25 Years Doesn’t Happen by Accident
This is Misty’s story.
Misty Spear I Crossland Treasury Manager
Misty Spear didn’t set out to build a 25-year career at Crossland.
It all started with a conversation.
The year was 2001.
Less than a year out of college, Misty was working at a local bank when she realized it wasn’t the path for her.
So, she did something bold – she drove out to see Ivan Crossland Sr. and asked if there was an opportunity at Crossland.
There wasn’t.
But not long after, the phone rang.
Patrick Crossland had taken over a lumberyard Crossland had acquired, and he had a role in mind for her. Misty said yes, with two conditions: make it a no-smoking building and let her wear shorts because there was no air conditioning.
“I don’t think I drove a very hard bargain,” she laughs.
This was the start of something bigger than either of them probably realized.
From Lumberyard to Leadership
Misty’s career didn’t follow a straight line, it followed the work.
She started as an Office Manager at American Building Center, moved into accounting, then stepped into Crossland Construction as a Project Accountant in training. Not long after, she transitioned to Crossland Heavy Contractors, where she spent a decade managing projects through growth years that shaped the company.
By 2016, she was back with Crossland Construction Company as an Internal Auditor. A year later, she stepped into the Treasury Manager role – where she’s been ever since.
Through every move, one thing stayed consistent: she followed the path where she could add value.
The Work Behind the Work
If you ask Misty what her job looks like, she’ll give it to you straight:
“Lots of payments.”
But that barely scratches the surface.
Her team is moving money every single day, managing vendor payments, solving billing issues, coordinating with Purchasing, Accounting, Legal, and project teams. They’re making sure the right dollars go to the right place at the right time, while protecting the company from risk.
And then there’s the part most people never see.
“Some days, all I do is problem solving.”
From tracking down misapplied payments to staying ahead of fraud attempts, Misty lives in the details. It’s constant communication, constant decisions, and constant pressure to get it right.
Because in this role, getting it wrong isn’t an option.
Built on Responsibility
One of the moments that stuck with her most came early on, a major dam project that, at the time, was the largest job Heavy had taken on.
It was her first project from start to finish.
Standing on top of the dam during a site visit, a sudden gust of wind sent tools flying into the water. One worker ran to catch a level before it disappeared. Somehow, he didn’t go in with it.
That job pushed the limits of what the team had managed before.
And it proved they could handle it.
Misty still has a photo of that project hanging in her office.
Not Afraid to Do What It Takes
Ask around long enough, and you’ll hear this story.
Back in the early days, when cash was tight and payments mattered, Misty had a customer who kept delaying. Promise after promise no follow-through.
So, she made a call.
She told him if she didn’t have payment by the end of the day, she’d be there that evening taking down his fence.
“It got pretty heated,” she says.
Two hours later, he showed up with full payment.
The fence stayed up. The story didn’t go away.
And it tells you everything you need to know about how she approaches her work.
Leading by Example
Misty doesn’t believe in managing from a distance.
Her team describes her as fair, approachable, and steady. Someone who doesn’t ask for anything she wouldn’t do herself. Someone who steps in when needed but trusts people to do their job.
Her philosophy is simple:
Lead by example.
Do the right thing.
Follow the same rules you expect everyone else to follow.
It’s not complicated. But it’s consistent.
What’s Changed, and What Hasn’t
Over 25 years, she’s seen a lot.
The company has grown. Processes have evolved. Technology has replaced stacks of paper, something she’s especially proud of helping lead.
“We’ve probably saved a few forests,” she jokes.
But growth comes with tradeoffs.
There was a time she knew every name in the building. Every face in every office.
“That’s the part I miss.”
Still, the core hasn’t changed. The work, the people, and the responsibility to get it right.
Rooted in Community
Misty lives in Columbus, where small-town life still means something.
It’s the kind of place where people know your name and show up when it matters. Where her son could grow up riding his bike all day, just like she did.
These days, life outside of work stays just as full.
She serves on the City Council, gaining a new perspective, now sitting on the owner side of projects, evaluating contractors instead of supporting them. She and her husband recently started a business. And when there’s time, you’ll find her at the farm or in a recliner with a Kindle, perfectly content to stay there for hours.
A Legacy Still in Motion
Her son is now studying Construction Management at Kansas State University, with plans to become a Project Manager.
Misty laughs about it.
“If you’re a PM, just imagine having me for your mom. He’ll definitely be doing things by the book.”
Some things come full circle.
25 Years, One Standard
Misty’s story isn’t about titles or timelines.
It’s about showing up. Solving problems. And, holding the line when it matters.
Doing the work the right way, even if no one sees it.
That’s what 25 years looks like.
And it’s exactly the standards Crossland is built on.
