Extras
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By Jim Pollock
When Rod Kruse, age 53, tells people what he did in mid-July, those of the same vintage are likely to say, “You just did something I haven’t had the guts to do.”
After 18 years as a key player at a hugely successful architecture firm, Kruse walked away. Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck is down to Blunck, and Kruse has time to go to his son’s tennis tournaments.
“Sometimes I’m nervous,” he acknowledged, “but I’m very excited and my family is excited. I’ve really enjoyed the past month with my wife and son.”
Kirk Blunck, Kruse’s partner at the architecture firm and a friend for 25 years, didn’t sound all that stunned by the decision. “People don’t realize how hard we’ve had to work to get to this point,” Blunck said.
One line of reasoning says that you’re foolish to leave a position once you’ve got it made. Another says, if you’ve proved yourself and you can afford to try something different, hey, why not?
Kruse said he made the decision to leave the firm about 90 days ago. Before that, apparently, his thoughts about taking the leap were no more than the fantasy that afflicts so many American workers. But now the fantasy has become reality and Kruse is saying exactly what every other disenchanted employee wants to say: “I have a chance to start all over. I’m not limited to what I’ve done in the past. I’m energized.”
But what’s he going to do?
A non-compete agreement means that he can’t open up his own architecture shop anywhere in Iowa for eight years. That leaves plenty of options, but saying that you’re exploring lots of options is like saying “Oh my God, now what?”
“I’m trying to find ways to use my talent and energies nationally and regionally in architecture,” Kruse said. “I’m also looking at things nationally, regionally and locally in fields related to architecture and maybe not related to architecture.
“I enjoy people. I’ve always been very comfortable presenting in front of people. There might be an opportunity to be a spokesperson, to represent someone and make major presentations.”
Leaving Des Moines is not part of the plan, Kruse said. But warm weather does sound nice. And being near his two adult children who live in California, that sounds pretty good, too.
“It’s not my intention to leave, but we haven’t closed that door,” said Kruse, who grew up in Waverly, Iowa, and has lived in Greater Des Moines since 1984. “My wife (real estate broker Jan Berg) has a very successful business here and our son is involved in school and athletic endeavors. But if the right opportunity was there, I might consider it.”
Kruse figures the architecture firm will do fine without him. His departure just makes more room for the young talent to flourish.
But what his fellow Baby Boomers want to know is, how will this work out for our side? He’s gone from a fine example of achievement to an advance scout in unknown territory.
It’s warm and cozy in here, Rod, and we know where to find the office supplies. Let us know what it’s like outside.
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