Opus Receives Minnesota Family Business Award

10/17/2024
We've been honored as a Twin Cities Business 2024 Minnesota Family Business Award recipient!

Recipients were evaluated by a group of local business leaders and Twin Cities Business leadership on the organizations' “management, governance, organizational structure, transition plan, success, and other key factors." We were formally honored at an event in Minneapolis last night.

Family from the Beginning

In 1953, Gerry Rauenhorst, with the support of his wife, Henrietta (Hanky) Rauenhorst, started a construction business. So much of who they were and how they lived their lives has provided the foundation upon which Opus is built, and the sentiments that inspire our mission, values, culture, daily work and future vision.


After graduating college with his engineering degree and with the combination of his work ethic, drive and vision, Gerry quickly found employment. Over the next two years, he gained valuable experience with two different companies, but Gerry found his employers' ways of doing business were inconsistent with his own personal values.

Gerry decided, and Hanky concurred, that no job was worth compromising the principles that guided their family life. And that's when he thought, “there just has to be a better way" – which for him meant making an honest, realistic bid and then honoring that bid no matter what; showing up when he said he would and finishing a job when promised; and treating clients, coworkers and employees with honor, decency and respect.

Built on these values and the principle of finding “a better way", Gerry and Hanky started their construction business. From that point on, Gerry and Hanky would work together as partners to operate the business (initially out of their 960-square-foot suburban Minneapolis home) while also working second jobs to make ends meet. In the early years, Hanky would take care of the kids during the day. After putting the kids to bed, she would help Gerry with paperwork and office tasks.  They worked tirelessly and diligently to keep the business going, while also growing their family and preserving the values that inspired it.​

Over 70 years later finding “a better way" is an important part of our culture. We're proud to build on Gerry's legacy with his children and grandchildren.

Read Our Profile in Twin Cities Business

Caption: Opus leaders and Rauenhorst family members celebrated the recognition Wednesday night, including left to right in the first photo: Pete Conlon, Executive Vice President of Capital Markets; Shanna Strowbridge, Vice President & General Counsel; Tim Murnane, President & Chief Executive Officer of Opus Holding; Joe Rauenhorst, Mark Rauenhorst, Karen Rauenhorst and Judy Rauenhorst Doerr.

Photo Credits to Twin Cities Business



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Filed Under: Award Winning, Minneapolis