Meet Our Team

Steve Boote, the CEO of Eagle Construction, started the company in April of 1998 at the age of 32. His creative and strong leadership has driven Eagle Construction to become one of the most well-respected construction companies in the area. Before forming Eagle Construction, Steve honed his carpentry knowledge and skills restoring historic homes along the Hudson River Valley near New York City. His love for design coupled with his deep appreciation for craftmanship are key elements demonstrated in his work product. Steve’s passion for giving back is easily recognized as he has served on multiple boards and devotes time to charitable giving and the Okoboji Kites Festival. A native Iowan, Steve attended Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, focusing studies on Mechanical Engineering & Physics.

Josh Kruger, the President of Eagle Construction, started working for the company as a laborer when he was 12 years old during the summertime learning the trade with guidance from Steve Boote. By the time he was 18, Josh was running summer projects for Eagle Construction in the field as a superintendent before heading off to college. Josh graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Construction Engineering and moved to Minneapolis, MN for a few years to gain additional experience in the construction industry. In 2017, Josh returned to the family business as a Project Manager where he managed multifamily projects in the field and in the office. As Eagle Construction started to grow, Josh was promoted to Vice President of the company in 2019 and then to President in 2021. Throughout his time at Eagle Construction, Josh has been involved in over $375M worth of construction throughout the Midwest.

Lori Boote is a licensed real estate agent who has been serving clients in Iowa and South Dakota for over 20 years. Throughout her career, Lori has built a reputation for her exceptional knowledge of the local real estate market, her commitment to providing personalized service to each and every client, and her unwavering dedication to helping her clients achieve their goals.

Lori began her career in real estate in the late 1990s, after completing her licensing requirements and joining a local real estate brokerage. Over the years, she has gained extensive experience working with buyers and sellers in a wide range of markets, from small rural towns to bustling urban centers.

In addition to her work as a real estate agent, Lori is an active member of her local community. She has volunteered her time and resources to a number of local organizations and charities, and is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the lives of those around her.

Bob Smith joined the Talon Development team as Vice President of Development in 2022. His vast experience and wealth of knowledge in the pre-construction and development industry is an asset to our company. Bob has worked on large single-family developments, extended stay hotels, senior memory care, multi-family apartments, and high level market rate apartments nationally. For the previous seven years he developed and was the owners’ construction representative for US Veteran apartments with funding through the US Veterans Administration extended use lease program.

Gretchen is Director of Marketing and Real Estate for Talon Development. She guides and manages the marketing efforts for Eagle Construction and Talon Development and their portfolio of multi-family and student housing projects in over 19 cities in the Midwest.

A native of Sioux Falls, Gretchen is a graduate of Lincoln High School and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Digital Arts and Design from Dakota State University. She has been working professionally in the area with experience in marketing for the financial industry, non-profits, and commercial real estate.

Outside of work, Gretchen spends time with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She enjoys camping, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends. Gretchen has been a classroom volunteer with Junior Achievement of South Dakota for 14 years and enjoys the opportunity to work with children in our area.

Shawna is the Regional Property Manager for Talon Development. She joined the company in 2020 as an on-site property manager for The Heights in Vermillion, SD. She has grown in her role and oversees two student housing properties and numerous multi-family properties in South Dakota and Iowa. Shawna recently obtained her Certified Apartment Manager designation from the National Apartment Association. Prior to working for Talon Development, Shawna worked in Property Management in Tennessee and South Dakota.

Originally from Sioux Falls, Shawna is a graduate of Washington High School and attended the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. In her spare time she enjoys attending concerts with her significant other and hanging out with her four dogs – Daisy, Ambellina, Doc, and Finnegan.  Shawna is also an active volunteer with Sioux Falls KidLink, LSS Mentoring, and is the foster coordinator for Rescue Network – a volunteer run organization working primarily with the Native American reservations in south eastern and central South Dakota to build a bridge to safety for unwanted animals.