Monte Soukup has joined KU Endowment Association as vice president for property management, overseeing a department that works on construction projects at Kansas University and oversees management of approximately 45,000 acres of farmland and 600 oil and gas interests.

Soukup comes to the job with 20 years of design and construction management experience, having served most recently as director of design and construction for the Blue Valley school district in Johnson County.

For the school district, Soukup managed projects valued at more than $400 million based on two major bond issues. The school district won several awards for these facilities, including a national technology award from the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers; design excellence awards from American School and University magazine; and three awards from the Environmental Protection Agency related to indoor air quality.

Soukup replaces Daryl Beene, who had overseen KU Endowment’s property management department for 14 years. During that time, Beene oversaw KU construction projects with a total value of about $460 million, including the Multidisciplinary Research Building and KU Endowment’s own building, both on KU’s West Campus.

KU Endowment is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU.