Justin Pebet

If you ask most people here, they’ll tell you Truebeck’s success starts and ends with the people—from top to bottom. I couldn’t agree more. The collective talent I’m surrounded by is inspiring and motivates me to be the best version of myself for the team.

A great leader is someone who encourages growth—in themselves as well as their team. Great leaders recognize where they’re lacking, surround themselves with collective talent, and empower and coach others to find their individual strengths in support of the team. Great leaders provide opportunity and a path for future leaders.

Our industry is so rewarding. It is so satisfying to see a project come to life and know you helped get it there—no matter the size of your role. We have the opportunity to help create something that positively impacts our communities and there is an extra sense of pride and fulfillment that comes with it.  I’m lucky enough to contribute to something that brings that level of satisfaction every day.

My parents are my role models and moral compass. They have instilled in me work ethic, character, determination, and accountability. If you want it, you have to go get it—no one is going to hand you anything. Do things with integrity, work hard, and own the results.

I believe hard, honest work really does pay off. A strong work ethic is crucial to success. I don’t think you can teach it, but you can certainly learn it. Study others and hone your craft. You get out what you put in—so put the work in, your efforts will be seen and recognized!

Be curious, ask questions, and be a sponge. You don’t know what you don’t know, and that’s ok. Someone around you will, and they will be thrilled to coach you up and impart their wisdom. 

Paraphrasing Maya Angelou: people will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. I want to effect people in my life in a way that made them feel I was worth knowing, in whatever capacity that is—leaving them with a positive, lasting impression.

I cherish and look forward to my family time, there is no substitute for it. I love my extended family and friends, but give me some quality time with my wife and kids and I’m a happy camper.  My girls remind me every day that I’m a big kid at heart. It brings me joy knowing they’ll be there when I get home from a long or tough day at work.

My work style is a healthy balance of collaboration and focused, heads-down time. I enjoy a chance to solely concentrate and problem-solve on my own—it gives me a sense of gratification to own the result of that work. But I also recognize the benefits inherent in a collaborative environment. Often, the best solutions are born from working together, from leveraging diverse perspectives—ideas I couldn’t possibly come up with on my own. 

Integrity is my number one value. I believe people should be motivated to do what’s right simply because it is the right thing to do. If you’re respectful, fair, honest, approachable, and trustworthy, you’ll earn the respect and trust of your colleagues.

It is crucial to lead with empathy. Becoming a father really opened my eyes to the importance of recognizing the feelings of others and having the willingness to understand their perspectives. Leading with empathy has had a direct and positive impact on my relationships with team members. It allows me to form stronger bonds and to create better workplace culture. 

I love the high-stakes deadlines and pressure situations inherent in this job. The competitor in me always appreciates the opportunity to rise up and meet a challenge. In our department, a typical day can quickly be turned on its head with an unplanned, unexpected, priority project. Knowing others rely and count on our team to deliver in crunch time—there’s no better feeling!

My team is amazing. Their diverse talent is incredible, but their willingness to jump in to help a teammate at a moment’s notice makes me the most proud and grateful. It sounds cliché, but they really do have an “all-for-one” attitude and embody the true meaning of a team with their selflessness and eagerness to support each other. That overarching dependability is invaluable to our success.