We had the good fortune of connecting with Bill Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bill, how do you define success?
I define success as a measure of the destination that a person sets for themselves and how effective they make the process along the way. One of the key traits of highly effective people is to “begin with the end in mind”. For many people we never see the full potential of our vision until later, therefore, “the end” may represent stages along the way. Once we complete that stage, it pushes us to capitalize on that success by setting our bar higher and/or become even more efficient within the boundaries of our mission. Success is about progress, and ultimately feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment in what I have achieved. I wake up everyday trying to be a better version of myself and taking the steps necessary to achieve my goals.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Civil Engineer with over 30 years of experience in Civil Engineering and the commercial construction market. My portfolio consists of landmark projects ranging from interiors and renovations to projects of large and exceptional scope. I have worked for, and managed, construction for several Fortune 500 Companies and Engineering News Records Top 50 General Contractors and Construction Management Firms. Two of the firms are Top 10 General Contractors and Construction Management Firms in the World. My construction experience includes roles ranging from Construction Intern, Estimating and Preconstruction, Project Engineer, Assistant Project Manager, Project Manager, Executive Management, Diversity Manager, and Business Development. I have successfully completed projects in Kindergarten through High School (K-12), Higher Education (Colleges & Universities), Multifamily, Healthcare, Aviation, Industrial, Nuclear, Heavy Civil, Parks & Recreation, Government, Hospitality (Hotels), Financial Institutions, and Office Buildings. Project budgets range in size from $500,000.00 renovations to $900,000,000.00 Master Plans, the largest being part of a $2.4 Billion Nuclear Project.

Over the years, I have established myself as an activist in the construction industry through memberships and board positions in several organizations and initiatives. I have been, or am currently active, in the City of Houston Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #28 (TIRZ #28) (Texas Medical Center), American Council for Construction Education (ACCE) Visiting Team (Prairie View A&M University), Associated Builders & Contractors, Associated General Contractors of America, Houston Area Construction Career Collaborative, St. Louis, MO Laborer’s Union Local Training Program, National Society of Black Engineers, and OSHA Volunteer Protection Program. I have been an advocate for diversity and inclusion for Disadvantaged, Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses (MWSDVBE) through active participation with the Local and State MWSDVBE initiatives and by partnering with the Diversity Management and Executive Leadership at each organization and project I have been assigned.

My philosophy is to deliver projects that are safe, have the highest degree of quality, and are delivered on time, while maintaining client satisfaction and budget. This philosophy fosters an environment of Life Safety, Great Customer Experience, and Excellent Communication. I have handled numerous accounts with such clients as SSM Healthcare (St. Louis, MO), U.S. Department of Energy (Aiken, SC), MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston), Memorial Hermann (Houston) Healthcare, University of Houston (Houston), Texas Southern University, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Skanska Commercial Development (Houston).

Landing where I am today was not easy. I had to overcome the challenge adapting to an industry that is dominated by people with different backgrounds and experiences. I learned at the onset of my career that my work ethic and industry knowledge had to be above and beyond that of my peers. I learned to master the process of construction management and its best practices. I overcame the challenges by participating in professional organizations that would grow my network, continue my education, and develop my leadership skills. Through many successes and failures, I learned from these lessons and I have passed on the same knowledge and experience to those I manage and those coming behind me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For a good time with my best friends, I would get them going with a Texans, Rockets, or Astros game depending on what time of year. For a dining experience my friends would want to hit some of the well known black-owned restaurants and bars in town. Most popular on my friends list is always Warwick Houston for an upscale experience, Rockhouse Southern Kitchen for live music and indoor/outdoor vide, and Prospect Park for a sports and hookah vibe. The Breakfast Klub, Turkey Leg Hut and Trill Burger are popular visitor destinations as well. To see the sites, I have several cars that I own as well as toys so we would get out and about in the classic (64 Impala), take a ride in the wind with my Polaris Slingshot, or go mudding and off road in the Can-Am Defender. And for my best friend we would finish it off with “Sunday Funday” and hit the day parties, most popular one being Champman and Kirby. We never saw a party we didn’t like!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to all those in the industry who have influenced my development over my 30 year career. There are too many to name, however, they consist of Professional Organizations, Educators, Owners, Designers, Consultants, Facility Managers, Contractors, Subcontractors, Suppliers, Mentors, and most of all, the dynamic teams that I have been blessed to work with and manage.

One person, in particular, I would like to recognize is Ted Pivin, former Director of Construction for SSM Healthcare out of St. Louis, MO. It was Ted who recognized my work ethic and saw the potential in me to influence the construction industry during my entry into the industry. He pushed me to polish myself into the professional I represent today. Although Ted is retired and is well over 90 years old, we still keep in touch. His continuous acknowledge of my achievements continue to bring encouragement and validation to my success.

Website: www.tellepsen.com

Instagram: @dolla_bill_1906

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/bill-m-brown-99932440

Twitter: @berryb1906

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montgomery.brown.7528

Image Credits
Headshot Image Credits – Tellepsen Everything else is with the iPhone and Bluebeam Software

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