is looking to the future while building on more than nine decades of history, relationships and community impact.

A peek into the past

Ben, Sam and Cullan said Smet Construction Services was started in 1934 by their great-grandfather, Robert Smet.

“To my understanding, it was a home-building business/hobby called something else other than Smet Construction,” Sam said. 

Then, Sam said his grandfather, Dan Smet, stepped in and shifted the company’s focus more toward residential construction and real estate development. 

Cullan said when his father, Chad, and uncle, Scott (Ben and Sam’s dad), purchased the company in 1994, the business shifted again – this time to commercial and industrial construction. 

“Under their leadership, the company experienced significant growth and expanded into the organization it is today,” Cullan said.

Though the company’s bread-and-butter under the third generation has been industrial and commercial construction, Sam said the company has also expanded into other areas over the past 30 years.

“At one point, my dad and uncle owned a ship down South that carried oil around the coast and later sold it,” he said. “At some point, too, a little while ago, fracking in the Dakotas was blowing up. We had an office out there for a while to build infrastructure for the oil workers over there.”

After a few years of growth, the company relocated to its former Highway 41 office, a move Ben said increased its visibility and helped make Smet Construction a household name.

With that visibility, he said, came continued growth and expansion. 

“We now operate out of 2080 Profit Place in De Pere,” he said. “The company has continued operating as a commercial general contractor, with an emphasis on design-build projects.”

Sam said Cullan was the first of Smet’s fourth generation to join the company 14 years ago, followed by Ben earlier this year in March.

Sam said he was the last of the fourth generation to join, coming on board earlier this month.

Growing up Smet

Sam – marketing and business development – said for as long as he can remember, a part of him always thought what his family did for work was “cool.”

“Not only did they always seem to know people around the community in different situations, but there was always something going on relating to the business,” he said. “Even if that something was as simple as driving around town and seeing a Smet sign or a Smet truck, or my dad saying something along the lines of, ‘Oh, that [building] was fun – we did that one a little while back.’”

Sam said his parents encouraged him and his siblings to pursue their interests, while emphasizing that success comes from pairing passion with hard work.

“On the other hand, they also did a good job at subtly letting us know there is also a great opportunity that lies in front of us that is easy to get passionate about,” he said.

By high school, Sam said he had already begun applying that “hard work” message to his education.

“By the time college rolled around, I knew I wanted to get into the family business and began to steer my education in the direction that brought the greatest number of skills I could [bring] back for the company,” he said.

Cullan said he also remembers growing up around the business, riding with his dad in his work truck, stopping at job sites and tagging along in the semi during equipment deliveries. 

“He would bring me to work sometimes where I would ride my dirt bike around the shop,” he said. 

Cullan said growing up in that environment fueled his interest in buildings, leading him to pursue every architecture and drafting course available in high school, including those offered through Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

“By the end of my junior year, I had decided to attend Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) and eventually joined the family business,” he said.

Ben said his childhood was also filled with the energy and activity of Smet Construction Services. 

“I definitely have quite a few memories growing up around the company,” he said. “They stretch as far back as visiting our dad at the old office on Mid Valley Drive in the 2000s and company picnics at Bay Beach [Amusement Park]. Thinking back on those memories is pretty cool, as I’m lucky to call some of the employees who were a part of them co-workers today.”

Ben said his interest in the family business has always been strong, though time away from it after college only made that even clearer.

“Being out of state and hearing about all the cool things going on at Smet was tough,” he said. “But I’m very happy to be involved going forward.”

Complementary skill sets

Though their paths to the family business differed, Cullan, Ben and Sam said their individual educational experiences now translate into complementary strengths within the company.

Sam said though he graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a finance major and accounting minor, he has always been passionate about working with people, staying active in his community and being part of something larger than himself. 

“I originally applied to school for marketing because I have always been very people-oriented,” he said. “I would say some skills I bring to the company would include my finance and accounting background, which does give another perspective to the numbers of the business. However, I would also say my sales-styled personality is just as big of a skill I bring to the table as well.”

Cullan said earning his associate degree in construction management from FVTC provided a foundation in construction management processes, project planning, estimating, scheduling and industry software.

“It gave me technical knowledge and practical skills I use every day,” he said.

Also attending the University of Minnesota, Ben said he graduated with a degree in accounting. 

“During college, I interned with Polaris in a financial role, then with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), which I went on to work for after college, obtaining a CPA license in the process,” he said.

Ben said this background helps him bring a finance-focused perspective to Smet.

“Although, with construction being such a relationship-based industry, it’s been a blast to learn the soft skills required for success as well,” he said. “The dynamic at Smet just speaks to the fact that bringing a variety of backgrounds and skill sets under one roof is always going to pay dividends in the long run.”

Ben said “it means the world” to him to be part of Smet Construction’s fourth generation.

“There’s certainly a lot of pride in it, and along with that pride there’s a good deal of responsibility,” he said. “To us, Smet’s reputation in the community goes deeper than face value, because it’s really the product of the hard work of three previous generations. I think sitting with and feeling that responsibility is what drives us to be our best.”

In his current role with the company, Sam said much of his work focuses on building relationships and connecting Smet with the community to support business opportunities.

“More specifically, with marketing, that role consists of things like social platform management – such as our Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn – road signage management, sponsoring events, etc.,” he said.

Sam said the business development side of his role focuses on leveraging past relationships while also creating new connections to generate opportunities for the company.

“Making new relationships like business development usually comes from attending networking events, doing market research, following leads, etc.,” he said. 

Before joining the company full-time, Sam said he spent the past two summers working as a site and development assistant – an opportunity that allowed him to learn the business gradually before stepping into a full-time role. 

“At that point, I knew I was going to want to be working here after I graduated college,” he said.

Cullan said his career at Smet began after high school in the summer of 2010, when he helped wherever needed – delivering materials to jobsites, setting up project signage, cleaning jobsites and the shop, and supporting employees with various tasks.

“After graduating from Fox Valley [Tech], I joined Smet full-time as a project coordinator, primarily supporting project managers and site managers on projects at Marinette Marine,” he said.

Around 2016, Cullan said he shifted into site management while also stepping into some project management responsibilities.

“By 2019, I was project managing smaller projects from start to finish, while also serving in a site management role,” he said. “Since 2022, I have focused primarily on project management and getting into larger projects.”

Today, Cullan said his responsibilities as a project manager begin in preconstruction, where he works with the preconstruction team, project owners and architects to develop project scopes and construction documents.

“I work with subcontractors to obtain pricing, answer questions during bidding and assemble a team to complete projects efficiently and within budget,” he said.

Throughout the construction phase, Cullan said he works alongside site managers to handle field questions, keep schedules on track and resolve potential issues early.

“I also maintain communication with owners regarding project status and timelines,” he said. “At project completion, I oversee closeout activities, ensuring owners receive warranty information, operation manuals and all required project documentation.”

Ben said his role centers on supporting both the finance and business development sides of the company.

“Having a public accounting background, the finance portion comes more naturally,” he said. “Business development has been a great growth opportunity, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know local stakeholders.”

Beyond their specific job responsibilities, Ben said Smet leadership helps ensure he, Sam and Cullan get a well-rounded start in their careers, with exposure to all areas of the business.

“With our hopes of carrying the tradition on, a comprehensive understanding of the industry is vital – even if we all fit into different specializations down the road,” he said.

Family legacy

Growing up seeing how proud his grandparents – and later his parents – were of the company and its accomplishments, Cullan said being part of Smet Construction’s fourth generation means a great deal to him.

“I am proud to continue that legacy and help carry it forward for future generations,” he said.

Echoing Cullan’s sentiment, Sam said representing the fourth generation of Smet carries a deep sense of pride and gratitude.

“Not only am I grateful for the great reputation and success the previous generations have left us, but I am also proud to play a part in carrying that legacy forward into the future,” he said.

Narrowing down what he likes best about working for Smet, Ben said, “is a tall task.”

“What I can say is I’m extremely appreciative to be where I am,” he said. “It’s a privilege to look forward to the day ahead in the morning and feel like the time to lock up the office came too soon at night.”

Beyond the family aspect of the business, Ben said it has been great to observe how employees at all levels approach their work.

“We have some of the best in the business, and it’s been awesome learning from them,” he said. “I’ll be appreciative of their willingness to pass along knowledge for years to come.”

Sam said he, too, believes it’s the people at Smet who make the company such a fulfilling place to work.

“Every single person here creates a great atmosphere to work with,” he said.

Cullan said he also sees the people as the best part of the job.

“As a smaller company, everyone knows each other well, which creates a strong team atmosphere,” he said.

Sam said working with family is a unique experience, given the already established relationships and shared hobbies, values and goals.

“The only thing different now, besides being with them more often, is we are working toward seeing each other and the company as a whole succeed,” he said.

Cullan said he has found working with family to be a positive experience.

“You sometimes hear stories about challenges when working with family, but fortunately, that has not been my experience,” he said.

That being said, one of the biggest challenges early in his career, Cullan said, was the long and sometimes unconventional hours he worked.

“As part of the family, there was often an expectation that if something needed to be done, I would step in and help make sure it got done,” he said. “That often meant handling miscellaneous tasks, tying up loose ends outside of my normal responsibilities or working nights to supervise projects when needed.”

Cullan said those early responsibilities gave him a lasting appreciation for the work behind the scenes – a perspective he has carried through more than a decade with the company.

During that time, Cullan said what stands out most to him is the breadth of dedication from individuals who have supported Smet’s success over the years. 

“While family ownership is an important part of the company’s story, the company wouldn’t be where it is today without the employees, clients, subcontractors and partners who have helped build it,” he said. “I’m grateful to be part of that team and excited about what the future holds.”

Though Ben, Cullan and Sam said no other members of Smet’s fourth generation are currently pursuing roles within the company, and none of them have children yet, they remain hopeful that future generations of the Smet family will continue the business and carry on its legacy.

“When that day comes, I am sure we’d love to see our kids have the opportunity to pick up where we leave off, similarly to how our parents did with us,” Sam said.

A Smet kind of special

Cullan said one area where Smet Construction Services stands out is its ability to pair the capabilities and experience needed for large, complex projects with the flexibility and responsiveness of a smaller company.

“One of the things that sets us apart is we are not tied to an in-house architect,” he said. “This allows us to select the architect who is the best fit for each specific project and client.”

Ben said this approach gives the company a distinct advantage in the market, pairing large-scale construction capability with the hands-on collaboration and customer focus of a family-run business.

“When you choose us, you’re choosing experience matching that of the largest regional builders, all while maintaining personalized collaboration all the way up our organizational structure,” he said. “Northeast Wisconsin has quite a concentration of general contractors, the vast majority of which have one or the other.”

Cullan said Smet’s size also allows the company to be more agile, make decisions quickly and adapt when projects need change.

“That flexibility, combined with our experience, helps us provide a high level of service while successfully delivering projects of all sizes,” he said.

Smet’s general contracting model, Sam said, is distinct in its design-build focus, with early collaboration during preconstruction to ensure each project is customized from the ground up.

“Another thing I would say makes Smet Construction special is our culture and reputation,” he said. “Given our size, we do our best to give each of our customers more focus to give the best experience and best possible result.”

Moving forward

Looking ahead, Sam said the goal is to find the right balance between steady growth and preserving the company’s strong reputation and culture.

“I think that is a very achievable goal for the future, especially with the great and hardworking team we are lucky enough to have here,” he said. “I would say my role in this would be to continue representing the company and name to the best of my ability, while also working hard bringing in business.”

Sam said he hopes that a decade from now he can look back with pride at what the fourth generation accomplished and, two decades from now, be teaching the next generation how to continue the family legacy.

Similarly, Cullan said he wants to see the company continue its growth while preserving the culture and principles that have contributed to its success. 

“I look forward to transitioning into an operations manager role, where I can help support our project managers and site managers, improve processes and ensure projects are executed efficiently and successfully,” he said.

Maintaining the company’s family ownership, Cullan said, is also important moving forward – noting that it helps strengthen pride in the organization. 

“With Ben and Sam joining the company, I believe we are well positioned to continue that tradition,” he said.

From his perspective, Ben said the future of any construction company should focus on building trust through quality work and a positive customer experience.

“If you can make sure you’re working toward that goal daily, then over a longer time horizon, you’ll be able to make special relationships, see growth and, for us, hopefully set up the fifth generation of Smets for success,” he said.

For more on Smet Construction Services and its four generations of family leadership, head to smet.com.