Lori Schroeder, President & Owner | Daryl Becker, Co-Owner
Before she was leading major commercial construction projects across the region, Lori Siegesmund was simply helping out, stepping into her grandfather’s business for what was supposed to be a short-term commitment.
Six months turned into years of learning the business from the ground up; estimating, bookkeeping, field operations, and leadership. She went on to study construction management at Colorado Mesa University, deepening her understanding and committing fully to the work.
Over time, Lori didn’t just learn the industry, she earned her place in it. When the opportunity to continue that work shifted to her own business, she made a bold decision: to start again. “It was like being a startup. Even though we had the experience, we had to prove ourselves all over again.”
What gave her the confidence to take that leap wasn’t certainty, it was the people. “I believed in the team that was willing to come with me,” she says. “That made all the difference.”
As a startup, traditional financing wasn’t an option. Through the Business Incubator Center, Lori accessed the capital and guidance needed to move forward.
“A bank won’t lend to a startup,” she says. “The Business Incubator Center made it possible.”
Through BIC’s Business Loan Fund, she secured critical startup financing. Through advising and business planning programs, she built a roadmap for growth and followed it. 579 was also able to access office and storage space on the BIC campus allowing them the support and flexibility to thrive.
“When I look back at that original business plan, we actually hit what we set out to do,” Lori says. “Having those resources and people to talk through decisions with was huge.”
That foundation, access to capital, strategic guidance, and a place to work, allowed 579 Construction to move from uncertainty to stability, and from stability to growth.
In 2023, the company expanded its leadership team by bringing on Daryl Becker as co-owner with decades of experience as a general contractor and operations leader.
Today, 579 Construction has grown into a trusted regional partner. Their ability to deliver expanded scopes of work has positioned them as a go-to partner for complex builds.
That trust is evident in their work on one of the region’s most impactful projects, the new Grand Junction Community Recreation Center. Partnering with FCI Constructors, 579 Construction is helping bring a major community asset to life.
Through the Business Incubator Center, businesses like 579 Construction don’t just get started they gain the foundation to grow, compete, and contribute in meaningful ways to the communities they serve.