Building for Others

For Project Manager Bill Pepin, the word “service” often defines his work. Today, he serves the clients behind BLOCK’s projects by helping their visions become realities. As he graduated high school in 2004, however, Bill was considering a different type of service. Joining the military was always likely to be an option as a career path for him. Afterall, most of his father’s side of the family has spent some time enlisted in their lives (even his aunts had all married military veterans). So Bill decided to follow suit and sign up for the United States Army. About a month after his high school graduation, Bill found himself headed to Fort Knox for basic training.

Bill arrived and soon experienced the intensity of the Army’s preparation program. Early mornings, late nights and physically demanding tasks were all part of the regular routine. What sticks with Bill most about this experience, however, is the opportunity he had to see all different styles of leadership that were on display in that environment. “I had the chance to observe leadership from all different levels and perspectives,” he recalls. The trait that shined through for great leaders was mastering the technical capabilities of their own job. As Bill puts it, “the great leaders weren’t always the ones who went around telling everyone what to do. They were the individuals who inspired others by being an example of the level of dedication and knowledge it took to do a job properly. They also tried to learn the jobs of others so they could offer support to those individuals in their role.” 

These lessons on leadership were learned when Bill was just a teenager, but they are principles that now influence the work he does on BLOCK’s projects. “I think it’s incredibly important to have strong technical knowledge as Project Manager. Not only does it help me understand each aspect of the construction process, but it provides a foundation for me to continue to gain more insight on technical tasks. I’m always looking to learn more from my colleagues and our trade partners. The end result is me being better equipped to lead projects forward and serve our clients’ needs.”

These lessons on leadership were learned when Bill was just a teenager, but they are principles that now influence the work he does on BLOCK’s projects. “I think it’s incredibly important to have strong technical knowledge as Project Manager. Not only does it help me understand each aspect of the construction process, but it provides a foundation for me to continue to gain more insight on technical tasks. I’m always looking to learn more from my colleagues and our trade partners. The end result is me being better equipped to lead projects forward and serve our clients’ needs.”

After receiving his basic and more advanced technical training, Bill was deployed to Samarra, Iraq in early 2005. For the next 12 months, he would apply himself as a member of the 3rd Infantry Division, responsible for securing a critical 30 kilometer stretch of highway from threats such as insurgent attacks and IEDs. 

Once again, he would find himself with the opportunity to learn skills that he carries with him today. “That was my first experience utilizing teamwork outside of a sports team. In an environment like the one we were in, the stakes are higher and you truly depend on the people you work with. You have to develop the ability to collaborate with others and support the best interest of the team in order for each task you perform to be successful.” 

Another skill closely related to teamwork is communication. Bill’s time in Samarra was undoubtedly an opportunity to practice it as he and his fellow soldiers often had to interact with the local community without the aid of an interpreter. “Those moments were challenging, but it was also such a poignant way to learn the importance of patience and understanding the differences in the people you’re communicating with. I try to approach the conversations I have on project sites with the same resolve that I needed to back then.”

After spending some time in the states and another 15 month deployment to Iraq beginning in 2007, Bill had reached the rank of E-4 and received an honorable discharge from the US Army. After spending time as a tradesman in the woodworking field, Bill eventually made the decision to advance his career by attending college for construction management. After graduating, he worked his way up to the role of Project Manager, responsible for handling intricate, expensive projects before landing at BLOCK in the same role in October 2023.

To anyone who spends time around Bill now, the influence his military service had upon his approach is often visible in his work. For example, there is a common expression in the military that goes along the lines of “complacency kills” and is a reminder for soldiers to always wear proper safety equipment, regularly inspect their vehicles and never skip on precautions that could save someone’s life. That same approach guides Bill to always reference safety guidelines and PPE as non-negotiables on any BLOCK project.

Similarly, Bill often takes another page from the military handbook when it comes to reviewing work on a particular project. As he puts it, “in the Army, any time we performed any mission [successfully or not], we always had an ‘After Action Review’ meeting to assess what happened, what went right and what could have been improved. In my role as a PM, I have ‘Lessons Learned’ meetings at various project checkpoints where the project team can collaborate and review the work that has been done using those very same principles.”

Finally, the action of serving our country ingrained in Bill a desire to continue to serve the community around him. Not only does he do this with his work at BLOCK, but he has spent time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Rhode Island, assisting with their effort to supply residents with access to affordable housing. So, despite the fact that it has been many years since Bill Pepin left the Army, it is clear that whether it’s as a Project Manager at BLOCK, serving the community or simply in his other key roles as a husband and father, he is always looking to create a better world for others.