In a career spanning nearly six decades, Ken Sletten has witnessed significant changes within the construction industry. His colleagues even credit him with driving some of the paradigm shifts. Among these are fast-track scheduling and guaranteed-maximum-price contracts. Both have become industry norms.
"He created the negotiated type of work," says Dennis Giles, president of Level 10 Construction, who has worked with Sletten for more than 30 years. "Instead of hard-bidding a job and being at odds with an owner, he said, 'Let's get on the owner's side of the table and be his agent.'"