Aug. 6, 2024

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Justin Heim, a civil engineer at ISG.

Name: Justin Heim

Age: 30

Hometown: Luxemburg, Iowa

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

The opportunity to advance my career at ISG is what brought me to Sioux Falls.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

The community, the strong business environment/opportunity for young professionals and the people!

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

The people I get to work with, internally and externally, and the impact of the projects to the community. Whether it’s community leaders, project stakeholders, contractors or affected residents, everyone has a part in making a project come to life – the people that I get to interact with are hardworking, take pride in their work and, in general, just great people. In terms of impact, I get to work on projects that affect everyday functions, from roadways to utilities.

How did you get connected to your industry?

My first exposure to civil engineering was through a class in high school. This sparked an interest that led into the pursuit of a civil engineering degree and career!

Describe your workplace in three words.

Dynamic, collaborative, energetic.

What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I competed in tournament bass fishing while in college. We traveled all over the country competing against other collegiate teams. The competitiveness has greatly increased since then with some schools now offering fishing scholarships! Although I don’t travel across the country fishing anymore, I still enjoy jumping in a few tournaments each year.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

My favorite way to give back to the my community is through mentorship, whether this in internally with co-workers or externally. I have been fortunate to have great mentors to help provide direction and purpose, and I want to continue to return that favor.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

I would love to see a steakhouse downtown!

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

A custom meat locker. Growing up on a farm and being an outdoorsman, I developed a passion for processing meat and have a great respect for good food!