From Jobsite to Community: How Nor-Son Construction Builds Lasting Impact
May 5, 2026
At Nor-Son Construction, building is about more than materials, contracts, and timelines. It’s about people. It’s about relationships. And it’s about making a lasting impact – both on and off the jobsite.
That commitment comes to life through Nor-Son’s continued sponsorships and partnerships with organizations that are changing lives across Minnesota. From supporting recovery through Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge (MnTC) to Fishing with Vets, honoring those who served our country, Nor-Son invests in causes that align with its core values.
Leadership – Striving Today to Improve Tomorrow
For Nor-Son President Mark Strelnieks, the company’s involvement with Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge is more than a partnership—it’s personal. “Alcohol addiction is deep in my family,” Mark shared. After losing his brother to alcohol-related illness, the mission of MnTC became something deeply meaningful. “I look at it and say – Teen Challenge is the solution. If I can have some small part in making a difference, that’s where it starts.”
That purpose fuels Nor-Son’s role as lead sponsor of the Minnesota Fishing Challenge – one of the largest fundraising fishing tournaments in North America. Each year, Nor-Son sends multiple teams onto the water, raising funds through sponsors, partners, and personal networks. Last year alone, the company raised approximately $32,000 to support MnTC’s programs.
But the impact goes far beyond fundraising.
Craftsmanship – Delivering Excellence in Everything We Do
Nor-Son’s partnership with MnTC extends to the work they do best – building. From Alexandria and Brainerd to the Twin Cities and beyond, Nor-Son has helped construct and expand facilities designed to support individuals on their journey to recovery.
For Sam Anderson, Central Minnesota Director of MnTC, the impact of work done on its new Alexandria men’s treatment facility was profound. “With Nor-Son’s commitment to excellence and understanding of our need for durability, they guided decisions that will enable the building to stand and provide healing for generations, [helping] individuals break free from addiction.”
These aren’t just buildings; they are places of transformation – spaces where individuals and families begin again. And for those working on them, the experience often leaves a lasting mark. “There’s just this sense of doing something that’s incredibly important,” Mark said. “You can feel it.”
Relationship – Ensuring Successful Connections Between People
The connection between Nor-Son and MnTC is perhaps best understood through the people behind it. Nor-Son Project Manager Ryan Schwieters played a key role in the Alexandria build and has been involved in multiple MnTC projects. Through that work, Ryan developed a close relationship with Sam Anderson. That relationship recently became even more meaningful on a personal level. Ryan, who is getting married this May, had several options for who could officiate his wedding. Ultimately, he and his fiancée chose to have Sam marry them. “Sam’s a great guy. He is a role model for everyone,” Ryan shared. It’s a powerful example of how the work Nor-Son does doesn’t just result in buildings – it builds lasting relationships. Ryan has also participated in the Minnesota Fishing Challenge, further deepening his connection to MnTC’s mission both on and off the jobsite.
The same is true for Joe Fisher, Nor-Son Superintendent, and his wife Angie, who have a deeply personal connection to the organization. Angie, now in recovery, works with MnTC and has experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of its programs. “Teen Challenge is built on faith, and that’s something you don’t find everywhere,” Angie shared. “When people connect with God as their higher power, something shifts. You see lives change, families reunited – it’s incredible.” “There are so many people who need help, and programs like this rely heavily on donations and volunteers,” she said. “To have a company like Nor-Son come alongside and give so much – it means everything. It’s such an honor,” she added. “You don’t see many companies that put their whole heart into giving back like this. Nor-Son truly does.”
Stewardship – Advocating for the Right Thing
That same spirit of care and responsibility extends to Nor-Son’s partnership with Fishing with Vets. Through this organization, volunteers take veterans out on the water for fishing trips designed to provide rest, connection, and a sense of appreciation. For Nor-Son General Superintendent Nick Dionisopoulos, who serves on the Fishing with Vets board and as a fishing guide, the impact is immediate and powerful. “Just before we left one trip, a veteran came up, shook my hand, and said, ‘In the last two days, I’ve never felt better,’” Nick shared. “That’s why we do it.”
Nor-Son supports Fishing with Vets as a top-tier sponsor, while also encouraging team members to volunteer their time. Employees like Nick, Joe Fisher, and Ryan Schwieters regularly guide trips, often using their own time off to serve. The company supports these efforts in meaningful ways – helping with equipment, transportation, and flexibility – so employees can give back in ways that matter.
Ownership – Living a Whatever-It-Takes Attitude Every Day!
At Nor-Son, community involvement isn’t driven by obligation – it’s cultivated. Opportunities are created. Stories are shared. And employees are invited to step in where they feel called, taking ownership of their work in construction and their work in the community.
From attending MnTC’s powerful “rules dinner” before the Fishing Challenge – where testimonies and music create space for reflection – to volunteering at fundraising events or donating fishing trips for charity auctions, team members engage in meaningful ways. These experiences create space for personal connection and reflection, making each one both impactful and memorable. “For those who step into it,” Mark said, “they really take it and run with it. And they get just as much out of it as they give.”
At its core, Nor-Son’s approach to giving back mirrors its approach to building: intentional, relationship-driven, and designed to last. Whether it’s constructing facilities that support recovery, sponsoring events that fund life-changing programs, or simply showing up for those in need, the goal is the same – to make a difference that endures.
Because at Nor-Son, the most important things they build aren’t always structures. They’re lives. They’re relationships. And they’re hope.
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