Joe Sundermann, General Manager

Joe’s Journey

I grew up on a dairy farm in Melrose, MN, like most kids on a dairy farm, I was always looking for ways to get out of milking cows, whether it was fixing tractors or doing field work.  My family and I would spend a lot of time outdoors, going hunting or bonding over the simple enjoyment of nature itself. On one of the last walks with my dad, we talked about the beauty of a ripened grain field and the peacefulness of nature.

The lessons and values I learned in my upbringing instilled a dedicated and efficient work ethic in me, that highlights the importance of trust, transparency, and my ingenuity to solve problems creatively. these skills present themselves daily in my work. I look forward to passing these same lessons on to my children and to make sure the next generation has similar opportunities and access to the beautiful outdoors.

My hands-on upbringing helped me through school at St. Cloud Technical College, where I graduated with my degree in automotive repair. As an auto mechanic, I worked my way up to being a master level technician with over 25 years of experience. Before pursuing my passion for the outdoors at Kanati, I concluded my automotive career as the lead technician at my previous company and mentored technicians just beginning their path into the automotive world.

Coming on board at Kanati has allowed me to expand on my values, promoting good stewardship practices and showing the future generations that they can make a difference. my hands-on skillset and cand-do attitude drive our implementation team to outfit projects with unprecedented precision and expertise. I’ve been able to help Kanati provide exceptional service by making sure our equipment is in tip-top shape. My love for hunting aids in developing food plot seed mixes, habitat management plans, and hunting strategies for clients. Kanati gives me the unique opportunity to work on a wide array of projects, learn from them, and share my experience with others. More significantly, our focus on teaching others how to take care of and enhance the land themselves gives them the resources and knowledge needed to manage practices on their own.