BLOCK Project Executive Chris Glynn isn’t much of a betting man, but if he were then he’d be willing to place a large sum of money on him being the only “Social Thought and Political Economy” major working in the construction industry right now.

Construction was actually never on Chris’s radar during his formative years, he was a person who excelled in history and analyzing how societies function all over the world. Yet when Chris was graduating college in 2010, the economy was still reeling from the Great Recession and getting a job was hard for anyone regardless of what they studied.

Knowing his field of study didn’t have a direct career path, and in a tough job market, Chris found an opportunity in the construction industry. Chris remembers speaking to a friend who worked as a superintendent at a local construction firm who told Chris he could help get him a job as a laborer in the field. Needing the work, Chris jumped at the opportunity eagerly, not knowing it would set his career path for the next few decades.

Working in the field gave Chris an opportunity to apply his interpersonal skills. He quickly began to study the processes and interactions that occurred on the jobsites he was working on and how different parts of the project team sometimes have different mentalities, thought processes and communication styles. “I was always interested when project managers would come to the field and talk with superintendents,” he recalls. “I knew the PMs had certain priorities when it came to the project and the field team had others. It was fascinating trying to watch them bridge that gap. Watching people who did that well was the best part, you could see the direct impact it had on the success of a project.”

After two years in the field, Chris decided he’d like to observe that same process from a different viewpoint. When he was approached by management and asked if he would be interested in an opportunity to move into the office, he jumped at the opportunity. He was given a role as a Project Coordinator, but not everything transitioned as smoothly as he thought it would. “I honestly almost didn’t make it. I considered myself a well-educated guy, but I was missing the industry-specific knowledge of someone with a construction background. I had no idea what an RFI was or how to read drawings.” Faced with the prospect of having to go back into the field, Chris decided the only path forward was to commit himself to learning as he went. He studied the details of his role and leaned heavily on some of the more veteran people around him, constantly asking pertinent questions and soaking up any details he could. Although Chris eventually did receive his Master’s in Construction Management from Wentworth in 2016, he also considers this on-the-job training a huge piece of the expertise he pulls from in his work today.

Once Chris gained a more complete understanding of the process, he started to excel in managing it, never forgetting who he was at his core. “I’ve always been interested in learning about the different perspectives people have from all walks of life. The construction industry is no different. Project managers, field teams, trade partners and clients all see the same problems and opportunities from different viewpoints. The thing I’ve been able to build my career on is bringing all those differences together to work towards a common goal.” 

Chris doesn’t consider himself incredibly crafty, but his years in the field help him communicate with those whose hands build the projects he works on. His now lengthy project management resume also allows him to know what it’s like to see the high-level considerations of budgets, scheduling and client satisfaction. “That’s why I’ve never left the industry. I love that there is a conceptual and practical component to every project and being able to work between those two spaces is the most challenging, but also most rewarding, part of my job.”

When making the decision to join BLOCK in 2024, Chris saw the opportunity to capitalize upon his unlikely start and unique approach to the industry. “I really ended up in the perfect place for me. The emphasis on teamwork and employee development at BLOCK is something you don’t see everywhere else in the industry. It’s a lively environment here where people are constantly collaborating, learning and growing.” As a member of BLOCK’s Senior Leadership Team, Chris also takes the opportunity to pass on the same on-the-job education that he received early in his career. “Having an educational background in construction is great, but what’s also important to me is having team members who have the right mindset and sense of urgency. In my opinion, the individuals who have those characteristics  see the most success in the long run.” Chris’s philosophy on building up the team is all about meeting people wherever they are at. “If someone at BLOCK is very green, we’re going to work to establish a strong foundation of fundamentals within them. If someone on our team has more experience, then we’re going to take the time to make sure they understand the high-level strategy aspects of working on a project. At the end of the day, we know that if our team grows within their roles daily then our company is going to continue to be on the rise and that’s an exciting thing to be a part of.”

The path that Chris Glynn took to end up in the construction industry was unique, but that experience has been key to driving successful project outcomes, building successful project teams and building on Block’s success. Chris becoming a leader within BLOCK should not come as a surprise given his unique team building approach and his commitment to the colleagues around him.