Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Suonvieri.
Hi Evan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in a small town called Floodwood, Minnesota, with a population of around 500 people. I graduated in 2014 with fewer than 30 kids in my class. Growing up, football was my true passion. That was where I learned a lot about discipline, toughness, teamwork, and pushing myself.
After high school, I joined the Army National Guard as infantry and went through basic training. I was only in for a short period of time and did not deploy, but that experience still taught me discipline, toughness, and structure. When I came back, I attended Bethel University for a short time and had the opportunity to play a little football there.
Unfortunately, around that same season, I ended up getting very sick and was hospitalized for almost a week. At first, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, and doctors wanted to start me on heavy medication. My mom had a strong feeling that something was not right, so we got a second opinion.
That second opinion revealed that my appendix had actually ruptured, but somehow something had contained the infected fluid and kept it from spreading throughout my body the way it normally could have. The infected pocket had actually shrunk since the first MRI, so the doctors told me it was up to me whether I wanted to have my appendix removed at that time or leave it alone unless I had issues again.
Because of that health situation, I ended up leaving Bethel after falling behind in school, and I ultimately received a medical discharge from the Army National Guard. At the time, it was difficult to understand, but looking back, I truly believe God was protecting me and guiding me down a different path.
After that, I started working as a union ironworker alongside my dad. My dad was an ironworker, and so was my grandpa, so it was something that ran in the family. I was blessed to work with my dad for about two and a half years. During that time, he taught me a lot about quality work, hard work, working on the road, and doing things the right way. Those lessons have stuck with me and still shape how I run my business today.
When work slowed down, I started looking for a new opportunity and found a project manager position in storm restoration. The job required construction experience, and they were willing to train me. That is where I got introduced to roofing, siding, gutters, windows, insurance restoration, and managing exterior projects.
I started in storm restoration in 2017, and I knew I had to give it everything I had. I was walking away from ironworking, which was what my dad and grandpa had done, so I felt like I had something to prove. My first year, I managed 49 jobs and did over $1 million in sales. Almost every project involved multiple trades, so I had to learn quickly how to manage crews, materials, permits, insurance companies, and clients on both residential and commercial projects.
That first year was stressful, but it helped me grow more than almost anything else in my life. I grew up very introverted, and this industry forced me to learn how to communicate, handle pressure, build relationships, and develop a thick skin. I learned how to help people through insurance claims, manage complex projects, and take ownership of the details.
By 2023, by the grace of God, His favor, and with my family praying for me, I was able to do over $5 million in sales. A lot of that came from larger and more complex projects, including townhome associations and board meetings where I had to represent myself professionally and earn people’s trust.
After that year, I realized it was time to step out and build something of my own. Many of the people I had started with had already moved on, and I felt like God was opening the door for me to start my own company. That is what led me to Citadel Construction.
This is now my second year running my own business as a general contractor, and I am really enjoying it. Citadel Construction specializes in exterior restoration, including roofing, siding, gutters, windows, doors, and storm damage repairs. We work with homeowners, commercial clients, associations, and insurance claims.
Right now, I am focused on building the company the right way. I partner with trained project managers who help represent Citadel on projects, and I am continuing to develop the right people around me. I am not interested in growing too big too fast just to chase money. I care deeply about quality, service, communication, and protecting the reputation of the company. I am very careful about who represents Citadel because your name and reputation are everything in business.
I would rather have fewer customers who are extremely happy and refer us to their friends and family than grow too quickly and burn bridges along the way. That is not how I was brought up. My goal is to build a company that people can trust and that my family, clients, and community can be proud of.
We recently wrapped up an amazing transformation project at Cascade Lodge in Lutsen, Minnesota. We do not normally work that far out of town, but the project was worth it. We installed two-tone wood-grain LP siding, new windows, new gutters, and new roof awnings. It completely transformed the building and gave it a whole new look.
We also have a two-building office roof replacement coming up in Vadnais Heights, where the insurance company originally only approved a repair. After reviewing the shingle availability and repairability issues, we were able to help get the claim approved for full roof replacement because the existing shingles were discontinued and could not be properly sourced.
I am also working on a senior living facility claim in Big Lake, which has involved a lot of back and forth with the insurance company, but we are getting close to moving forward with the repairs.
Personally, I live in Ramsey, Minnesota. I like the area because it is close enough to where I need to be for work, but still far enough outside the cities to have some room to breathe. Growing up in a small town, I have always appreciated that.
Outside of work, I like to work out, eat clean, take care of my body, and keep God number one in my life. I feel truly blessed to be alive, healthy, and able to do work I enjoy with great people around me.
Looking back at everything — growing up in a small town, football, the Army National Guard, my health scare, ironworking with my dad, storm restoration, and now building Citadel Construction — I can see how every chapter helped shape who I am today.
I am proud of the foundation we are building, and my goal is to keep growing Citadel Construction the right way — with quality, integrity, and a reputation people can trust.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a completely smooth road, but I think that is part of building any business.
One of the biggest challenges in exterior restoration is that the industry is very weather-driven. A lot of our work comes from hail, wind, and storm damage, so some years are naturally busier than others. Last year was a little slower on the storm restoration side, and winter construction in Minnesota naturally slows down, so I had to stay patient and keep building.
Even during the slower winter season, we stayed busy working through insurance claims, supplements, approvals, material selections, and project planning so jobs would be ready to build once spring came around. That behind-the-scenes work is a big part of making projects run smoothly.
This spring, we hit the ground running and have been very busy, which I am extremely grateful for. I truly enjoy the work and the purpose it brings to my life. I get to connect with people, help them through important projects, and make a real difference in their homes, businesses, and properties.
The challenges have taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of growing the right way while protecting our quality, service, and reputation.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Citadel Construction is a Minnesota-based general contractor specializing in exterior restoration. We focus on roofing, siding, gutters, windows, doors, storm damage repairs, insurance restoration, and retail exterior projects for residential, commercial, multi-family, and association properties.
A large part of what we do is helping property owners after hail, wind, or storm damage. That process can be stressful, especially when insurance claims are involved, so we try to bring clarity, communication, and professionalism to every step. We help clients understand the scope of work, coordinate the trades, manage the project, and make sure the final result is something they can feel confident in.
We also work directly with homeowners and property owners on retail projects where they simply want to upgrade, repair, or transform the exterior of their property. Whether someone needs a new roof, new siding, gutters, windows, doors, or a full exterior facelift, we can help them plan the project and bring it to life.
What sets Citadel apart is that we are not trying to be the biggest company as fast as possible. We are focused on building the company the right way. Quality, communication, reputation, and trust matter more to us than chasing volume. I am very selective about who represents Citadel because the people involved in each project reflect directly on the brand.
We are known for exterior transformation projects and storm restoration work that is handled with attention to detail. Whether it is a roof replacement, siding project, gutter installation, window replacement, or a full exterior remodel, our goal is to make the process smooth and deliver work that improves both the look and protection of the property.
Brand-wise, I am most proud that Citadel Construction stands for strength, trust, and protection. The name “Citadel” means a fortress or stronghold, and that fits the way I want people to view the company. We are here to help protect homes, buildings, and property owners with quality exterior work and honest guidance.
What I want readers to know is that Citadel Construction is built on faith, hard work, quality, and doing right by people. We care about the finished product, but we also care about how clients feel throughout the process. Our goal is to build long-term relationships, earn referrals, and continue becoming one of Minnesota’s trusted names in exterior restoration.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way people can work with Citadel Construction is by reaching out to us for their exterior projects. Whether someone needs roofing, siding, gutters, windows, doors, storm damage repairs, help with an insurance claim, or a retail exterior upgrade, we would be happy to take a look and see how we can help.
People can also support us by following along on social media. We post project updates, transformation videos, before-and-after content, and behind-the-scenes looks at the work we are doing. It is a great way to see the quality of our projects and follow along as we continue building the Citadel Construction brand.
We are always open to connecting with homeowners, property owners, associations, commercial clients, and others in the construction or real estate space. Referrals, reviews, social media support, and word of mouth mean a lot to a growing local business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://citadel-mn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citadel_mn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Citadel-Construction-MN/61574697929380/
