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Insights & Expertise
Expert perspectives on retail construction, project management, and industry innovation from the KRCrossing team.
Try Our Newsletter
Twice-monthly advice-packed emails on retail construction, innovative retail experiences, and industry insights. For leaders and managers at construction firms, consumer brands, and architects.


Turn Summer's Biggest Challenge Into Your Competitive Edge
Turn summer's biggest productivity challenge into your competitive edge. While competitors struggle with vacation schedules and miss back-to-school deadlines, smart retail construction leaders use KRC's Summer Surge Framework to dominate. Michele Barnes shares 30+ years of VP-level insights on coordination, planning, and relationship management that deliver results when it matters most.

Michele M. Barnes
May 293 min read


Project Kickoffs: The Hidden Engine of Construction Success
The kickoff meeting is your make-or-break moment. It sets the tone for everything that follows. Yet most construction teams blow right through it.
Kickoffs are about diving deep into your client's world. Skip this step, and you'll pay later.
Most kickoffs fail because they focus on the wrong things. Teams rush through introductions, hand out business cards, and call it done.
The real work never happens.

Rich Schnitzel
May 93 min read


The Power of Your Inner Circle: Women Who Lift Us Up
Behind every successful woman stands a circle of other women who have her back. They make my success possible by making me possible.

Michele M. Barnes
Mar 73 min read


When an Amish Construction Crew Renovated My House (and what it taught me about project management)
Working with an Amish crew showed how timeless values like quality, community, and integrity create exceptional results.

Michele M. Barnes
Jan 112 min read


The Power of Community in Retail Construction
Behind every successful project is a strong community. In this issue, we reflect on how relationships—with clients, vendors, and peers—create better outcomes. At KRC, community isn’t just a value—it’s how we build.

Michele M. Barnes
Sep 5, 20243 min read


Step up to the plate with KRCrossing's Spring Lineup!
Spring is all about momentum—and at KRCrossing, we’re bringing the energy. In this issue, we’re sharing what’s in the works this season, from new brand partnerships to fresh retail rollouts. Here’s how we’re helping clients step up to the plate and swing for success.

Michele M. Barnes
May 11, 20242 min read


Celebrating the Women Who Make Us Great
Behind every successful project at KRCrossing is a team of women leading with clarity, strength, and heart. In this issue, we celebrate the women who lift us up—on job sites, in meetings, and across our industry. Here’s to the builders, thinkers, and leaders redefining what construction leadership looks like.

Michele M. Barnes
Mar 9, 20245 min read


The Art of Networking
Networking isn’t just about collecting contacts—it’s about building relationships that move your business forward. In this issue, we share how KRCrossing approaches connection as a long game, and how genuine conversations can lead to unexpected opportunities in retail construction.

Michele M. Barnes
Feb 10, 20243 min read


Elevating Partners in Construction
Great projects don’t happen without great partners. In this issue, we share how KRCrossing builds strong, lasting relationships with vendors, consultants, and contractors. It’s not just about hiring skilled teams—it’s about creating a culture of trust, accountability, and shared success on every job site.

Michele M. Barnes
Dec 16, 20234 min read


Introducing KRCrossing Kronicles
Welcome to KRCrossing. We’re a boutique project management firm built for ambitious retail brands. In this first issue, you’ll get a feel for how we work, what we believe, and why our approach to store development puts people and process first. If you’ve ever felt like your construction partner didn’t get your brand—this is for you.

Michele M. Barnes
Oct 14, 20233 min read
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