More Than What We Build
Community is the core value that resonates with me the most because it represents connection — connection to a place, to people, and to a shared responsibility to care for one another. For me, Charlottesville is more than just where I live and work. It is home. It is a community that has experienced incredible joy, heartbreaking tragedy, and moments that tested all of us. Through those moments, I have seen what people are capable of when they choose empathy, unity, and service.
Over the years, Charlottesville has endured difficult chapters, from the events of August 12th and the murder of Heather Heyer, to the tragic loss of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D'Sean Perry, and the uncertainty and fear brought by COVID-19. During those times, I watched people in this community band together to support one another. I saw neighbors helping neighbors, businesses stepping up, and organizations finding ways to serve others when they needed it most.
One of the moments that made me most proud to be part of Martin Horn was when we built Charlottesville’s first COVID-19 vaccination center in less than 20 days. In that moment, construction became about far more than schedules and buildings. It became about helping protect our community during a time of uncertainty. It reinforced something I deeply believe: the work we do has the power to positively impact people’s lives far beyond the walls we build.
What I appreciate most about our work is seeing the way people interact with the spaces we create. There is something incredibly rewarding about watching kids spend entire days at McIntire Skate Park, seeing crowds gather for concerts at Ting Pavilion and the Jefferson Theater, or watching families and fans come together at Davenport Field at Disharoon Park. Those spaces become the backdrop for memories, friendships, celebrations, and shared experiences. We are not simply constructing buildings — we are helping create places where humanity happens.
I have also spent years coaching my children’s sports teams and supporting those programs whenever I can. Youth sports teach teamwork, accountability, empathy, and encouragement — values that communities need in order to thrive. Being involved has shown me that community is built through participation. It grows when people are willing to show up for one another.
When I think about the future of Charlottesville, especially for my children, I hope it continues to be a place where people help each other, where empathy matters, and where there are spaces that bring people together to experience humanity and nature. I hope it remains a community that lifts people up during difficult times and celebrates together during joyful ones.
That is why the value of community means so much to me. At Martin Horn, we have the opportunity to leave a lasting impact not only through the buildings we construct, but through the lives and experiences those spaces help create. To me, that is something worth being proud of.
