by Kate Hill
The Construction Management Student Association (CMSA) is open to any University of Minnesota (UMN) student who is interested in project management, real estate or the construction management industry as a whole. CMSA gives students opportunities to connect with industry professionals, gain real-world experience and meet other students who share their passion for all things construction-related.
Last year, former president Donavon Ohms '26 and I worked to rebuild the Association after it had been less than exciting for several years. We focused on increasing student involvement and strengthening industry connections through networking events and job site tours. We also registered CMSA as an affiliated student group with the Association of General Contractors (AGC). Through that partnership, CMSA members were able to attend the 2026 Minnesota Construction Summit, courtesy of the AGC.
Building Connections Beyond Campus
When I assumed the role of CMSA president this past summer, I wanted to continue to build on the growth Donovan and I had started the previous year. During a brainstorming session with Construction Management Faculty Director Peter Hilger, we discussed past CMSA events and which had the most student involvement.
One event that stood out was a tour of Marvin (formerly known as Marvin Windows and Doors), a company headquartered in Warroad, Minnesota. CMSA leadership thought it would be a great opportunity to expand the association’s connections beyond the Twin Cities while offering an experience that would appeal to students across a range of majors.
Over the summer, CMSA Vice President Vanessa Larson — who is originally from Baudette, Minnesota, located 40 minutes southeast of Warroad — reached out to Marvin to discuss the possibility of a tour of their manufacturing plant. What I thought might be an interesting afternoon away from campus turned into an incredible experience that I will never forget.
Learning Behind the Scenes
Our day started bright and early on October 23. Our group (ten students and Peter) arrived at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and were soon boarding one of Marvin’s private planes. Without worrying about TSA or the usual hectic airport routine, we were wheels up by 8 a.m. and soon after landed in Warroad.
Our first stop was Marvin’s headquarters, where each of us had the opportunity to introduce ourselves and share what we were most excited to see on the tour. It was interesting to hear what students studying Supply Chain and Sustainable Systems were looking forward to seeing.
As for me, I was eager to explore the Marvin History Experience. Growing up a hockey fan, I was familiar with Warroad and its reputation for producing excellent hockey players. However, I never understood just how much of the town was connected to Marvin. Warroad has a population of 1,800 people, roughly 60% of whom are employed by Martin. It's easy to see just how Marvin and the Warroad community have grown together.
Among other things, we learned what shaped Marvin as a company, how it changed through four generations of leadership, and how it faced and overcame setbacks along the way. Having knowledge of the company's history made our next tour even more interesting because it gave us a better understanding of how Marvin became what it is today.
After the Marvin History Experience and a quick lunch, we headed to the manufacturing plant. This was definitely a favorite part of the day for the group.
John Shade, Marvin’s senior learning experience specialist, led us through the two-million-square-foot facility, where we saw how the company’s signature windows and doors came together. Because a lot of what we saw was specific to Marvin, and some of the processes were patented, we were limited in the photos we could take.
John said it best: walking through the plant was like being in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, except instead of candy, we were surrounded by windows and doors!
For Ethan Andler, who studies Building Science in the Sustainable Systems Management program, seeing the attention to quality was a highlight. “One thing that really stood out to me was the quality they [Marvin] put into their windows through thermal test-cycling and investigating window failures when they occur,” he says. “I honestly haven't heard of a more thorough process at a company.”
A Business Built for Generations
Marvin takes pride in being the world's largest manufacturer of made-to-order windows and doors, but what stood out to me was learning about the company's values. As a family-owned company passed down through generations, Marvin puts a lot of thought into long-term planning. The goal is to build a company that future generations can continue to grow.
This affects the way Marvin does business, with decisions focused on what is best for its customers rather than its shareholders.
The tour made us think about our professional futures, too. CMSA treasurer Calvin Saunders says: “Learning about the nuances of parallel manufacturing, all of the processes that go into organizing high-volume production, and how company culture can change the way we work was especially valuable to the students working towards a career in construction or supply chain.”
What stood out to me was that Marvin's impact goes beyond the products it makes. Throughout the day, we learned about the different ways the company has supported both Warroad and communities beyond.
With a retiring workforce and a need for more employees, Marvin created an initiative called “The Path North” to recruit workers from places such as Puerto Rico and Florida and help them relocate to Warroad and settle into the community. Some families have even gone on to buy homes and put down roots there.
Marvin has also supported its hometown in other ways. One year, when the Warroad girls hockey team was unable to travel to the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament, Marvin stepped in and flew the team down to Minneapolis so they could compete. These examples show that Marvin is more than just a manufacturer. It is also a company that cares about the well-being of its employees and the community it calls home.
We returned to campus inspired by the experience. I believe the Marvin tour is a big step forward for CMSA. This year, we’ve really focused on engaging with students and industry professionals through Instagram and LinkedIn. Our social media presence has been strong, and it’s helped open the door to other opportunities like this.
I think Peter summed up what made the day so special: “No student expects to be flown in the corporate jet to the Marvin headquarters in Warroad. And no student then expects to see the quality of both the tour and the intense manufacturing process that goes into every window made — always custom-made per customer, not for placement on a distributor's sales shelf. At over two million square feet of manufacturing space, the lessons from start to finish to shipping were well learned.”
The CMSA thanks Marvin for this opportunity, especially John Shade, Senior Learning Experience Specialist, and Melanie Schreiner, Senior Learning Experience Coordinator, for making our visit such a memorable experience.
Photos courtesy Kate Hill and Calvin Saunders
Kate is the recipient of a Kraft Construction Scholarship from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Minnesota Foundation; a Humphrey Folk Scholarship from the AGC Education and Research Foundation; and academic scholarships from the Association of Women Contractors and the Chicagoland Construction Scholarship Foundation.
Kate Hill is pursuing a bachelor of applied science degree in Construction Management. She currently serves as president of the Construction Management Student Association, having previously served as vice president. Kate has spent the past two summers as a project controls/management intern at Burns & McDonnell, where she will begin her full-time career as a construction coordinator after graduation.
