The Builders Group (TBG) is unique among workers’ compensation insurance carriers in Minnesota because we’re a self-insured fund dedicated solely to our Members’ needs. Our fund was built exclusively for the construction trades and our Board of Directors is comprised of highly experienced construction industry professionals who are also members themselves. This gives us the institutional knowledge needed to truly make workers comp work for construction firms of all types and sizes. To learn more about our Board of Directors, we invite you to explore the listings below.
Tom Corrigan
Chair
One of the 52 founding members of TBG, Tom Corrigan, is the President of Midwest Fence and Manufacturing, one of the oldest fence companies in the Twin Cities. Under Tom’s leadership, it has also become the largest. Tom is highly regarded as an experienced and innovative leader in his industry throughout the country. He has played pivotal roles within industry associations, received numerous awards from the American Fence Association (AFA), and has risen to the rank of governor. Tom has served on the board of TBG since its inception in 1997, first as a director and later as Vice Chair before becoming Chair in 2016.
Lowell Pratt
Vice Chair
Pratt Homes is a family-owned residential construction company and one of the most trusted home builders serving the Twin Cities. Lowell joined the TBG Board because he believed TBG is a great industry workers’ comp solution and wanted to contribute by participating in it. Lowell contributes his extensive experience in residential construction throughout Minnesota. He offers a unique perspective on the many challenges we face with workers’ compensation.
John Lloyd
Secretary
Lloyd’s Construction Services is a third-generation family business that provides demolition, excavation, and waste management services across the Midwest. Under John’s leadership, Lloyd’s continues to grow and adapt to an ever-changing industry, with safety and family at the forefront of everything they do. John brings valuable expertise to the TBG Board, where his practical thinking and real-life contractor experience help all members receive the best possible return on investment with TBG.
Kris Scherer
Treasurer
Kris joined the TBG Board of Directors after years of experience as a public accountant and commercial banker. Today, Kris serves as the chief financial officer of the family business, and he is strongly involved in operations, purchasing, investing, and insurance. Before joining TBG, Scherer Bros. was individually self-insured through the WCRA, so he has extensive firsthand knowledge from that experience. As a TBG Board Member, Kris looks forward to maintaining TBG’s incredible success and making it a great provider of workers’ compensation for its members.
Sterling Black
Director
LS Black Constructors is a full-service general contractor located in St. Paul and, under Sterling’s leadership, is involved in various industry associations throughout the region. As a member of TBG’s Board of Directors, Sterling offers a unique perspective honed from these affiliations, his decades of industry experience, and his outstanding aptitude for big-picture thinking. Sterling enjoys supporting people in the construction industry and working hard to help them flourish.
Ben Edwards
Director
Edwards/LaPlant Construction is a third-generation contractor that is one of the most respected in the Grand Rapids area. Today, Ben Edwards is applying his passion and business skills in the construction industry to propel the company even further. He is passionate about growing the trades and actively seeks out others who share his passion. As a TBG Board, he is committed to positively tailoring the fund to ensure affordable work comp coverage is available for future employees.
Blake Palmer
Director
Pro Drywall and Painting, Inc. is a third-generation residential and light commercial drywall and painting company serving the Twin Cities area. Blake worked his way up in the company since his teens and, after earning a degree in Construction Management, began building it into an industry leader while striving to bring safe practices to his industry. Blake’s hard work ethic and common sense approach are helping keep TBG on the course previous leaders had set.
Curt Swanson
Director
Swanson Homes is a third-generation custom home builder founded by Curt’s father, Harold, in 1965. Curt was raised in the construction industry, where he acquired extensive knowledge of every aspect of the business. As President of Swanson Homes, he oversees business operations, marketing, and land acquisition, all while being involved in various industry associations throughout the region. Swanson Homes has been recognized regionally for its high standards of ethics, loyalty, trust, and communication in business dealings and its high marks for customer satisfaction.
Brandon Romsdahl
Director
Romsdahl Companies is a first-generation general contractor for agriculture building solutions in southern Minnesota. Brandon Romsdahl recently joined the TBG Board of Directors after years of experience constructing farm buildings, including hog and cattle confinement facilities. His passion for agriculture and experience drives him to share his knowledge, and he looks forward to collaborating with like-minded professionals. As a TBG Board Member, he is committed to learning something he may not know and meeting new people across the construction industry.