News | Korte & Luitjohan Contractors

Korte & Luitjohan Backs Caritas' Secret Santa. 

December 5, 2025 - Korte & Luitjohan Contractors loves supporting the efforts of Caritas Family Solutions. Caritas is a nonprofit social services agency that provides support to those of all ages who are in an unhealthy situation. This includes working with foster kids and families.

Each Christmas, K&L looks forward to participating in Caritas’ Secret Santa Program, as members of our staff volunteer to do Christmas shopping, filling the wishes of children served by Caritas. On Friday (Dec. 5), K&L's John Goldsmith and Benjamin Asafo-Adjei delivered this year's donations to the Caritas office in Highland. 

Linton Transitions from Internship 

November 28, 2025 - Grant Linton will soon become a full-time project engineer. A resident of rural Carlyle, IL, Linton began working part-time in K&L’s shop before accepting an assistant project manager internship this past summer. He will graduate from SIU-Edwardsville in December with his Construction Management degree. Linton has previous construction experience, having worked at Rehkemper Construction of St. Rose during the summer beginning at the age of 16. 

30^th Annual Golf Benefit Continues Legacy of Generosity

October 29, 2025 - Friends and supporters of Camp Ondessonk gathered as the sun rose at the Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course on Saturday, September 27, just as they have done for the last 30 years. Longtime Camp supporter Pete Korte began this tradition with one purpose – “it’s for the kids” – as he reminded participants year after year before his passing in 2023. Camp Ondessonk and Korte & Luitjohan Contractors were proud to host the 30th Annual Pete Korte Memorial Golf Benefit this year, which has raised almost $1 million over its lifetime to benefit the youth campers of Ondessonk.

This year’s tournament drew 116 players and raised more than $36,000. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our donors and participants for your generosity and continued support of Camp’s mission to provide exceptional outdoor and spiritual adventures empowering kids of all ages. We are also incredibly grateful to our volunteers who donated their time and energy to prepare our delicious lunch, register teams, run our raffle games, and help with setup and cleanup.

Congratulations to our winners: 

1st Place, First Flight – Collins & Hermann

2nd Place, First Flight – Boulanger Team

3rd Place, First Flight – Ron Hollis Team

1st Place, Second Flight – Ordinary Average Guys

2nd Place, Second Flight – Varady Team

3rd Place, Second Flight – Eddie’s Rise N’ Dine 

Longest Drive – Dana Liberton and Don Benoist 

Closest to the Pin – Colleen Schaab and Kevin Donaghan 

(story courtesy of Camp Ondessonk)

Winkeler Joins K&L Estimators 

October 27, 2025 - Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. is happy to announce the addition of Corey Winkeler, P.E. to its estimating team. A resident of Highland, IL, Winkeler earned his BS in Civil Engineering from SIU-Edwardsville then obtained his P.E. license in 2013. 

Winkeler brings years of experience as a civil engineer, including 13 years with the Illinois Department of Transportation. He was most recently a project manager at Brewster Companies.

“I like the challenge of learning a new job in a market that’s also new to me,” Winkeler said. He commented on Korte & Luitjohan’s family feel. “Everyone is willing to jump in and help when bidding a project. You can see every day how the team comes together.”

Lisa Pontious, K&L Pre-Con Manager, is glad to have added Corey Winkeler to the group of estimators. “He is building on his construction background, while learning the K&L method and our software. He is already adding to the team’s effort.”

Touch A Truck Another Huge Success 

October 7, 2025 - K&L was a sponsor of the 11th Annual Touch A Truck held at

Edwardsville Township Community Park. As in past years, the event was wildly

successful attracting hundreds of kids. K&L brought its new mini-excavator for the

youngsters to enjoy. Representing K&L at the event were John Whitworth and his wife

Sandra, and Benjamin Asafo-Adjei. They handed out K&L replica construction helmets

and coloring books.

Whitworth’s Talent Shines at Art Fest 

September 21, 2025 - For the last few years, Catie Whitworth has been showcasing her

artistic talents on the streets of Highland, IL. Catie, the daughter of K&L vice president

John Whitworth, participates in the Highland Chamber of Commerces annual Street Art

Fest. She has just a few hours to create her chalk art on the street canvas. This year’s

timeline was even more compressed with thunderstorms lurking. For her efforts, she

received an Award of Merit. K&L is proud to sponsor Catie in the event.

K&L On Campus

September 17, 2025 – Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. (K&L) was a Silver level

sponsor of the annual Construction Networking Night at Southern Illinois University at

Edwardsville. The event is coordinated by the university’s Construction Department.

K&L’s Lisa Pontious and John Goldsmith met with students who are interested in a

career in construction. Our goal each year is to connect with potential interns who might

eventually become K&L employees. In recent years, we’ve had great success finding

outstanding young people at this event who have successfully transitioned from

interning to full-time employment. We are proud to be playing our part in developing the

next generation of construction leadership.

K&L Announces Additions

August 25, 2025 - Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. (K&L) recently welcomed two members to its team. Matt O’Neil is K&L’s newest project manager. Matt earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering at St. Louis University and is a veteran of the U.S. Army, 46th Engineers Combat Battalion Division. His previous project manager/project engineer experience includes Altman Charter Company, Midwest Construction Partners, and Pangea Group. His experience ranges from commercial projects to apartment complexes to a uranium storage facility.

Korte & Luitjohan welcomes back Jason Smith to the estimating team. Jason rejoins K&L after spending the past five years at Howell Paving. A native of Salem, IL, Jason had a long career in law enforcement before launching his own construction company in 2011. Jason was an Estimator at K&L from 2018 to 2020.

Annual Pete Korte Golf Event Coming in September

Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. (K & L) of Highland is once again hosting the 30th annual golf scramble benefiting Camp Ondessonk. The Pete Korte Memorial Golf Benefit will be held Saturday, September 27, at Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course in Okawville. Cost for the four-person scramble is $115 per golfer or $460 per team. The price includes golf, cart, refreshments at the course, lunch, skins, and mulligans. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. Golfers can also participate in some skills contests. Sponsorships are also available, ranging in price from $100 to $1500. Situated on nearly 1,000 acres near Ozark, Illinois, Camp Ondessonk offers kids ages 8 to 16 a summer camping experience highlighted by boating, archery, horseback riding, hiking, and rock climbing. Youth of all faiths are welcome to enjoy the fun and adventure experienced at the camp. For more information, call (618) 695-2489 or visit Camp Ondessonk’s website at ondessonk.com.

Ribbon Cutting at MBH for New Rehab Facility

April 10, 2025 - Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 10 for their newly remodeled and expanded rehab center. Korte & Luitjohan was the general contractor and Quadrant Design was the architect for the project. Along with additional space and state-of-the-art equipment, the new rehab center has a larger therapy pool, which was a popular attraction during tours of the facility. 

Hospital CEO Dan Eaves said the new rehab center is part of Marshall Browning’s “commitment to providing excellent care.” 

DuQuoin Mayor Josh Downs commended the hospital for its positive impact on the community. He pointed out that when people consider moving to DuQuoin, Marshall Browning Hospital is one of the reasons they make their decision. 

Speaking on behalf of Korte & Luitjohan, Vice President John Whitworth said, “An expansion like this happens because of growth. K&L is happy to know that we have played a role in Marshall Browning’s growth and that patients from throughout the area will benefit from this state-of-the-art therapy center.” He also thanked K&L’s team “for the care they placed in this project.” Whitworth told the crowd, “We have employees who take ownership in every job they perform.”

A USDA Rural Development grant provided $1 million in funding for the rehab center expansion/remodel.

K&L’s Kattenbraker Named to Board

 March 30, 2025 - Congratulations to Chris Kattenbraker on his appointment to a seat on the Kaskaskia Regional Port District Board. The announcement was made on March 28th by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. Appointments to the board are made by the governor and confirmed by the Illinois Senate.

Kattenbraker, a resident of Walsh, Illinois, has been a project manager at Korte & Luitjohan Contractors since April 2022.

Kattenbraker says he lives within 30 minutes of all the Port District’s locations. “I look forward to being part of the KRPD’s improvements to the region,” Kattenbraker said. “I have been a member of the Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc. for several years, and I see the appointment to the port board as another commitment to the economic development of this portion of the Kaskaskia River.”

Based in Red Bud, the Kaskaskia Regional Port District promotes economic development in Monroe, Randolph, and the southeastern two-thirds of St. Clair County.

Gregg Korte Honored by Camp

March 7, 2025 - Gregg Korte, president of Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc, recently received an honor for his support of Camp Ondessonk. Located in the Shawnee National Forest near Ozark, IL, Camp Ondessonk is a Catholic youth camp founded in 1959.

Korte was presented the Merit of St. René Goupil Award by the Loyal Lodge of Ondessonk & Tekakwitha. This award is given to an outstanding non-Lodge volunteer who has rendered meritorious service to Lodge, Camp Ondessonk, and the community.

In its 66-year history, Ondessonk has only given this honor to 32 people including K&L founder Pete Korte and long-time K&L employee Cheetah Horstmann.

Pete was a former board member and supporter of the camp. He was instrumental in launching the annual golf fundraiser that now bears his name. Gregg Korte has continued his father’s tradition of supporting Camp Ondessonk.

In accepting the award, Gregg Korte thanked God for “K&L’s good fortune and profitability, which makes it possible to be a good Camp O supporter.” He also gave thanks to the K&L employees who have given their personal time and talent to help on camp projects, as well as his mother and siblings for their continued support.

Korte reminded the audience of his father’s adage that all his support for Camp Ondessonk was for one reason. “It’s for the kids!” Expounding on this thought, Gregg Korte said, “Camp O is God's gift for the kids, through all the Camp O family. It's one of His ways of giving each of us the opportunity to love our neighbor. I believe we are given this life to learn to love, so that we can spend forever in heaven loving God and each other

Two K&L Employees Graduate From Institute

February 25, 2025 - Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. was recently recognized as a 50-Year Member of Mid-West Truckers Assoc. Based in Springfield, IL, MTA has over 4,300 members in 15 states. MTA has provided several services to K & L over the years including assistance with oversized permits, licensing for trucks and trailers, and employee drug testing. K & L was MTA’s Member of the Year in 1995. Ken Toennies, K & L vice president, said that he and company founder Pete Korte attended the annual MTA convention for many years. According to Toennies, Pete enjoyed the camaraderie at the convention.



K & L Marks 50th Anniversary Membership

February 25, 2025 - Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. was recently recognized as a 50-Year Member of Mid-West Truckers Assoc. Based in Springfield, IL, MTA has over 4,300 members in 15 states. MTA has provided several services to K & L over the years including assistance with oversized permits, licensing for trucks and trailers, and employee drug testing. K & L was MTA’s Member of the Year in 1995. Ken Toennies, K & L vice president, said that he and company founder Pete Korte attended the annual MTA convention for many years. According to Toennies, Pete enjoyed the camaraderie at the convention.

Golf Benefit for Camp O Surpasses Goal

September 28, 2024 – The Pete Korte Memorial Golf Benefit for Camp Ondessonk raised over $39,004, surpassing the goal of $37,500. Over 110 golfers participated in the tourney held at Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course in Okawville, Ill. The event was renamed in honor of Pete Korte, founder of Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc., who passed away in September 2023. Korte had served on Camp O’s Board of Directors from 1995 to 2002, during that time he launched the golf tourney to raise money for the camp. 

Winning teams were:

1st Place, First Flight – Ron Hollis

2nd Place, First Flight – Red-E-Mix

3rd Place, First Flight – Helitech 

1st Place, Second Flight – Tom Young Team #2

2nd Place, Second Flight – Tom Young Team #1

3rd Place, Second Flight – Highland Knights of Columbus – 4th Degree 

Longest Drive – Gloria Toennies and Phillip Timmerman 

Closest to the Pin – Cheetah Horstmann and Jeff Trame 

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the incredible sponsors, donors, participants, and volunteers who made this day truly special. Every dollar raised goes directly to Camp Ondessonk, fueling its mission of providing exceptional outdoor and spiritual adventures empowering kids of all ages. The camp is located on nearly 1,000 acres near Ozark, IL